Store your files in “the cloud” with Windows Live SkyDrive

Posted by:
Brandon LeBlanc
12:56 PM Thursday
Aug 09, 2007
34 Comments

Today Microsoft is announcing the final product name for what was previously known as Windows Live Folders. Windows Live SkyDrive gets not only its final product name but also a few new features and enhanced UI reflecting changes coming across many of the Windows Live services including Windows Live Spaces.

So what's Windows Live SkyDrive? Windows Live SkyDrive is a brand new Windows Live service that gives users 500MB of web space for the storing and sharing of files. Think of it as a personal "harddrive" on the internet - or "the cloud". By default, you get several protected directories which you can store your files in. These directories are completed protected from the public. Only you can view them. However, Windows Live SkyDrive allows you create or choose specific folders to share with everyone (Public folders) or specific people on your Windows Live Contacts list. You can set specific permissions for those viewing your folders as well - such as someone who can contribute (add and remove files) or someone who is simply just a reader. Your Public folder allows ONLY reader permissions for the public in viewing files within the folder. No need to worry about people maxing out your account with files.

I put together a small demo outlining Windows Live SkyDrive and several of today's beta improvements with a few new features. Check it out:

Video: Demo: Windows Live SkyDrive

For those who've been using the beta of Windows Live SkyDrive, today's changes and updates include the new Windows Live UI (header), improved file upload, thumbnails in folder views, and a section for visited SkyDrive folders from other people.

Nick and I use Windows Live SkyDrive quite a bit in sharing files. With me being outside Portland and him of course in Redmond - Windows Live SkyDrive has enabled us to quickly access and share files while working on projects. It has been a tremendous help overcoming the distance.

Give Windows Live SkyDrive a spin and let me know what you think. I'll be setting up a Public folder for you all to check out with some photos while visiting Redmond.

Screenshots:

Comments

bham4ever

Posted on: August 14, 2007 at 1:36PM
Quite impressive and plenty of room and the icons on the desktop would be an awesome idea!
PGC

Posted on: August 17, 2007 at 11:19AM
Nice work! I've messed around with it for a bit and I really like it.

My only gripe is 500mb. Come on I know you can do better than that. In today’s multimedia world that is not that much space.

That said, I do like it and thanks!
newscientist2000

Posted on: September 05, 2007 at 1:06AM
Sounds like a great idea, I will definately check it out. To think I was getting excited about Gmail upping the attachment size to 20mb. 500mb of space.. nice :-)
newscientist2000

Posted on: September 05, 2007 at 1:36AM
Just checked it out by uploading some wmv home videos. Hopefully my sister in the UK can view them soon.

Only bad thing is that Microsoft has already colaborated with yahoo users with Live Messenger, and Messenger can already view and send text messages to yahoo users. Thats kinda made me spoilt, it would be nice to allow yahoo users to at least be allowed to be at least readers of folders, without having a hotmail account, i.e. using a yahoo account?

Yeah Microsoft should just buy yahoo or get closer to them, thats what Im suggesting.

Still great step in the right direction :-) Microsofts web offerings are difinately getting better this year.
oxygenkiosk

Posted on: November 21, 2007 at 3:01PM
Is there an option to have it as a virtual drive in explorer? like so...

http://cid-e5a360c3b1c64b89.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Public/drive.jpg
donquist

Posted on: January 27, 2009 at 5:19AM
2 things

1) Shell Integration Please! being forced to use a browser for a 'Drive' is.. well, no.

2) 50MB file size limitation. Maybe a little bigger since its now 25GB

Other then that, good stuff, though still using dropbox for the desktop client.

Trackbacks

Posted by: SSIS Junkie on August 09, 2007 at 2:00PM
I've spoken about Live Folders quite alot on here lately and some big news from that product team
Posted by: Josh's Windows Weblog on August 09, 2007 at 2:32PM
Today Microsoft announced the final naming for its "cloud" storage will be SkyDrive. I personally liked
Posted by: Metagg on August 09, 2007 at 5:44PM
Find out what Social News Sites are discussing this post over at metagg.com
Posted by: Dare Obasanjo aka Carnage4Life on August 09, 2007 at 7:10PM
Posted by: Read/WriteWeb on August 09, 2007 at 8:54PM
Today Microsoft announced Windows Live SkyDrive, the final product name for its online storage solution - previously known as Windows Live Folders. Windows Live SkyDrive has a few new features and enhanced UI, in line with upcoming changes across other..
Posted by: bkchung's WebLog on August 10, 2007 at 2:23AM
Windows Live SkyDrive Team Blog: Introducing Windows Live SkyDrive! 이전에 Windows Live Folders이었던 이름을 (아직
Posted by: OpsanBlog on August 10, 2007 at 6:27PM
Posted by: Blog do Anderson Thiago (aka Anderson T) on August 12, 2007 at 11:13AM
Mais um dos serviços que a Windows Live irá colocar no ar esta sendo testado. O Windows Live SkyDrive