Windows Live

Screenshot of Windows Live Beta homepage

Windows Live is the collective brand name for a group of Microsoft services which are currently under development. Being partly rebranded from MSNâ€"the new, consolidated online services are Microsoft's latest effort to compete against fast-growing competitors such as Google. Generally these services are accessed via a web browser, and the datarequired to run them (along with data the user may input to the service) is stored on a remote server rather than on a local computer. This type of software is thought by many, including Microsoft and Google, to be the future of computing because the services and user data are available anywhere, without installing an application.

Some of the services that currently have the Windows Live branding are Windows Live Mail, Windows Live Safety Center, Windows Live Favorites, Windows Live OneCare, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Search, and Windows Live Local. Most remain in the beta stage of production, but six have released their first final version: Windows Live OneCare, Windows Live Custom Domains, Windows Live Favorites, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Toolbar and Windows Live Expo. Most familiar Windows Live services will replace an equivalent MSN service, marking a significant shift from the "Microsoft Network" name to an online service more closely related to the Windows operating system.

Windows Live services

*Live.com - An all-in-one home page featuring a customisable RSS aggregator, gadgets and a new and improved search tool
*Windows Live Academic - Search articles from academic and research journals
*Windows Live Account - The service for updating your Windows Live identity and managing your Windows Live relationship
*Windows Live Calendar - A predicted calendar to succeed MSN Calendar
*Windows Live Custom Domains - Provides e-mail hosting for web site owners
*Windows Live Search Center - A desktop search application
*Windows Live Drive - A hosted storage serviceWindows Live DriveCNN which presents a virtual hard drive, to be remotely connected over the internet, which can be used to store any data.
*Windows Live Expo - Online classifieds site similar to Craigslist and Google Base
*Windows Live Family Safety Settings - Parental Controls similar to Windows Vista Family Safety
*Windows Live Favorites - Synchronizes your favorites between computers and lets you share favorites
*FolderShare - file sharing and synchronisation service [https://www.foldershare.com/info/company/aboutUs.php? acquired] by Microsoft on November 3 2005 and now branded as a beta Windows Live service
*Windows Live Gallery - A centre for Microsoft add-ons for Live products.
*Windows Live ID - Rebranded Microsoft Passport
*Windows Live Ideas - Site listing Live services
*Windows Live Local - Rebranded MSN Virtual Earth
*Windows Live Local Search Mobile
*Windows Live Mail - Rebranded Hotmail, moved to a new look "Outlook-style" interface
*Windows Live Mail Desktop - Similar to Outlook Express on Windows XP, it contains many new features including full RSS support. It will be required if a user wishes to use a desktop client to access their Hotmail/Live Mail in Windows Vista, as the new Windows Mail does not allow for Hotmail/Live Mail connectivity.
*Windows Live Mail Mobile
*Windows Live Messenger - Instant messaging, personal file sharing and outgoing Voice over IP client (previously known as MSN Messenger)
*Windows Live Mobile - Rebranded MSN Mobile
*Windows Live OneCare - Computer Security Service. Features its own Anti-Virus program, back-up utility, and a software firewall.
*Windows Live Product Search - A shopping service akin to Froogle.
*Windows Live QnA - A question and answers service
*Microsoft Live Labs Relay Service - allows you to expose a Windows Communication Foundation based service to the Internet from behind a firewall or NAT.
*Windows Live Safety Center - a free PC scanning and health service to help delete viruses and other threats.
*Windows Live Search - Rebranded and improved version of MSN Search, with additional features
*Windows Live Search Mobile - Search engine for web-enabled mobile phones.
*Microsoft Live Labs Security Token Service - an online identity management service that lets you offload authentication functions.
*Windows Live Shopping - A full comparison-shopping site with more features than Product Search.
*Windows Live Spaces - Rebranded and AJAX based version of MSN spaces
*Windows Live Toolbar - Rebranded MSN Toolbar

See also

*List of Rich Internet applications
*Microsoft Office Live
*Microsoft Live Labs

References

Media

*BBC article
*Yahoo! News story
*CNET reviews

External links

*Windows Live Official Homepage
*Live.com Homepage
*LiveSide: Windows Live News
*Windows Live Blog on MSN Spaces
*LiveCentral helping new users into Windows Live Products

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