Microsoft upgrades SkyDrive to integrate with mobile devices

Microsoft has updated SkyDrive, its cloud-based storage service, to integrate more closely with mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, while offering a cheaper alternative to other cloud-based services like Dropbox.   The software giant has also integrated the drive into Windows’ Explorer and Apple’s Finder file managers such that SkyDrive works like an extension of the desktop.   It has also added the ability to access files stored on the drive from the iPad tablet as well as the iPhone and Windows Phone smartphones, tech site Mashable reported.   Mashable said all these features, being built alongside Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 8, offer an even more seamless file storing and accessing experience.   The updated SkyDrive for Windows allows a user to access SkyDrive from Windows Explorer on Windows 8, Windows 7 and Windows Vista.   “Files up to 2GB in size can be dragged and dropped onto the drive, and are stored in a folder just like other files on your PC. The drive works as an extension of your existing hard drive, and any app that works with local folders on your computer will now also work with SkyDrive,” it said.   SkyDrive stays in sync no matter where you access it. If one renames a file on the phone, the file will be renamed on the computer. Deleting a file from SkyDrive.com will delete the file will also disappear on the computer and smartphone.   On the other hand, SkyDrive.com lets one browse and stream videos from any connected PC, as long as that computer is connected to the Internet.   “So, if you wanted to show a co-worker a video from your recent vacation that was stored at home, you could access that file from your work computer via the SkyDrive website as long as your computer at home is connected to the web,” Mashable said.   The updated SkyDrive allows files to be moved, renamed and deleted remotely on the iPhone and iPad as well as Windows Phone.   SkyDrive is also integrated with Macs running OS X Lion.   Undercutting competition?   Mashable also said Microsoft is offering 7GB of free storage for new SkyDrive users, a drop from the 25GB of free storage space it previously offered for free on the service.   But those who already have SkyDrive accounts and have uploaded a file before April 22 can keep their existing accounts and opt in to maintain their 25GB storage space for free.   Those who have already uploaded 4GB of data prior to April 1 are automatically opted in.   Paid options are also available - 20GB for $10/year, 50GB for $25/year, and 100GB for $50 a year.   But Mashable said this may undercut other cloud storage options currently available, including Dropbox, considered the “king” in the cloud storage scene, offering 2GB of storage for free, $50GB for $9.99/month, and 100GB for $19.99/month.   “Microsoft’s plans seriously undercut that pricing. Dropbox offers individual plans, however, up to 1000GB in size,” Mashable said.   It added Microsoft’s move comes ahead of Google’s cloud-storage Google Drive, which offers users 5GB of free storage, and be heavily integrated with Google Docs. — ELR, GMA News