Today Microsoft announced a name change for their online cloud storage service previously known as Windows Live Folders: Windows Live SkyDrive. The name brings a slick new update to the beta as well including a new uploader tool for uploading files, thumbnail views, and of course the new UI itself.

Windows Live SkyDrive is Microsoft’s cloud storage service currently in beta. You essentially get a 500MB harddrive on the web to store your files. You can create folders to share with friends or keep files protected and viewable only by yourself. The Geek and I have a shared folder for us to share graphics files while working on the theme for this site. SkyDrive has been a huge help in allowing us to quickly share files.

I expect this service to evolve into something pretty interesting as we move forward and certainly worth watching. The possibilities of how Microsoft can extend this cool service are endless… and that’s what is exciting.

Give the service a try at skydrive.live.com. Let us know what you think. We’re interesting in hearing what you think about storing data in the cloud (the internet for non-geek speakers).

Wow! I am really impressed with this app, so many options. I was just telling my counterpart Mr.Leblanc how much I am enjoying all of the new Live app’s. they have such a consistent flow to them, I love how everything is uniformed. No offense to MS but the yesteryears of Live app’s were not this good. But I understand things take time and patience, and I really think MS has pulled it off with this line of applications (Live Messenger, Live Writer, Live Mail). If you don’t know what Live Writer is all about here is Microsoft’s explanation “Windows Live Writer Beta is a desktop application that makes it easy to publish rich content to your blog.” So in essence it is what FrontPage use to be for other web content, but strictly for blogs. Live writer supports Live Spaces, SharePoint, WordPress, Blogger, LiveJournal, TypePad, Moveable Type, Community Server, and many other weblog services. It is a client side app so you can always edit content even if you are offline. So far so good! Here is the link to download this very effective beta app! Did I mention that it is incredibly easy to use.

The Windows Live Spaces Team has announced that Windows Live Spaces received 3 months worth of new updates to the service this past week. Users can expect to see the following changes:

• Updated Windows Live Spaces Homepage
• New Birthday Notifications
• Ability to re-order Lists
• View Image Slideshows in Full-Screen mode
• New Download Photo Option for Photos in Galleries
• New Templates based on what you want to do
• Clickable Blog Entry Title

Windows Live Spaces is now also available in 8 new markets: Bulgaria, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Serbia, and the Ukraine. This update signifies the commitment the Spaces Team has to improving the service at an amazing pace. It seems we’re getting new updates to the service every few months which is a good feeling as a user of the service myself.

This update also introduces the brand new Windows Live Header taking the place of the old-style flare design that’s been in use for quite some time. The new header signifies the direction Microsoft is heading with Windows Live with the 2.0 releases of services and new desktop applications and ties the UI together. I love the new header myself. I can’t wait to see it across Windows Live.

Windows Live Spaces is shaping up to be a very useful social-networking service for sharing photos, information with family members and friends. It’s certainly not Facebook though. But it does have quite a bit of potential.

This post was written using Windows Live Writer.