Microsoft will allow developers of Metro style apps for Windows 8 to enable single sign-on and access a user?s data on SkyDrive to make their app more personal. At the //build/ conference opening keynote, Microsoft's Chris Jones talked about how every Windows 8 user will get a SkyDrive: a single cloud for everyone, where a person's important files are centrally available, instantly accessible, and ready to share. There were also sessions during the conference covering how Windows 8 developers can cloud-power their apps through Live Connect and the Live SDK. When used together, Metro style apps can use the Live cloud to enable single sign-on with Windows Live ID and access personal data like documents, photos, and videos on SkyDrive with the user's permission.

The easiest way to use single sign-on with Windows Live ID and integrate SkyDrive content into a Metro style app is to leverage Microsoft's Live SDK. This does not mean that the application needs to use any of these services?their use is entirely up to the developer. There's no requirement that apps for Windows 8 sign on with a Live ID or use any specific cloud-based storage. These are simply services available to app developers to use as they choose.

More information on implement and use the Live SDK in apps, visit Microsoft' s Windows 8 blog.