What is OneDrive and how can I benefit from using it is OneDrive and how can youWhat is OneDrive and...
Transcript of What is OneDrive and how can I benefit from using it is OneDrive and how can youWhat is OneDrive and...
What is OneDrive and how can youWhat is OneDrive and how can youWhat is OneDrive and how can youWhat is OneDrive and how can you benefit from using it? benefit from using it? benefit from using it? benefit from using it?
Blog Post Date: February 24th, 2014
Category: Technology made easy
Author: Ulrika Hedlund
Source: http://www.businessproductivity.com/what-is-onedrive-and-how-can-you-benefit-from-using-it
OneDrive is the new name for Microsoft’s online storage offering that up until now has been
known as SkyDrive. According to Microsoft, the new name “OneDrive” better aligns with the
vision of having everything in one place. The new name is being rolled out globally,
however, you will still see the old name “SkyDrive” here and there until all applications
have been updated with the new name. If you aren’t already using OneDrive (SkyDrive) I
warmly recommend you start. It’s a free service and it’s much more than just “free storage.”
In this week’s GetSharp blog article I’ll share with you a number of ways you can benefit
from using OneDrive.
1.1.1.1. AAAAutomatically sutomatically sutomatically sutomatically save a backup ave a backup ave a backup ave a backup copy copy copy copy of your filesof your filesof your filesof your files First and foremost, OneDrive helps you sleep better at night because you don’t have to
worry about losing all your documents due to a hard disk failure or computer theft (which
unfortunately happens when you least expect it). If you download the OneDrive app to your
computer (PC or Mac), the documents, pictures, videos, and everything else you save into
your OneDrive folders will automatically be synchronized to “the cloud”. In other words,
your documents will be saved on servers in a secure data center managed by Microsoft. You
don’t have to worry about hard drive crashes or your house catching on fire – your files are
safe! The beauty with OneDrive is that you can use it to back up files from all your devices –
OneDrive is available for iPhones, Android phones and Windows Phones, iPads, Android
tablets and Windows tablets, Windows PCs and Macs. By default you get 7 Gb of free
storage, if you want to extend that you can purchase additional capacity.
2.2.2.2. Access your files Access your files Access your files Access your files from from from from anyanyanyanywherewherewherewhere By having a copy of your files available on the Internet, all you need is your Microsoft
Account login name and your password to access them from anywhere – on any device. As
long as you have an Internet connection and a device with a browser you are good to go.
Imagine that you are visiting a customer to do a presentation but your computer doesn’t
start. No need to worry, just borrow a computer from anyone in the room, open up a web
browser and login to your OneDrive account. Now you can access the presentation from
there!
3.3.3.3. EEEEasily switch between asily switch between asily switch between asily switch between differentdifferentdifferentdifferent devicesdevicesdevicesdevices In addition to saving your files to OneDrive, you can also use OneDrive (still called SkyDrive
in Windows) to save your Windows 8 computer settings so that you can easily switch
between different devices. I have a huge, heavy laptop with Windows 8.1 that I use as my
main work computer to do video production. Whenever I’m out and about I use a Microsoft
Surface Pro 2 which is really light and handy. Whether I log in to my heavy laptop or my
Surface, the experience is the same. I have access to my Internet favorites, my login screen,
my Start Page layout with all my tiles and apps. No time is lost, I can immediately get to
work where I last left off!
4.4.4.4. Share Share Share Share files files files files with whowith whowith whowith whomevermevermevermever you want you want you want you want ---- whenwhenwhenwheneverevereverever you wantyou wantyou wantyou want OneDrive makes it really easy to share documents, pictures and videos with others - on your
terms. You decide who gets to access the files and what they can do with them – either just
view them or if you allow others to edit them. At any point in time you can revoke access by
turning off the sharing. Whether you want to share pictures from your mobile phone with
your family, or you want to share documents with vendors – you just select the folder and
click “Share” and enter the email address of the people you want to share with. There are no
requirements for the people you want to share with, they only need to have the sharing link
to access the files (unless you want to increase security by requiring them to login with a
Microsoft account).
5.5.5.5. FFFFree ree ree ree access to Office Onlineaccess to Office Onlineaccess to Office Onlineaccess to Office Online Another huge benefit of using OneDrive is that you get access to Office Online, free of charge
on any device. This means that you can use web based versions of Excel, Word, PowerPoint,
OneNote and Outlook without paying for a license. The online versions are extremely rich in
functionality and most of the editing you need to accomplish can be done through the
browser. Even though I wouldn’t recommend it for everyday use, it’s perfect if you need to
work on your documents on a device where you don’t have the full Microsoft Office desktop
version installed. It also enables you to share and collaborate on documents in real-time
with other people who might (or might not have) Microsoft Office.
DonDonDonDon’t wait until it’t wait until it’t wait until it’t wait until it’s too late’s too late’s too late’s too late In today’s world where such a big part of our lives is digital you owe it to yourself to have
proper backup of your data. Often, the backup of your work files are taken care of by your
organization, but what about all your private documents and pictures? In order for backups
to be really effective, the process needs to be seamless and automatic. There should be no
extra effort on your part to keep your files backed up. Setting up OneDrive takes a bit of
effort initially when you need to set up your account, download the application and
synchronize your files to OneDrive. But once that is done, the backup of your files is
automatic. So do yourself a favor and make sure your data is properly backed up - don’t
wait until it’s too late!