Microsoft updates its Windows and Mac SkyDrive apps

Today Microsoft is starting the process of updating both the Windows and Mac SkyDrive applications that the company shipped slightly more than one month ago.

In April, when the apps came out, we called them a ‘direct hit,’ noting that in the now-hot war for consumer mindshare in regards to cloud storage, Microsoft had made a strong move; by adopting even the platform of its chief rival, it made a bid to become the cloud storage solution for everyone. Also, the linking of local storage systems to cloud space was an intuitive, and useful move.

Via the Microsoft post, here’s what’s changing in the desktop apps [Condensed by TNW]:

• SkyDrive for Windows desktop will power a cool new feature in the upcoming Windows 8 Release Preview […] Right from the Photos app in Windows 8, you can fetch photos stored on your other PCs that have SkyDrive installed – no matter where you are or how many terabytes of photos you have stored on the PC you are accessing.
• SkyDrive for OS X Lion no longer shows an app icon in the dock when running. We’ve definitely heard the feedback that it wasn’t necessary.
• Your SkyDrive folder now updates more quickly and reliably when changes are made on other devices, including SkyDrive.com.
• The limit on the number of total files in the SkyDrive folder created by the apps has been raised from 150,000 to a whopping 10 million! This should unblock some power users from easily adding lots of files to their SkyDrive folder.
• We made lots of smaller bug fixes to improve overall reliability.

That’s a good list – a blend of ‘heh, we shouldn’t have done that,’ and ‘oh, we can fix that, hold on.’ SkyDrive competes with products from Google, Apple, Box and others. That level of competitions means that consumers are certainly going to win in the long haul, as the various players beat on each other over who can provide the best service.

For a better look at SkyDrive, and where it fits into the Microsoft empire head here.