Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

Microsoft Launches New Windows Live

By
Microsoft Launches New Windows Live

Microsoft has launched its “next generation” of Windows Live services, a collection of free applications and utilities that enable Windows users to easily communicate with friends and family, manage their time, and share files from anywhere they have access to the Web.

“Today we take a significant step forward in helping consumers simplify their digital lives,” said Microsoft’s VP of Windows Live Experience Program Management, Chris Jones, in a statement. “With over 400 million customers using the service today, we have a real opportunity to help consumers connect their online experiences, devices and networks in new and powerful ways.”

Recommended Videos

Microsoft first released a beta version of the new services in September; the new offering collects the components together into a single download users can easily install. In addition to Windows Live Spaces and Windows Live Messenger, key elements of the new Windows Live services include:

  • Windows Live Mail, a desktop application that can aggregate Hotmail accounts with services like Gmail and AOL, combining contact lists and offering access from a mobile phone. Users can also get a “live.com” email address.
  • Windows Live Photo Gallery, a new application that enables users to find, share, and organize their photos and videos. It also handles uploading images to services like Flickr and (naturally) Microsoft’s own Windows Live Spaces, Soapbox, and MSN Video.
  • Windows Live Events, an event planning and “community-building” application.
  • Windows Live Writer, an online WYSIWYG editor for publishing content to Windows Live Spaces and other blogging services.
  • Windows Live Mobile, offering phone-based or browser-based access to to Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Spaces, and other services.
  • Windows Live OneCare Family Safety, with tools to help block content and contacts parents deem inappropriate.

Taken together, the Windows Live services embody Microsoft’s “software plus services” strategy, in which the company combined Windows-based desktop software with online services to provide both a fast-responding experience with a “native” look-and-feel (and which leverages their operating systems’ technologies) with online-based services which expand the functionality and features of the software. The approach walks a line between traditional desktop software and online-only applications, such as those offered by Internet titan Google. On one hand, Microsoft’s approach offers the experience of a desktop application, but, on the other hand, customers who don’t use Windows—or who don’t want to download software—need not apply.

Related

To celebrate the launch of the new Windows Live Services, Microsoft has partnered with Operation Smile and has pledged to donate a portion of ad revenue derived from Windows Live services in November to the charity.

Editors' Recommendations

Geoff Duncan
Geoff Duncan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…
How to create a bibliography in Word on Windows and Mac
A family using the computer to browse Fios internet together.

A bibliography is an important part of any well-structured college essay, dissertation, article, or other researched writing sample. It lets your readers know what sources you used as building blocks for your work, and isn’t too difficult to make without a template tool. Still, if you’d like to skip a few steps, there’s a terrific bibliography generator built right into Microsoft Word.

Read more
Get this Asus laptop with a year of Microsoft Office for $199
asus vivobook go laptop deal amazon march 2024 lifestyle

You don't need to spend several hundreds of dollars on a new laptop that you'll use as a productivity tool because there are budget-friendly options like the Asus Vivobook Go L510MA. It's actually currently even cheaper from Walmart after an $80 discount, which brings its price down to just $199 from $279 originally. There's no telling how much time is remaining before the offer expires though, so if you want to take advantage of it, you're going to have to proceed with the purchase as soon as possible.

Why you should buy the Asus Vivobook Go L510MA
For a laptop that will be able to handle basic activities like doing online research, building reports, and browsing social media, you can't go wrong with the Asus Vivobook Go L510MA. It's equipped with the Intel Pentium Silver N5030 processor and 4GB of RAM, which are a far cry from the specifications of the best laptops, but it will be enough for simple tasks. The device also comes with a 15.6-inch screen with Full HD resolution, which is pretty large and sharp for its price, but it's still portable as it only weights about 3.5 pounds with a thickness of just 0.72 of an inch.

Read more
How to alphabetize lists in Microsoft Word
Microsoft word document.

Microsoft Word is a powerful word processing application that's capable of creating complex and compelling documents. It can also perform very simple but useful tasks, like alphabetizing a list.

Here's how to alphabetize lists in Microsoft Word.

Read more