How to use Microsoft SkyDrive to Store Your Video Files
When it comes to cloud storage, there are a lot of services to choose from. Although it's used less frequently than Apple's iCloud, Dropbox, and Amazon Cloud Drive, Microsoft SkyDrive isn't shy about comparisons - a chart on its website shows that it offers more free storage space and broader device support than the competition. That being said, Microsoft SkyDrive's specifically accommodates the Microsoft OS. It's the only cloud storage service that has an app for Windows phones, and offers complete integration with Microsoft Office.
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Getting Started With Windows SkyDrive:
To get started with Windows SkyDrive you'll need to create a Microsoft account or sign in with your existing account. If you use Hotmail, Messenger, Widows Phone, Xbox LIVE, Outlook.com, or a PC running Windows 8, you already have an account and can use this information to get started with SkyDrive. To create an account, you'll need to provide your basic information and create a username and password.The Microsoft account gives you access to similar services and features within the Windows environment as the Apple ID provides in iOS. Once you create an account, you use this information to sign in from any device so that you can access your documents, photos, and videos from anywhere with an internet connection. In addition, the devices you use that have SkyDrive installed can be configured to automatically back up your information to the cloud, so that if you add a new photo to your photo library, the new photo will appear in SkyDrive so you can access it anytime, anywhere.
Uploading Videos to SkyDrive:
Once you've created a Windows account you can download the SkyDrive app to any of the devices you use to connect to the internet, including your mobile device, tablet, and PC. The apps are compatible with Windows, iOS and Android operating systems. The desktop app functions similarly to other cloud applications - you'll see an icon in your task bar and there will also be a SkyDrive folder added to the Windows Explorer window or the Mac Finder window.To synch a folder of videos to your SkyDrive, simply find the folder in your browser, right click, and choose SkyDrive. From now on, any video that you add to the folder will be added to the cloud, and anything you remove will be deleted. Uploading video can take some time, so be patient during this initial process.
SkyDrive provides media playback within the browser or app you're using to access your files. This means you don't have to download your video files each time you want to watch them, making them quickly and easily accessible from wherever you may be. In addition, your collaborators can stream shared video clips right from the cloud so there's no need to wait for feedback. Microsoft uses a proprietary player for playback called Silverlight (the same player used by Netflix), so you'll need to download this web app if you're having problems with playback. I recommend using the browser that's native to your operating system when using Silverlight. For iOS users, this is Safari, and for Windows users, this is Internet Explorer.
SkyDrive supports playback for .mp4, .wmv, .mov, and .m4v video files so you shouldn't have to change formats just to use this service. But it's always a good idea to compress video before you upload it to the web, especially if you're working in HD. Use a free video compression software like MPEG Streamclip to make your file smaller by changing the codec to h.264.
SkyDrive is a great cloud storage system to use if you need more space on the cloud and are looking for integration across devices. SkyDrive comes with added features and Windows Phone support that make this cloud service a must-have for any dedicated Windows users.
All prices as of March 2013.
