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SkyDrive update brings photo timeline, more efficiency-minded features
Perhaps to celebrate passing the 250 million user mark, SkyDrive is rolling out an update which introduces some nifty time-saving features. Now, you'll be able to view all your photos -- across folders and albums -- in a timeline view, with images grouped by event and date for easy searching. There are also filmstrip and slideshow modes, and, according to Microsoft's Inside SkyDrive blog, photo-upload times have been improved at least twofold. The update brings a few other goodies too: full-resolution camera uploads for all Windows Phone 8 devices worldwide, and new thumbnails for PowerPoint and Word files. The update will begin rolling out today and should make its way to all users within 48 hours.
Daily Update for April 3, 2013
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
Microsoft updates SkyDrive for iOS to v3.0, touts support for more devices and revamped user experience
It's been quite a few months since Microsoft touched the SkyDrive application on Apple's mobile platform, but today, after some well-documented delays, the company's finally delivering an update to its iOS offering -- a pretty hefty one, no less. Included in this new version is, most notably, added support for the iPhone 5 and iPad mini, while a refreshed overall user experience, new app icons and enhanced saving options are also in tow with this release. In addition to these tidbits, SkyDrive will now allow iDevice users to easily grab their full-res photos from within the app, as well as determine the size of uploaded and downloaded picture files. Better yet, the long-overdue update just went live in the App Store, so it's about that time for Redmond's cloud surfers to savor what they'd been patiently waiting for.
CE-Oh no he didn't!: Steve Ballmer calls Dropbox 'a fine little startup'
Microsoft is no stranger to industry flak, but it's always better to give than to receive, right? Steve Ballmer thinks so, and in a recent Bloomberg interview, he took a second away from talking up the new Office 2013 to smite Dropbox, saying that the 100 million users it boasts "sounds like a pretty small number to me." He recovered slightly by adding "I'm not beating on Dropbox," only to follow it with the finishing blow: "They're a fine little startup and that's great." We doubt anyone else would call Dropbox a startup at this point, but Microsoft's chief can't be seen complimenting a SkyDrive rival now, can he? After having to defend the user stats for Redmond's Yammer, he was also quizzed on the undying native Office for iPad rumor, to which he had "nothing to say," apart from "we'll see what we see in the future." If these snippets aren't quite enough, then head to the source link for the full interview. Ballmer may be a little less shouty these days, but it's good to know he's still capable of delivering the odd high-caliber burn.
Browser extension enables SkyDrive attachments within Gmail
Gmail users who envy Outlook's SkyDrive integration will find that the proverbial grass is now a little greener on their side, thanks to fresh features in Attachments.me's Chrome and Firefox browser extensions. With the plugin installed, files residing in Microsoft's cloud service can be attached to emails from within Gmail. Also included in the update is support for user-created rules that can direct attachments to SkyDrive as they flood into inboxes. Can't wait for Gmail to gain similar support with Google Drive, or just prefer Redmond's storage solution? Hit the source link below to infuse Mountain View's web mail with some of Microsoft's storage locker mojo.
Microsoft SkyDrive for Android app is now available, joins its mobile counterparts for cloud access
Microsoft's promise to bring a SkyDrive app to Android devices a few days ago has been kept. The folks in Redmond have announced that the aforementioned mobile software is now available for those who fancy Google's operating system. As you might expect, the list of features follows suit with the existing iOS and Windows Phone applications -- including multiple photo or video uploads, file sharing, opening stored files and file management with the ability to sort folders. While the app was built to work best with Android 4.0, it'll play nice with any handset that runs Gingerbread and above. If you're ready to install, a few clicks will do just that via the Google Play link below.
Outlook.com preview: Microsoft reinvents its online email offerings
Maybe you heard, but Microsoft launched a new email service today. No, not Hotmail -- a completely new, built-from-scratch service. This is Outlook.com, and for the time being, at least, it will exist separately from Hotmail. So why didn't Redmond just give Hotmail a drastic overhaul? Well, friends, there are two explanations. First, the polite one: for technical reasons, the engineers found it easier to build a new service from scratch rather than retrofit the old one. The frank answer: Microsoft is keenly aware Hotmail has a bad rap, thanks to those banners and flashy video ads. In fact, the company has been very candid that it wants not just to compete with Gmail, but siphon away some of its growing user base. As such, Outlook offers a fresh, minimal interface -- far cleaner than Hotmail ever looked. What's more, the ads are more pared-down here: no video adverts, and no targeted ads on messages between people (newsletters are still fair game). The service is open to the public as of today and you get virtually unlimited storage, along with 7GB of SkyDrive space if you create a new Microsoft account. (Microsoft uses the word "virtually" to hedge itself against spammers who might otherwise use limitless storage to game the system.) And you should take our word when we say it's worth giving the service a shot: we've been testing it for almost two weeks. Go get yourself situated and then meet us after the break for details, impressions and lots more screenshots. Note: many of our screenshots say "NewMail" instead of "Outlook.com" in the upper left corner. NewMail is a codename Microsoft used before announcing the service to the public.%Gallery-161400%
Microsoft updates SkyDrive for iPad with Retina Display support, file-sharing features
Those who like to swing both ways will be glad to know that SkyDrive for the iPad now supports Apple's gorgeous Retina Display. Now, before you ask why the hell pixel density would be of concern for a cloud storage app, remember that SkyDrive also allows users to view photos and documents from within the application -- only now at a properly rendered 264ppi. In addition to the peeper-pleasing improvement, SkyDrive users will also find the ability to upload multiple photos and videos from their iPad to the cloud, new file-sharing options (either via email, or a link that you can copy and paste), along with the ability to open SkyDrive files from within other iOS apps. It's funny how something so out of place can be so right.
Microsoft Skydrive updates fly out with file jump, Windows 8 photo sync
Microsoft isn't resting on its cloud with SkyDrive -- it's announcing a new update, which rolls out today for Mac and Windows. It teased a new feature for Windows 8 Release Preview -- due early June -- that allows photos to be retrieved from any PC with SkyDrive, whether your cloud storage is maxed out or not. Though we doubt you've topped out your 150,000 file limit, Redmond says it's taking power users into account with a huge bump to 10 million files -- with the same 7GB free / 100GB paid limits. It's also promised more speed and reliability, many small bug fixes, and has dropped the app icon from the OS X Lion dock -- saying it "definitely heard feedback" to do it. Updates will happen automatically, so you might be able to shoot more of those dusty files off to the cloud sooner than you think.
Microsoft SkyDrive impressions: a look at features and functionality
You may remember a certain, somewhat anticipated cloud service finally coming in to land in recent days. That wasn't the only news in nebular computing last week, however: perhaps in anticipation of Google's long-rumored Drive service, Microsoft made some updates to the Windows Phone app for its own offering, SkyDrive. This comes not long after the release of desktop SkyDrive applications for Windows and OSX, all suggesting that Redmond's hoping to cut itself as large a slice of the cloud-storage pie as it can, preferably while others are still taking their seats at the table. We spent some time with the latest quiver of tools from Microsoft, to see how they've progressed.
Google Drive vs. the competition: pricing plans and perks, compared
Sometimes a table says a thousand words. Now that Google has finally announced its cloud service, Google Drive, we're sure more than a few of you are crunching the numbers in your head in an attempt to figure which is the best deal. Far be it for us to tell you which service to use when we've barely had a chance to poke around Drive, but for now, better if we lay out those gigabytes and dollars in number form, rather than squeeze them into a crowded paragraph, don'tcha think? Follow past the break for a brief breakdown of what you'll get from Google, along with Dropbox, Microsoft SkyDrive and iCloud.
Microsoft details SkyDrive overhaul, Windows 8 app and desktop sync in tow (update: video)
We heard whispers of SkyDrive desktop applications a few days ago. Today, Microsoft confirmed just that alongside a Metro-style offering for Windows 8 and other improvements to its cloud storage tech. In a post on the Building Windows 8 blog, the outfit discusses file sync via desktop app for easy drag-and-drop use -- much like we've become used to with Dropbox. The overhaul will support 2GB max file uploads through Windows Explorer and the desktop software will play nice with both Vista and Windows 7. Upgrades will also bring snappy, "touch-first" perusal of your files in a dedicated Windows 8 app and will offer accessibility in other Metro-syle applications should the need arise. The post states that "For app developers, this means that, so long as your app supports opening and saving documents and photos, it will automatically support SkyDrive without any additional work." Similar to its cloud storage competitor, SkyDrive will also enable remote access via its web site in case you need to "fetch" that presentation on a co-worker's PC. Still no word on extended storage options / pricing that we've heard rumblings about, though. For a closer look at the some of the tweaks, peep the gallery below or hit the source link for more on the particulars. Update: A video demo now awaits you on the other side of the break.
Microsoft SkyDrive apps for Windows and OS X, extended storage pricing revealed?
Take this with a salt shaker at hand, but it appears that Microsoft's SkyDrive cloud service is getting some expanded functionality that's been long over due. Dedicated desktop applications for Windows and OS X appear to be in the cards, along options for extra storage if you're willing to pony up some funds. Felipe Zorzo of Gemind uncovered the unannounced details (example above) while accessing its Brazilian web interface. Notably, if SkyDrive's free 25GB of storage has been too paltry for your needs, the paid storage options we mentioned should afford you an additional 20 ($10), 50 ($25) or 100GBs ($50) for your account. We gave our SkyDrive account a perusal and were unable to verify the webpages' existence for ourselves. For now, you'll find the pricing list after the break, and all of the leaked goods at the source link below.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
SkyDrive and Windows Phone cozy up, apps can now directly integrate with the cloud
Microsoft, in an effort to continue integrating SkyDrive into Windows Phone, made a few changes to the cloud service's API this week. The new adjustments now give third-party Windows Phone apps full access to SkyDrive, complete with the ability to upload and share pictures, videos and docs. These changes were apparently the result of a lot of feedback from developers, and HandyScan just became the first company to show interest by incorporating the new API features into its Windows Phone app. The program, which offers the ability to scan a document or object, now offers the option of uploading these scanned images directly to SkyDrive. Of course, we imagine we'll soon be seeing a flood of developers proclaim their intent to journey "to the cloud." For more about HandyScan or the API, head to the links below.
Mango quietly enables music streaming from SkyDrive, hides amongst your spreadsheets
Here's a little feature that Microsoft quietly sneaked into Mango -- you can stream music straight from your SkyDrive account. With the latest WP7 update comes some nice integration with Redmond's cloud storage service, but it's not just for pulling up spreadsheets. You can navigate to any folder and, if you tap on an compatible sound file, it'll start playing the tune in the music app. It's not a full fledged streaming and syncing service like Google Music or a tightly integrated ecosystem such as iTunes and iCloud, but it is a pretty neat trick. And, lets be honest, no matter how cumbersome, sometimes those unofficial solutions are much more gratifying. Check out the video of it in action after the break.
Microsoft upgrades SkyDrive, reminds us of its place in the cloud (video)
Microsoft is sending out a subtle reminder this week that, despite all of the fanfare surrounding its newly announced service, Apple isn't the only game in the cloud. Redmond has unveiled updates to SkyDrive, including speed boosts, a revamped UI, and improvements to photo viewing. The latest version of the almost four-year-old service has cut wait time on actions like clicking folders, from six to nine seconds down to 100 to 300 milliseconds. The updated software also features H.264 video playback, a navigation system more akin to desktop browsing, and a single view for files, docs, and photos. Let Microsoft hold your hand through a video tour of its cloud below.
Samsung outs N130 and N140 netbooks, incites groans of disappointment
It's been a good year since Samsung unveiled its universally praised NC10, yet here we are -- one successor and countless competing models later -- looking at the exact same specs being offered up in the Korean company's latest pair of netbooks. Why exactly a successful laptop of any kind would need three identikit successors isn't something we can readily account for, but let's look at what (little) is actually new, shall we? A lightweight version of MS Office is bundled (try and stifle your excitement, please), alongside a suite of new Samsung apps and automated backup to Microsoft's free 25GB SkyDrive online vaults. The N140 gets a pair of skull-rattling 3W stereo speakers and a larger battery (up to 5,900 mAh) to differentiate it from the N130, and ergonomics are said to be improved, but we're still left with the bitter taste of stagnating hardware in our mouth. Windows 7, please, save us. [Via Engadget Spanish]
