Neowin.net - Microsoft Prepares to release Windows Live Hotmail

Microsoft Prepares to release Windows Live Hotmail

Posted by Emil Protalinski on 02 May 2007 - 00:23 · 29 comments & 13009 views

Windows Live Hotmail (previous named Windows Live Mail) testers have received an e-mail from Microsoft with the words "we're getting ready to launch" although there is no notice of a date. Microsoft is also offering two small gifts for beta participation: a "Free Beta Badge" and a "Great Windows Vista Offer". The link following the offers the beta tester three signatures with the embedded words “I was a Beta Tester for Windows Live Hotmail”. The second offer is for a $100 discount on a high-performance Gateway FX530 Series PC with Windows Vista Ultimate with a 2 system limit per customer or four free (with mail-in rebate) “hardware accessories from Epson, Kingston, D-Link and Artec with a custom-built system running Windows Vista Ultimate from a local PC builder”.

Windows Live Hotmail is currently on the tenth milestone, M10 - released on April 2, 2007. M4 was publically released on November 29, 2005. What does Neowin think, is WLH ready for a release?

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#1 Posted by Admodieus on 02 May 2007 - 00:34: The Vista offer is really lame, and the badges are a novelty. I still added one to my Hotmail signature, though.

I think the service has come a long way, and it's definitely better than when it was first put into beta. However, I still feel it's a little slower than GMail, but it does look nice than Google's offering. The ads at the bottom of the emails are a huge turn-off, though. Those have to be removed.

Now I just want an update to Windows Live Mail desktop.

#2 Posted by +b10h4z4rd on 02 May 2007 - 00:43: I'm pretty happy on how Windows Live Hotmail turned out. M10 is better than when I started testing it.

#3 Posted by thenay on 02 May 2007 - 00:47: I think it's ready for release, it's come a long way since I tested it, I think it was M4 or sumthin I tried the first time.

(2 replies) #4 Posted by Code.Red on 02 May 2007 - 00:56: Woo yay.

#5 Posted by anamericangod on 02 May 2007 - 01:03: its definitely ready for release. its slow sometimes, but i believe that to be due to my awful ISP service.

sure as hell beats the old hotmail.

WOOOO BADGES.

#6 Posted by daniel_rh on 02 May 2007 - 01:07: For me its ready... Very happy with it, now it has MP3 preview inside the message, cool feature

(2 replies) #7 Posted by Marshalus on 02 May 2007 - 01:12: A better prize for beta testing would have been ad-free versions for a year or something. I dunno, ever since like M8 it got slower and slower for me.

(1 reply) #8 Posted by +rm20010 on 02 May 2007 - 01:14: I thought the badges were small pieces of cloth with the words "I was a Beta Tester for WLH" printed on it.

WLH has been progressively faster with each new milestone release. It's ready, but still very slow on slower connections and PCs. The loading time is now more or less the same as Yahoo Mail beta, but Yahoo Mail has tabbed navigation. At least WLH's classic interface looks better than the atrocious looking old Yahoo Mail.

Personally I'm more accustomed to WLMD for handling my Hotmail inbox.

#9 Posted by Joseph21 on 02 May 2007 - 01:52: the badges are so elementary school

#10 Posted by Super Noob on 02 May 2007 - 02:02: Badges?!?! We don't need no stinking badges!!!

#11 Posted by harythewho on 02 May 2007 - 02:10: I hope the final version doesn't have the current tacky font. They should also remove the crappy "today" part when you login to the account. Yahoo! and Gmail doesn't do that so why can't hotmail?!?!? Hope that will be resolved.

#12 Posted by Quick Shot on 02 May 2007 - 04:10: I must agree. The badges was a pretty lame idea.
Where would MS be with us beta testers?!
BUT
I must say that it's pretty nice that MS is giving us either $100 off or 4 free things with a system purchase.

As for the WLM service....I LOVE IT.
I'll take it over gmail or yahoo or what ever any day!
I just wish they would drop the stupid hotmail name!

And the today part is pretty cool. I don't mind that

#13 Posted by Mikee4fun on 02 May 2007 - 04:19: LMAO @ the sigs. Weak!

(2 replies) #14 Posted by BBinder on 02 May 2007 - 07:05: when will us uk people get that email

#15 Posted by sundayx on 02 May 2007 - 08:14: I'm a beta tester and I got no badge. Unfair!!!!111 /cries

#16 Posted by DeanClinton on 02 May 2007 - 09:01: Here You Go... http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/betathanks/

(2 replies) #17 Posted by Smigit on 02 May 2007 - 09:37: i was thinking a nice metal shirt badge would be nice, but an image. hah ahh well. Not thats I'd wear the badge but it'd be cooler I guess.

#18 Posted by zeke009 on 02 May 2007 - 13:05: I think I would have rather had the ability to sync my Outlook info with my WLH account. Like you used to be able to do with MSNSync a few years ago. Now you have to subscribe to some MSN bull**** and Hotmail Plus won't cut it.

As for the lack of updates to WLMD, someone in the forums mentioned that MS is working to combine WLMD with Windows Mail (Vista app) to create a replacement for the Vista OS. Not sure what that means for WinXP, lets just hope that MS releases a WinXP version.

#19 Posted by cyberfox2004 on 02 May 2007 - 15:10: BONUS PACK Eligibility Failure

You have been directed to this page because the system you are using has failed to meet the eligibility requirements of the BONUS PACK Offer(s) you are attempting to redeem.

To be eligible for BONUS PACK offers, the system you are using must meet the following requirements:

The system you are using must have been purchased in the United States with a genuine United States Microsoft® Windows® Vista® Ultimate, Microsoft Windows Vista Business, or Microsoft Windows® Vista Home Premium operating system or Microsoft Office® Professional 2007 or Microsoft Office Small Business 2007 pre-installed by an eligible system builder.
The BONUS PACK promotion is only open to computer systems purchased from system builder channels and excludes systems purchased from major computer manufacturers (OEMs), or those purchased as part of a volume license agreement.
BONUS PACK offers can only be redeemed from within the United States.
The system you are using must have been purchased or activated within the promotion period, and the BONUS PACK offers must be redeemed by a specific date. Please see the terms and conditions for more information: http://localpcbuilder.com/buylocal_terms.aspx
==============================================================

Terms and Conditions for BONUS PACK offer
Supplies are limited. Offer available to customers who purchase a genuine United States Windows® Vista Ultimate, Windows® Vista Home Premium, Windows® Vista Business operating system, or Office Professional 2007, or Office Small Business 2007 in the United States from approved system builder channels January 30, 2007 through June 30, 2007 and has validated the software using the Windows Genuine Advantage or Office Genuine Advantage programs. In order to be eligible for BONUS PACKs, the operating system and Office system must have one of the eligible part numbers or have been purchased from one of the eligible PC builders. See the eligibility page for a complete list of eligible part numbers and PC builders.

Redemption of BONUS PACK is available beginning January 30, 2007. Offer excludes systems purchased from major computer manufacturers (OEMs), and those purchased as part of a volume license agreement and those purchasers redeeming outside of the United States. Limit one offer per operating system or Office 2007 system purchased. Offer must be redeemed by customer by August 15, 2007, in the United States. Microsoft is not responsible for fulfillment of the offers. Companies providing the services and/or products are solely responsible for fulfilling the BONUS PACKs.

Value of the BONUS PACK varies depending upon version of Windows Vista operating system and Office 2007 acquired.

There may be shipping, handling and taxes on some of the products or services offered in the BONUS PACK.

System Builders are not authorized to redeem BONUS PACKs on behalf of their end customers or for the System Builders own personal or business use. BONUS PACKs are to be redeemed by end customers only and are for the use of end customers only.

#20 Posted by IntelliMoo on 02 May 2007 - 19:04: What does Neowin think, is WLH ready for a release? -- At this rate, never.

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