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It's here! Hot on the heels of the Hotmail roll-out, the new Windows Live Essentials is now available for public beta testing. Windows Live Essentials beta requires Windows Vista or Windows 7, and is available in English, French, Dutch, Japanese, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, or Spanish. Get it here!
As previously announced, this release of Essentials is focused on two things: connecting Windows 7 to the cloud services you already use, and making everyday tasks simpler, so that you can do more on your PC.
We’ve designed Essentials to connect your Windows experience to the web services you already use – not just the ones from Microsoft. The new betas of Windows Live Photo Gallery, Movie Maker, Mail, Writer, and Messenger connect to photo and video sharing (SkyDrive, Flickr, YouTube, Facebook, SmugMug), social networking (Facebook, MySpace, Linkedin), email (Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail), blogging (Spaces, WordPress, Blogger), and document productivity (Office Web Apps) services. And the new Windows Live Sync keeps your files synchronized across multiple PCs and in the cloud. You can even directly access your PC over the web with Sync's new remote desktop feature.
People like to get creative on their PCs as much as they like seeing what everyone else has been up to. Whether it’s Retouch, Panoramic Stitch, or Photo Fuse in Photo Gallery, Auto Movie in Movie Maker, or photo email in the new Windows Live Mail, we think you’ll be excited by the new additions to Essentials that make advanced tasks, well, easy. If you haven’t yet tried Photo Fuse to merge together the best of several photos, it’s a lot of fun.
You can also view this video on YouTube
We hope you’ll enjoy the new Essentials beta. Leave us a comment and let us know what you think!
- Piero Sierra Group Program Manager, Windows Live Essentials
P.S. We’re loving all the comments here, but for feedback and bug reporting, here are some links you might want to try.
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YAY
Italian ?
No Italian?! You're crazy...no other words
Can't wait! Really looking forward to trying out the beta apps!
If this is anything remotely close to the leaked build earlier this year you should have started over...
Obrigado Microsoft por incluir o Português do Brasil em seus softwares Beta ! (Thanks Microsoft for include the Portuguese of Brazil in its software Beta!) :)
Will there be any problem if we install, let's say, the english beta now, and, let's say, the german final version afterwards? Update issues? Compatibility issues? Better to uninstall first? How should we proceed with different language versions?
this is great, the ribbion UI is brilliant, love it on office 2010 :D, also will UK have to wait till like 7PM to download like we did with apple iOS
I decided to skip bed tonight for Essentials beta ! It's 2:33 AM in Romania, I can't wait anymore, let's see 'em !
I am very upset and disgusted over the decision to drop compatibility with Windows XP. What can you do for those who cant afford to upgrade to a new laptop or operating system. There is a lot of people like myself who are stuck with windows xp and can't afford to upgrade. This is totally unfair. Microsoft is suppose to be customer friendly. This is very disappointing. Like ive posted in other postings, people are going to leave WLM due to the fact of dropping compatibility with windows xp.
I have been waiting to test it. good stuffs!!
Staying up all night to DL this. No if, ands or buts about it.
@Joe Sales
You can't expect support for a **9 years old** OS. Anyway, no one is urging you to use the new software. I'm sure you can continue using the old version :-)
@James Manes
LOL. I bet it will be sometime Friday. Not Thursday.
@Joe Sales XP is the new windows 98 dude. Tis old.
about time ive waited for this im so excited
I think Windows XP is too old to continue to be supported, as it did with Windows 98, now if succeeds Essentials, a lot more people to switch to Windows 7
@ dovella, Rw7 - Scusateci amici! I am Italian myself and feel bad we could not support Italian in this release. We had to prioritize languages the we support to get the beta out the door, but rest assured that Italian support (and dozens of other languages) will be added before we release.
@brianm76 - very constructive, thank you. :p Leaks are very unfortunate because they are not representative of the final product, and often represent a technical proof of concept or (worse) someone's digital image manipulation. So please wait for the build itself before passing judgement eh?
@Cleverson Regis - De nada.
@Islander - there should be no problem switching languages during install. You do not need to uninstall first.
@mbadsey - the build should be live tomorrow with no timezone restrictions.
@Joe Sales - You have made your point of view on this very clear on many recent posts. We absolutely have heard what you think about this, and we are sorry you are not happy with our decision to not support XP. I could repeat the answers we have given on this on other posts, but I doubt we could change your opinion. All I will say is that we continue to support Windows Live Wave 3 for our XP customers, and that the decision to not build Wave 4 on XP was not easy for us, but it is also irreversible.
@James Manes - get some sleep man!
thanks for adding Spanish in this release!
I think that microsoft should offer an upgrade to Windows 7 for users that still use XP. Be it a new computer, or a RAM upgrade so that the computer can support Windows 7. This offer should be at a reduced price. As long as they have the XP disc and their copy of XP is genuine there should be some type of discount. If not microsoft will lose respect from XP users like myself. I, in fact, am upgrading to Windows 7 very soon. I just need a few more 10's and I'm running the latest OS from MS. Although the choice to remove the one-way webcam feature was a very unfortunate move. This dissapointed me massively considering the video call freezes my messenger (Although that may be due to manual registry edits). I am looking forward to testing the new messenger beta when I attain my copy of Windows 7. Thank you for listening to, and reading, my comment.
-Brandon
At what time o'clock will be the beta available?
Guys, at what time will it be available? I'm waiting for it...
And thanks for adding Portuguese to the beta testing version of Essentials!
I'm still waiting for it right now... =)
Horray! Any possible way I could switch languages without having to reinstall? (Like what you can do with Win7 Ultimate, only you don't have to have that version)
@Raphzs
Is in Portuguese (Brazil) which will be available!
I have four computers all running Windows 7 Ultimte original, and all of them waiting for the new Windows Live Essentials suite. I'm here in anticipation ...
@Cleverson Regis
I hope so. But I'm really weird! I enjoy using software in English Language... kkkkkkkkk
It's getting complicated... it's already 02:42 here in Brazil. Bur I'm still waiting for it. What time is it in the USA? 11:42 or 12:42? Or maybe none o both... kkkkkkkk
I think we have to wait a couple of hours, I'm from peru and here are 12:49 am, and I have very eager to try the beta wave 4
- Actually I also like the English, but have the software in the default language of the operating system is much better now that my language is this. But you know what matters now is that the launch since a long time that new suite and in recent days the expectation was even greater with so many dates and rumours on the Web, and now we have date marked to definitely be able to use the new functionality of the new suite is not?
Calm yourself people. Live is free, and developers are not slaves. It will be up soon enough.
I think we all now in anticipation of the launch. I guess that will be in the afternoon the launch (PM)....
@Spencer
Probably you are right. I think this Beta will be available some hours later...
I think I'm going, almost 3 am!
good but just in case ..., I wait until 1 am xD, and for those who say they are slaves u_u xD I want my beta and until the publication are slaves! xD (?) is a joke.
I do not think it is until after 1 pm, should be earlier, but the Spanish that would have access only on 26
Holy iLife-crushing essentials suite batman! It's not here yet! Lol
But still I think the beta is only available in the afternoon (PM) USA
Giving up right now. Maybe I should wait for the developers to wake up and to go to work...
Bah. Going to bed. I'll have dreams of hd video and tabbed chat. 0_o :D
@Raphzs - Is there a truth, we wait until that decide the time to announce. kkkkk
I'm from Vietnam, it's 1:20 PM here and it's still not available!!!! LOL @ James, we're in the same boat....
@Tai Tran
Everyone! Just want to be able to start the download, after installing I'm going to bed, because it is 3: 25(AM) here in Brazil.
Can I donwload from indonesia?
Hi Piero (i'm italian like you).
Is possible to connect Live with Twitter like facebook or the other social networks you listed in your post ?
Thanks !
someone knows the exact time of the release of Windows Live Essentials?
@ Alfian - I think so, I think everybody from everywhere can get the beta, right, Piero?
Please let us know where we can report problems. Will it be in this blog?
@Carmine Console
The beta of Windows Live lets you integrate yes popular social networks such as twitter or facebook the beta social network appears to you to add and add your account information
@ABomb
to report a problem with any program you enter windows live http://support.live.com/
Instalando el beta =D (Already installing the beta)
Impressive! Add me to the queue for the Beta! ;-)
@jazter - where from? How come I don't see it on explore.live.com/windows-live-essentials-beta ? Please send me the link if possible. Thanks...
To everyone posting from out of the United States...
As of right now it is 1:13 (0:13 where Microsoft is). I'd say it'll be at least eight more hours before the beta is available. (note I said least and not most, it could be much longer...)
@jazter de verdad ya lo está instalando? Comparta el link! Porque este no me funciona: explore.live.com/windows-live-essentials-beta
///// Are you really installing the beta? C'on Share the Link! That one doesn't work for me
@jazter - where from? How come I don't see it on explore.live.com/windows-live-essentials-beta ? Please send me the link if possible!!! Thanks...
@jazter
lo bajaste por la pagina de windows live preview o por el link del blog si es por el de windows live preview
ese es el messenger 2009
explore.live.com/windows-live-essentials-beta NO funciona aun. Habemos varios hispanohablantes aqui. Soy de Costa Rica, es la 1:18Am y aun no funciona.... No quiero dormir aun pero si de verdad son 8 horas no pienso esperar tanto
windowslivepreview.com/essentials
SkyDrive integration will turbo-boost all of these features!
BUT please fix the embed code on SkyDrive video files! We want to embed the video player, not an icon:
www.timacheson.com/.../skydrive_feature_requests
I clicked on DOWNLOAD on windowslivepreview.com/essentials but it took me to the WLEssential 2009 download page (like usual).
@Tai Tran & @Jazter Same here. Same old messenger.... Are you really downloading the beta? or just clicked download without checkin?
Only at the end of the day will be released!
Dangg, still not released yet. It's already June 24...
Is it just me or somebody else is also experiencing posting problem? I can't post a comment any more.
Great :) It's been a long time coming. Looking forward to see how the Windows Vista/7 graphics platform will be utilised.
Una pregunta, soy de peru y son las 5:30 AM y aun no sale el link para la descarga o mejor dicho el link que puso piro no funciona, y cuando veo la pagina de Essentials dice que el link saldra a finales de este dia, pero leendo mas abajo dicen que ya lo estan descargando, quien dice la verdad o quien miente???? o alguien sabe con mas exactitud para que hora saldra el verdadero link ???
Gracias
We want here in Germany an englisch version , please! Germany is the biggest country in Europe! :D
Could we have a SkYDrive/Windows Live app for Android please? :)
Bear in mind that Android's built-in web browser lacks the ability to upload files! (I don't understand why Google creates and sells an a web browser with no file upload and other major limitations, and an OS with no file explorer! It's lame.)
It's such a loooooooooooooooooongggggg wait.... I have been waiting for 5 hours................ (not too mention many days before....) :(
Will there be another beta with a german languagepack in the future?
@Brandon- They do offer an upgrade for those who are still on XP: store.microsoft.com/.../102
Seriously though, why should MS take a hit for users that need to upgrade in order to run Windows 7? There were plenty of pre-order package deals sold by the retailers and they're sure to still have some upgrade bundles to attract customers to them. Microsoft, however, has released Win 7 at a decent price and with reasonable minimum requirements. At some point, a line has to be drawn where support for legacy configurations ends in order to provide a better product.
I can sympathize with everyone not being in a position to upgrade, but, I also can appreciate MS having to stop support eventually. If they didn't, we'd have people yelling that they couldn't get the latest and greatest software to run smoothly on the Windows 3.1 systems they just got in '93!
is there a specific time the beta will be released?
Yes and still is the matter for German in Beta??? or that will be issued later in few days?
I would really like to see a version of at least Writer for the Mac.
Can we get an exact time that the beta is going to be released? I've been waiting for a few hours.
Can you please let us know when???????????????
Tai Tran, let them wake up first: it's 6:30am in Seattle
@mjd - That's pretty funny, I just woke up and it's 6:30AM here, saw your comment. :) Folks I'm sorry we aren't giving a precise ETA. Getting the bits onto the download centers actually takes quite a bit of time since we need enough servers to ensure millions of downloads etc. I am told we should have this ready sometime this morning, stay tuned and thanks for being patient!
It's 16:34 here in Romania. I'm growing tired of this crappy wait. This is pushing nerves to the limit. WHAT TIME IS IT GONNA BE, REDMOND ?
I've waited soooooo long for this I want to cry..... :((((((
Pretty annoying to have a product upgrade like this announced without a more precise time specification. A time frame and appropriate time zone would have been preferred. Not all people live in the US, in fact most don't.
Oh noooooo,
I'm waiting so long from morning... Now here 8:53 PM. :(
Does anyone know what exact time windows live available...??????
Guys, stop complaining about the wait - it's free, it's (hopefully) as awesome as the previews have shown and we've all (including me) been waiting quite a long time now...
Give it one more 24 hours and we'll all be able to enjoy Essentials Wave 4 Beta!!!
@Piero: Still, pls hurry! :)
I only slept 4 hours, went to work, finished it earlier just hoping I'll find the download page up and working. I have a Windows-dedicated Radio Show tomorrow (actually it's a weekly show which I'm also posting as a podcast) and I wanted to have time and play with Messenger to be able to talk about it tomorrow, maybe even post a short video on my show's website. I think I'll just have to talk about something else. Next time better let the news out one or two hours before the actual launch. It's easier on all of us. This was hard teasing which I don't appreciate at all.
Hola en colombia es la 9:03mins en las link que aparecen solo descarga la version msn9 aun no existe una hora exacta para probar la descarga?
Good luck for all developer of windows live... I'm always waiting and ready to download.... :)
@Piero Sierra
eh eh, so buongiorno e buon lavoro Piero!
Keep us posted!
Come on already. How about not making the announcement until it's actually ready? Stop moving at the speed of BP.
For Germany!:
Die Beta soll im Laufe des Tages auf einer speziellen Webseite angeboten werden, vermutlich auch in Deutsch, obwohl Microsoft statt Deutsch »Dutch«, also Niederländisch angibt. Deutsche Versionen gehören eigentlich immer zur ersten Welle aller veröffentlichten Microsoft-Produkte.
@iWater Don't forget - Germany is the biggest country in Europe but I'm from Austria and our language is German too ;)
One more reason to launch it in German =)
When is the release? Why so long?
I think MS need to rethink what they are doing. Why always late in release, even the beta?
Just a comment..... You guys are going to do the same thing for Win7 mobile too.. Just keep this in mind. Droid and Iphone are going so good in releasing in a short time and you guys give out release for our grand children?
Why not take another 4 years with all the man power?
@Piero
Can you acknowledge that it would be released in dutch or in german?
@marhon Gibts da auch eine Quelle für?
Guys, relax! Launching a release is not that easy. If you notice, when you click the link there is a 404 Live Page, which means they don't only have to set up the software, but the whole site in order to launch the download. They must be working hard right now to deliver that preview and trying to make sure that Live.com is not going to "whale" with the massive amount of downloads.
Goodness, if anything, all these delays are shaping up to be a tremendous hype machine. First it was last week, then Monday, then Tuesday...finally! Today! :D
I really can't wait for the release. All the screenshots and previews seems absolutely amazing. And I'm not against the ending of support for Windows XP, either. People, get over it. It's old. People need to move on.
I'm sure there are people out there using ME or 2000 also, because "they can't afford a new computer" etc. etc. Should MS provide support to them also? What's wrong with them moving onto newer systems which offer much better features, aesthetics and security?
hey!.... i was so exaited to have the beta and now i read this post and i cant believe i cant have it cause i have Windows XP.Ho my God!. Soy una de las pocas personas que se toman la necesidad de estar al día con sus productos y mandar comentarios tal como lo hize con Microsoft Office 2010 Beta. Es una mala jugada que muchos de los que tenemos Windows XP seamos excluidos. Ubieran tomado la decisión de implementarnos alguna herramienta para que Windows Live Essentials corriera también en Windows XP. Me disgusta mucho.
Why people complain already? lol. MS wrote "sometime between Thursday and Friday". Just like any other *US* company, it means: "Launch will be sometime on Friday" Friday in the USA. So Asia, Europa or whatever will probably see the new site on Saturday :-p
@Edin Orozco
the problem is that the new Windows Live Essentials Beta is made to work in the Windows Vista Aero and Aero, Aero Peck windows 7 is not released for Windows XP Operating system there are two more advanced
@Edin_Orozco en parte entiendo tu preocupación, también he seguido las betas de Microsoft bastante de cerca recientemente. Pero debemos tener en cuenta el hecho de que Windows XP es un Sistema Operativo bastante viejo al que ya se le exprimió todo el potencial posible. Ahora que Windows 7 ha demostrado ser una actualización digna, dejar morir a XP, aunque en parte injusto, es completamente lógico. No sólo se gastaría más dinero, tiempo y recursos si se enfocaran en desarrollar para una plataforma desactualizada, sino que su rendimiento sería muy inferior. Essentials Wave 4 usa tecnología (como la Aero que mencionó sombra) que no está disponible en Windows XP, lo que implicaría el desarrollo de dos series de Wave 4 distintas, poco conveniente en cuanto a soporte y mantenimiento.
Can't wait to try out the new features.
Let Microsoft an expectation now is great, I think more than fair that is released the Beta. Will the New Windows Live Essentials Suite, all my PCs is already waiting to install ...