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Windows Live Mail Desktop Beta Released

Tom Warren   on 30 March 2006 - 09:38 · 33 comments & 23986 views

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Microsoft confirmed Wednesday that it has released the Windows Live Mail Desktop Beta to select beta testers and partners.
 
Windows Live Mail Desktop is a light application which will allow you to access your hotmail emails. You could call it a slimmed down version of the MSN Client software.
 
The client will come with the following:
 
  • Intergrated spam/phishing filters
  • New file based database for email & contacts
  • Quick search box
  • Spell checking
  • New contact UI and features
  • RSS
The beta is expected to expand in the coming weeks so if we can grab some exclusive invites for you guys we will
 
View: Windows Live Mail Desktop Beta Team Blog
View: Windows Live

 


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(4 replies) #1 TheGriffin on 30 Mar 2006 - 09:46
Is this to replace Outlook?
#1.1 creamhackered on 30 Mar 2006 - 09:48
Not really but it could potentially replace the support for viewing Hotmail messages within Outlook.
#1.2 Smigit on 30 Mar 2006 - 10:03
which is a tad silly since it means using two email clients...at least if you wanted to stick with outlook.
#1.3 threedaysdwn on 30 Mar 2006 - 17:19
It's basically a Windows Live replacement for OE.
#1.4 Smigit on 30 Mar 2006 - 21:49
has it got the newsreader?

actually on that note will 2007 have a newsreader? I use outlook and have to switch to Thunderbird to get nesgroups comments
#2 Guol on 30 Mar 2006 - 10:12
well i reckon this looks more promising than outlook, so hey i'm all for it!
#3 Axel on 30 Mar 2006 - 10:14
Are there any screenshots available of this?
#4 Croquant on 30 Mar 2006 - 11:07
No thanks, I'll stick with Thunderbird.
(6 replies) #5 Boomiej on 30 Mar 2006 - 13:18
Screenshot:

IPB Image

I like it, and i hope you 2 :' This one i get from someone, i don't know of this is real!?
#5.1 Philip Hristov on 30 Mar 2006 - 14:11
It looks nice, but I doubt this is the true app with this advertisement on the right and shadow...
Also I thought Mail Desktop will be available only in Vista!?
#5.2 Sn4k36 on 30 Mar 2006 - 21:18
if that what it looks like.. I'll use it for sure.. but alot better then going to the website and getting a smaller version of the damm which with alot of ads..
#5.3 cowabunga on 31 Mar 2006 - 05:12
http://join.msn.com/mailbeta/features
Some small screenshoots that kind of confirm the one above.
#5.4 kirk26 on 31 Mar 2006 - 14:33
Wow. It's Outlook with ads.
#5.5 musicstar300 on 01 Apr 2006 - 00:04
Thats WLM (Windows Live Mail) Not Dosktop Beta
#5.6 Sticktron on 01 Apr 2006 - 03:36
No it's not.
#6 ec4912 on 30 Mar 2006 - 13:46
I wonder if they'll ever update the MSN client software. It's been years since I've seen anything significant.
(4 replies) #7 shmengie on 30 Mar 2006 - 14:40
doesn't work in firefox. pity...
#7.1 threedaysdwn on 30 Mar 2006 - 17:20
Huh? It's a client app. It has nothing to do with Firefox.
#7.2 shmengie on 30 Mar 2006 - 18:01
huh? would you like me to post screenshots of the difference between live mail in ie and ff? i haven't read anything specific about it, but i assume that it's relying on activex.

anyways...you're wrong and i'm right. :p
#7.3 nmuibm04 on 30 Mar 2006 - 18:30
shmengie....

This is to a STAND ALONE email application from Microsoft so you can view all your hotmail accounts and other pop and web mail accounts from your computer. Similar to Outlook or Outlook Express.


What you're confusing this with is Windows Live Mail a.k.a. HotMail. And yes, the improved HotMail doesn't work with Firefox yet. Well... it's a lie, it partially doesn't work. It just isn't as pretty and Firefox users get treated to "Hotmail Classic View" within Windows Live Mail.
#7.4 shmengie on 31 Mar 2006 - 15:54
well...dip my balls in sweet cream and squat me in a kitchen full of kittens! my apologies. i sit corrected.
#8 iwod on 30 Mar 2006 - 14:51
Is this only able to use Hotmail? Or will i be able to use normal SMTP or IMAP
#9 Chsoriano on 30 Mar 2006 - 15:08
The mail application in Vista is Windows Mail... I'm guessing we will be able to use this instead of Windows Mail though. As far as the advertisement, I hope that MSN subscribers and Hotmail Plus subscribers don't have those advertisements in the window.
(3 replies) #10 Andy13 on 30 Mar 2006 - 17:13
What I don't understand is why can't Windows Mail support Hotmail accounts in the first place. Honestly, Windows Mail should include built in support for Yahoo, Earthlink, AOL (yes, the enemy!, G-Mail (another enemy), and Hotmail e-mail accounts, and have automatic information on-the-fly for other e-mail networks. I know it sounds dumbed down, but it'd make things much easier for the average Jane and Joe.

Why don't Windows Mail have built in support for Hotmail accounts? Why do we have to download YET ANOTHER client for Hotmail, when we can't use the fricking built-in client? Sheesh.
#10.1 threedaysdwn on 30 Mar 2006 - 17:23
Does Windows Mail not support Hotmail/Live Mail?

For one thing, Hotmail is ad funded. So of course they want you to use the web-based client or their own with ads in it. Or have a premium account. Running a service like Hotmail with hundreds of millions of users is extremely expensive. This isn't Gmail with a handful of accounts!
#10.2 Chsoriano on 30 Mar 2006 - 17:28
No, Windows Mail does not support Hotmail or MSN, it supports POP3 and IMAP. It is really annoying that Microsoft's default mail client in Windows Vista does not support their own e-mail (MSN & Hotmail). Whenever I want to check my mail I have to use IE because the performance of Outlook 2007 is so dismal on Vista right now.

I personally think it is retarded on Microsoft's part. Instead of having these seperate teams working on products that do the same thing... (Windows Mail & Windows Live Mail Desktop), they should consolidate the team and build one solid finished application.
#10.3 Rascally on 31 Mar 2006 - 00:33
It's an anti-trust issue as to why they can't support all that in the basic client.
(1 reply) #11 Smigit on 31 Mar 2006 - 02:14
No it isn't. Not supporting Hotmail wouldnt be conmsidered anti-trust....Windows Mail is just as capable at connecting to any other email service out there. (infact it is more capabl;e since it doesnt actually connect to Hotmail)

If there was any anti trust concerns it would be with having a client at all, and since thats not an issue as of yet then its really not an anti trust concern. It's just MS choosing to require its users to use an add supported service.

edit: and dont forget that outlook express currently can connect to hotmail. or at least it could not long ago (I havent used it in a while)
#11.1 xxosvista6xx on 01 Apr 2006 - 20:59
First, Hotmail isn't compatible with e-mail applications anymore, you have to get Hotmail Plus to use Hotmail via email application, even if you select Hotmail using the e-mail account setup wizard in Outlook Express, it will still not allow you to use it, you will recieve an error, they made it that way since bunches of users try to use an e-mail application to use Hotmail and it was too expensive for them, thats why Hotmail isn't an option in Windows Mail anymore.

Do I need an invitation to use this, if so where can I get one?
#12 Colin-uk on 31 Mar 2006 - 17:25
It looks good, except for the ads on the side...
(1 reply) #13 kendals on 01 Apr 2006 - 07:55
Oh, those ads get me hot...

I prefer my gmail interface, to be honest.
#13.1 Kola on 04 Apr 2006 - 06:59
Google should make a desktop email client. That'd be cool.

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