The idea of cloud computing is the invention of new age technologies and the primary benefit of cloud is the unlimited storage space that it offers. A personal cloud space is now made available by Google, Amazon, Apple, IBM and Microsoft.
With large chunks of data being an issue and the increasing number of files and folders, cloud assures us that our content is safe and always available. OneDrive (previously known as SkyDrive) is the latest entry in the queue.
How to use OneDrive?
To access OneDrive you require a Microsoft account. If you have windows10 then the OneDrive app is in built in the system and you can directly log in from your device. Else you can also visit OneDrive website and sign in to your account and start uploading and sharing files.
What makes OneDrive special?
Microsoft’s latest cloud platform is more flexible that the other contemporaries available in the market. OneDrive is built-in with windows 10 and comes as a feature of Microsoft office. Moreover, it can also be accessed from other platforms like android, Mac and so on. While iCloud can only be accessed from Apple, Microsoft has leaped ahead of the rival with platform independence.
Features
1. Backup: OneDrive is primarily used as a backup service. Instead of burdening your laptop with data, you can always keep a portion of it in OneDrive for free.
2. Synchronization: It is used as a service which can sync the folders and files. Once you have signed in you can directly upload the folders or even sync folders with your own device.
3. Space: The service offers a free space of up to 15 GB while older users had the facility to grab a space of up to 25 GB. Moreover, you can also buy more space (100 GB for $1.99/month) or refer the service to your friends to get bonus space.
4. Hosting: OneDrive allows hosting a file upto 10GB. The files that are hosted in OneDrive can be accessed by others and result in a collaborated production.
5. Media Support: The platform supports almost all necessary media from image files to music to movies. The documents can be accessed by Office 365 while music is played with Groove, Microsoft’s streaming music service.
6. Integrated with other apps: Another useful feature is the integration of OneDrive with other Windows applications. Now, several apps can store the data and retrieve the data directly from one drive without clouding your device.
Best OneDrive Alternatives
Google Drive: The best alternative to store, share, sync and backup your files. It also offers 15 GB free storage space and can be increased with premium package.
DropBox: A highly popular alternative that allows storing and sharing of folders. But they only have a free space of 2GB, so for large data storage it is not much help.
Amazon Cloud Drive: Cloud platform shared by Amazon offering a free space of 5 GB. It can store media files and has an easy interface.