In comparison: iCloud vs. SkyDrive

Cloud computing is the buzzword of recent times. However, a comparison of two prominent top products shows just how differently it can be interpreted: Apple's iCloud and Microsoft's SkyDrive.

SkyDrive: typical Internet hard disk

Microsoft's SkyDrive is more the typical representative of the "Internet hard disk" type. You do not store your data on your PC, but on the Internet. This means you can access and edit it from any Internet PC - whether it's text, spreadsheets, images, music or videos. This now also works with almost any smartphone: SkyDrive is integrated into Windows Phone out of the box, and Microsoft has also been offering apps for iPhones, iPads and Androids for some time now. In addition to the spruced-up interface, Microsoft has also recently increased the upload size limit from 100 megabytes to 2 gigabytes - which was urgently needed.

Also good: Skydrive can be integrated into Windows Explorer as an additional hard disk, making it particularly easy to upload and download files on your own PC. Unique to SkyDrive: Office files such as Word texts or Excel spreadsheets can be created and edited online and shared with other users. The 25 gigabytes of free storage space are also not to be sneezed at. There are only small deductions in the B grade: For example, the storage space cannot be expanded. 25 gigabytes is a lot, but if that's not enough, you'll have to switch to another provider. Last but not least, the Microsoft servers are located all over the world, and the strict German data protection laws do not apply. Overall, however, Microsoft has put together a great cloud package.

iCloud: iOS only

The iCloud approach can hardly be compared with Internet hard disks such as SkyDrive. iCloud is more of a Synchronization servicewhich synchronizes data of all kinds between mobile Apple devices (iOS 5 or higher) and computers (Macs from 10.7.2 and Windows PCs). It is not possible to save certain files manually on the web. When setting up iCloud, the user must decide which files should be in the same state on all devices, such as emails, appointments, contacts and photos. Synchronization then runs automatically in the background. For example, if you have taken a photo with your iPhone, it will automatically end up on other devices, such as your home computer or iPad.

It works in a similar way for apps, music and digital books: New purchases end up on all your other iOS devices without you having to do anything. But the iCloud can do even more: the "Find iPhone" service can be used to find out the location of devices and lock and delete them if necessary. Backups of iOS devices can also be created on the internet and the entire iTunes music library can be transferred to the web (iTunes Match). In the free basic version, the iCloud holds 5 gigabytes. This does not include apps, photos and books purchased from Apple. The five free gigabytes are reserved for emails, contacts, documents, photos, settings and backups. This is not particularly generous, especially if you have several devices. However, additional storage space is expensive: 10 gigabytes are available for 16 euros per year, 20 GB for 32 euros and 50 GB for 80 euros.

Conclusion:

Although both Skydrive and iCloud run under the term "cloud", the two services offer completely different functions. While with SkyDrive the user has full control over the data that goes online, with iCloud this is completely automated. So if you use an iPhone, you can combine both services perfectly. And if you don't own an iOS device, you can't use iCloud anyway.

Editorial advice: pc-type.com

Images: kebox (Fotolia), screenshots