SkyDrive is no more: long live OneDrive

Martin Brinkmann
Jan 27, 2014
Updated • Jan 27, 2014
Microsoft
|
11

Ah, Microsoft and the names it selects for its products. First it was Metro for the new Windows 8 user interface or design language, which had to be changed because of German Metro AG.

And now SkyDrive, which the British Sky Broadcasting Group did not like at all. It was clear that Microsoft had to pick a new name for the file synchronzation, hosting, and viewing and editing service.

The new name for SkyDrive has been announced, and it is: OneDrive. Why OneDrive you may ask? Microsoft gives a short explanation on the new OneDrive blog:

We know that increasingly you will have many devices in your life, but you really want only one place for your most important stuff. One place for all of your photos and videos. One place for all of your documents. One place that is seamlessly connected across all the devices you use. You want OneDrive for everything in your life.

So, one remote storage space for all of your files, regardless of type. Not ingenious if you ask me, but close enough to the original name so that the name change itself should not confuse the majority of users too much.

Existing users of SkyDrive or SkyDrive Pro are all set according to Microsoft. Service will continue uninterrupted and the only thing that is going to change is the name of the product, and the website the files are made available on.

Instead of using skydrive.com for that, the new destination is onedrive.com. It is likely that an update to the SkyDrive client will apply the name change and make sure that the new domain name is used when you want to access or share files.

Microsoft has created a video for the new OneDrive, which you find below:

New users who do not use SkyDrive yet can head over to the OneDrive website to receive information when the service opens for business. It is interesting to note that SkyDrive is still functional at the time of writing, so that you can still sign up for an account if you so desire.

This will change when OneDrive is officially open for business.  What is your take on the name?

Advertisement

Tutorials & Tips


Previous Post: «
Next Post: «

Comments

  1. tPenguinLTG said on January 28, 2014 at 2:43 pm
    Reply

    Wow… did anyone else notice that the background music for their promotional video sounds strikingly similar to Brian Orr’s CLOUDS.MID, the soundtrack for the Windows 95 credits easter egg? (Best Microsoft MIDI file, by the way)

  2. insanelyapple said on January 28, 2014 at 12:36 am
    Reply

    That “short explanation” on their blog is just a beautiful example of marketing bullshit.

    As for storing data: I don’t trust them since they were able once to scan uploaded pictures to check for pornography etc.

  3. wayfarer said on January 27, 2014 at 11:29 pm
    Reply

    Does it even matter?

    Cloud storage is vapourware for people with moderate broadband connections – and that’s the majority, whatever the hype. Not to mention that MS cloud storage is staggeringly insecure (from Microsoft’s attentions let alone anyone else’s.)

    I can’t fathom why people think this stuff is so useful. And that applies to most cloud storage IMHO – not just MS’s. Adding that to upload speeds (which soon reveal what the A in ADSL means) – you’d better have plenty of time to spare.

    I prefer to buy terabyte usb3 drives for backup (cheap as chips these days) and keep my data both secure and fast to access. And … PRIVATE!

    1. InterestedBystander said on January 28, 2014 at 2:34 pm
      Reply

      At the light industrial plant where I work someone asked, “What happens to the automation databases if the administration building burns down?” After that I started putting compressed copies of those databases on SkyDrive. When compressed they’re only half a gb, so it’s a matter of a few minutes extra to include that precaution. As far as personal data, I only put unencrypted data on the cloud if it’s trivial.

    2. Andrew said on January 27, 2014 at 11:43 pm
      Reply

      I don’t believe “vapourware” would be the best way to describe a product that maybe not be used by some people, because it exists. I have what I believe is a moderate broadband connection (10/1mbit cable) and I could understand how it is useful because if you travel a lot or need your stuff on multiple devices it does simplify things.

      As for backup, I am a big fan of Crashplan because it is encrypted (with my own secret password that CP doesnt have) before it is sent. Offsite backup has a benefit over just backing up to an external drive because if your house burns down then it’s all gone. The only thing comparable is if you backup to a drive and take that drive to a secure location like a safety deposit box. I will admit that that it took a long time for me to back up, like 4-5 months, but it wasn’t that big of an issue, and if I really wanted to mail them my encrypted data on a HD to speed up the backup process, I could have. I wouldn’t recommend google drive or skydrive for backup because of the limited space and how insecure it is.

      All and all, cloud storage is useful, but insecure if things are saved unencrypted before the upload.

  4. Arne Anka said on January 27, 2014 at 8:36 pm
    Reply

    OneDrive? Wonder what Ubuntu will have to say about that? Isn’t it to close to their Ubuntu One service?

    1. solidstate said on January 27, 2014 at 8:51 pm
      Reply

      No. It no more apes Ubuntu One than Box does Dropbox. Don’t be foolish.

    2. InterestedBystander said on January 27, 2014 at 8:47 pm
      Reply

      Yeah, it is. They’d only care if it contained the word “ubuntu”, I’ll bet. I use Ubuntu One for my KeePassX file but that’s about all.

  5. Andrew said on January 27, 2014 at 6:52 pm
    Reply

    You know, regarding online cloud storage names, my favorite probably is still x-drive. This was back when cloud storage was barely starting. 25MB of cloud storage, which was much better than floppy had to offer, but the software registered under x: meaning that it acted like a physical drive which I thought was awesome.

    But, as usual, bought out by AOL and neglected to destruction.

  6. InterestedBystander said on January 27, 2014 at 4:03 pm
    Reply

    My take on the name? It’s uninspired, I guess. Could have been StratoLocker, WinDrive, SpotOn, PlaceHolder, or ChimpNest. I kind of like the last one, actually.

    Not to derail any discussion of the name, but what are users’ take on the security of online storage? I mean, the NSA (and probably Chinese, British, Israeli, Russian, and German agencies) can intercept traffic to and from server farms if they wish. It’s theoretically possible that some nations will enact laws that could, in the future, force cloud repositories to share data with security agencies when commanded to do so.

    Do most of you encrypt data files before uploading them to cloud services? Do people worry about it, or just assume that Dropbox and OneDrive and Ubuntu1 and the others are safe enough?

    1. Andrew said on January 27, 2014 at 6:45 pm
      Reply

      I worry about it, that’s why I never upload anything that I wish to keep private. Actually I think I only have two files uploaded (one on google drive and one on skydrive). For everything else I keep it at home on my server or on my encrypted USB key.

      I never understood people who use cloud storage for EVERYTHING (e.g. my mom). Is it convenient to have everything accessible? sure, but I figure I did just fine before cloud storage, so why become dependent on it now?

Leave a Reply

Check the box to consent to your data being stored in line with the guidelines set out in our privacy policy

We love comments and welcome thoughtful and civilized discussion. Rudeness and personal attacks will not be tolerated. Please stay on-topic.
Please note that your comment may not appear immediately after you post it.