Microsoft modernises its SkyDrive online storage service

Microsoft SkyDrive has had a new, more modern makeover, according to itproportal.com. Easier navigation and a more intuitive approach to searching for files have been the main focus of the exercise. A revamped search option, for example, now searches for files within various Office applications, as well as on SkyDrive. Common sorting options, as seen in many of Microsoft’s other products, now too have a place in SkyDrive – which doubles up as the company’s home for Microsoft 365 data. File names, date created, date modified and size, are all catered for. Visually SkyDrive is looking more like a Windows 8 product, ahead of the official operating system’s release this October, says computerworlduk.com. SkyDrive now uses a tile-based system; the same as that which will appear in the new Modern Interface. All-round performance improvements mean that heavy-duty tasks, like bulk photo or file uploading, now take place quicker than before too. “We streamlined the photo upload path resulting in a faster bulk photo upload experience,” said Microsoft’s Chris Jones on windowsteamblog.com. Using a sample of 388 photos, Jones claims that the performance updates have led to a 1.7 times improvement in upload time. Perhaps most excitingly, Microsoft is also to release a SkyDrive application for Android users, who can finally house their data alongside existing Windows Phone and iOS users.