Redmond, Washington — After revealing its intentions to do so a few weeks ago, software maker Microsoft on Tuesday unleashed its first official SkyDrive cloud storage app for Android devices that can be downloaded now from the Google Play store.
The Redmond, Wash.-based company is pushing people to use SkyDrive with its upcoming Windows 8 OS and Office 2013 software. In fact, in the new version of Office, the default for saving files is now SkyDrive instead of your local hard drive.
And now, the newest member of the SkyDrive app family is officially on Android, which joins the already available SkyDrive for iOS and Windows Phone apps, Microsoft has mobile covered pretty well, too. Ideally, SkyDrive could become the easiest possible way to access files no matter what device you use.
Describing the releases cool aspects, the company executive said, “We want to make sure that you are able to have your files accessible across the various devices you use — so it is important that we continue to extend the SkyDrive experience to the devices you use every day,” SkyDrive group program manager Mike Torres wrote in a blog post. “This new app for Android is similar to our mobile apps for Windows Phone and iOS and is a key part of making sure your SkyDrive files are accessible and shareable from all your devices.”
The new application is free, and from the looks of it seems it covers all the essentials, letting you access and browse your personal documents, shared documents, and recently used documents.
Besides, it not merely provides remote access to SkyDrive content but also lets you manage your files, share files, and even add photos or videos to your SkyDrive account, directly from your Android device’s gallery. What is more, you can open your SkyDrive files from other installed Android apps.
On the other hand, with the app, you can easily select photos, videos, and other files from your phone and upload them to SkyDrive. You will also be able to obtain a link to share your files via email. Another nifty aspect that lets you open your SkyDrive files from just about any other Android apps.
Among other things, the app was designed to work best with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, though it will also work on Android 2.3 and above. Microsoft earlier this month said that it was working on a SkyDrive app for Android.
“In devising the new SkyDrive app for Android, we wanted to ensure we maintain the same intuitive design of all SkyDrive experiences while also making use of Android design patterns and conventional interactions, so this feels natural for people with Android phones,” Torres, wrote in a blog post Tuesday.
You can get a better look at the app in the video below.
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