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SkyDrive goes “modern”

Aug 14, 2012 10:27 am by Kip Kniskern | 16 comments

A post on the Windows Team blog by our old friends Omar Shahine and Mike Torres makes official what we’ve been waiting for, an update to SkyDrive, bringing it into the fold with the same “modern” look as Outlook.com (the preview replacement for Hotmail), Windows Phone, and Windows 8.

The post outlines the improvements, which in addition brings the SkyDrive desktop app out of preview:

SkyDrive.com – New, modern design for desktop and tablet browsers with instant search, contextual toolbar, thumbnail multi-select, drag-and-drop organization, and HTML5 sorting
SkyDrive for Windows desktop & OS X - Faster uploads for people around the world and tons of bug and performance improvements under the hood
SkyDrive for Android - A new app that lets you access, upload and share from Android phones
SkyDrive for developers – Apps built using our SkyDrive API can now store or access any type of file in a person’s SkyDrive, plus there’s a new, easy-to-use file picker API for websites (similar to our file picker for Windows 8 apps)

While we’re not seeing the new UI, it’s set to roll out “over the next 24 hours” Here’s a peek at what it will look like, via the blog post:

The update includes “a bunch” of new features, including Instant Search, even from within Office Documents stored in your SkyDrive; a contextual toolbar; multi-select drag and drop; and sorting improvements.

The update isn’t only for SkyDrive.com, either. The SkyDrive desktop app is being updated, too, and will roll out over the next week. While “selective sync” isn’t part of the update, it’s coming, soon:

We’ve heard feedback that some people would like to specify which folders in their SkyDrive sync to their PC. This can be due to space constraints on their laptop or tablet, or because they don’t want personal files syncing to their work PC. We’re working on a solution to this problem but can’t give specifics yet—stay tuned!

Photo uploads and a much faster syncing appearance did make this update, however, and you should find file syncs and photo uploads much faster, as demonstrated by this graph:

Oh, and one more thing: well two more things, really. An official Android app is coming “in just a few weeks”, and developer APIs have been updated to provide full control over photo upload resolution, no more file restrictions, and open and save file pickers.

You can learn more about the newest member of the “modern” family on the blog, or just check your SkyDrive and let us know if the SkyDrive.com update has rolled out to you!

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CokeZero
Still not having it here in the Netherland :’( Oh yeah, over the next 24 hours. Too enthousiast…
Hulmiho
still old UI. can’t wait!
- Isma20053
  It’s great and fast just go to http://www.skydrive.com
MsRose
Seeing it, but i think in terms of picture presentation those bright blue underlays and blocks of colour are quite in your face. Think i preferred the old more subdued number overlay.
Tribbiani
Looks good, can’t wait for my SkyDrive to be updated.
Robert
Mine is upgraded. It’s spiffy.
http://www.facebook.com/stefan.nordendal Stefan Nordendal
I don’t know what I think about the looks, but it works great :) The big tiles seem so empty if they don’t contain any picture.. only my photo folders/tiles seem nice. I also like the right click menues.. and the fact that I can change view so I don’t have to see the big tiles when I’m on a non touch device.
As bounus? I was invited to the office web apps preview program too, not the old office web apps.
So now my web app is in metro style too!
http://www.facebook.com/robinvanveghel Robin van Veghel
Mine has been updated also :)
http://gregsedwards.wordpress.com Greg Edwards
Got the update. What can I say, it’s gorgeous. Yeah, there’s some layout elements that are a bit awkward, but overall it’s a big improvement. I noticed that my Profile page has also been “modernized” with this update, along with the page(s) used to manage your personal information, privacy settings, and connected services. Those services that were previously known as “web activities” (Goodreads, Break, etc.) are gone, as is any trace of Messenger social (aside from the Messenger client, which was completely ignored in the last Essentials udpate). Favorite things, the last holdover from Spaces, has also been retired. Looks like the grand social experiment started with WL wave 3 has finally been laid to rest.
http://cid-280a1538334a1cb9.profile.live.com/ Seika
Upgraded too.
Like Greg said, the Profile page are also updated.
But the link for featured Skydrive application is still in the old style.
Last trace for Messenger Social is the back end. Still getting updates of Goodreads from friends in Windows Phone’s Peoples hub. Mine has stopped updating since long time ago though.
http://www.facebook.com/robinvanveghel Robin van Veghel
Now we need to wait till Calander updates
JSYOUNG571
Got mine and it is growing on me. Has anyone noticed that profile has been updated as well? Is the Facebook and Twitter feeds suppose to be in the right column of our inbox like messenger? Just a couple of questions I have.
- http://cid-280a1538334a1cb9.profile.live.com/ Seika
  It’s been there since Outlook.com
  Too bad there’s still no way to see the stream from Facebook and Twitter (other than the latest update) because it’s there in Windows 8′s Peoples application. Maybe they’re still waiting for the finalizing.
trulyindian
Yes, it has rolled out to me and also to my family members :) Still trying this and enjoying…
eknirb
UI updated last nite, looks cool.
Aa
Still can’t upload by drag&drop when I use Win8 RP’s IE10, unless I do F12. —-______—-|||| Should I blame skydrive like a IE fanboy or should I blame IE10 for failing to display something that it is capable of???