Skip to main content

How do you like the new office? Microsoft Office 365, SkyDrive get updates

new office 365 update skydrive skype 20gb microsoft logo
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Do you use Office 365? How about SkyDrive? If so, then you’re in luck. Microsoft’s productivity suite and cloud storage service are getting new updates, granting their users some perks that are pretty nifty.

If you have an Office 365 Home Premium subscription, to this point, you’ve benefited from two significant perks: an extra 20GB of SkyDrive cloud storage and 60 minutes of free calling via Skype to more than 40 countries. Up until now, only those who paid for the Office 365 Home Premium subscription would get to take advantage of these benefits. With the new update, those who subscribe to Office 365 Home Premium will be able to share these SkyDrive and Skype perks with up to four people. The perk sharing feature will kick in sometime “next month.”

If you’ve ever used Google Docs, then you’re probably familiar with its collaborative features, which make it easy for multiple people to edit the same document, spreadsheet, etc. The new update gives SkyDrive’s productivity Web apps, which include cloud-based versions of Word, Excel, and other Office staples; and similar functionality, allowing users to work with others through the cloud. SkyDrive’s Word app will now have an Autosave function as well.

Microsoft is releasing these updates as part of its “Get It Done Day” campaign, an initiative which aims to help people “get things done away from the office.” These updates to Office 365 and SkyDrive should do just that.

Konrad Krawczyk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Konrad covers desktops, laptops, tablets, sports tech and subjects in between for Digital Trends. Prior to joining DT, he…
Apple’s Vision Pro to get bespoke Microsoft 365 apps at launch
Microsoft Teams being used on the Apple Vision Pro.

Apple’s Vision Pro is just a couple of days from landing on people’s heads, with many speculating how much of a success -- or not -- the tech giant can make of its most important product launch in years.

A key factor is expected to be the level of interest developers show in creating custom-made apps for the mixed-reality headset, with some major platforms such as Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube deciding to hold back from offering bespoke apps.

Read more
I tried Microsoft Office on my Quest 3 and came away disappointed
Most features, like adjusting a document's layout in Word, work fine on a Quest 3.

For documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, Office is the go-to suite of apps many rely on. Trying to work on a small laptop screen can be restrictive, so Microsoft teamed up with Meta to bring owners of the excellent new Quest 3 a potential solution to work in VR.

I previously attempted to get real work done using my Quest Pro for a week and, more recently, with the faster Quest 3 as a laptop replacement. In each case, there were problems that were best solved by wirelessly connecting my VR headset to a computer, making it more of a monitor replacement.

Read more
How to use the new communities feature in Microsoft Teams
The Microsoft Teams Communities features is now available for Microsoft 365 Personal and Family.

Microsoft has announced a new communities feature for its free Microsoft Teams communication platform that is intended for personal use rather than exclusively for large businesses.

The communities feature is available for Microsoft 365 Personal and Family and Teams Essentials accounts and allows users to easily organize, share, communicate, and collaborate in a hybrid manner. The feature allows you to not only connect online directly, but also to prepare for in-person meetings.

Read more