OneDrive
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![]() Microsoft SkyDrive, as appears in a web browser | |
Original author(s) | Microsoft |
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Initial release | August 1, 2007 |
Stable release | |
Platform | Web browser |
Available in | 94 languages; see Supported languages |
Type | File hosting service |
License | Freemium |
Website | skydrive |
Microsoft SkyDrive (previously Windows Live SkyDrive and Windows Live Folders) is a file hosting service that allows users to upload and sync files to a cloud storage and then access them from a Web browser or their local device. It is part of the Windows Live range of online services and allows users to keep the files private, share them with contacts, or make the files public. Publicly shared files do not require a Microsoft account to access.
The service offers 7 GB of free storage for new users. Additional storage is available for purchase.[3] Users who signed up to SkyDrive prior to April 22, 2012 could opt-in for a limited time offer of 25 GB of free storage upgrade. The service is built using HTML5 technologies,[4] and files up to 300 MB can be uploaded via drag and drop into the web browser,[5] or up to 2 GB via the SkyDrive desktop application for Microsoft Windows and OS X.[6]
History
![](http://up.wiki.x.io/wikipedia/en/2/20/Windows_Live_Folders_logo.png)
On its launch, SkyDrive, known as Windows Live Folders at the time (with a codename of SkyDrive), was provided as a limited beta available to a few testers in the United States.[7] On August 1, 2007, the service was expanded to a wider audience. Shortly after, on August 9, 2007 the service was renamed Windows Live SkyDrive and made available to testers in the United Kingdom and India.[8] As of 22 May 2008[update] SkyDrive was available to 62 countries and regions.[9][10] On December 2, 2008, the capacity of an individual SkyDrive account was upgraded from 5 GB to 25 GB, and Microsoft added a separate entry point called Windows Live Photos which allowed users to access their photos and videos stored on SkyDrive. This entry point allowed users to add "People tags" to their photos, download photos into Windows Live Photo Gallery or as a ZIP file, as well as viewing EXIF metadata such as camera information for the photos uploaded. Microsoft also added full-screen slide show support for photos using Silverlight.
SkyDrive was updated to "Wave 4" release on June 7, 2010, and added support for Office Web Apps, offering versioning support. In this update, due to the discontinuation of Windows Live Toolbar, the ability to synchronise and share bookmarked Web links between users via SkyDrive has also been discontinued. However, users are still able to use Windows Live Mesh to synchronise their favorites between computers, although the "cloud" storage component of the bookmarked Web links is no longer available. This feature replaces the previous Windows Live Favorites service.
In June 2010, users of Office Live Workspace, released in October 2007,[11] were migrated to Windows Live Office. The migration included all existing workspaces, documents, and sharing permissions.[12] The merger of the two services is a result of Microsoft's decision to merge its Office Live team into Windows Live back in January 2009,[13] as well as several deficiencies with Office Live Workspace, which lacked high fidelity document viewing and did not allow files to be edited from within the web browser.[14] Office Live Workspace also did not offer offline collaboration and co-authoring functionality – instead documents were "checked out" and "checked in," though the service did integrate with SharedView for real-time screen sharing.
On June 20, 2011, Microsoft overhauled the user interface for SkyDrive, built using HTML5 technologies. Microsoft also doubled the file size limit from 50 MB to 100 MB per file, as well as adding new features such as caching and hardware acceleration, support for HTML5 videos, Quick views, cleaner arrangement of photos, infinite scrolling. This update also brought together the different entry points for SkyDrive, such as Windows Live Photos and Windows Live Office, into one single interface. Files and folders shared with a user, including those in Windows Live Groups are also accessible in the new interface.[4] On November 29, 2011, Microsoft updated SkyDrive to make sharing and file management easier, as well as HTML5 and other updates. This update also allowed users to see how much storage they had (and how much they had used), a feature that had been removed in the previous update as part of the redesign.[15]
On December 3, 2011, Microsoft released a SkyDrive for iOS app, and a SkyDrive for Windows Phone app, which are available in the App Store and Windows Phone Marketplace respectively. On April 22, 2012, Microsoft released a SkyDrive desktop app for Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and OS X users which allows them to synchronize files on SkyDrive, much like Windows Live Mesh, as well as allowing users to "fetch" files on their computer via the web browser. In addition, SkyDrive also provided additional storage available for purchase, and reduced the free storage space for new users to 7 GB (from 25 GB). Existing users were offered a free upgrade offer to retain their 25 GB of free storage. The updated SkyDrive also supports files up to 2 GB in size (uploaded via the SkyDrive desktop app).[6] The update also brought additional features such as Open Document Format (ODF) support, URL shortening services, and direct sharing of files to Twitter.
On August 14, 2012, Microsoft announced a new update for SkyDrive which brought changes and improvements to SkyDrive.com, SkyDrive for Windows desktop and OS X, and the SkyDrive API as part of Live Connect. For SkyDrive.com, the updates brought a new "modern" design for the web service consistent with Outlook.com, and along with the UI update the service also received improvements such as instant search, contextual toolbar, multi-select in thumbnail view, drag-and-drop files into folders, and sorting improvements. For the SkyDrive for Windows desktop and OS X applications, the update brought new performance improvements to photo uploads and the sync experience. The update also improved the SkyDrive API with the removal of file type restrictions, ability upload images in their full resolution, as well as a new SkyDrive file picker for opening and saving files.[16] On August 28, 2012, Microsoft released a SkyDrive app for Android on Google Play store.[17]
Features
Office Web Apps
Microsoft added Office Web Apps support to SkyDrive in its "Wave 4" update allowing users to upload, create, edit, and share Microsoft Office documents directly within a Web browser. Users can create, view and edit Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote documents within the Web browser. In addition, Office Web Apps on SkyDrive also allow multiple users to simultaneously co-author Excel directly within the web browser, and co-author OneNote documents with another web user or the desktop application. Users can also view the version history of Office documents stored on SkyDrive.[18]
Integration with Microsoft Office
Users of recent versions of Microsoft Office (for Microsoft Windows or OS X) can use the desktop applications to simultaneously edit the same section of documents stored on SkyDrive. Changes are synchronized when users save the document, and where conflicts occur, the saving user is given the selection to choose which version to keep.[19] This is a collaborative real-time editing suite, as multiple users can use combinations of desktop applications and web apps to edit a document.
Format support
SkyDrive supports viewing of Portable Document Format (PDF)[20] as well as Open Document Format (ODF), an XML-based file format supported in a number of word processing apps including Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, and Corel's WordPerfect.[21] SkyDrive's search function does not support search within PDF documents, however. SkyDrive's search only supports files that are in one of the Microsoft Office formats (.doc, .docx, .ppt, .pptx, .xls, and .xlsx).[citation needed]
Document embedding
SkyDrive allows users to embed their Office documents (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) onto other web pages. These embedded documents allow anyone who visits these web pages to interact with them, such as browsing an embedded PowerPoint slideshow, or perform calculations within an embedded Excel spreadsheet.
Email integration
SkyDrive integrates with Hotmail (including its latest beta version, Outlook.com) which allows users to:
- Directly upload Office documents and photos within Hotmail, store them on SkyDrive, and share them with other users[22]
- Directly save Office documents within Hotmail to SkyDrive, and view or edit these documents directly within the web browser[23]
- Edit Office documents within the web browser using Office Web Apps, and reply directly back to the sender with the edits made[23][24]
Share on social networks
SkyDrive integrates with social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to enable users to quickly share their files with their contacts on these social networks.[25] SkyDrive maintains an access control list of all users granted permission to view or edit the files, including those users on social networks.[26]
Bing integration
SkyDrive integrates with Bing's Save & Share feature, allowing users to save search histories into a SkyDrive folder.
Windows Live Groups integration
Each group within Windows Live Groups is provided with 5 GB of storage space on SkyDrive to be shared between the group members. Group members are allowed to access, create, modify and delete files within the group's SkyDrive folders, along with the other functionalities that SkyDrive provides.
Location and people tagging
SkyDrive supports geo-location data for photos uploaded onto the service, and will automatically display a map of the tagged location. SkyDrive also allows users to tag people on the photos uploaded onto the service via the web interface or via Windows Live Photo Gallery.
Photo slideshows
Photos uploaded onto SkyDrive can be played as an automatic slideshow.
Download as .zip file
Entire folders can be downloaded as a single .zip file with SkyDrive. For a single download, there is a limit of 4GB or 65,000 files (whichever comes first).
Paid storage plans
From April 22, 2012 onwards, in addition to 7 GB of free storage (or 25 GB for users eligible for the free upgrade), power users who require more storage can choose one of the three price plans:[27]
Storage plan | Price | Description |
---|---|---|
SkyDrive +20 | US$ 10 / year + applicable taxes | Adds 20 GB to free storage amount |
SkyDrive +50 | US$ 25 / year + applicable taxes | Adds 50 GB to free storage amount |
SkyDrive +100 | US$ 50 / year + applicable taxes | Adds 100 GB to free storage amount |
Depending on the markets, users may need to have a supported credit card or PayPal account to pay.[27] The paid storage plan will be renewed automatically each year unless Microsoft or the user cancels the service. When the user cancels the service before the term ends, the service will remain active until the end of the term.[28] In effect, the user is not cancelling the service, but rather the automatic renewal.
Supported languages
SkyDrive supports 94 languages, including:[29]
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Client applications
File:SkyDrive app (Windows 8).png SkyDrive metro-style app running on Windows 8 | |
Developer(s) | Microsoft |
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Type | File manager, file synchronization |
Website | apps |
Microsoft has released SkyDrive client applications for Android,[17] iOS,[30] Windows 8,[31][27] and Windows Phone[30] that allow users to browse, view and organize files stored on their SkyDrive cloud storage. In addition, Microsoft also released desktop applications for Microsoft Windows (Vista and later) and OS X (Lion and later)[32] that allow users to synchronize their entire SkyDrive storage with their computers for offline access, and synchronization of files and folders between multiple computers. The SkyDrive desktop client for Microsoft Windows allows users to "fetch" the contents of their PCs via the web browser, provided the user enabled this option; OS X users can fetch from a PC, but not vice versa.
Microsoft's Windows Phone operating system integrates SkyDrive directly in the Office hub that enable users to view and edit Microsoft Office documents stored on their SkyDrive.
Microsoft has also launched a SkyDrive API, which developers can use to integrate SkyDrive into their own applications.[33] Microsoft has showcased almost a dozen of such third party apps.[34]
Developer APIs
Microsoft has released a set of APIs for SkyDrive via Live Connect to enable developers to develop web services and client apps utilizing SkyDrive's cloud storage.[35] This allows users of these web services and client apps to browse, view, upload or edit files stored on SkyDrive. Currently a software development kit (SDK) is available for web developers and developers of Windows 8 style apps, Windows Phone, iOS and Android.[36]
Issues
Privacy concerns
Data stored on SkyDrive are subject to monitoring by Microsoft, and any content that is in violation of Microsoft's Code of Conduct is subject to removal and may lead to temporary or permanent shutdown of an account. This has led to privacy concerns in relation to data stored on SkyDrive.[37] Microsoft has responded by indicating that "strict internal policies [are] in place to limit access to a user’s data", and that advanced mechanisms, such as Microsoft's automated PhotoDNA scanning tool, are utilized to ensure users abide with the Code of Conduct and that their account does not contain illegal files (including, but not limited to, partial human nudity (including art or drawings), any discussion of purchasing firearms, any online surveys, etc[38]).[39]
See also
References
- ^ The SkyDrive.com version number can be obtained by visiting http://skydrive.live.com, select "View source" using a supported web browser, and searching for this version number.
- ^ Jones, Chris (August 14, 2012). "A new modern SkyDrive.com, updated apps, and Outlook.com at 10 million users". Inside SkyDrive. Microsoft. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
- ^ "Compare - How does SkyDrive compare to Dropbox, iCloud, and Google?". Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
- ^ a b "Introducing SkyDrive for the modern web, built using HTML5". Inside Windows Live. Microsoft Corporation. June 20, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
- ^ Farrington-Smith, Matt (April 23, 2012). "Microsoft updates SkyDrive to include 300MB web uploads, ODF support & more". MSN Tech & Gadgets UK. Microsoft. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
- ^ a b Steven, Sinofsky; Shahine, Omar; Torres, Mike (February 20, 2012). "Connecting your apps, files, PCs and devices to the cloud with SkyDrive and Windows 8". Building Windows 8. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
Oh, and we will also have support for uploading large files (up to 2 GB) through Explorer, another big request from SkyDrive.com users over the years.
- ^ Thurrott, Paul (June 27, 2007). "Windows Live 2007: A Look at the Next Generation". Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows. Penton Media, Inc. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
- ^ "Introducing Windows Live Skydrive!". Windows Live SkyDrive team blog. Microsoft Corporation. August 9, 2007. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
- ^ "Welcome to the bigger, better, faster SkyDrive!". Windows Live SkyDrive team blog. Microsoft Corporation. February 21, 2008. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
- ^ "Hot new updates to SkyDrive!". Windows Live SkyDrive team blog. Microsoft Corporation. May 22, 2008. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
- ^ Farivar, Cyrus (March 4, 2008). "First look: Microsoft Office Live Workspaces goes public". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ Sengupta, Sam (May 13, 2010). "Your Office Live Workspace is soon upgrading to Windows Live SkyDrive". Office Live Workspace Blog. Microsoft. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
- ^ "Looking ahead and bringing you even more". Office Live Workspace Team Blog. Microsoft. January 23, 2009. Retrieved January 24, 2009.
- ^ Perez, Sarah (March 4, 2008). "Office Live Workspace vs Google Docs: Feature-by-Feature Comparison". ReadWriteWeb. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
- ^ Shahine, Omar (November 29, 2011). "Inside Windows Live: SkyDrive gets simple app-centric sharing for Office, powerful file management, HTML5 upload, other updates". Inside SkyDrive, Hotmail, and Messenger blog. Microsoft. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ "A new modern SkyDrive". Microsoft. August 14, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
google play
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Thurrott, Paul (October 6, 2010). "Office 2010 Review, Part 3: Office Web Apps". Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows. Penton Media. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ "Work together on a document in Word Web App". Microsoft Office Support. Microsoft. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ Shahine, Omar (November 29, 2011). "SkyDrive gets simple app-centric sharing for Office, powerful file management, HTML5 upload, other updates". Inside SkyDrive, Hotmail, and Messenger blog. Microsoft. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ Warren, Tom (April 17, 2012). "SkyDrive updated to include 300MB browser uploads, short URLs for Windows Phone images, and ODF support". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ Store your doc, send a link with Office Docs in Hotmail Office.com. Microsoft. Retrieved August 28, 2012
- ^ a b Download a Word, PowerPoint, or Excel attachment in Hotmail Office.com. Microsoft. Retrieved August 28, 2012
- ^ Office and SkyDrive Outlook Preview. Microsoft. Retrieved August 28, 2012
- ^ Volpe, Joseph (April 18, 2012). "Microsoft updates SkyDrive with support for ODF, Twitter". Engadget. AOL. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ Shahine, Omar (December 22, 2011). "Designing app-centric sharing for SkyDrive, part 2 of 2: Rebuilding permissions". Inside SkyDrive, Hotmail, and Messenger blog. Microsoft. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Making personal cloud storage for Windows available anywhere, with the new SkyDrive". Building Windows 8. Microsoft. April 23, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ "Storage plans: Common subscription and billing questions". Microsoft.com. Microsoft. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ "Language Options". Windows Live. Microsoft. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
- ^ a b Torres, Mike (December 13, 2011). "Introducing SkyDrive for iPhone and Windows Phone". Inside SkyDrive, Hotmail, and Messenger blog. Microsoft. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ Sinofsky, Steven (February 20, 2012). "Connecting your apps, files, PCs and devices to the cloud with SkyDrive and Windows 8". Building Windows 8. Microsoft. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
- ^ "Download SkyDrive". Microsoft.com. Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ Obasanjo, Dare (April 25, 2012). "SkyDrive APIs – Bring your data to any app, any platform, any device". Inside SkyDrive, Hotmail and Messenger blog. Microsoft. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ "Recommended apps that work with SkyDrive". Microsoft SkyDrive. Microsoft. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ Obasanjo, Dare (December 7, 2011). "SkyDrive APIs for Docs and Photos—now ready to cloud enable apps on Windows 8, Windows Phone and more". Inside SkyDrive, Hotmail, and Messenger blog. Microsoft. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ "Live Connect Downloads". MSDN. Microsoft. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ Surur (July 19, 2012). "Watch what you store on SkyDrive–you may lose your Microsoft life". WMPoweruser. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ "Skydrive code of conduct". 33 August 2012.
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(help) - ^ Holman, Tyler (July 22, 2012). "Microsoft responds to SkyDrive privacy concerns". Neowin.net. Neowin LLC. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
External links
- Windows Live
- Cloud storage
- Data synchronization
- Email attachment replacements
- File hosting
- File sharing services
- Online backup services
- Web applications
- Proprietary cross-platform software
- Windows software
- Mac OS X software
- Android software
- IOS software
- Windows Phone software
- Internet properties established in 2007