Microsoft has announced the availability of 3 Windows Live products today, all of which are beta.
Windows Live Mail is the free consumer client Microsoft will invest in moving forward. It is a superset of existing free clients and will replace Outlook Express, Windows Mail and Windows Live Mail desktop beta. While it used to be a paid feature, Hotmail customers can now access their account for free in Outlook 2003 and Windows Live Mail.
Windows Live Writer is a blogging tool that has been available in the US since August of last year. The tool was very well received by US bloggers at launch since it provides increased product functionality for Windows Live Spaces users and it also allows publishing to many of the largest blogging products in the world.
Windows Live Messenger 8.5 will also go out with a largely back-end update, but includes feature updates such as new look and feel in sign-in and conversation window, new emoticons, and integration with Windows Live OneCare Family Safety.
Download: Windows Live Writer Beta 2
Download Windows Live Messenger 8.5 Beta 1:
Download Windows Live Mail Beta:
Screenshots: Messenger 8.5 Beta 1 Gallery | Writer Beta Gallery
View: Messenger Blog posting | Mail Blog Posting
Windows Live Mail is the free consumer client Microsoft will invest in moving forward. It is a superset of existing free clients and will replace Outlook Express, Windows Mail and Windows Live Mail desktop beta. While it used to be a paid feature, Hotmail customers can now access their account for free in Outlook 2003 and Windows Live Mail.
Windows Live Writer is a blogging tool that has been available in the US since August of last year. The tool was very well received by US bloggers at launch since it provides increased product functionality for Windows Live Spaces users and it also allows publishing to many of the largest blogging products in the world.
Windows Live Messenger 8.5 will also go out with a largely back-end update, but includes feature updates such as new look and feel in sign-in and conversation window, new emoticons, and integration with Windows Live OneCare Family Safety.
US (En) | US (Es) | GB (En) | India (En) | French | German | Spain | Chinese (Simplified) | Japanese
US (En) | US (Es) | GB (En) | India (En) | French | German | Spain | Chinese (Simplified) | Japanese
Additional information about Windows Live Mail:
This client service is similar to Outlook Express and Windows Mail software but is optimized to work with Windows Live Hotmail and other Windows Live services. Windows Live Mail beta is designed to work with Windows Live Hotmail, providing a similar UI and familiar interaction model. The client will offer additive features to Windows Live Hotmail, made possible by bringing together client software with services including things like offline mail and account aggregation.
- Offline mail
- Windows Live Hotmail account aggregation
- Additional account aggregation for POP and IMAP mail accounts
- RSS feed aggregation
- More advanced photo-sharing capabilities
- More advanced search via integration with Desktop Search
- Additional safety (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 Spaces
















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Last edited by Rob on 30 May 2007 - 23:38
C
C
Nevermind, post updated with working link.
Yeah for now. That's the placeholder for the new one. Jeez.
Yeah for now. That's the placeholder for the new one. Jeez.
I'm just saying by posting just a link and not saying anything... some people may get mad
Yeah for now. That's the placeholder for the new one. Jeez.
I'm just saying by posting just a link and not saying anything... some people may get mad
Ah right. Nothing works anyways. Everything is broke!
Starts a download here.
very odd
I also cannot log into WLM's 8.1 client after running this.
I open Task Manager and start the installation, WL Messenger processes appear then after 30 secs they disapear but WL Messenger hasn't installed.
Any ideas?
I have numerous error logs in Event Viewer ie
The description for Event ID (0) in Source (WLSetupSvc) cannot be
found. The local computer may not have the necessary registry information
or message DLL files to display messages from a remote computer. You
may be able to use /AUXSOURCE = flag to retrieve this discription;
see Help and Support for details. The following information is part of the
event: Services stopped.
__________________________________________________________________
Product: Windows Live Installer -- Error 1706. An installation package for
the product Windows Live installer cannot be found. Try the installation
again using a vaild copy of the installation 'dashboard.msi'
For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Last edited by windows tester on 30 May 2007 - 23:15
Release notes!
If you install any combination of the Messenger 8.5, Mail, or Writer betas on one computer, each beta must be the same language version. If you try to install one of these betas in a different language, the installation will fail.
http://get.live.com/betas/installer_release_notes
This is madness!
THIS IS SPARTAAAAAAAAA!!!!!
well. except live mail
C
C
that doesn't seem to work under XP
lol...or maybe some got in a hurry....si`
Does not work with Vista Ultimate.
after you log in look at the splash screen
screenshot of my msn after using a-patch: http://i7.tinypic.com/4podnhw.jpg
windows live mail desktop link on main page is same build for me, where is link for new version?
That's true, it's a shame i'm using Outlook 2k7 and not outlook express anymore, or i'd switch over also.
That's true, it's a shame i'm using Outlook 2k7 and not outlook express anymore, or i'd switch over also.
I switched to WLM because, for my purposes, Outlook has too much going on. A lot of people probably use Outlook that really don't need everything it features.
Español... Is there such thing as US Spanish? What's the difference from Spanish?
Last edited by _Allan_ on 02 Jun 2007 - 07:58
I use Mess Patch which has even more options than A-Patch lol but I dont like WLM mainly because of its new UI, I forget exactly what about it but Ive given it two chances and I still like 7.5 better.
Then again, when has Microsoft ever had a consistent gui between it's os and applications?
1. Contact card does't work
2. 'Show what I'm listening to' doesn't work
Can anyone confirm?
1. Contact card does't work
2. 'Show what I'm listening to' doesn't work
Can anyone confirm?
1. Works for me
2.also works... make sure its selected under WMPlayer/now playing/plug-ins/others
Yes
Oh man.. WLM Desktop has that feature, but not the Windows Mail
Guess I won't be using this then, unless they add that feature in!!
"Hide window when Inbox is minimized"
"Hide window when Inbox is minimized"
LoL thanks.. I guess I'll still install this when I get back home
"Hide window when Inbox is minimized"
that feature only works with the minimize icon... not like the previous built that you can click close, and the client goes to tray
Thanks
well done microsoft software testers!!!
Last edited by Wanderermy on 31 May 2007 - 05:59
btw live messenger 8.5 installed perfectly, so did live writer, its just live mail that wont install
How do i activate my hotmail account so I can download to Outlook 2007??
As when I try it says it needs a subscription, however in this news item it said it can now be done for free
Although in my case the connector keeps telling me to subscribe
Although in my case the connector keeps telling me to subscribe
That's what it says for me too.
I thought the way it was worded in the news story we could subscribe for free now
|-)
*-)
(brb)
:^)
just choose "show all" in the emoticons window and scroll to the very bottom for new ones!
Is the spanish version
For the english??
I have tried installing live writer and it won't install.
Thanks for updates!
not as good as vista live messenger but now that they look alike it should be easier to skin
I love how everything installs in C
I couldn't get Live Writer to install though, I'm guessing it's because I've got the UK version of Mail and Messenger and Writer is for the US?
Great work Microsoft, its took long enough though!!
cant believe ms didnt test this, sooo many of us are having problems!
beta - AS IF - more like post alpha that hasnt been tested at all!!!
And, yeah while we're on the subject of this Dashboard...why name is Dashboard in the first place? Regardless of its intended use, it's just more fodder for the mac fanboys.
Update: Nice...Live Mail doesn't want to start. It keeps popping up an error complaining about needing to be connected to the internet. Eh...I am?!? Well unless I've suddenly gotten some superhero-like power to post messages to Neowin using only my mind and a keyboard. Hmm...now that would be nice... *dreams* Oh, Windows Live...you silly, silly fool.
Last edited by Sranshaft on 31 May 2007 - 15:46
If you are trying to install more than one of the programs, I had to redo step 3 before moving on to the next program.
So thats:
- If you installed the leaked Spanish version, uninstall it from 'Add and Remove Programs' in the Control Panel.
- Go to "C:/Program Files/" and delete the Windows Live folder.
- Open "C:/Documents and Settings/All Users" and delete the WLInstall and Installer folders in there.
- Reboot (I didn't have to but it can't hurt) and then try running the installer again.
Hope it helps. Still having trouble getting Live Mail to even run but at least I was able to install it. One hurdle jumped, who knows how many more to go.Last edited by Sranshaft on 31 May 2007 - 16:28
live messenger 8.5 beta official installed fine, its windows live mail that wont install
The major eye sore comes when you open up the options. They took a step backward compared to Windows Mail: the freaking Windows 9x icons are still there.
1 If you installed the leaked Spanish version, uninstall it from 'Add and Remove Programs' in the Control Panel. If not then just go to step 2.
2 Go to "C:/Program Files/" and delete the Windows Live folder.
3 Open "C:/Documents and Settings/All Users/Application Data/" and delete the WLInstaller and WindowsLiveInstaller folders in there.
Last edited by _Allan_ on 02 Jun 2007 - 08:01
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