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Topic: Collaboration

Windows Live Wave 4: A guide for the perplexed

Summary: While those who cover every twist and turn of Microsoft's Windows Live Wave 4 add-ons to Windows are in the know -- as are the small group of testers outside the company who've been granted access to beta versions -- the general user public is probably a little confused about what to expect. Here's an attempt to clarify.

Mary Jo Foley

By for All About Microsoft |

There's a lot of conflicting information out there about Windows Live Wave 4.

While those who cover every twist and turn of Microsoft's next Windows Live service add-ons to Windows are in the know (as are the small group of testers outside the company who've been granted access to beta versions), the general user public is probably a little confused. (I'm basing that statement on the fact I'm confused, even though my job entails watching Microsoft closely.)

I decided to ask the good folks over at LiveSide.net for some help explaining what Windows Live Wave 4 is and what to expect. Here's a quick e-mail Q&A between me and Kip Kniskern, the main cook and bottle washer at the independent Windows-Live-watching site. (Note: These answers aren't condoned or verified by Microsoft, but LiveSide has a pretty good track record, in terms of ferreting out details that only sneaky geniuses like them can do.)

MJF: What are the components of the forthcoming Windows Live Essentials 2011 bundle?

Kniskern: Same as before: Messenger, Live Mail, Writer, Photo Gallery, Movie Maker,  Family Safety.  Bing Toolbar replaces Windows Live Toolbar. Live Sync is there, but totally redone. We've mentioned that it will only be able to sync 2GB to the cloud, but that's been lost in the shuffle a bit. Also the Live Mesh mobile sync did not appear to make the cut, so there's no Live Sync mobile client, leaving the mobile sync story (the only one that matters, really) unresolved.  Will it be My Phone? the KIN Studio (the only thing good about the KIN)? Possibly Live Sync adding a mobile client later in the beta?

MJF: What are the other Windows Live Wave 4 services that aren’t in Essentials?

Kniskern: Hotmail, SkyDrive (now much more integrated), Office Live (is that what we're calling Office Web Apps now?), the Windows Live Home social network feed aggregator, which will replace Hotmail Today.

MJF: Of all of these, which are going to get the biggest overhaul?

Kniskern: Messenger gets tabs, and video calling is revamped. The Ribbon is added to all the Essentials services (basically Writer gets a ribbon and not much more, for example.  The social networking aggregation is built into more services (Hotmail Today, a new sidebar in Messenger that everyone will immediately turn off, etc.)

MJF: So what do you think the rollout schedule for all this is, other than all of these things appear "in the coming months"?

Kniskern: First, Windows Live Essentials beta gets announced. Then, on June 15, Hotmail begins rollout. Somewhere end of June (blogger Francisco Martin is reporting June 21-25), Essentials downloads will be available and the public beta starts. Final is "in the fall" - we've heard that it will coincide with Windows 7 SP1, as the "first big feature update to Win7".

Readers: What else do you want to know about Windows Live Wave 4? What's still confusing you, if anything?

Topics: Collaboration, Browser, Operating Systems, Software, Windows

About

Mary Jo has covered the tech industry for more than 25 years for a variety of publications and Web sites, and is a frequent guest on radio, TV and podcasts, speaking about all things Microsoft-related. She is the author of Microsoft 2.0: How Microsoft plans to stay relevant in the post-Gates era (John Wiley & Sons, 2008).

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  • RE: Windows Live Wave 4: A guide for the perplexed

    Microsoft is probably abandoning development for Sync/Mesh on Windows Mobile 6.x. From what we've already seen of Windows Phone 7, it has built-in support for Skydrive (similar to Sharepoint), so I don't really see the lack of mobile sync in Essentials 2011 as a big deal.

    As you already know, Microsoft is abandoning Windows Mobile Device Center in Windows Phone 7, so it wouldn't make sense to make a mobile client on the desktop.
    angarita calvo
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Windows Live Wave 4: A guide for the perplexed

      Except that a lot of people are still using smartphones that run Windows Mobile 6.x, and it would really be foolish for Microsoft to alienate them on a technicality?
      szwarc@...
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Windows Live Wave 4: A guide for the perplexed

        @szwarc@... Instead of <a href="http://www.trsohbet.com">sohbet</a> renaming and repackaging their <a href="http://www.trsohbet.com">chat</a> applications to try to trick us, the "Programs and Features" applet in <a href="http://www.trsohbet.com/portal/">portal</a> Control Panel should have a simple link to a <a href="http://video.trsohbet.com/">izlesene</a> page or web service with all of Microsoft's free <a href="http://www.forumuz.net">forum</a> application offerings, broken down into simple categories and keyword <a href="http://www.trsohbet.com">chat sohbet</a> searchable. And when an app is updated, the app should show an alert pop-up which takes you to Programs applet again, which should show an easy-to-see "Upgrade" icon next to the updated application. As usual, what could be done simply and elegantly, Microsoft makes confusing <a href="http://www.trsohbet.com">sohbet odalari</a>.
        cstrathmore
        Reply Vote

  • RE: Windows Live Wave 4: A guide for the perplexed

    you can upload and download files to/from livemesh from wm6.5 phone. with office mobile 2010 you can edit docs including powerpoint on the phone then upload the edited versions back up to livemesh.
    peterpulmonary
    Reply Vote

  • Live Sync vs SkyDrive

    I'm wondering - what's gonna be the differences between Live Sync and SkyDrive?
    CobraA1
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Windows Live Wave 4: A guide for the perplexed

      @CobraA1 Basically, SkyDrive is your online storage, and Live Sync is a synchronization app that will sync your files to your SkyDrive or another computer.
      maguay
      Reply Vote

  • Vague wording

    "video calling is revamped" How much more vague can they get? What does revamped equal to? Have they improved the shitty webcam quality? Does it finally support video with multiple people?
    xp-client
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Windows Live Wave 4: A guide for the perplexed

      @anonymuos - You DID read that MJF was speculating about what's coming in the next release of Live with Kip Kniskern, an independent commentator/blogger on the subject of Windows Live, right?

      These are not Microsoft official statements - merely intelligent speculation.
      de-void-21165590650301806002836337787023
      Reply Vote

  • Control Panel - Programs and Features

    Instead of constantly renaming and repackaging their applications to try to trick us, the "Programs and Features" applet in Control Panel should have a simple link to a web page or web service with all of Microsoft's free application offerings, broken down into simple categories and keyword searchable. And when an app is updated, the app should show an alert pop-up which takes you to Programs applet again, which should show an easy-to-see "Upgrade" icon next to the updated application. As usual, what could be done simply and elegantly, Microsoft makes confusing.
    YukioCowboy
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Windows Live Wave 4: A guide for the perplexed

      @JFDude In other words, the iPhone App Store
      hawks5999
      Reply Vote

  • Internet Explorer Security and Privacy Add-Ons

    This is a bit off-topic, but something maybe MJ would like to bring up sometime when IE9 is covered again.

    Firefox has great security and privacy add-ons, such as NoScript, cookie editors, etc. This is one of the things that makes Firefox more fun and interesting.

    When you visit www.ieaddons.com, which is Microsoft's main add-on page, notice that "Security" and "Privacy" are not even categories!

    Where is Microsoft's answer to Firefox NoScript that is just as powerful and easy to use?
    YukioCowboy
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Windows Live Wave 4: A guide for the perplexed

      @JFDude Try, Tools, Internet Options, Security, Disable Active Scripting?

      Security and privacy shouldn't come in add-ons. ;-)
      jhughesy
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Windows Live Wave 4: A guide for the perplexed

        @jhughesy I think the question is more "Why should I have to disable it completely, when in Firefox, I can enable it for trusted sites and have it disabled in general?" Plus, firefox has the same ability (to disable it completely) (Tools --> Options --> Content Uncheck "Enable JavaScript" or Options --> Privacy). The "addon" just allows you a little more flexibility with security.
        pdickey043@...
        Reply Vote

  • MESH alive or dead post livewave 4?

    So, does this updated sync replace MESH beta, if so whats with the only 2GB to the cloud when skydrive is meant to be intergrated now, this is very frustrating to hear as I think that MESH should have been the gell to hold OfficeLive\Cloudapps together?
    GP101
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Windows Live Wave 4: A guide for the perplexed

      @groovepoint@... I agree about Mesh. It is integrated into my business plan. What will replace it?
      ph2005
      Reply Vote

  • Windows Live Mail

    Will this version of WLM finally have the ability to "darken" the fonts in the reading window? It has been hard to read for years!
    Tom T Tuttle
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Windows Live Wave 4: A guide for the perplexed

      @Tom T Tuttle Probably not. That would fall under the category of "one of those issues that our users have been complaining about" and not the category of "useless features that we think will wow the masses." IMHO, of course. I haven't seen the beta at all.
      pdickey043@...
      Reply Vote

  • Wave huh? does it synch with Google :)

    As if there aren't there enough words in the dictionary? this choice of word is confusing indeed... unless it's meant to be that way... This new service is about as exciting as watching a rock grow... Plus when will MS stop doing the mime with other peoples ideas and when will they seriously get down to business? I know that can.
    Silex
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Windows Live Wave 4: A guide for the perplexed

      @Silex

      I'm not even quite sure that I agree with what you're saying...but damn, it was funny. You use words in an interesting fashion, Silex. lol

      In all seriousness, in my perception, this is the last thing that I care about from Microsoft. Because they've done such a great job with Windows 7, I'm giving them a chance to correct the errs of their past re: WM6. All I want to do is sync contacts, calendar, and tasks from one MS software to another via more MS software: ActiveSync... Period.

      To be honest, I've kind of given up on that and am looking forward to my next, Android phone.

      This MS Essentials package seems like more of the same in regards to ensuring that the user can not do what it wants to do... There's too much going on. If MS just revamps the email client to work with everything (including ActiveSync and Exchange), the extra programs that they have in their could be relinquished. Sky Drive could be incorporated into the Mail client to give true easy access. And I'm not sure what they're thinking, but Office Live Web (the add-on that allows you to save documents online in a "Space" for easy access from any computer) should work with Google Chrome. Period.

      Ok...I'm done. It's just that MS is good for hyping "new" software without dealing with the sins of the past...
      GSystems
      Reply Vote

      • Just a Thought

        @G-Systems
        And why would Microsoft go out of their way to make their products make nice with Goggle, or any other competitor?
        Goggle just insinuated that Microsoft products was not good enough for them. Now, let's see if Goggle's offerings are good enough without Microsoft.
        eargasm
        Reply Vote
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