Want 25 GB Of Free Online Storage?

Amid all the news last week about the upcoming new Windows Live and new Windows Live Photos service, one thing that may have been overlooked is how Windows Live SkyDrive was tied into those announcements. According to a post on the SkyDrive team blog, the team is increasing the amount of online storage from 5 GB to 25 GB! The reason for the increase is to provide more room for all the photos that will soon be uploaded using the new online photo service.

In addition to the storage increase, the SkyDrive service will also offer more features like the ability to download photos directly from SkyDrive to your Windows Live Photo Gallery desktop software. You can also choose to download entire folders as zip files, move files between folders, and copy files to multiple folders.

Another big revamp involves the sharing features and functionality. With the new SkyDrive, you’ll be able to share files and photos with others without requiring them to use a Windows Live ID. If you have certain groups of people that you share photos with on regular basis, you’ll be able to organize them into groups to make repeat sharing easier and faster. And you can see what your family and friends have shared with you all in one place. Commenting on photos will be improved with HTML, spam control and other options.

For Internet Explorer users, there will be an option to keep your IE favorites in sync in between all your computers, too.

The new SkyDrive will have a new look-and-feel when it relaunches so it fits in better with the rest of the new Windows Live. It’s not here yet, but, according to the team blog post, it will be here soon. Stay tuned!