Microsoft has revamped its SkyDrive file hosting service to match its rebranded Hotmail webmail service, Outlook.com.

The software giant’s cloud storage service competes directly with Dropbox and Google Drive. However, it has yet to gain traction on the mobile market, especially without an app to extend support among Android device owners.

Now Microsoft has redesigned SkyDrive not only visually, but taking desktop apps out of preview and introduced an Android version for smartphones.

The company claims the new SkyDrive as modern and innovative but actually borrows the design found on its Outlook.com webmail service. Microsoft also added search for contents and file names for Microsoft Word documents, Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint files stored within the service.

According to Microsoft, it also enhances the speed of Windows desktop clients that use SkyDrive with lesser processing time. Even though the company’s effort on CPU cycles is praiseworthy, the big news actually centers on the launch of a dedicated SkyDrive app for Android in the coming weeks.

For now, SkyDrive users who open their accounts on Android devices will have to make do with the web version. Microsoft displayed a few screenshots of its SkyDrive app for Android in preview that includes its ability to browse pictures.

Apart from that, the Redmond-based software giant lifted limitations for developers on file types that third party apps can upload directly to SkyDrive. Uploaded images are now in their native resolution as well.

More:

Microsoft Hotmail is now Outlook.com

Source: Windows Team Blog

Image: Sam Churchill via Flickr (CC)

About Francis Rey Balolong

A coffee junkie who spends most of his time writing about the latest news on social media and mobile technology. I would definitely consider myself a nerd (in the coolest most hipster way possible). That being said, I love technology, music, writing, and all things mobile. Follow me: Google+ Twitter

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