I’ve been using Microsoft® Windows Live® Essentials beta programs for a couple weeks and in fact using it now to write this blog with Live Writer beta. I can not believe all of these programs are free. Usually when I get a free program with a camera or download from the Internet I expect it to be quirky, lack features, and not work well. This is not the case with Windows Live Essentials beta programs.

Get the Windows Live Essentials Beta

Efficient, easy to use, and super useful are just a few words that come to mind thinking about the latest free programs from Microsoft.  Windows Live Essentials has been focusing on enhancing everyday computer tasks quite well while the new beta versions are taking the programs to a higher level of usability, capabilities, and quality found in Microsoft’s “high-end” purchased programs.

Other software companies make similar programs but the Windows Live Essentials bundle is easy to install, have user friendly and familiar interfaces, as well as more bells and whistles. The programs are also fully integrated with each other. For example, I can add Photo Gallery images to Writer, Movie Maker, and Mail then see Messenger contacts status  in Mail and IM them while sharing most of these activities/files to online social networks. Finally, all of the received and updated documents/photos are securely Synced to other devices, computers, and online for use on the go. Note: The programs user interfaces are much simpler than my example.

Here is a list of Windows Live Essentials beta programs:

Photo Gallery – Organize and edit your photos then share them to your free 25GB space on SkyDrive® or other social media services. There are so many features, and it is so nice looking, I think this is the Windows Live Essentials developers pride and joy. Few quick features: Panorama, Photo Fuse (that’s another blog), online publishing/sharing (YouTube, Facebook, etc.), numerous Effects, Adjustments, People Tag, Geo Tag, expanded Import features, simple CD/DVD Burn, Screen Saver.

Mail – I regularly use multiple email accounts including Hotmail with my custom domain names. Live Mail enables me to check all my mail (Hotmail or not including Gmail, Yahoo!, POP and IMAP) and see them at a glance in one queue without having to go to each inbox. When I respond, it is sent from the appropriate mailbox. You can also scroll to see all the inboxes when needed.

Cool features include conversation view, Messenger and contact status, elegant calendars, contacts, RSS, nifty photo emails, reminder, flags, and a user experience similar to Microsoft Office Outlook® 2010 including the Ribbon and Backstage (file menu). You can access all this information even when you are offline and will sync next time you are connected to the Internet.

Messenger – One of my most used program always running for many years. The newest features are the “Social” and high-definition (HD) video chat.

Now Messenger can be expanded to show all your social network friends posts in a very useful feed. Messenger shows photos in a cool slideshow manner and videos can play right in the window in a decent size. You can read comments and comment on Facebook posts but I haven’t seen how to “Like” something yet. Adding your friends from social services is easy.

Of course there are still the familiar Inbox unread message count, send files, alerts, ask for remote assistance, audio and video chat. My dad was on a cruise and we video chat while he showed me around the ship. How cool is that! Messenger also has a wealth of resources for integrating many features into applications and websites at http://dev.wlmessenger.net/ or simple integration at http://settings.messenger.live.com/applications/CreateHtml.aspx.

Writer – I wrote this blog using Writer. I am impressed with the ease of publishing to multiple blogs, scheduled posts, post tags,  Microsoft Word ribbon/backstage similarities, ease of adding photo albums/pictures/video from anywhere with effects, auto-save,  spelling, and plug-ins. Writer is a great blogging tool but using the features in Microsoft Office Word 2010 and it’s “Publish as Blog Post” can’t be beat.

Bing Bar – A gorgeous design, customizable, and dynamic toolbar while surfing the web. Click in the Bing search box and watch it change to show categories and suggestions relative to your search. Even view your inbox with one click.  Enhanced search and information all nicely displayed in IE and other browsers.

Messenger Companion  – Enable Internet Explorer users to share links and display social alerts. This program is quite fun and has a lot of potential for growth as people get used to it. Maybe someday we will get social alerts from favorite Facebook friends similar to email notifications. The below screenshot shows the drop down window (top right) displayed when something relevant to your social networks appear in IE. You can then post comments back to social networks or “Share a link to this page” with your friends.

Above is a screenshot of the normal social alerts which are unobtrusive and disappear in a couple seconds with the option to stop showing. Below is an expanded window with more options to sign in/out, share, comments, and links.

Movie Maker – There are too many features to cover here but if you want to make a video and share it online, this is the tool to use. Quick overview of new and impressive features include new transitions/effects, webcam video, customizable titles/captions/credits with effects (Remember character generators before computers?), multiple save formats (devices list), sharing, ribbon, and … you get the picture or in this case movie.

Family Safety – Windows has a lot of security and safety features but doesn’t quite get as granular as the Family Safety beta program. Monitor with reports showing your child’s online activities, including time usage, programs uses, and websites visited/tried to visit. Filter content you don’t want your child to see.  A must for parents who want to keep their family safe online.

Sync – This should be everyone’s pride and joy program if you have more than one computer needing synced content. I use sync so my photos and documents are the same on my laptop and desktop/Windows Media Center. Now I can import pictures or save documents on any computer and have them readily available anywhere. Sync also enables you to sync to other devices such as smart phones and 2GB online at SkyDrive. Not only is it nice to have my machines synced but a great feeling my files are quickly and quietly backed up beyond my normal backup systems.

Sync also enables you to remotely access your Windows computers documents, run programs and network resources from work, from another room, or any Internet connected location. Truly amazing! I use remote connections to check my home lights, then turn them on or off from anywhere on home network or Internet connection.

The below screenshot shows sync status, synced folders with number of files syncing, and program setting for syncing IE favorites and Microsoft Office email signatures, styles, and templates.

The “Remote” tab enables you to view the remote sync locations. During syncing, you can also view the status with the Activity window or by hovering over the animated task bar Sync Icon. 
Sync Icon

Additional Programs:

1. Microsoft Office Outlook® Connector – sync Hotmail email, calendar, and contacts using Microsoft Office Outlook gaining all of it’s functionality. See overview.
2. Microsoft Silverlight

Get the Windows Live Essentials Beta Programs 

Let me know if you have any questions or send your own feedback about these programs by leaving a comment below or the GreenSea Media Facebook Page.

Mark Lawson
Owner, GreenSea Media

• Microsoft Security Essentials provides real-time protection for your home PC that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.
• For Developers and Designers: 1.) Microsoft /Express 2.) Expression Blend 4 for Windows Phone 3.) Expression Encoder 4
• For Businesses, events, advertisers, promoters, etc.: Microsoft Tag
• Music, Movies, and more: Zune.net