According to Apple Insider, Microsoft is working on an important update to its SkyDrive file syncing and cloud storage service but what's quite surprising is that the company wants to release a Mac OS X client. As we know iCloud is integrated in the new version of OS X so the result of this battle is not hard to predict, but leaked screenshots posted by Brazilian a blog called Gemind show, as states Apple Insider, demo downloads for Windows or Mac apps that will allow for automatic syncing, storage and remote access to files from the cloud.

The information on pricing is also there - $10 for 20GB, $25 for 50GBor $50 for 100GB per year.

"The extra space will supplement the already copious 25GB in free storage offered by SkyDrive. In comparison, iCloud only offers 5GB of free cloud storage, however Apple's system does not count Photo Stream, iTunes' media, apps and iBooks against the limit."

The app will be similar to Dropbox so it will be possible to sync and backup files automatically. Ars Technica on the other hands reports that "SkyDrive would support file sharing through social networks like Twitter and Facebook, BitLocker recovery keys, OpenDocument files from Office Web Apps and URL shortening."

This can be an advantage of Microsoft's solution but on the other hand Apple will release OS X Mountain Lion in a few months so we can be pretty sure that iCloud will also get an update.

"The SkyDrive update is set to launch later this year with support for Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 already announced. It remains to be seen which Windows 8 SkyDrive features will be implemented in the rumored Mac client, if any, and to what extent the service will affect iCloud."

Source: http://www.appleinsider.com