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And yet, only with Windows 7 and Windows Live Wave 3 did Windows Live Essentials find an identity, namely the bridge between the desktop client and the Cloud. Collectively known as Windows Live Essentials, the package contains Messenger, Photo Gallery, Movie Maker, Mail, Writer, Toolbar, and Family Safety.

Microsoft released Widows Live Essentials into Beta in September 2008. By mid-November, Brian Hall, general manager for the Windows Live Business Group, was promising that Essentials were going to be finalized “soon.” On December 15, the software giant indicated that it was very close to wrapping up Windows Live Essentials, focusing on resolving a few last kinks in a Beta Refresh development milestone, before signing-off the code. At this point in time, users can still download Windows Live Essentials Beta Refresh, which integrates seamlessly with Windows 7, even with pre-Beta releases of the next iteration of the Windows client, namely Build 6956.

Installing Windows Live Essentials on Windows 7

Microsoft has streamlined the deployment process as much as possible, allowing the users to select the components they want installed and let the installer do all the heavy lifting, as you can see from the adjacent screenshots. With the user interaction down to a minimum, Windows Live Essentials installer will integrate with Windows 7 a plethora of items such as: Messenger, Mail, Writer, Photo Gallery, Movie Maker, Family Safety, Toolbar (all in Beta Refresh stage for the time being) but also additional programs including Microsoft Office Outlook Connector, Office Live Add-in, and Microsoft Silverlight. A single installation provides Windows users, the experience is by no means limited to Windows 7 as it is also available for earlier versions of the Windows operating system, with instant messaging, plus email, blogging and photo viewing clients.

It is important to note that Windows Live Essentials will also install a wide range of extra components accompanying the main applications. In this regard, users will be able to see that the Essentials installer will also deploy Microsoft Application Error Reporting, Microsoft Visual Studio Runtime, Microsoft Live Communications Platform, Windows Live Call, Junk Mail Filter update, SQL Server CE 3.1, Direct3D 9, Windows Live Sync, the Search Enhancement Pack, Microsoft Sync Framework Runtime, Microsoft Sync Framework Services, and .NET Framework.

 

Windows Live Messenger 9.0 (2009)

 

Even as early as Windows 7 pre-Beta Build 6956, Windows Live Messenger 9.0 (2009) Beta Refresh integrates seamlessly with the operating system. Microsoft did promise a high level of interoperability supported by making Windows 7 version 6.1 after Windows Vista was 6.0, and this is reflected with all Windows Live Essentials components. The new graphical user interface of Microsoft's instant messaging client fits perfectly with the Windows 7 Aero, plus enhancements such as Aero Peek, Jumplists, Aero Snap and Aero Shake. Otherwise, users will be able to enjoy improved personalization capabilities, and new features like File Sharing, Favorites, and Groups.

 

Windows Live Mail

 

The “default” email client of the Windows platform has now been transitioned entirely to the Cloud. Still, even with Microsoft's efforts to componentize Windows 7 stretching it between the desktop and the Internet, Windows Live Mail will feel right at home integrated into the client. One welcomed move from the Redmond company is the fact that Windows 7 has scrapped the desktop version of the email client. No longer are Windows Mail and Windows Live Mail options for end users. The evolution of the native Windows email client started with Windows Vista and Windows Live Wave 2 is now complete with Windows 7 and Windows Live Wave 3.

 

Windows Live Photo Gallery

 

For Windows Vista, Microsoft offered not only Windows Live Mail on top of Windows Mail, but also Windows Live Photo Gallery for the default Windows Photo Gallery. The two applications are no longer overlapping in Windows 7. The software giant has ripped out the default photo viewing software from Windows 7 and is delivering only the Windows Live component. Windows Live Photo Gallery brings sharing enhancements, but also face detection capabilities, evolved slide show functionality, and improved editing photos.

 

Windows Live Movie Maker Beta, Windows Live Writer, Windows Live Family Safety, Windows Live Toolbar

 

Windows Live Essentials do not stop with the most popular representatives. Windows Live Movie Maker Beta, Windows Live Writer, Windows Live Family Safety, Windows Live Toolbar also enhance the user experience of Windows 7. Authoring a movie from a video or a slideshow of digital images is a simple, basic and intuitive experience. With Windows Live Movie Maker Beta, even if users have never “produced” a video before, the application offers an inviting and attractive UI with few, but essential tools that streamline the process of putting together a movie and then saving it.

 

Because Windows Live Writer is not limited to Windows Live Spaces, but also manages to embrace additional blogging services including WordPress, Blogger, TypePad, etc., the client can be an attractive alternative for web-based or desktop-based blog editors. The initiative of taking Writer beyond Windows Live Spaces is nothing short of laudable for Microsoft, and, in this context, an illustrative example of the company's commitment to interoperability.

 

Children's usage of Windows Live Spaces, Hotmail and Messenger can be monitored and controlled closely via Windows Live Family Safety. With Windows Vista, Microsoft has placed a great deal of emphasis on parental controls and Windows Live Essentials makes no exception to the rule.

 

The Windows Live Toolbar plays nice not only with Windows 7 pre-Beta Build 6956, but also with Internet Explorer 8 Beta, which ships by default with the successor of Windows Vista. The toolbar is designed to streamline access to Windows Live applications and services including Windows Live Mail, Windows Live Calendar, and Windows Live Photos.