Windows Live

File:Mslivelogo.png Windows Live logo

Screenshot of Windows Live homepage

File:Wlorb.png The Windows Live "Orb"

Windows Live is the collective brand name for a set of services and software products from Microsoft. A majority of these services are Web applications, accessible from a browser, but there are applications that need installing as well. There are three basic groups of these services: informed, connected and protected experiences.

Windows Live was announced on November 1, 2005. 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). Although the new branding might suggest closer technical ties to the Microsoft Windows operating system and services, the two are available separately. Microsoft said that Windows Live "is a way to extend the Windows user experience". However, some Web browser based Windows Live applications are available outside of Windows, and Windows doesn't include Windows Live applications either. Windows Vista does, however, provide a link in the Start menu to download Windows Live Messenger, after the removal of Windows Messenger.

Some released Windows Live services and programs include the Live Search search engine, the Windows Live Messenger instant messaging client, the Windows Live Hotmail webmail service, the Windows Live OneCare computer security service, and Windows Live Spaces.

Besides Windows Live, which is mainly aimed at individuals, there are some other Web properties from Microsoft that are branded as "Live": Microsoft Office Live for small businesses, the 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.

Windows Live services

Service	Codename	Website	Description	Development Stage
Live.com		http://www.live.com http://home.live.com	An all-in-one home page featuring a customisable RSS aggregator, gadgets and a new and improved search tool	Final
Windows Live Account		http://account.live.com	The service for updating your Windows Live identity and managing your Windows Live relationship	Final
Windows Live Agents		Direct Link	Part of Windows Live Messenger Interactive chatterbots through Windows Live Messenger that allow users to get more information about specific topics	Final
Windows Live Alerts		http://alerts.live.com	Send information updates to your email inbox, mobile device or Messenger	Beta
Windows Live Barcode		https://barcode.ideas.live.com temporarily unavailable	2D barcodes that can be used to store information or link to the mobile web	Beta
Windows Live Betas		http://get.live.com/betas	Website listing Windows Live beta services	Final
Windows Live Calendar		http://calendar.live.com	Part of Windows Live Hotmail	N/A
Windows Live Call			Part of Windows Live Messenger	Final
Windows Live Clipboard Planned			Allow online copy and pasting	N/A
Windows Live Contacts		http://contacts.live.com	Part of Windows Live Hotmail, Messenger, Mail and Spaces. The contact book service which allows people to keep contacts and synchronize the contact's information with their Live Profile. Also refers to a client-side browser JavaScript object that enables visitors to use their Windows Live contacts with website	Beta
Windows Live Core Planned			Collection of cloud-based software as a service platform that will allow the creation of distributed networked applications	N/A
Windows Live Custom Domains		http://domains.live.com	Provides e-mail hosting for web site owners	Final
Windows Live Dashboard			Part of Windows Live Essentials	Beta
Windows Live Dev		http://dev.live.com	The development center and supplier of software development kits for Windows Live developers	Final
Windows Live Drive Planned	Live Drive or Storage	http://drive.live.com	Allow files shared on a system to be accessed remotely over the Internet.	N/A
Windows Live Essentials		http://essentials.live.com	A collection of Windows Live programs available for download	Beta
Windows Live Expo	Fremont	http://expo.live.com	Online classifieds	Final
Windows Live Favorites	Roaming Favorites	http://favorites.live.com	Synchronizes your favorites between computers and lets you share favorites	Final
Windows Live Folders	SkyDrive	http://folders.live.com http://skydrive.live.com	Password-protected online file storage	Beta
Windows Live FolderShare		http://www.foldershare.com	File sharing and synchronization service acquired by Microsoft and now branded as a beta Windows Live service	Beta
Windows Live Gallery	Customise	http://gallery.live.com	A center for collections of developers' add-ons for Windows Live products	Beta
Windows Live Guides Suspended		http://shopguides.live.com	Part of Windows Live Shopping	N/A
Windows Live Help Community		http://helpcommunity.live.com	Collection of forums and message boards to communicate with other users of Windows Live products	Beta
Windows Live Hotmail	Kahuna	http://mail.live.com http://hotmail.live.com	Free webmail service using AJAX technology featuring email, contacts and calendar services	Final
Windows Live ID		http://login.live.com	Works seamlessly with Windows Live services and allowing multiple sign-ins with different accounts	Final
Windows Live Mail		Beta Information	Desktop mail client designed to success Outlook Express on Windows XP and Windows Mail on Windows Vista, with full RSS support.	Beta
Windows Live Max Planned	Project M		Originally named Microsoft Max	N/A
Windows Live Message Boards		http://boards.live.com	Provides a discussion forum for Windows Live services	N/A
Windows Live Messenger		http://messenger.live.com	Instant messaging, personal file sharing and outgoing Voice over IP client	Final (8.5 in Beta)
Windows Live OneCare	A1	http://onecare.live.com	Computer Security Service. Features its own Anti-Virus program, back-up utility, and a software firewall	Final (2.0 in Beta)
Windows Live OneCare Family Safety		http://fss.live.com	Parental Controls similar to Windows Vista's Family Safety feature	Beta
Windows Live OneCare Safety Scanner	Vegas	http://safety.live.com	Free PC scanning and health service to help delete viruses and other threats	Final
Windows Live Photo Gallery			Similar to Windows Photo Gallery with additional enhancements that will make posting photos to Windows Live Spaces and Soapbox easier	Beta
Windows Live Search Center Rebranded	OneView or Casino	http://desktop.live.com	Rebranded as Windows Search 4	N/A
Windows Live Shopping Rebranded		http://shopping.live.com	Rebranded as MSN Shopping	N/A
Windows Live Silverlight Streaming		http://silverlight.live.com	Allow developers and designers to deliver and scale rich media as part of their Silverlight applications	Alpha
Windows Live Spaces	Spaces 10.5	http://spaces.live.com	AJAX based version social networking site	Final
Windows Live Toolbar		http://toolbar.live.com	A toolbar which adds itself to Windows Internet Explorer, allowing access to your Windows Live Spaces, Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Favorites and Windows Live Search everywhere you go	Final
Windows Live TV	Nemo or Orbit	Beta Information	An additional program for Windows Media Center which will provide access to Windows Live Spaces, Messenger, and Call on large-screen monitors or TVs	Beta
Windows Live WiFi Center		http://wifi.live.com	Allow users to search for wireless networks that are available and displays information about them.	N/A
Windows Live WiFi Hotspot Locator Rebranded		http://hotspot.live.com	Rebranded as MSN WiFi Hotspots	N/A
Windows Live Writer		http://writer.live.com	Desktop blog publishing tool	Beta

Live Search

Main article: Live Search

As of 2007-03-21, Microsoft has decided to separate its Live Search developments from its Windows Live services family, forming part of the Live Search and Ad Platform. Live Search (formerly Windows Live Search and MSN Search) will consolidate with Microsoft adCenter in a new group headed by Satya Nadella, part of Microsoft's Platform and Systems division.

In addition to searching webpages, other Live Search services include:

• Live Search Academic
• Live Search Books
• Live Search Feeds
• Live Search Images
• Live Search Local
• Live Search Macros
• Live Search Maps
• Live Search News
• Live Product Search
• Live QnA
• Live Search Video

Additionally Live Product Upload and Live Search Books Publisher Program provide content upload services to merchants and publishers to add their contents to Live Search.

Developer APIs

API	Description	Development Stage
Windows Live Data	Allows developers to access the user's Windows Live services and data with various authentication methods	Alpha
Windows Live SDK	A suite of APIs for programmatic access of various Windows Live services from other web sites or applications	Beta

Microsoft Live Labs

Microsoft Live Labs is a partnership between MSN and Microsoft Research that focuses on applied research for Internet products and services at Microsoft.

Live Labs are headed by Dr. Gary William Flake, who prior to joining Microsoft was a principal scientist at Yahoo! Research Lab and former head of research at the Web portal's Overture Services division.

Live Labs' focus is on applied research and practical applications of computer science areas including natural language processing, machine learning, information retrieval, data mining, computational linguistics, distributed computing, etc.

Service	Codename	Website	Description	In Beta
Microsoft Live Labs Codename "Astoria"	Astoria	http://astoria.mslivelabs.com	Platform that exposes data, represented as Entity Data Model (EDM) objects, via web services accessed over HTTP	Yes
Microsoft Live Labs Deepfish	Deepfish	http://labs.live.com/deepfish	Allow users to display and zoom into web contents on their Windows Mobile devices similar to the desktop format without requiring additional work by the site author	Yes
Microsoft Live Labs Photosynth	Photosynth	http://labs.live.com/photosynth	Displays a large collection of photos in a reconstructed three-dimensional space	Yes
Microsoft Live Labs Relay Service		http://relay.labs.live.com	Allow users to expose a Windows Communication Foundation based service to the Internet from behind a firewall or NAT	Yes
Microsoft Live Labs Security Token Service		http://sts.labs.live.com	Online identity management service that lets you offload authentication functions	Yes
Windows Live PhotoZoom	PhotoZoom		Add photos via an upload tool or RSS feed and uses Microsoft Live Labs Seadragon and Silverlight technologies to enable zooming functionality	Yes (alpha)

Themes

Blue Vapor

The majority of Windows Live applications and services have a visual theme known as Blue Vapor or Flair. An example is shown below:

Windows Live 2.0

With the latest public beta release of Windows Live Messenger 8.5, Mail, Writer and Photo Gallery, known as the Windows Live Wave 2.0 Suite ("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. Also, standard header known as Flair for Windows Live has been changed to a new and much different one. An example is shown below:

Windows Live Butterfly

In order to recognize the contributions of beta testers, Microsoft has initiated the Windows Live Butterfly awards program (formerly the MSN Butterfly program).

Prospective 'butterflies' are selected by the (Microsoft internal) Windows Live product team and are nominated for a minimum term of one year, after which they must be selected again by the internal product teams or their membership in the group will be dropped. The 'butterflies' are given new Microsoft software to test before the beta releases go public and are in direct contact with the program managers for Windows Live software.

Selected Butterflies have been re-recognized for the year of 2007.

See also

• List of Rich Internet applications
• Microsoft Office Live
• Xbox Live

External links

Windows Live

• Live.com Homepage
• Windows Live Products & Services
• Windows Live Betas
• LiveSide: Windows Live News
• Windows Live Blog on Windows Live Spaces

Microsoft Live Labs

• Microsoft Live Labs

Media

• BBC article
• CNET reviews