Windows Live Mail, Live Writer & Messenger 8.5 Beta

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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:

US (En) | US (Es) | GB (En) | India (En) | French | German | Spain | Chinese (Simplified) | Japanese

Download Windows Live Mail Beta:

US (En) | US (Es) | GB (En) | India (En) | French | German | Spain | Chinese (Simplified) | Japanese

Screenshots: Messenger 8.5 Beta 1 Gallery | Writer Beta Gallery

View: Messenger Blog posting | Mail Blog Posting

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

There will be no graphical advertisements in Windows Live Mail beta at this time.

(1 reply) #1 Rob on 30 May 2007 - 21:54

Digg this story!

Last edited by Rob on 30 May 2007 - 23:38

#1.1 bites on 30 May 2007 - 23:28

I you installed the Spanish version from a couple days ago you need to delete the following directories

C

rogramDataWindowsLiveInstaller
C

rogramDataWLInstaller

#2 creamhackered on 30 May 2007 - 21:57

Yeah it's literally going live as we speak...

(1 reply) #3 Tantawi on 30 May 2007 - 22:01

Perfect.

#3.1 Express on 31 May 2007 - 00:47

Its a Live Bonanza!

#4 dragon2611 on 30 May 2007 - 22:02

Outlook connector not enabled for free accounts yet...

(2 replies) #5 DeanClinton on 30 May 2007 - 22:04

Has anyone seen: newhotmail.co.uk?

#5.1 magik on 30 May 2007 - 22:15

Yea. It's blank. ;/

#5.2 jmc777 on 30 May 2007 - 23:30

The woman sitting with the laptop is quite cute. She reminds me of Natalie Portman a little bit.

#6 kiddingguy on 30 May 2007 - 22:05

great! when is the final version expected?

#7 drygnfyre on 30 May 2007 - 22:15

Wait, so I can access my Hotmail/Live Mail in Thunderbird now? If it works in Outlook 2003, it's just standard POP3, is it not?

#8 Tantawi on 30 May 2007 - 22:16

http://get.live.com/betas/home

(2 replies) #9 +Blaine on 30 May 2007 - 22:18

Download link for messenger is live now. I just wish Messenger plus was updated now

#9.1 Crackler on 30 May 2007 - 22:23

Not live for me yet.

Nevermind, post updated with working link.

#9.2 Patchou on 31 May 2007 - 21:50

Count on it very soon

(4 replies) #10 MchWalte on 30 May 2007 - 22:21

http://get.live.com/betas/maildesktop_betas

#10.1 Slimy on 30 May 2007 - 22:24

That's the old beta. At least it is for now. Check the link before posting.

#10.2 MchWalte on 30 May 2007 - 22:31

Quote - (Slimy said @ #10.1)

Yeah for now. That's the placeholder for the new one. Jeez.

#10.3 Slimy on 30 May 2007 - 22:51

Quote - (MchWalte said @ #10.2)

I'm just saying by posting just a link and not saying anything... some people may get mad

#10.4 MchWalte on 30 May 2007 - 22:59

Quote - (Slimy said @ #10.3)

Ah right. Nothing works anyways. Everything is broke!

(1 reply) #11 A10 on 30 May 2007 - 22:27

Download link for WLM 8.5 goes to msn.com am I missing something?

#11.1 dragon2611 on 30 May 2007 - 22:30

Quote - (A10 said @ #11)

Starts a download here.

#12 -Hiroshi- on 30 May 2007 - 22:29

Yeah its not live yet.

(1 reply) #13 +boldfire on 30 May 2007 - 22:29

None of them are installing for me, go to "Setting your system" or something then it just closes.

#13.1 rbet on 30 May 2007 - 22:32

Likewise.

#14 MchWalte on 30 May 2007 - 22:29

It hasn't been pushed to every server yet.

#15 Admodieus on 30 May 2007 - 22:30

Yeah, include the link to Windows Live Mail.

#16 chaz_x on 30 May 2007 - 22:32

not installing messenger for me either, just says it setting up the system then nothing??
very odd

#17 MchWalte on 30 May 2007 - 22:40

Won't install for me either!

#18 srwal on 30 May 2007 - 22:40

seems all these links old....

#19 Stuff5 on 30 May 2007 - 22:43

Installed ...Uninstalled! It stucks badly my XP

#20 Admodieus on 30 May 2007 - 22:45

Yeah I'm gonna wait a bit for these links to be ironed out...

(1 reply) #21 -Hiroshi- on 30 May 2007 - 22:45

Cant install it.

I also cannot log into WLM's 8.1 client after running this.

#21.1 MrCobra on 31 May 2007 - 00:54

I can't login with 8.1 after uninstalling this.

#22 drygnfyre on 30 May 2007 - 22:47

I've just downloaded Live Mail desktop, but I think it's the older beta build, the new on in the screenshot doesn't seem to be available yet.

#23 Stuartb55 on 30 May 2007 - 22:47

Installed WLM 8.5 just fine. Love the new look.

#24 AmpCoder on 30 May 2007 - 22:48

Windows Live Mail Beta: http://get.live.com/betas/wlmail_betas

#25 smashguy on 30 May 2007 - 22:50

I can wait for the final version of WLM 8.5

#26 batbeef on 30 May 2007 - 22:50

nothing works

#27 Admodieus on 30 May 2007 - 22:52

That Windows Live Mail beta just downloads the old version of Windows Live Mail desktop beta.

#28 kurono on 30 May 2007 - 22:54

Is it just me, or does the Live Messenger 8.5 just a bit longer to login?

#29 Stuff5 on 30 May 2007 - 22:55

Guys i think it changed my Windows update to Microsoft Update thats why it was stucking ..grrrr!

#30 Capitaine_Cool on 30 May 2007 - 22:56

I can't setup any of the 3, please help

#31 dragon2611 on 30 May 2007 - 22:59

doesnt install on my vista machine....

#32 windows tester on 30 May 2007 - 23:01

Hey guys Windows Live Messenger 8.5 wont install, i start the installation and then i accept the terms and then nothing.

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

#33 MchWalte on 30 May 2007 - 23:01

Oh god no wonder!!

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

#34 Capitaine_Cool on 30 May 2007 - 23:02

All is in french here and nothing setup lol

#35 Admodieus on 30 May 2007 - 23:03

That doesn't mean anything. I just uninstalled all my old Writer and Messenger betas and they still won't install.

#36 batbeef on 30 May 2007 - 23:03

#37 Ollie Woods on 30 May 2007 - 23:07

Does anyone have the old 8-beta "Contact signing in" sound? I forgot to back it up before I switched and the final release one's too fuzzy

(2 replies) #38 rbet on 30 May 2007 - 23:10

What gayness is this?!

#38.1 toadeater on 31 May 2007 - 01:49

Quote - (rbet said @ #3

This is madness!

#38.2 +Smigit on 31 May 2007 - 05:43

Madness???

THIS IS SPARTAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

#39 norky on 30 May 2007 - 23:11

uninstall the old Windows Live installer and everything should install

#40 yakumo on 30 May 2007 - 23:13

seems to take a lot longer to sign in, and failed to several times too, see how it goes for a bit i guess.

(1 reply) #41 Capitaine_Cool on 30 May 2007 - 23:13

were is it ?

#41.1 Jim_MAY on 30 May 2007 - 23:14

Messenger will not install for me either on Vista....

#42 srwal on 30 May 2007 - 23:13

did that, still nothing

#43 Scoopjeff on 30 May 2007 - 23:14

Brilllllliant wont install and now the previous one wont install, stuck without my messenger now!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow

#44 _Raven_ on 30 May 2007 - 23:18

tried installing and wont install, had to go back to the spanish one with the language trick

#45 windows tester on 30 May 2007 - 23:18

what the hell is Windows Live installer? i dont have it

#46 Quick Shot on 30 May 2007 - 23:18

i uninstalled everything that was old but nothing seems to install for me.
well. except live mail

#47 Tantawi on 30 May 2007 - 23:19

Installed and running fine on Vista Ultimate, English.

#48 windows tester on 30 May 2007 - 23:32

does any one have the new Windows live Mail, its not on http://get.live.com/betas/wlmail_betas

#49 bites on 30 May 2007 - 23:32

I you installed the Spanish version from a couple days ago you need to delete the following directories to get the new one to work

C

#50 Capitaine_Cool on 30 May 2007 - 23:32

if you're in Vista, simply delete the folders "WLInstaller" and "WindowsLiveInstaller" in the ProgramData folder

(4 replies) #51 +boldfire on 30 May 2007 - 23:33

Shufflestorm has found the solution: http://shufflestorm.com/?p=46

#51.1 Quick Shot on 30 May 2007 - 23:40

Quote - (boldfire said @ #51)

that doesn't seem to work under XP

#51.2 Jim_MAY on 30 May 2007 - 23:45

Thank Shuffle Storm it worked. Spanish version messed us up.

#51.3 jwjw1 on 31 May 2007 - 00:42

Quote - (Jim_MAY said @ #51.2)

lol...or maybe some got in a hurry....si`

#51.4 GameMaster90 on 31 May 2007 - 05:24

Does not work with Vista Ultimate.

(1 reply) #52 windows tester on 30 May 2007 - 23:37

on XP the directory is C

ocuments and SettingsAll UsersApplication Data (YOU WILL NEED TO SHOW HIDDEN FILES TO FIND APPLICATION DATA)

#52.1 Quick Shot on 30 May 2007 - 23:41

okay...i see..thanks you =)

#53 windows tester on 30 May 2007 - 23:48

has any body noticed the transparancy effect with Windows Live Mail on Windows XP?

after you log in look at the splash screen

(1 reply) #54 :: Lyon :: on 30 May 2007 - 23:51

Is this build the same as the leaked version? (The Spanish version couple of days ago)

#54.1 windows tester on 30 May 2007 - 23:52

yes

#55 torrentthief on 30 May 2007 - 23:53

www.a-patch.tk has the new version of a-patch to patch windows live messenger 8.5, looks amazing after using it and just 20mb ram for me

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?

#56 Stuartb55 on 30 May 2007 - 23:54

Windows Live Mail looks really good. Love the transparancy on sign in

#57 MchWalte on 30 May 2007 - 23:57

Everything works now!!

#58 windows tester on 30 May 2007 - 23:57

on the neowin homepage its listed as beta

#59 Stuartb55 on 30 May 2007 - 23:58

http://g.live.com/1rebeta/WLM_en-gb

(3 replies) #60 Admodieus on 31 May 2007 - 00:10

Windows Live Mail is great. I just wish it would warn you that it's uninstalling Windows Mail or Outlook Express.

#60.1 drygnfyre on 31 May 2007 - 00:34

Don't really see the need too, I can't imagine using/wanting Windows Mail if you have Windows Live Mail installed. It's the same program with added improvements.

#60.2 GP007 on 31 May 2007 - 10:16

Quote - (drygnfyre said @ #60.1)

Don't really see the need too, I can't imagine using/wanting Windows Mail if you have Windows Live Mail installed. It's the same program with ad

Neowin.net