Microsoft OneDrive (before SkyDrive)

2018: Implementation of protection against viruses racketeers

At the beginning of April, 2018 Microsoft added the mechanism of protection against viruses racketeers which block operation of the computer to OneDrive and require the redemption. Similar function will appear also in a mail service of Outlook.com.

It is about function under the name Files Restore which as it is possible to guess, provides "rollback" of data to the copies created earlier — before the computer was infected with the malware. Recovery of the files loaded about 30 days ago is possible.

Screenshot on which work of the Files Restore function is imprinted

Earlier the option Files Restore was available only in the corporate version of OneDrive, and now all owners of subscriptions of Office 365 including house can use it. 

In addition to data recovery, the updated protection of OneDrive against viruses encoders includes the system of automatic detection of threats. She will announce the beginning of infection by sending the notification for the mobile phone.

At last, Microsoft added a feature to password-protect links using which the user shares documents from OneDrive.

Additional protection against the viruses extorting money will appear also in the web version of the email application of Outlook. In the same place the mechanism of enciphering of separate messages which can be read through Outlook.com, Outlook for iOS and Android, the Windows e-mail client or just according to the special link will be implemented. The sender of such messages will be able to prohibit transfer and copying of the message. Besides, users of Outlook will be able to password-protect links to folders or files.

The listed innovations began to be implemented on April 5, 2018. Within several weeks they should earn in full.

Meanwhile, Microsoft announced that is later in 2018 in Word, Excel and PowerPoint will appear function of automatic verification of links. If the link conducts on the suspicious website, it will be marked as appropriate. Something similar already works in Outlook.com.^[1]

2017: OneDrive updating

On January 31, 2017 the Microsoft company announced upgrade of functionality of OneDrive.

Several expansions are added to versions of OneDrive for commercial use. Now it is possible to use the latest version for synchronization with the websites of the SharePoint Online commands and shared folders of OneDrive for business, providing simple access to all general documents^[2].

In the web version the exchange method is simplified, helping to specify more precisely the volume and duration of the rights to access to documents. The istallyation and management of OneDrive for IT administrators with the center of administration and the independent client of Mac are simplified.

2014

15 GB are free

Free data storage: since June 23, 2014 on OneDrive it is possible to store free of charge up to 15 GB of data instead of 7 GB which were available without payment earlier.

The cloud storage available in OneDrive to subscribers of Office 365, will increase to 1 Tb. The cost of its use will be:

• 199 rubles a month for Office 365 personal
• 249 rubles a month for Office 365 for the house (up to 5 users, totally the 5th terabyte of storage)
• 2299 rubles for 4 years for Office 365 for students

The cost of paid storage will be reduced around the world and will be: 72 rub a month for 100GB (before 50 Gbytes cost 25 dollars a year, and 200 Gbytes — in 100 dollars a year).

Users of OneDrive who will invite friends to use service, can still receive up to 5 GB of the free place (on 500 MB for the invitation). Besides, OneDrive provides additional 3 GB after activation of function of automatic loading of photos in a cloud on any device.

Microsoft SkyDrive which has the interface in Windows 8 style offers one of the biggest free disk spaces among large suppliers of cloud services. Nevertheless, it limits the maximum file size of 300 MB via the browser and 2 GB through the desktop systems which can work running Windows and OS X OS. It also supports phone applications based on iOS, Android and Windows. He turns on the "forgot something" function which allows users to get remote access to files on the PC which you forgot to load into a cloud.

Updating of June

On June 3, 2014 the Microsoft company announced an exit of upgraded versions of service of cloud storage OneDrive and the business version - OneDrive for Business.

Microsoft added in OneDrive for Windows Phone 8.1 a feature of automatic archiving of photos with high resolution. According to the message of the company, they will be available on "any devices".

At the same time Micorsoft announced the transaction as a result of which clients in the USA can print photos with OneDrive.com directly in local shops Walgreens. The company added a new feature for viewing photos in OneDrive for Xbox One. OneDrive for Xbox requires a subscription of Xbox Live Gold.

In OneDrive for Business "discussion in the document" became available. Announced this opportunity at the beginning of 2014.

Discussion in the document - the built-in social and network functionality of Yammer in Microsoft Office applications, allows to simplify joint work with documents. The user can create new content, for example, the Word document, or the PowerPoint presentation, using Office Online and to save this document in SharePoint Online or in OneDrive for Business, together with discussion of these documents.

The cloud storage of Microsoft since October, 2014 does not limit on the volume of the loaded files, however, only subscribers of Office 365. First the new functionality is available to corporate clients – for them the limit in 1 Tbyte for storage of files and backup will be removed.

OneDrive for Business: the place is increased by the user from 25GB to 1TB

Microsoft OneDrive for Business: in the blog of Microsoft of April 28, 2014 it is reported:

• The place for storage in OneDrive for Business from 25GB to 1TB is increased by one user;
• Place 1TB for storage is included in OneDrive for Business on one user within a subscription to Office 365 ProPlus;
• The new assistant to migration on OneDrive for Business from Microsoft is added (The blog posting does not specify — that specifically Microsoft offers on this front. However the representative told who the interested should contact the managers Microsoft or partners for receiving parts).

SkyDrive replaced the name - OneDrive

On February 19, 2014 the Microsoft corporation provided to users a cloud service of data storage of OneDrive.

Known as SkyDrive, the updated cloud service of Microsoft offers a number of new features and the optimized Windows applications of Phone, iOS, Android and Xbox.

OneDrive expanded functionality: among new opportunities - automatic preserving of the taken pictures in "cloud" (for users of the Android platform), code conversion of video.

7 GB are provided to all users of OneDrive free of charge. In need of the bigger volume of storage users can increase it to 50, 100 and 200 GB.

2013

The court requires from Microsoft to rename SkyDrive service

Microsoft lost in the summer of 2013 judicial proceedings of British Sky Broadcasting Group company, reports a The Verge resource. It was initiated by Microsoft of the rights, last for the purpose of deprivation, to the Sky trademark which, according to the British telecommunication giant, misled subscribers of its Sky One, Sky Sports and Sky Movies video services. As a result of the company came to the mutual agreement which condition is failure of Microsoft from submission of the appeal on the solution which is taken out by the High Court of England and Wales with the subsequent renaming of the cloud storage of SkyDrive what extra time is provided to software producer for.^[3]

Though British Sky disputed the right to use the Sky trademark in the territory of Europe, Microsoft made the decision on renaming of a cloud service on a global scale. The agreement between the companies includes also financial conditions, but neither British Sky, nor Microsoft intend to disclose details as the agreement is confidential.

The representative of Microsoft confirmed information on the dispute settled with British Sky for the edition: 'We are glad that this dispute on a trademark is resolved, and we will continue to provide to hundreds of millions of users excellent service for storage of files in a cloud'. He also said that change in the name will not affect work of service, and millions of users of a product should not feel any essential inconveniences.

Microsoft not for the first time faces violation of the rights to trademarks. Last year it was forced to rename the Metro interface used in the Windows 8 operating system because of claims of the German company Metro AG. One of the largest European retailers threatened to file a lawsuit against Microsoft if that does not refuse the name. Since summer of 2012 the company uses the term Modern UI for the name of 'tiled' design of interfaces, and for designation of software created on it — 'the application in Windows 8 style'.

250 million users

At the beginning of May, 2013 Microsoft announced 250 million users of SkyDrive

2012: Transition to paid rates: only 7 GB are free

The Microsoft corporation for the first time provided in April, 2012 paid rates for service of cloud storage SkyDrive which till this time offered 25 GB of a free space to all new registered users free of charge.

To clients who managed to use SkyDrive from 25 GB of a free free space till April 22, 2012, inclusive, will be able to continue to use the specified volume on former conditions.

Only 7 GB of an empty seat free of charge will be offered to new users. According to the estimates of Microsoft, 99% should be enough it for clients (proceeding from statistics of use of service). The maximum size of the loaded file - 2 GB.

Three tariff plans are offered to those who will lack 7 GB:

• for 20 GB about $10 a year are offered to give,
• for 50 GB - for $25 and
• for 100 GB - for $50.

Microsoft also released the SkyDrive application for Windows 8, Windows 7 and Windows Vista which allows to drag files to the cloud storage and on the computer using Conductor of Windows. The similar application is released for Mac OS X which works with Finder.

As a result of SkyDrive – this personal cloud storage with a free starting amount of 7 GB which is enough approximately for 20 thousand documents or 7 thousand photos. Access to files is protected by the password and opened for the user on the Internet from any device, and to his friends and colleagues – according to the link conducting strictly to certain documents or folders.

• SkyDrive allows to organize remote joint work over documents in the usual convenient Microsoft Office formats: thanks to Microsoft Office applications of Web Apps different users can browse and edit at the same time one document in real time.

• Using SkyDrive it is possible to exchange not just separate photos, but the whole photoarchives. And the speech goes not only about viewing photos directly to SkyDrive here, but also about their fast and simple publication on social networks. At the same time for each photo service displays the specific place on the card where it was made.

• SkyDrive is also basic storage for a mail service of Hotmail – and it means that in one standard e-mail the user can send hundreds of photos and documents, without "making heavier" at the same time the message and without overloading a mailbox.

• SkyDrive gives a unique opportunity for cloud services to get access to the files which are stored on the computer from a cloud. Now home computer always near at hand.

• SkyDrive is available to all popular platforms: Windows Phone, Android and iOS, tablet PCs, notebooks and desktop computers running Windows and Mac OS.

2011

Updating of November

The main innovation of SkyDrive service concerns an opportunity to share the documents with other users. Functions of exchange of documents from the cloud storage of steel more adapted for work with specific applications as most of people continues to think of categories of applications. Before it was quite inconvenient to exchange documents through SkyDrive, but now the situation changed, and emphasis is put on integration into the MS Office applications. For example, during the work with the private document via the web browser or web applications of Office the user easily can send the document to colleagues directly in an edit window. Also the whole system of the rights and permissions to access to separate files, irrespective of their specific format is supported.

Sending documents through SkyDrive is in addition facilitated by integration with contacts of e-mail and networks in Windows Live service. In particular, information panel in SkyDrive service offers the button of sending documents with such options of actions now as: Share via Email (to send by e-mail), Post to Your Networks (to publish in my networks) and Get a Link (to receive file reference). By itself, means of exchanging documents are available only to those files which their owner obviously selected for sending – otherwise all files loaded into SkyDrive remain closed for access for other users.

The special attention is deserved by the general improvement of work of SkyDrive service. In particular, a number of popular transactions with files, including the accelerated creation of new folders by input of the name, renaming of the folder directly in an overview window (or on clicking of the F2 button), transfer, removal or unloading of several files at once, accomplishment of actions with documents and photos for right click and also fast creation of documents of Office is improved (for this purpose it is enough to select an icon of the necessary Microsoft Office application and to enter document title).

Among other innovations in SkyDrive service It should be noted support of loading of files and photos to the cloud storage simple drag and drop in browsers with support of HTML5 File API (it is implemented in Internet Explorer 10, Chrome, Firefox and Safari). Support of the Internet Explorer 10 browser presented in the preliminary version of the Developer Preview Windows 8 operating system is also improved.

Among other things, a lot of improvements is made for creation of a slideshow of photos and also for navigation according to photos and folders, and signatures to elements became much more noticeable and convenient for reading. There was a support of program interfaces for work with touch screens in the Internet Explorer 10 and Mobile Safari browsers that is expressed in more convenient work on devices with touch displays. At last, the cloud service of SkyDrive supports several new document formats, including PDF and RAW now, offers a number of the accelerated transactions in a window of the overview of files (loading, removal, copying, movement, etc.), the accelerated login and also the increased speed of viewing and editing documents of Office.

Updating of June

On June 20, 2011 the new version of service SkyDrive in which many wishes of users are considered was started. It only the first of a series of updates which will be implemented in service within the next year. Among the current updates there is SkyDrive:

• speed of accomplishment of the main objectives and scenarios is increased;
• the interface is optimized – the panel of information and the system of navigation is improved;
• the feature for quick access to basic functions of SkyDrive from the Windows 7 task bar is added (to enough fix the website on the Windows 7 task bar using Internet Explorer 9);
• the possible maximum size of the separate file is increased up to 100 MB;
• advertizing is turned off.

A number of changes in SkyDrive should be noted especially.

First, the speed of accomplishment of different tasks and scenarios as due to more active use of DOM and caching in the browser, and at the expense of a possibility of use of hardware acceleration considerably increased at video playback and display of graphics. So, the new version of SkyDrive uses possibilities of HTML5 for video playback in .h264. Also when using Windows 7 and Internet Explorer 9 the SkyDrive icon can be fixed in a task bar for quick access to the personal cloud storage and popular tasks – to creation of office Word documents, Excel and PowerPoint.

Secondly, the interface and the system of navigation in SkyDrive became much more convenient, and work with files and documents – more intuitive. The design and appearance of storage remind the system of files familiar to users in Windows and Mac OS and also the mail service of Hotmail, most popular in the world, now. All elements in storage are grouped in certain categories: photos, documents, files of service of the Windows Live group. Therefore quickly to find the necessary document, the photo or the video file it is possible now. Besides, developers removed all advertizing banners from storage area, having made thereby room for useful information about files of the user, their properties, history, etc.

In conclusion it is necessary to tell that SkyDrive became even more beautiful, as well as it is necessary to modern web space. Thanks to the new mechanism of viewing images in the updated storage all photos are built in that order in which they were loaded, in the form of sketches that allows to see and find the necessary frame at once. Besides when opening the photo automatically adapts to the screen sizes – thanks to it very conveniently and pleasant to browse pictures is not dependent on type of the device from which the user came into storage.

These are only the first changes which affected the cloud storage of SkyDrive. In process of development of the Internet, increase in mobility of users and increase in need for communication and joint work via web channels cloud computing will be improved and change, and SkyDrive will not become an exception.

It is possible estimate possibilities of free Internet storage for exchange of the documents Microsoft Office and photos already now. Just come on www.skydrive.com, use an account of Windows Live ID (MSN, Hotmail, Xbox LIVE) or free of charge get the new ID opening access to the world of online services of Microsoft.

2007: Start of a cloud service of SkyDrive: 25GB it is free all

Windows Live SkyDrive (originally Windows Live Folders) — the Internet service of storage of files which is based on the cloud organization with filesharing functions created in August, 2007 and managed by Microsoft company.

The SkyDrive service allows to store up to 25 GB of information in the type arranged using standard folders. For images the preview in the form of sketches and also a possibility of their viewing in the form of slides is provided. For all folders and files it is possible to define the access level - from exclusively personal to public. Using service it is possible to make file sharing up to 50 MB in size.

The SkyDrive service is integrated by page Microsoft Office. Directly from the application it is possible to save files Excel OneNote, PowerPoint and Word can be saved in Live SkyDrive Windows service. Besides SkyDrive is integrated with Microsoft Office Web Apps, allowing to create documents online.

Some observers suggest that in future Microsoft can integrate the adjacent developments - Live SkyDrive, Live Mesh and Live Sync in one product which will allow to synchronize files as in a cloud, so on the peer-to-peer mechanism means of one service.

Competitors

Notes