Microsoft has already said that its Skydrive cloud-based data service will be tightly integrated into its upcoming Windows 8 operating system. The newest entry in Microsoft"s Windows 8 blog gives some more info about how developers can add Skydrive support to any Metro-style applications they may be working on. Microsoft"s Mike Torres says that there are two main issues that any developer must deal with in making an app; making sign-ups and sign-ins seamless for the app"s users and making sure that any user content can be added to the app easily.
As far as sign-ups and sign-ins, Torres states, "After the first time a user connects your app to their Windows Live ID, the user will always have a seamless single sign-on experience from any Windows 8 PC where they are signed in with a Windows Live ID. The same extends to your website, where they get a single sign-on experience if they are signed in to their PC with a Windows Live ID or signed in to any site that supports Windows Live ID, such as Hotmail or SkyDrive." At the same time he adds that Metro app developers don"t have to use Windows Live ID or use its Skydrive service, saying, "These are simply services available to app developers to use as they choose."
The rest of the blog post is definitely geared toward app developers as Torres gives some script examples of how software creators can use the Live SDK to enable their Metro apps to use the Windows Live ID features and accessing content from Skydrive.