Microsoft has updated its SkyDrive personal cloud storage service with new apps that connect your devices to SkyDrive, and a more powerful device cloud that lets you "fetch" any file from a Windows PC.
Microsoft today released a preview of SkyDrive for the
Windows desktop (Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows
Vista) that supports what the company calls "fetch" -
the ability to remotely access files or stream videos
from a connected PC. By inegrating SkyDrive with Windows
you can now drag-and-drop to and from SkyDrive with
files up to 2GB, access all of your files offline, and
have the full power of Windows Explorer available to
manage your SkyDrive files and folders. Once your
SkyDrive is available on your PC, a special folder stays
in sync with your SkyDrive.
With SkyDrive running on a Windows PC, you can also turn
that PC into your own private cloud to browse your files
and stream videos from anywhere through SkyDrive.com.
This feature is useful if you forgot something on your
home PC and need to fetch it or just copy it quickly to
SkyDrive. Note that, in order to access a remote PC you
will have to provide a second factor of authentication
beyond your account password. You'll need to enter a
code that we send to your mobile phone or alternate
email address even if you're already signed in to your
SkyDrive account.
Starting today, Microsoft is also offering 7GB free for
all new SkyDrive users along with the ability to upload
large files - up to 2GB - and folders using SkyDrive for
the Windows desktop or SkyDrive for OS X Lion. For those
needing more storage, Microsoft is also offering paid
storage plans (+20GB - US$10/year, +50GB - US$25/year,
+100GB - US$50/year). Note that paid-for storage
requires the ability to pay by credit card (or via
PayPal) and a Windows Live ID that can be associated
with that credit card or PayPal account.
If you have already signed up for a service that offered
25GB and have also uploaded more than 4GB to SkyDrive so
far, Microsoft says you can opt in to keep 25GB of free
storage while still getting all of the benefits of the
new service.
The new SkyDrive for Windows phones has also been
updated to allow you to delete, rename, and move files
in yourr SkyDrive, and access a full set of sharing
options for all files and folders. Microsoft is also
bringing SkyDrive to the iPad, with all the same
capabilities already available through the iPhone, plus
support for the new iPad retina display.
Here's where you go to try SkyDrive today:
If you currently use Mesh, we have a few tips for trying
SkyDrive for Windows or Mac (preview) side-by-side with Mesh.