Microsoft Talk

Office Live Workspace

Windows Live SkyDrive

Windows Live SkyDrive offers. Just create folders on the site and upload files to it. You can share any of your folders with colleagues, as well. The site’s design is simple and straightforward.

Windows Live Sync

Windows Live Sync Web site and tell it which folders on which PCs should stay in sync.

You can synchronize your personal folders as well as your shared ones. Whenever any of your PCs are connected to the Internet, they will automatically sync the specified folders with one another. In addition, you can connect to any synced computer from any other computer to browse through the remote system’s entire hard disk and to download files.

Live Mesh

Here’s a free Microsoft service for people who do want to keep their files in the cloud. Though Live Mesh is more powerful than Windows Live Sync, it’s also a bit more complicated.

create folders in Live Mesh and then have all of your PCs synchronize with those folders. With this arrangement, you can access the files and folders from any Internet-connected computer. You have an exceptional amount of control over the synchronization, too–for example, you can choose to synchronize only the files modified in the last 30 days, or those under 500MB. Live Mesh supports remote control of any PC in your mesh, as well. So far, Microsoft has announced no plans to charge for storage–or to limit the amount of data you can store.

Microsoft Office Live Workspace

Office Live Workspace will help anyone with a small business or in a workgroup who needs a simple way to collaborate on projects. With this service you can create and share documents, schedules, to-do lists, and more.
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SIMessenger

Microsoft Corp. and Gemalto announced they are collaborating to offer Windows Live Messenger services to the mass market of mobile subscribers through a new Windows Live Messenger client application that comes pre-installed on phone Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards. The Gemalto application, named SIMessenger, is the world’s first Microsoft-certified instant messaging SIM client solution.

Gemalto’s SIMessenger enables users to easily keep in touch with their Windows Live Messenger contacts from their mobile phone. SIMessenger offers an intuitive menu that allows subscribers to access their Windows Live Messenger environment with an experience similar to what they get when accessing it from a PC. SIMessenger also automatically launches when they switch their handset on, so they can start chatting immediately. SIMessenger’s user-friendly interface enables quick and easy navigation, so that users retrieve the messaging service they are familiar with while on the move.

To date, three operators have successfully deployed SIMessenger: Oi in Brazil, Personal S.A. in Argentina and Movistar in Peru. Gemalto has already delivered close to 5 million SIM cards embedding the Windows Live instant messaging application.

“Through our alliance with Gemalto, we are able to greatly expand the reach of the Windows Live Messenger experience on mobile to new markets and more consumers,” said Tom Bailey, senior director of product management for Windows Live for Mobile services. “SIMessenger will enable the masses to easily use the popular Windows Live Messenger to communicate with the people they care about while on the go.”

“Worldwide, people who own a mobile phone widely outnumber those who have Internet access,” added Philippe Vallée, executive vice president of the Telecommunications Business Unit at Gemalto. “With more than 320 million active Windows Live Messenger accounts worldwide, combined with 3.6 billion SIM cards currently in use, there is strong growth potential for SIMessenger, and Gemalto is proud to join forces with Microsoft to make messaging available to all.”

Microsoft Kumo

Like most people, I have both Windows and Office Live and was wondering when Microsoft was going to combine the two.

Microsoft seems closer to rebranding its search engine and Live online services under the Kumo name, something that’s been rumored to be in the works since last year.

The company confirmed Friday that it will merge its Office Live and Windows Live services into one unified online portal, but did not give a specific time frame for the move and declined to provide any other information.

Currently, there are two separate portals through which users can reach Windows Live and Office Live. Office Live services are related to Microsoft’s Office software, while Windows Live are applications and services that more closely align with functionality in the Windows OS.

Based on actions Microsoft has taken, it has been rumored since last year that it plans to rename its search engine and possibly its entire line of online services under the name Kumo, so the integration could be preparation for that move. Microsoft has declined to comment on any name change for its search engine or services.

However, on Dec. 4, 2008, Microsoft filed a trademark application for the Kumo name. The application is to trademark a host of software and services that include not only a search engine, but also advertising and telecommunications services, education, training, entertainment and the design and development of computer hardware and services.

Kumo is a Japanese word that can be used to mean “cloud,” “ceiling” or “sea spider” among other things, according to an online Japanese-to-English translation service.

Live Messenger 3D smileys

No question Windows Live Messenger had a busy year in 2008. Lots of press coverage around the world, new calling program installed and France creates 3D smileys. While no one I know uses Live Messenger (add me, bricko at lione services dot com), it is apparantly a world wide phemon.

Here’s a list of Live Messengers accomplishments:

1. Appearance in computer Magazines. From PC: Among the big three IM apps, Windows Live Messenger is my favorite. Though it’s technically still in beta, the product is mature enough to rate, and it’s worth our Editors’ Choice.”

This is in addition to recognition that we’ve received all over the world including being rated the top Instant Messaging application in Germany’s largest computer magazine, ComputerBild, and appearing on the front cover of Micro Magazine in France.

2. Release of new beta versions off all the Windows Live Essential applications which include the popular Windows Live Mail, Windows Live Photo Gallery, Windows Live Movie Maker, Windows Live Writer etc. You can get all of these plus the latest Windows Live Messenger at download.live.com.

3. Results from the first full year of the IM campaign that we ran in the US. We donated $1.3 Million to great causes from March 2007 – March 2008. This was all thanks to the generous support that all of you showed by adopting the IM icon in your user names.

4. Announced a deal with Telefonica that let’s you call people all around the world using your PC and Windows Live Messenger at very low rates, introduced the Windows Live Translator agent, and a handful of great new games for Windows Live Messenger, like World Championship Diving.

5. 3D emoticons that the Windows Live team in France just created. Click here to go to the site, then click on ‘installez gratuitement’. And yes, the site is only in French.

How do you use Live Messenger? No question there are alot of programs inside LM.

Sign up for SearchPerks! and start earning tickets towards exciting prizes whenever you search the Web – up to 25 tickets per day. It’s free, easy to use, and your tickets accumulate as fast as you can search.*

And because SearchPerks! is brought to you by Microsoft Live Search, you know you won’t compromise quality while earning rewards.

Be sure to sign up before the registra-tion deadline on December 31, 2008—
the sooner you sign up, the more opportunity you have to earn tickets!

* Participation in the promotion is limited to the first 1,000,000 respondents before December 31, 2008. Promotion valid only for legal residents in the 50 United States and Washington, D.C., who are at least 13 years of age, have a valid Windows Live ID, are accepted to participate in the program and participate in the program until its completion on April 15, 2009. Participation is subject to the SearchPerks! promotion terms and conditions as listed on the download page of our sign-up process. After the completion of the promotion, each participant who completed the promotion will receive one ticket for each online search that the participant conducted during the promotion within Internet Explorer Web browser, version 6.0 or higher, on Microsoft’s Windows Live, MSN or Live Search properties, excluding searches within the Live Search Club and the Live Search Club toolbar, located at http://club.live.com; Search and Give and any Search and Give toolbars, located at http://www.searchandgive.com; and MSN Video site searches located at http://video.msn.com/video.aspx up to a maximum of 25 tickets per day. During the promotion there may be opportunities to receive additional tickets which will be provided after completion of the promotion. Claiming and redemption of the tickets is subject to additional Terms and Conditions. The promotion constitutes an “Activity” under those terms and conditions. Approximately three weeks after SearchPerks! ends on April 15, 2009, participants who complete the promotion will receive by email information on how to redeem their tickets. Limit one trial membership per person. You must claim your tickets no later than October 15, 2009. Once tickets are claimed they are subject to expiration pursuant to the additional Terms and Conditions.

FolderShareTM allows you to create a private peer-to-peer network that will help you to synchronize files across multiple devices and access or share files with colleagues and friends. You no longer need to send large files via email, burn them to CDs/DVDs and mail them, or upload them to a website. FolderShare allows you to share and sync important information instantly with anyone you invite, making it the perfect solution for personal or small business use.

How can I use it?

• Synchronize all your devices - Retrieve work files at home or access photos at work. With your devices in sync, you no longer have to be frustrated that your information is on another computer.
• Share files, photos, and home videos with your peers - Select the content you want to share, invite members, and they will be able to access the shared files directly from their device.
• Access your computer or device remotely - FolderShare mobile access allows you to access your computer from any web browser.

Any restrictions? We’ll let you decide…

• Share files up to 2 GB in size
• Unlimited file transfers - no limits on quantity or size of files transferred
• Any file type - files are synced and transferred in their original format

How much does it cost?

FolderShare is now free of charge - download the FolderShare Satellite now!

Download | Other Windows Live Products | Windows Live SkyDrive

Windows Live SkyDrive Team have released some cool updates:

1. 1GB Storage for all, up from 500MB
2. Share your public folders by typing in the email address of the person with whom you want to share!
3. RSS Feeds for public folders!

Second is a very user friendly upgrade. Previously you had to select contacts from your address book (hotmail), so you end up adding them before sharing. This is really cool.

Pretty cool is the addition of Feeds (RSS) to Public folders. This way you can easily be notified of updates to content that friends place in their Public folders. Simply go to the Public folder and click on the Feed icon in the upper right corner (or the Feed icon in IE for example). The feed contains a preview image of the added files - either a small version of the photo or the file type icon and links to the associated download page for that file on Windows Live SkyDrive.

Windows Live SkyDrive is moving towards the Windows Live Spaces umbrella in the same way that Windows Live Events is going to placed when launched. Right below the Windows Live Wave 2 header you get direct access to different parts of Windows Live Spaces. Your Spaces homepage (What’s new), spaces, friends, photos, and events can be reached from here.

Last but not least Windows Live SkyDrive isalso displaying who has uploaded a certain file now which can be helpful is you have given full access to a folder and want to keep track of who is uploading what.

Source and Images 

Related: Download: Windows Live Messenger 8.1 |

Hack: Vista MemoryBoost

Have you download the latest Windows Live Messenger version 8.1? If not, download now.

Windows Live Messenger is the next-generation MSN Messenger. It has everything you already love about Messenger—your contact list, emoticons, and instant access to your friends via text, voice, and video—plus new ways to connect and share photos and documents effortlessly. As always, it’s free to download Messenger and use most of its features.

Overview of WLM 

Features

Connect with your friends on Yahoo!

With the new Windows Live^TM Messenger, now you can talk to your contacts on Yahoo! Just add their e-mail addresses (like all your other Messenger contacts) and you can see if they’re online or offline and even share emoticons. You can send and receive messages while you appear to be offline. And if you really are offline, your contacts can still send you messages—you’ll get them next time you log in.

Free Emoticons

Don’t forget to grab 30 free emoticons.

All you have to do is open a chat window and select the packs. I found them on this web site. I am not sure if you will see it too. Have a go and let me know

Download Now | Windows Live: Folder Share | Windows Live Domain

Windows Live Writer 2008 has been released.

You may need to update the Windows Update Agent.

If you want to download WUA directly, here are the links:

Download x86 version | Download x64 version | Download ia64 version

Few months back, I was able to register for @live.com email address for myself.

Sadly, it was discovered (the hack) and rectified. Fortunately, accounts created will not be deleted.

These @live.com domains won’t go live soon. As per the news source, it’s still a few months away. Before the launch, there will be a campaign and you all will be made aware of the same. So hang in there

Source

Creatively named Webmaster Portal, it will be a single, friendly place to find all tools and information relating to Live Search SEO. Initially we?ll support these scenarios:

• Troubleshooting tools to ensure MSNBot is effectively crawling and indexing your site
• Sitemap creation, submission and ping tools
• Statistics about your website
• Consolidation of content submission resources
• New content and community resources

While we expect the tools to be available publicly in late Fall, we still have some polishing to do.  In the meantime we?ve created a private beta program to let adventuresome folks get their hands on the tools sooner ? and help polish things by providing feedback. If you?re interested in participating in the beta program over the next few months, please send a mail to lswmp@microsoft.com to apply!

Source

Code named Windows Live Folder, Windows Live SkyDrive has been announced officially.

If you didn’t know, you had to be in U.S to be able to get Windows Live Folders (which you could easily be in by changing the regional settings )

However, the good news is that it has been made available for India and U.K. Wow that’s cool.

New Features:

• An upgraded look and feel ? new graphics to go along with your new features!
• “Also on SkyDrive” ? easily get back to the SkyDrives you?ve recently visited
• Thumbnail images ? now you can see thumbnails of your image files
• Drag and drop your files ? sick of our five-at-a-time upload limit? Drag and drop your files right onto your SkyDrive
• Embed your stuff anywhere ? with just a few clicks, post your files and folders anywhere you can post html

Sign up now! | Source

Outlook Express and Windows Mail on Windows Vista. Yep. You read that right.

Liveside has published few Q&A on Windows Live Mail.

Q: Will Windows Live Mail overwrite Windows Mail on Windows Vista? How about Outlook Express on XP SP2?
A: Windows Live Mail will not overwrite or remove Windows Mail or Outlook Express.  Instead, it will be the successor and superset of the existing free clients, changing the entry points (so things like shortcuts replaced). 

Q: What does this mean for Windows Mail support in Windows Vista SP1 and beyond?
A: Windows Mail and Outlook Express will continue to be supported as they are today (including bug fixes) while at the same time new innovation and future investment are made to Windows Live Mail.

Q: Will Windows Live Mail have ads?
A: While there won’t be graphical ads, we will continue to test Active Search in the US, but users will have the option to disable it/turn it off and on.

Have a read of the complete article at Liveside

Literally! It was built from ground zero.

Liveside reports:
Richard Sim, Senior Product Manager for Windows Live Hotmail posts an interesting and comprehensive list of what the Hotmail team has accomplished since starting the project almost two and a half years ago. As he says, “(t)he UI and features that are visible to end users only scratch the surface of what we’ve done”. Sim’s list:

* rearchitected the entire service from scratch,
* swapped out the backend storage infrastructure (literally swapping out old boxes for new ones)
* instrumented user actions,
* created new ways to serve advertisements,
* developed new advertising products,
* created a scalable and flexible mail platform to power email for universities and other partners,
* managed a large scale beta process with a continuous user feedback loop,
* redesigned our product development and deployment processes,
* streamlined our signup flows,
* opened up Outlook client access for ALL free users (coming very soon),
* created a Windows Live Contacts (subscribe to contact updates) service,
* created a new selection paradigm for email client applications (dynamic checkboxes) which has been eventually adopted by Yahoo Mail Beta,
* and released a new safety bar to educate users about the context of every mail that arrives in his/her inbox

“Oh, and of course, rewrote the entire UI and released dozens of great features.”

Microsoft Corp. today announced that Windows Live™ Hotmail®, the successor to MSN® Hotmail, is launching globally in 36 languages. The most significant upgrade for Hotmail since it pioneered the webmail industry in 1996, the new service has been built to be a vast improvement over the previous Hotmail offering, having incorporated input from more than 20 million beta testers. Windows Live Hotmail will deliver a safer, more powerful and productive e-mail experience than previous versions with flexible access via the Web, on a mobile phone or with an e-mail client. Microsoft also announced that later this month Windows Live Hotmail customers will be able to access their Windows Live Hotmail e-mail and contacts for free* using Microsoft® Office Outlook® 2003 or Office Outlook 2007 via the new Microsoft Office Outlook Connector beta.

As Windows Live Hotmail begins rolling out on May 7 and continues over the coming days, consumers will be able to visit http://www.hotmail.com to sign up for a new Windows Live Hotmail account. Current MSN Hotmail customers can also update their existing account to Windows Live Hotmail by logging into their account and clicking on the green Join Windows Live Hotmail button.

“We’re thrilled to deliver Windows Live Hotmail to the more than 280 million active MSN Hotmail accounts around the world,” said Steve Berkowitz, senior vice president of the Online Services Group at Microsoft. “Windows Live Hotmail represents an extremely compelling end-to-end e-mail experience that makes it easy for customers to get best-of-breed e-mail access across PCs, mobile devices and the Web. Windows Live Hotmail is a cornerstone online service for Microsoft and a critical part of our online advertising business because e-mail is a key point of influence for consumer purchases. We’re pleased to announce the launch of the service to advertisers in addition to consumers on the eve of the Microsoft Strategic Account Summit.”

Windows, Hotmail, Windows Live

Windows, Hotmail, Windows Live