Brier Dudley's Blog
Brier Dudley offers a critical look at technology and business issues affecting the Northwest.
E-mail Brier|
206.515.5687
|
Follow Brier on Twitter|
Microsoft Pri0 blog|
Subscribe | Blog Home
December 2, 2008 1:22 PM
Deal of the day: 25 gigs of free cloud storage, and more, from Microsoft
Posted by Brier Dudley
Microsoft really, really wants people to try its Live Web services.
It wants users so bad, it's acting like a geeky fraternity that hangs out a "free beer" sign to lure people into its parties.
If you don't mind stepping into Microsoft's world, they're pretty nice services and the freebies are pretty generous.
Cashback's been getting attention lately, but a bunch of upgraded Windows Live services announced today are worth a look.
Especially the upgraded SkyDrive storage service, which lets you upload, store and share up to 25 gigabytes of data for free.
That's the equivalent of Microsoft giving you a free external storage device. The catch is that you've got to register with Microsoft, if you aren't already registered to use a service like Hotmail. If you use SkyDrive to share with friends and family, they've got to be registered as well.
The free storage can also be used with Microsoft's upgraded Windows Live Photos management and sharing service. It looks great and taps the 25 gigabytes of storage, but it's also designed to propagate Microsoft's (free) Silverlight presentation software:
Other freebies, offered in exchange for your joining the Microsoft club, include:
-- A new Live dashboard that makes it a more appealing home page/start page if you're using Live services for mail, photo sharing and calendaring. The dashboard displays messages, appointments and photos from your collection. Kind of reminds me of the home page/dashboard designed by Seattle's Cozi. The new Live dashboard:
-- A new service called Windows Live Groups, a service for teams, clubs and other groups to set up a space where they can share files, host discussions and post updates. Each group gets a profile page where they can have a shared calendar, photos and access to the group's own Skydrive space.
-- Windows Live Profile pages were upgraded so you can now add Facebook-like updates on what you're up to currently.
-- Microsoft also removed banner ads from the top of its Spaces social networking pages and upgraded the interface of its Events calendaring service.
It remains to be seen how much traction the upgrades give these services, which haven't been able to match the buzz of their hip Silicon Valley competitors. But you can't beat the price.
Digg
Newsvine
UPDATE - 2:02 PM
Recently listed
Popular searches
nwjobs
Post a comment
Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos
Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
Open Houses | Find this weekend's open house listings.  Or search by location: |
- Flags were key link to cop slaying, bombings
- Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
- Briefs | Soccer: New Mexico suspends hair-pulling player Elizabeth Lambert
- Bombs, guns found at home of suspect in Officer Brenton's slaying
- Huskies suffer another heartbreaking loss to UCLA
- How an underdog named Mike McGinn took City Hall
- McGinn pulling away as late ballots come in
- 3 Cascade Mountain passes close due to snow; more rain, wind expected Sunday
- Using anti-shooter tactics, civilian Army police officer brought down gunman
- Heavy snow in Cascades shuts down roads
- UCLA game thread
940 - Weapons, bomb-making materials found in suspect's apartment 336
- U.S. House passes health plan 276
- Bombs, guns found at home of suspect in Officer Brenton's slaying 218
- Decision day for health care in the House 203
- Grading the game 128
- Referendum 71 show's Washington's strategy for marriage equality is working 124
- Huskies suffer another heartbreaking loss to UCLA 107
- How an underdog named Mike McGinn took City Hall 71
- Fort Hood shooting suspect had shown troubling signs 47
- Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
- Flags were key link to cop slaying, bombings
- The birth of 'Grunge,' in photos by Michael Lavine
- 10 ways to take control of your health
- 10 investing missteps to avoid
- How do innovators think?
- Bombs, guns found at home of suspect in Officer Brenton's slaying
- Danny Westneat | Lee the Horse Logger found slow wagon shrank tumor
- Tlingit heritage helps glass artist Preston Singletary break new ground
- Guest columnist | Cut the South Carolina jokes, Seattle. Get ready to compete
May
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
| 1 | 2 | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| 31 |
Video
Demo of the Week: TeachStreet.com
Share your thoughts!
Gadgets and games | Fun stuff I've written about lately includes Apple's iPhone, Hewlett-Packard's HDX laptop and Microsoft's Halo3. Also on the radar are new digital video boxes such as the Tivo HD and the Vudu.