Microsoft has announced a new beta for the Windows Live Writer blog post composition service.
The Writer tool is part of Microsoft’s Windows Live online initiative and its first version was introduced in 2006.
With Windows Live Writer users can compose blog posts and publish them on well-known blogging platforms - such as Windows Live Spaces, Community Server, WordPress and TypePad.
Nick White, a Microsoft product manager, displayed the new features in the Windows Live Writer beta on the Windows Vista team blog. It makes possible for users to spell check as they write, gives them the ability to add categories and edit tables, and allows for easier image insertion, maintained White.
Furthermore, the software maker also announced new betas for its instant messaging and web-based mail services this week.
Though Windows Live Messenger 8.5 is officially in its beta form now, users had already got an early look of it when the release was leaked in Spanish on the Messenger Adictos blog earlier this week. The beta bundles in a user interface designed to resemble more like the refurbished Aero interface of Windows Vista. The beta is available on the Windows Live site.
Next is Windows Live Mail, the successor to Windows Mail that is included in Windows Vista and Outlook Express on Windows XP, which also has a new beta release. The latest version packs in a new user interface that is similar to other services in Windows Live, and also enables users to sync to their Windows Live Hotmail accounts.
Other features in the Windows Live Mail beta include:
# Offline mail
# Windows Live Hotmail account aggregation
# Additional account aggregation for POP3 and IMAP mail accounts
# RSS feed aggregation
# More advanced photo-sharing capabilities
# More advanced search via integration with Windows Desktop Search
# Additional safety measures (AV scanning, anti-phishing, anti-spam protection across aggregated accounts for customers who do not have an AV product)
# Additional integration with Windows Live services including Windows Live Spaces
As for now, the service will not include advertisements, the company said. But several of the Windows Live services have been developed by Microsoft to give impetus to online advertising revenue; so many already include advertising or will in the future.
The new Windows Live Writer beta is available in both English and Spanish in the U.S., as well as in English in India and the U.K. It also is available in Spain, Germany, Japan, China and France.
Microsoft disclosed a novel strategy to develop new online services in November 2005, and also introduced the latest Windows Live brand. A number of the services previously branded MSN are now rechristened as Windows Live.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Windows Live Writer Blog Beta launched by Microsoft; More Windows Live Services tested
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Windows Live FolderShare Beta - there is still hope
Looks like there is a ray of hope for those FolderShare users who've been out in the cold since Microsoft's acquisiton of ByteTaxi back at the end of the 2005. Apart from a partial rebrand to Windows Live, there hasn't been much to get exicted about, but that may be about to change.
A new FolderShare page on feedback.live.com and a public foldershare newsgroup with some activity shows that FolderShare is getting some attention internally, suggesting that it may be a questions of when, not if, there is a new beta build.
To recap:
"FolderShare is a Windows Live Service that allows people to share their files with their friends, family & co-workers, and synchronize files across multiple devices. People can also access their files from anywhere on the web."
So how does this compare to Microsoft's other known storage products?
- Windows Live FolderShare provides remote access to files via a web browser and also synching capabilities similar to that of Messenger's Shared Folders.
- Windows Live Folders is a cloud storage service, allowing you to store your files at a Microsoft datacenter thereby providing access to your files even if your home PC is turned off.
- Windows Home Server provides remote access to files via a web browser and mapped drive access if you are on the same network
You can try out FolderShare at www.foldershare.com.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Games for Windows - Live Beta
Microsoft are looking for beta testers for Games for Windows - Live. Are you interested in being part of a select group that is invited to help beta test a new service that lets PC game players connect with their friends on the Xbox through the LIVE gaming network? If you are, please read on. The registration period for this upcoming beta testing opportunity will only be available for a limited time. To be considered you will need to complete the Games for Windows - Live Beta application survey.Registration for participation can be found at: https://connect.microsoft.com/site/sitehome.aspx?SiteID=363.
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