It's an increasingly cloudy world out there, and it's not hard to see why, given the many compelling benefits to be enjoyed by using cloud technology for storage. There are numerous desktop apps available to help you do just that, and this week we focus on the best contenders for Windows 8. Among our favorites: Microsoft's own SkyDrive along with All My Storage and Box.
Cloud storage is a fast-moving arena, with advancements including the ability to store files and folders in the cloud along with metadata on your PC replicating the actual file. The file isn't there and isn't taking up space, but you can see relevant attributes.
Other cloud techniques include the ability to sync files only as you need them.
In this week's All Things Appy, we take a look at the top five, free, must-have Windows desktop apps in the cloud storage category.
Note: Google's Drive, a solid PC performer with 15 GB of free space, doesn't provide a Windows 8 app, so it's excluded from this list.
About the Platform: Windows apps can be found in the Windows 8 Store. Click or touch the Start page Store tile and search by placing your mouse pointer or finger in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Then choose the Search charm's icon.
No. 1: SkyDrive
The SkyDrive app has an average rating of 3.7 stars out of a possible 5 with 795 ratings in the Windows 8 Store.
Bing Smart Search and native Microsoft Windows integration are the killer features in this Microsoft cloud storage add-on app offering. A basic version is included in the operating system natively, and this add-on is available in the Store.
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Bing Smart Search is a new feature in the free Windows 8.1 update that lets you see and search for both local and cloud files at the same time by just starting to type on the Start page. No browser or Windows Explorer window is required.
No. 2: All My Storage
All My Storage has an average rating of 3 stars out of a possible 5 with 155 ratings in the Windows 8 Store.
Here's an aggregator app that lets you merge your cloud and local files. It handles multiple SkyDrive accounts plus Box and the classic Dropbox, and it allows you to move files around among the disparate cloud systems.
A paid version integrates other cloud services like SugarSync and Google Drive.
No. 3: Box
Box has an average rating of 3.6 stars out of a possible 5 with 1,228 ratings in the Windows 8 Store.
Ten gigs of storage and a Windows 8 app beats Microsoft's SkyDrive with its 7 GB and places Box in the lead when it comes to free cloud space along with app. Promotions available with certain hardware purchases can increase free storage limits further.
Box file management is slightly less sophisticated than SkyDrive, which is why it's in one of our runners' up positions -- it doesn't use the equivalent metadata-style indexing.
No. 4: Dropbox
Dropbox has an average rating of 2.9 stars out of a possible 5 with 2,738 ratings in the Windows 8 Store.
Dropbox is the granddaddy of cloud file storage, and although it offers just a puny 2 GB of initial free storage, it is a widely used cloud product for sharing files.
Awkward, slow file scrolling in this app adds to a dull experience.
It's a runner-up, but there's a good chance you'll use it someday to share print-ready files or large media with colleagues or buddies, so get used to it.
No. 5: File Brick
File Brick has an average rating of 3.9 stars out of a possible 5 with 174 ratings in the Windows 8 Store.
We've written about File Brick before and love its gorgeous, elegant simplicity and logical file classifications. If you're used to creaky file management with Windows Explorer windows, do your eyes a favor and demo File Brick.
Then delete it, because unfortunately we're beginning to see some unpleasant blackmail-like feature unlocks -- where you can share a File Brick app comment to your Facebook wall to unlock certain cloud services.
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