Decade in review: No single service affected me more in the 2022s than OneDrive

OneDrive Windows 10 Mobile Source: Windows Central

This past decade saw the nail of smartphone ubiquity, the rise of virtual reality, and the revolution of computer design, simply the single most impactful slice of engineering for me in the by decade is a simple service, OneDrive. OneDrive doesn't accept the flash or sexiness of some technology, but it fulfills Microsoft's vision of modern calculating that users can access from anywhere.

What is OneDrive

Use OneDrive Source: Windows Central

OneDrive is Microsoft'due south start-party cloud storage solution. It allows people to store documents, files, images, and videos on the deject, which can exist accessed from just about any device connected to the web. It has apps on Windows 10, iOS, and Android, and works with Windows 10's file system and macOS. OneDrive is likewise available on the web, allowing people to access files from any computer.

OneDrive works for personal storage of files also as sharing files with others. OneDrive files and folders tin be shared with individuals, groups, or prepare to public so anyone can access them.

OneDrive is a cadre service of Microsoft, assuasive services like Office Online to work smoothly as people can edit files and see those changes in real-fourth dimension.

History of OneDrive

SkyDrive on Windows Phone Source: Windows Cardinal

Similar many technologies, OneDrive began under a unlike name and evolved over fourth dimension. OneDrive's original technological ancestor was Windows Live Folders, which launched to beta testers in August 2007. To proceeds more than insight into OneDrive's origins, we need to accept a look dorsum through the WayBackMachine to see an article from Paul Thurrot's SuperSite for Windows from 2007. At the fourth dimension, Microsoft was consolidating spider web services and products under the Windows make. 1 of the newly appear services dorsum then was Windows Alive Folders, which was split into Personal Folders, Shared Folders, and Public Folders. These core concepts alive on in OneDrive, which allows you to take folders viewable just by you, folders shared with specific people, and folders that tin can be accessed by anyone with a link. Thurrott summed up the vision of Windows Live from 2007, "Looking alee, Microsoft is working on the next-generation version of Windows Live, which it sees delivering equally a set of software and services suites, one each for the browser, Windows PCs, and Windows Mobile-based devices."

Early on on in the service's infancy, Windows Live Folders, which was codenamed SkyDrive from the starting time, became Windows Alive SkyDrive. Windows Live Photos was integrated with the service, which paved the manner for OneDrive's photo-based features available today.

SkyDrive on Windows and Windows Phone Source: Windows Fundamental

A major update to SkyDrive in 2022 brought support for Office Web Apps, which are at present known equally Part Online. This was a major step towards Office's cloud-heavy time to come and the ability to use Office apps on any device.

2011 saw the release of SkyDrive apps on Windows Telephone and iOS, and Windows an macOS apps followed in 2022. With a SkyDrive app on almost major platforms and integrations with photo services and an online version of Office in place, SkyDrive greatly resembled the cadre of what OneDrive is today.

OneDrive officially came to be in 2022 when a lawsuit past British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB), now known every bit Heaven Great britain, forced Microsoft to change the proper noun of SkyDrive. A High Court Ruling in the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland stated that the apply of the word "heaven" dislocated customers equally BSkyB had several services that included the proper noun "heaven," such as Sky Become streaming. After a transition period, SkyDrive became OneDrive.

OneDrive continued to meet general updates and improvements post-obit the branding shift and gained an Android app as well. Between the rebranding in 2022 and the stop of 2022, OneDrive became a viable cloud storage option for documents, images, and videos. At that time, it also gained deep integration with several Microsoft's services.

Why OneDrive is my most important tech of the decade

OneDrive on Android Source: Windows Central

In the concluding decade, I've had or worked regularly on an iPhone, ii Surface devices, iii Lumia devices, an Android phone, an iPad, a MacBook Pro, multiple Windows laptops, and a Windows desktop. At the same time, I've lived or spent pregnant fourth dimension in Idaho, Maryland, England, and Wisconsin. I've had 3 dissimilar total-time jobs, attended three colleges or universities, and worked several freelance jobs along the way. I've also played for or coached four American football teams. Throughout most of this, I've had a OneDrive (or SkyDrive) account and used it in nigh every facet of my life.

I have files, photos, videos, playbooks, and but near every type of file y'all tin think of in my OneDrive account. I continue a showreel and video CV on my account. The playbook and motion-picture show for my team, the Nottingham Caesars Juniors, is on OneDrive. My workout plan at the gym is on OneDrive, so I tin can view it on my telephone and edit it at home. I use information technology for work, play, and hobbies.

In improver to storing files, OneDrive immune me to work from about anywhere. When I was at university, I could log on to my work or personal account at the library or from home. When I upload photos for work, I can access them on any of my house'due south devices. I also use Office Online frequently to runway thespian attendance, update plays on unlike devices, and share insights through OneNote.

OneDrive on iPad Pro Source: Windows Central

I recognize that OneDrive isn't the only cloud storage solution in boondocks. I've used Dropbox and iCloud, and they accept some excellent features, but my personal workflow has e'er gravitated towards OneDrive. I got OneDrive or SkyDrive through my universities without any additional cost. I also have a ton of OneDrive storage now because my family unit has Office 365.

And then far, these have been very personal examples, but they exemplify Microsoft's vision for modern computing. Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella, often states that the future of calculating isn't virtually devices, it'due south about people. People work beyond devices, locations, and operating systems, and having a service that does the same is vital for modern productivity.

I echo back to Thurrott's summary of the vision of the ancestor of OneDrive, "Looking ahead, Microsoft is working on the next-generation version of Windows Live, which information technology sees delivering as a fix of software and services suites, one each for the browser, Windows PCs, and Windows Mobile-based devices." Over the terminal ten years, Microsoft delivered that vision.

An internet connection will soon be required when setting up Windows 11 Pro

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An internet connection will soon be required when setting up Windows xi Pro

Microsoft has announced that subsequently this year, users will exist required to connect to the internet and sign-in with a Microsoft Account during the out of box setup feel on Windows 11 Pro. Microsoft has already been enforcing this requirement on Windows 11 Home since launch terminal Oct, and Windows xi Pro is now expected to follow adjust soon.