Windows Live

Windows Live

Screenshot of Windows Live Home, which serves as a central location to access all Windows Live services
URL	explore.live.com
Commercial?	No
Registration	Required
Content license	Proprietary
Owner	Microsoft
Created by	Microsoft
Launched	November 1, 2005 (2005-11-01)
Alexa rank	8[1]
Current status	Online

Windows Live is the collective brand name for a set of services and software products from Microsoft, part of their software plus services platform. A majority of these services are Web applications, accessible from a browser, but there are also client-side binary applications that require installation. There are three ways in which Windows Live services are offered: Windows Live Essentials applications, web services, and mobile services.^[2]

Microsoft said that Windows Live "is a way to extend the Windows user experience".^[3] Windows Vista provides a link in its user interface to download Windows Live Messenger, and Windows 7 saw the removal of applications such as Windows Mail, Windows Photo Gallery and Windows Movie Maker and replaced with the Windows Live Essentials suite, a software package that allows the downloading and installation of similar offerings from Windows Live.^[4] Microsoft announced that Windows 8 will see Windows Live apps included right out of the box, and will include built-in synchronization technologies powered by Windows Live SkyDrive.^[5]

Besides Windows Live, which is mainly aimed at individuals,^[6] there are some other Web properties from Microsoft that are branded as "Live": Xbox LIVE multiplayer gaming and content delivery system for Xbox and Xbox 360, and the Games for Windows - LIVE multiplayer gaming service for Microsoft Windows. Another "Live" service, Office Live, was converged into Windows Live during the Wave 4 update, when Microsoft merged the Office Live into the Windows Live team back in January 2009.^[7]

History

Windows Live was first announced on November 1, 2005. In its initial release, several Windows Live properties were rebranded and enhanced from Microsoft's MSN set of products and services. However, MSN still exists alongside Windows Live as a means of delivering programmed content (as opposed to customized content and communications).^[6]

Services

Online services

Service	Description	Status
Admin Center	Provides e-mail hosting for web site owners	Final
Calendar	Time management service that allow users to organize appointments, schedule meetings, set reminders, and share their calendar events	Final
Contacts	The contact book service, which allows users to keep track and synchronize their contact's information	Final
Devices	An online device management service that will allow users to centrally access and manage the synchronisation of files stored on their computers and mobile devices. Windows Live Devices will also allow users to remotely access their computers from the internet via their web browser.	Final
Groups	Enable users to create their social groups for sharing, discussion and coordination	Final
Home	Provides a central location to access Windows Live services, monitor status information, and navigate to other Windows Live sites and services	Final
Hotmail	Free webmail service using AJAX technology featuring email, contacts and calendar services	Final
ID	Identity single sign-on service that allows users to log in to many websites using one account. Users can manage their IDs and link multiple IDs together using this service.	Final
Plug-ins	A central repository for collections of developer plug-ins for Windows Live Photo Gallery, Windows Live Movie Maker, and Windows Live Writer	Final
Profile	Allow users to manage their profile information and displays information about the particular user, their recent activities, and their relationship with other Windows Live users	Final
Service Status	Allow users to get information about the current performance of Windows Live services including Hotmail, Calendar, Contacts, Messenger, Messenger Social, SkyDrive, and Mesh, as well as checking the past history of service statuses during the past 14 days	Final
SkyDrive	Password-protected online file storage and sharing, includes management of photos and Office documents. Also allow users to view and edit Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote documents directly in the web browser using Office Web Apps, and allow sharing and co-authoring of these documents with other users.	Final

Software applications

Main article: Windows Live Essentials

Windows Live Essentials is a suite of software applications that aims to offer integrated e-mail, instant messaging, photo-sharing, blog publishing, and security services. Essentials programs are designed to integrate well with each other, with the Windows operating system, and with other Windows Live web-based services such as Windows Live SkyDrive and Windows Live Hotmail, so that they operate as a “seamless whole”.^[8]

Service	Description	Status
Family Safety	Parental Controls similar to Windows Vista's Family Safety feature	Final
Mail	Desktop mail and calendar client designed to succeed Outlook Express on Windows XP and Windows Mail on Windows Vista, with full RSS support	Final
Mesh	File sharing and synchronization service based on FolderShare and Live Mesh technologies. Supports PC-to-PC and PC-to-Cloud synchronisation, and supports synchronisation of program settings such as Internet Explorer and Microsoft Office between multiple computers. Also allow users to remotely access their computers via the internet.	Final
Messenger	Instant messaging, personal file sharing and outgoing Voice over IP client	Final
Messenger Companion	An add-in for Internet Explorer that allow users to share a webpage with their friends on Windows Live, see links to webpages the user's friends have shared and comment on these shared pages.	Final
Movie Maker	Video editing software similar to Windows Movie Maker with additional enhancements that makes home video editing easier	Final
Photo Gallery	Similar to Windows Photo Gallery with additional enhancements that make posting photos to SkyDrive and Facebook easier	Final
Writer	Desktop blog publishing tool that can publish to popular blogging services and make use of SkyDrive for photo storage.	Final

Mobile services

Windows Phone

Main article: My Windows Phone

My Windows Phone is a free online companion service for Windows Phone mobile devices that provides users with a free mobile phone back-up solution by wirelessly synchronizing contacts, calendar appointments, photos, and OneNote notebooks with a password-protected online portal. Users can access and manage their information stored on their Windows Phone devices via the online portal using their Windows Live ID, as well as accessing a set of features for remotely ringing, locking, mapping, and erasing their lost phones. This service integrates tightly with other Windows Live services including Windows Live Contacts, Windows Live Calendar, and Windows Live SkyDrive.^[9]

iOS

Main article: Windows Live Messenger Mobile

Microsoft released a Windows Live Messenger application on the iOS App Store, which allows users on mobile devices running the iOS to communicate with their Windows Live Contacts via the .NET Messenger Service. In addition to the instant messaging functionalities, the application also allows users to view their Messenger social feed, view their friends' Windows Live Profiles, and integrate with Hotmail and Windows Live Photos.

Feature phone

Windows Live also provides customised services specifically created for feature phones. It is offered via three channels - through Client-based (for Windows Mobile and other supported mobile devices such as Nokia phones), Web-based (for WAP or GPRS-enabled mobile web browsers), or SMS-based services.^[10]

Mobile Service	Client	Web	SMS	Exchange ActiveSync	Description	Status
Windows Live Calendar Mobile					Web-based version of Windows Live Calendar designed for mobile devices to view, schedule and manage calendar appointments and events. SMS service for users to query today and tomorrow's appointments in their Windows Live Calendar	Final
Windows Live Contacts Mobile					Web-based version of Windows Live Contacts designed for mobile devices for access to contact information. Client-based version allows integration of the Windows Live contact list with the mobile device's address book. Also allow users to query contact information via SMS	Final
Windows Live Groups Mobile					Web-based version of Windows Live Groups designed for mobile devices	Final
Windows Live Home Mobile					Displays a list of What's New feeds of all contacts, similar to Windows Live Home but targets mobile devices	Final
Windows Live Hotmail Mobile					Web- and client-based version of Windows Live Hotmail that targets mobile devices, and allow new email alerts via SMS	Final
Windows Live Messenger Mobile					Web- and client-based version of Windows Live Messenger that is designed for mobile devices, and allow users to send instant messages via SMS	Final
Windows Live Profile Mobile					View and update user's own Windows Live Profile information using a mobile device	Final
Windows Live SkyDrive Mobile					Web-based version of Windows Live SkyDrive designed for mobile devices for accessing documents stored on the cloud. Client-based version allows upload of photos directly from a mobile phone camera.	Final

Search services

Main article: Bing

Bing, a replacement of the search engine Live Search, was originally named Windows Live Search (and MSN Search prior to that) and was once part of the Windows Live family of services. Windows Live Search once occupied the homepage of Live.com, the domain for all Windows Live services. However, on March 21, 2007, Microsoft decided to separate its search developments from its Windows Live services family, forming part of the Live Search and Ad Platform. As part of this reorganization, the new search brand, Live Search, was consolidated with Microsoft adCenter, a part of Microsoft's Platform and Systems division.^[11] However, Microsoft recognised that there was a brand issue as the word "Live" continued to remain in the brand.^[12] As an effort to create a new identity for Microsoft's search services, on June 3, 2009, Live Search was officially rebranded as Bing.^[13]

Developer services

Main article: Live Connect

Live Connect is a collection of APIs and common controls that allow developers to have a deeper control and offers access to the core Windows Live services and data through open and easily accessible application programming interfaces (APIs). Live Connect is built on standard web technologies such as OAuth 2.0, Representational State Transfer (REST), and JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), and is designed to work with any technology or device. Live Connect unites the previously separate APIs of Windows Live into a single API that is based on industry standards and specifications.

User interface

All Windows Live websites sport a common theme. Different themes have been used on the sites with each phase of product release, called "Waves." Each Wave has a set of online services and desktop programs (Windows Live Essentials). The web services are labelled by each Wave, for example, Windows Live Hotmail Wave 4. The programs from Windows Live Essentials are usually called by a year number, for example, Windows Live Messenger 2011.

Blue Vapor/Flair

Most original Windows Live applications and services used a visual theme known as Blue Vapor or Flair. This theme no longer exists on any of the current Windows Live properties. An example is shown below:

Wave 2

With the public beta release of the Windows Live Wave 2 Suite^[14] ("Wave" refers to the group or wave of products to be released), a new visual theme was released to enable the Aero transparency effect in Windows Vista.^[15] This theme no longer exists on any of the current Windows Live properties. An example is shown below:

Wave 3

Microsoft released a set of new themes for their Windows Live Wave 3 services, which allows users to customize their pages on Windows Live using a set of pre-selected background pictures. Several of these themes are dynamic and change according to the time of day and the current weather condition of the user.^[16] This theme remains in use on sites such as Windows Live Admin Center. An example is shown below:

Wave 4

In addition to the themes provided in Windows Live Wave 3, the release of Windows Live Wave 4 provided additional themes for users to customise their pages on Windows Live, with several dynamic themes that changes according to the time of day and weather conditions at the user's location. Several of these newly added themes are similar to wallpapers originating from Windows 7.^[17] In addition, the Windows Live Wave 4 header features a reorganised dynamic navigation menu that displays the number of the user's current online contacts and the number of unread e-mails,^[18] as well as an in-built Windows Live Web Messenger service allowing users to connect to the .NET Messenger Service and Facebook chat service to chat with their online contacts while browsing any Windows Live properties using a web browser.^[19] It is currently implemented in all but a few Windows Live services. An example is shown below:

Discontinued products and services

Name	Replaced By	Description	Discontinued Date
Agents		Interactive chatterbots through Windows Live Messenger that allow users to get more information about specific topics.	30 June 2009
Alerts		Send information updates to the user's email inbox, mobile device or Messenger.	30 September 2010
Barcode	Microsoft Tag	2D barcodes that can be used to store information or link to the mobile web.
Call	Skype	Allow users to make PC-to-PC and PC-to-Phone (Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)) voice and video calls.	1 June 2010
Events	Windows Live Groups Hotmail Calendar	Manage and plan different types of events and share them with others using Hotmail Calendar, Spaces and Alerts.	3 September 2009
Expo		Allow users to post online classifieds and search for listings posted by other users.	31 July 2008
Favorites	Windows Live SkyDrive Windows Live Mesh	Synchronizes the user's favorites between computers and allows for the sharing of favorites.	14 April 2009
FrameIt		Extends the functionality of digital photo frame devices, allowing users to customise the content delivery from multiple sources such as RSS feeds.	15 December 2010
Gallery	Windows Live Plug-ins	A center for collections of developers' add-ons for Windows Live Messenger, Photo Gallery, Movie Maker, Writer, Toolbar, Spaces, and Live.com, as well as Windows 7 and Windows Vista Sidebar and SideShow gadgets.	1 October 2011
Help Community	Windows Live Solutions Center	Collection of forums and message boards to communicate with other users of Windows Live products.	6 June 2008
Office Live Workspace	Windows Live SkyDrive	Offers 5GB of storage space for storing Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook documents and lists online and sharing them with others. Office Live Workspace does not offer collaboration or editing capabilities however.	21 January 2011
OneCare	Microsoft Security Essentials	Computer Security Service. Features its own Anti-Virus program, back-up utility, and a software firewall.	30 June 2009
OneCare Safety Scanner	Microsoft Safety Scanner	Free PC scanning and health service to help delete viruses and other threats. Includes registry cleaner, disk cleaner and defragmenter, network open port scanner, and comprehensive virus and spyware scanner.	15 April 2011
Personalized Experience	My MSN	An all-in-one home page featuring a customisable RSS aggregator, gadgets and search tools.	30 March 2010
QnA	MSN QnA (now discontinued)	A question and answer service which allow users to ask questions, tag them according to topic, and gain points and reputation for answering other users' questions.	21 May 2009
Search Center	Windows Search 4 (now part of Windows Vista and Windows 7)	A desktop search program which provides a unified local and remote indexed search from a unified interface.	12 December 2006
Shopping	Bing Shopping	An online shopping comparison website which allowed users to compare items and prices of over 40 million products from more than 7000 online stores.	20 February 2007
Spaces	Migration to WordPress	A blog and social networking service which allows users to create personalized blogs, add friends, and upload photos.	16 March 2011
Sync and Live Mesh	Windows Live Mesh	File synchronization which allow files and folders between two or more computers be in sync with each other or with the cloud storage on the web. Live Mesh also enables remote desktop access via the internet using a web browser.	31 March 2011
TV		An additional program for Windows Media Center which will provide access to Windows Live Spaces, Messenger, and Call on large-screen monitors or TVs.	24 June 2008
Toolbar	Bing Bar	A toolbar which adds itself to Windows Internet Explorer, allowing quick access to a user's Windows Live Spaces, Hotmail, Favorites and Live Search from a button on the toolbar.	31 March 2011
Video Messages	Windows Live Messenger	Combines digital video with e-mail into a service that allows all webcam users to create, send, and receive video messages to anyone in their contact list, even when they are offline.	21 July 2010
Web Messenger	Now part of all Windows Live web services	Online version of Windows Live Messenger which allow users to talk online and in real-time with others using the .NET Messenger Service from within a web browser.	30 October 2008
WiFi Center		Allow users to search for wireless networks that are available and displays information about them.	16 February 2007
WiFi Hotspot Locator	MSN WiFi Hotspots (now discontinued)	A website which allowed users to locate wireless internet hotspots worldwide and view their positions on a map using Bing Maps.	16 February 2007

Windows Live Butterfly

The Windows Live Butterfly awards program (formerly the MSN Butterfly program) was a program whose members were given the benefit of new Microsoft software to test before the beta releases went public and they were in direct contact with the program managers for Windows Live products.

Microsoft had initiated the Windows Live Butterfly program in order to recognize the contributions made by exemplary beta testers. Prospective 'butterflies' were selected by the Windows Live product team and were nominated for a term of one year, after which they could be renominated.^[20]

The Windows Live Butterfly program was closed in June 2009.

See also

Microsoft portal

• Microsoft Office Live
• Xbox Live
• Games for Windows - Live

References

1. ^ Live.com Site Info
2. ^ "Windows Live Wave 3 Reviewers Guide". Microsoft PressPass. 2008-11-12. http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/WindowsLive/docs/WindowsLiveRG.pdf. Retrieved 2008-11-16. 
3. ^ Thurrott, Paul (2006-01-18). "Windows Live Preview". Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows. http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/windowslive_preview.asp. Retrieved 2007-06-17. 
4. ^ ce/archive/2008/10/28/the-complete-windows-experience-windows-7-windows-live.aspx "The Complete Windows Experience – Windows 7 + Windows Live". The Windows Blog. 2008-10-28. http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windowsexperien ce/archive/2008/10/28/the-complete-windows-experience-windows-7-windows-live.aspx. Retrieved 2008-11-16. 
5. ^ "Windows 8 Developer Preview Guide". Microsoft. 2011-09-13. http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/E/4/1E455D53-C382-4A39-BA73-55413F183333/Windows_Developer_Preview-Windows8_guide.pdf. Retrieved 2011-09-20. 
6. ^ ^{a b} "Microsoft Previews New Windows Live and Office Live Services (press release)". Microsoft PressPass. 2005-11-01. http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2005/nov05/11-01PreviewSoftwareBasedPR.mspx. Retrieved 2007-06-17. 
7. ^ "Looking ahead and bringing you even more". Office Live Workspace Team Blog. 2009-01-23. http://officeliveworkspacecommunity.com/blogs/teamblog/archive/2009/01/23/looking-ahead-and-bringing-you-even-more.aspx. Retrieved 2009-01-24. 
8. ^ Microsoft Seeks Testers for Windows Live Essentials
9. ^ Windows Phone 7 – Getting Connected
10. ^ "Windows Live for mobile Wave 3 – take your social life on the go". LiveSide.net. 2008-11-14. http://www.liveside.net/main/archive/2008/11/14/windows-live-for-mobile-wave-3-take-your-social-life-on-the-go.aspx. Retrieved 2008-11-16. 
11. ^ Foley, Mary Jo (2007-03-21). "Microsoft severs Live Search from the rest of the Windows Live family". ZDNet: All About Microsoft. http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=339. Retrieved 2008-11-16. 
12. ^ Keynote with Kevin Johnson at Microsoft
13. ^ http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/05/microsofts-bing-hides-its-best-features/
14. ^ "Windows Live 2.0 Release Notes". Microsoft. http://get.live.com/betas/installer_release_notes. Retrieved 2008-06-06. 
15. ^ "The Death of Flair - Windows Live's New Look". LiveSide.net. 2007-06-15. http://www.liveside.net/blogs/main/archive/2007/06/15/the-death-of-flair-windows-live-s-new-look.aspx. Retrieved 2008-11-16. 
16. ^ "Windows Live Wave 3: New Header UI". LiveSide.net. 2008-06-05. http://www.liveside.net/blogs/main/archive/2008/06/05/windows-live-wave-3-new-header-ui.aspx. Retrieved 2008-06-06. 
17. ^ "Recapping the rumors: what we “know” about Wave 4". LiveSide.net. 2010-01-04. http://www.liveside.net/main/archive/2010/01/04/recapping-the-rumors-what-we-know-about-wave-4.aspx. Retrieved 2010-01-27. 
18. ^ "More information about Windows Live Wave 4’s dynamic header". LiveSide.net. 2010-01-21. http://www.liveside.net/main/archive/2010/01/21/more-information-about-windows-live-wave-4-s-dynamic-header.aspx. Retrieved 2010-01-27. 
19. ^ "A new wave, a new look: First look at the Windows Live Wave 4 header". LiveSide.net. 2010-01-04. http://www.liveside.net/main/archive/2010/01/04/a-new-wave-a-new-look-first-look-at-the-windows-live-wave-4-header.aspx. Retrieved 2010-01-27. 
20. ^ Excerpt of Windows Live Butterfly acceptance e-mail from Windows Live Beta Team

External links

• Official website
• Inside Windows Live
• Windows Live for Mobile