OneDrive is a great way to store your files in the cloud so they are accessible on any device you have. Today, Microsoft introduced a handful of new features for OneDrive, mostly related to the way users manage their photos using the cloud storage service.
We all tend to capture photos from all our devices, whether it be a smartphone or a DSLR camera. So keeping up with them could be a little difficult. Over the next month, Windows 7 and 8 users will be able to automatically import photos from phones, desktop and inbox. All you have to do is connect your device to your computer (such as your phone, camera, USB stick, external HDD, etc) and back up your photos, not just on your computer, but on OneDrive as well so you could access it from any device you possess.
The photos will automatically be saved in new folder named “Camera imports.” It doesn’t end there, hitting the screenshot button will not only save it in the clipboard, but you’ll get another copy in the cloud so you could easily share it. As for the ones saved in the inbox, Microsoft already introduced the “Save to OneDrive” feature for Outlook.com, giving users the ability to save attachments online with a single click.
The company also introduced a new way to view, manage and share your photos with a new feature they call Albums. The new feature makes sure your photos stand out with an edge to edge display and presents them a beautiful collage layout. Upon clicking, the images takes up the whole screen. Albums are different than the usual folders as they give users the ability to bring photos from anywhere in OneDrive — mobile device, email, folders, etc. Best of all, to make sure it gives a good experience, the view is same on your desktop, mobile browsers and even mobile apps. As always, the new Albums feature will first make its way to the web as well as the iOS app today, followed by Android and Windows Phone.
Finally, the new update introduces improved search capabilities, powered by Bing so you can search files on your OneDrive based on time, location and text from images themselves, as well search the photos through tags created manually.
Further reading: Microsoft, OneDrive, Windows, Windows 10, Windows 8
