Skydrive.com, the file hosting service that allows users to upload and sync files to a cloud storage, and then access them from a Web browser or their local device, has recently got a facelift in the form of several new apps and an upgraded API. Besides, Microsoft has also updated SkyDrive apps for PCs and Macs, created a new SkyDrive app for Android devices, and improved developer offerings. Here’s a quick view of the updates:

• SkyDrive.com – New, modern design for desktop and tablet browsers with instant search, contextual toolbar, thumbnail multi-select, drag-and-drop organization, and HTML5 sorting.

• SkyDrive for Windows desktop & OS X – Faster uploads for people around the world and tons of bug and performance improvements under the hood.

• SkyDrive for Android – A new app that lets you access, upload and share from Android phones

• SkyDrive for developers – Apps built using our SkyDrive API can now store or access any type of file in a person’s SkyDrive, plus there’s a new, easy-to-use file picker API for websites.

A few days back, Microsoft launched the preview of Outlook.com that received an overwhelming response in the form of over 10 million people signing up and using Outlook.com. The company is expecting the same trend for Skydrive as well. This update is specifically important for the developers as the API is what got the 100% change, and is focused to provide a fast and fluid web experience on all browsers and devices. There are no longer any restrictions on the types of files that an application uploads to SkyDrive, plus there is a picker for opening and saving files to SkyDrive by adding a few lines of JavaScript to any website.

Some of the prominent UI changes include default tile-based layout of folders and files. Other updates include addition of new features, like instant search, a contextual toolbar to make common actions and commands easier, multi-select and drag-and-drop, and some new sorting options. While these were the updates for Skydrive.com, the SkyDrive for Windows desktop & OS X also experienced updates like photo upload and quick processing and functionalities. The visual performance, such as charts have also been improved.

Back in April this year, Microsoft added new features to Skydrive, like new apps and greater synchronization abilities across mobile and PC devices. The company did this update in order to tackle with Google that entered the battlefield with ‘Google Drive’. Other companies that also updated their tools included Box and Dropbox. Box announced a new API for their open platform, unveiled 15 new OneCloud application partners, and formed partnerships with General Assembly and TechStars. And Dropbox added the option of turning private files into public, linkable content, shifting the cloud storage service to a file-sharing service similar to the defunct Megaupload.