Round and About Windows Live Ed 6.

Technogran's profileLiving with LivePhotosBlogListsMore

Tools

Help

Blog

Listed by:

< Previous Next >

10/25/2009

Round and About Windows Live Ed 6.

Windows 7 and the Wave 4 updates.

Mainly because they are now regarded as such an integral part of the new operating system, there were plenty of rumours doing the rounds on the internet that we would be seeing the Wave 4 updates for the Live Essentials Suite of programs at the same time as the new operating system launched on October 22nd. However, the new Wave 4 versions did not arrive as many expected, not even in beta form. So it appears that we will all be waiting a while longer to be able to try out the new versions of the desktop suite of programs!

Are Windows Live users getting fed up?

Could the reason why it has been so quite of late on Windows Live be because its users are getting rather tired of the constant problems they are encountering on here? Most of these have been ranging from not being able to comment on other users blogs on their Spaces page, not being able to either access a group that they belong to or post to that Group, lot’s of problems being able to sign into the site or use their Windows Live ID and that is just the tip of the iceberg.

There have been numerous reports from different users on my own network of problems they have been encountering on here, and this reporter has also experienced problems herself. Some of us on Windows Live are well aware that the Live teams are making changes ‘under the hood’ as it were to the site in readiness for the next Wave 4 update, but there must be many other users who use Windows Live who are not aware that the site is currently being worked on. It does beg the question why some sort of notification couldn’t be posted announcing that owing to work being carried out to the site, users can expect disruptions to the service of one sort or another, then at least we are all aware that things may not work as they should. This then would go some way to encouraging users not to vacate the premises and go elsewhere in disgust.

Come on teams, please let your users know what’s going on and what to expect on Windows Live!

Surely the last thing we need are users getting so fed up with the site not functioning correctly that they begin a mass exodus elsewhere.

Are Web Activities encouraging users to leave?

It has been really quiet on Windows Live lately causing this reporter to wonder whether the inclusion of Web Activities have had an adverse effect on the Windows Live site. After all, now that we can all see exactly what our friends are up to elsewhere on Facebook, MySpace et al, are we now tempted to pay that site a visit, join and then spend more time over there? Certainly on my own Network, some of my friends seem to be spending a lot more time elsewhere than they do on here. Could it be that Web Activities have turned out to have an adverse effect by encouraging users to actually go elsewhere? What do you all think? Have you followed a friend onto another site to see what is going on, joined and now spend more time on that site? Do you think that Web Activities have been a good idea and that they have enhanced Windows Live or are you do you agree that they weren’t a good idea? Do you even use them or haven’t you bothered with them at all? Answers in comments please.

This Weeks Windows Live User.

This weeks Windows Live user may not be familiar with some Windows Live users but he is a well known contributor to the Community Clubhouse where his well informed posts are very much appreciated both by other club members and also other Windows Live users as well. So welcome to the magazine Andre!

First of all, can you tell us a little bit about yourself Andre, whereabouts you live, what you do for a living etc, etc.

I am from the Caribbean island of Jamaica in the West Indies (yeah mon). As for my day job I'm a desktop support technician for a local print shop here in the parish of Manchester. I also do freelance graphics design and computer repair. I reside in the South part of Manchester, in the small, quite town of Cross Keys. I would describe myself as friendly, passionate about technology and a lover of nature and I enjoy sharing my views on topics I am highly interested in.

How long have you been a resident of Windows Live?

Hmm, this is a good question. I started using MSN Messenger back in high school, and this was around the year 2000, so technically I have been a resident of the platform for the past 9 years. If you meant when Microsoft introduced the 'Live' branding itself which was around late 2005 with the release of Windows Live Messenger 8.0, then I have been a user of the platform for the past 4 years.

What do you enjoy most of all about being a contributor to the Community Clubhouse?

The community is what I most like about Microsoft Clubhouse. Having a wealth of information coming from all angles on a variety of topics from passionate contributors such as yourself example: Windows Live for Newbie's or reading the latest tips and tricks about Windows 7. Its really the realness of it, having actual users share their experiences with the products and services from Microsoft that they use everyday making it such a powerful platform for sharing and learning.

I know you are on Twitter, along with the rest of the 'Clubhouse Gang' LOL, but do you use any other social networking sites at all besides Windows Live?

I have always described myself as a latecomer to social networking, when the tidal wave came in, it seemed like I was the last ride it, LOL! Apart from Twitter, I occasionally use Facebook, interestingly, the majority of my friends are on it but I have kind of fallen out of love with it since discovering and using Twitter more.

What do you like about the Windows Live site and what don't you like about it?

I love the simplicity of the Windows Live online services, having a centralized way to access email, photos, my network, calendar in a uniformed easy to understand way. So, I love the clean design most of all and self explainable it is and easy to get started with it. Well, I wish they could load faster, I don't know, but the new Windows Live Hotmail wave 4 seems a bit slower than the previous version. When I look at the status bar, there are some JavaScript's used by the service that are unusually slow. I wish it did not use .PNG images for ads, honestly, I don't want to see high quality ad banners. I don't like the URLs used by Windows Live, could we have something simpler for the various services?

Spaces has been through a number of URL changes since its inception in late 2004. First it was spaces.msn.com/blogname, then blogname.spaces.live.com Just drop the spaces and have blogname.live.com, Spaces represents where the blog name starts and its just quicker to remember, so I just can't see why it shouldn't happen. I can also think of some places this could also apply across the Windows Live platform of services: profile.live.com/username, invites.live.com, music.live.com/username, photos.live.com/username, skydrive.live.com/username

Just have some consistency across URLs where the Windows Live platform is concerned.

Do you make use of the Live Essentials Suite of applications at all, and if so Andre, what is your favourite application?

This is a tough one, because I love all of Windows Live Essentials! If I had to choose a favourite application in the suite it would be Windows Live Messenger. The reason is I love chatting with friends and meeting new people from around the world. Since I started using Messenger 9 years ago I have gotten the chance to know so many people and learn about their cultures, in addition to that meeting some of these wonderful people in person is one of the highlights of using Windows Live Messenger. Windows Live Messenger is a great way break the ice and strengthen friendships. :)

As you will be aware, we are all waiting for the Wave 4 updates to both the Windows Live site and the desktop applications, what changes would you most like to see made to both the site itself and the desktop apps?

Deeper synergy between Windows Live and Windows 7/Vista. I would like to see Microsoft's vision of software plus services become a reality with this release. For example, Why not have Skydrive be a part of the actual Windows environment as a mapped Network drive in Computer for easy drag and drop of files? I can see rich functionality such as the ability to use the rich search capabilities of Windows 7 along with innovative technology like Bing's visual search in the actual "Skydrive Explorer shell" which I have named it. Also, I would like to see Windows Live Writer (which I use a WHOLE lot) embrace the Scenic Ribbon, its such a natural part of using applications in Microsoft Office 2007 and the improved applets such as Paint and WordPad in Windows 7. In respect to Windows Live Writer, I would like to see improved performance when uploading post to my Windows Live Space. I am on GPRS connection most of the time and I often get a lot of error messages about my post not being able to upload for some unknown reason which leads to another issue with error messages - some of them are not explainable or easy to understand. Offline help content would be great too for the applications, I know we have the Internet and we can Bing for the answer to certain topics, but I would like to see richer help options similar to Windows 7.

Another thing I would like to see is Windows Live Writer include a excerpt feature, I write some unusually long post at times, the option to have a reader just see the excerpt and choose to read the rest of the post when they visit my blog would be a nice feature. Another improvement I would like to see is Windows Live Writer also become a web service and replace the Add Entry form used to edit post in your Web Browser on Windows Live Spaces. The Add Entry form lacks a lot of functionality, such as Tagging, working with pictures or editing of categories. Sometimes I might be at a computer I cannot install Windows Live Essentials on, so an alternative to this would be much better. Having access to all the rich editing tools of Live Writer in the web browser, anytime, anywhere would be really cool!

A projects feature in Windows Live Essentials would be nice for newbie's that includes a gallery of templates that focus on activities such creating a video, working with photos, music and more, something that can give users new to Windows Live Essentials a way to start diving into the suite and using the features. Last but not least, better support with unique options for each application in Windows Live Essentials through Windows 7 Jump List.

Thanks Andre for taking the time to do this interview with me for the magazine.

You are very welcome! This was a lot of fun!

This magazine was brought to you by TG, your resident reporter. My kind thanks to Live Writer and the team for supplying the tools with which to format and create the magazine. Do comment please on articles that you would love to see included, including any news about Windows Live and also anyone’s Space that you think warrants a mention. Note that this Magazine is primarily intended to be about the Windows Live residents and users and not the Windows Live Teams although any News about Windows Live that this editor feels is relevant or of interest to the users of Windows Live will of course be included. © Copyright reserved

Technorati Tags: round and about windows live,windows 7,wave 4,essentials,problems,windows live,comments,groups,live ID,sign in,web activities,facebook,myspace,Andre,interview

3:18:00 PM | Blog it | Round and About

Comments (64)

To add a comment, sign in with your Windows Live ID (if you use Hotmail, Messenger, or Xbox LIVE, you have a Windows Live ID). Sign in

Don't have a Windows Live ID? Sign up

	Technogran -wrote: I fully agree with you Mandy! We have become 'trapped' in our own Networks on here, but I don't honestly see Facebook as any different. I get the same nags on there, the same persons constantly pestering me to join this app or that app. Which is why I now use Facebook Lite if I have to go on there then its just updates. Nov. 1
	Technogran -wrote: Sorry about that last comment I am doing one of my how-to's and was accidentally logged in as Newbie LOL. Anyway's what I said to Jen was 'You know us Techy types Jen, always have to be trying different stuff out (scared of missing something in my case) You'd be amazed if you knew one half of the stuff I have tried out during my few years of computing, different operating systems, browsers, sites, applications, programs etc etc. It's in my curious nature to do so... Nov. 1
	Just Mandywrote: I'm not sure that, all having the same interests works , so well, either, TG, what made Live such a great and interesting place to be was the diversity, unfortunately, we've become trapped, in our networks, with no new blood in the mix, same old same ol' Jens right - how often can you write about one topic, and how often will people want to read it. In that way that works for FB, although we, more or less know everyone in our networks, the diversity of interests, even if it's the latest app. makes for a more interesting news feed. MSN/LIVE removed the diversity, when they removed updated/New spaces feeds. Nov. 1
	Jenwrote: Actually no. I don't remember anything about Facebook coz I've never used it! Your Simlar site sounds well intriguing. Hope you enjoy it. Nov. 1
	Greg Edwardswrote: I agree that all of Windows Live (not just web activities) would be infinitely more user-friendly if we could make Facebook-style comments, right there in the WNF. The problem is that at current the WNF is truly just an RSS feed, so it's just not designed to accommodate comments. My other issue is spreading comments/conversations out across multiple services. I kinda like the idea that if I write a blog post, then all the comments on that post are right there on the original post. I don't know whether I'd really prefer to have to manage a conversation across Windows Live, Facebook, and some 3rd party blog platform all at once. TG, I joined Simler. Looks like a pretty cool service. I like the simplicity. Finding people based on similar interests; that's brilliant. I sent you a friend request. Nov. 1
	Technogran ...wrote: True Jen, true. I have just joined (yet again! LOL) a new website that is very interesting in its concept. Its called Simler, and the way it works is very simple. You find others on there by the use of tags. So say I had tags of Windows 7, Windows Live,Stephen King,blogging,Bon Jovi, then anyone else can join one of my tags and comment on it, I can see all those friends on there who have similar interests as myself (hence the name of the site) and it suggests other users who are similar to me. Its also a very well laid out site, simple and easy to navigate. Trouble is, its only just begun and most users on there are fairly young and also from the US. I like the concept of it and how it works. Simplicity can often be the key to social networking sites and whether or not they take off. Remember Facebook when it first began? Nov. 1
	Jenwrote: That'll be because Facebook is on the news so often. Didja ever hear anyone talking about Windows Live on National TV? Bet not! It's all a bit insular on here. I've recently found that other social networking sites work best if there are a bunch of people with a common interest. On here, when I joined about a year ago, everybody was interested in everybody else. But, we all continue with our own, individual interests and can only write about them so often, before our mates get sick of it and want to read something new! How many times, for instance, can I write about hospital radio? Think about it! I suppose that's where Groups comes in handy, but even then, someone gets an idea for a Group, names and publishes it, then the owner has to sit and wait and hope someone drops in and finds they like the place! In Groups, as I've said before, there can be loads of activity going on, but, if those talking aren't in your own Network, you'll never know anything's happening, if you're just a Member. A thing rises and falls on how it works, I'm afraid. Nov. 1
	Technogran -wrote: You've also realised that there are loads of users on the internet who jus aren't aware of Windows Live as a social networking site. However, now that Live Essentials is such an integral part of Windows 7, and because once you begin to use them, they DO encourage use of the site itself by default, I expect this to change. Despite the fact that Microsoft is such a huge organisation (or perhaps because of it) they do often have a problem with marketing and promoting some of their services in my opinion. Most of my close family have never heard of Windows Live, they know all about Facebook. Nov. 1
	Technogran -wrote: More to the point, how did you achieve it? How did you include your Windows Live Profile into Facebook? Nov. 1
	Jeffreywrote: It worked! I hope it doesn't get into an endless loop and bring down the Internet. Ha. Maybe just Facebook... LOL! Nov. 1
	Jeffreywrote: Just for grins and giggles, I have connected my Windows Live profile to Facebook. This post should eventually appear on my Facebook page. It'll be in a strange context, appear in a note, but you can comment on it there, and click through it to here. Kewl! I leave it one for a while before I turn it off. Let's see if anyone figures out that Windows Live is here and leaves Facebook for Windows Live... Fat chance... I'm betting I'll get a bunch of haters wanting to know why I'm promoting MS or something. But, let's see what happens... <evil grin!> Nov. 1
	Technogran -wrote: Jeffrey I agree with some of your points and you have in a way agreed that the trouble with the updates on here is two fold. You HAVE to 'click through' in order to glean any insight into an update AND you can't comment to someone's update (wherever it was made on whatever site) on here. That's the biggest failing and is exactly what I mean by 'encouraging Windows Live users' to 'vacate the premises' Its counter productive to actually encouraging your users to remain here, on this site, if they are constantly having to go somewhere else to do anything meaningful with their friends or contacts updates. The only updates we get in our 'What's new with your Network' where we actually remain on here are the comments on folks blogs, the posts to a Group on here, and of course if someone posts to their blog on Spaces. All the others encourage you to leave in order to 'follow through' with that update. Nov. 1
	Technogran -wrote: But there is your answer Jeffrey in your first paragraph. Compare how the two work. Facebook might have posts in its feed where a friend has included an URL for you to visit but it includes a picture of that link ( , but on Windows Live if you have Web Activities enabled, you can't get much info from that update without clicking through to that site. On Facebook, although you can do the same by clicking through on the included URL, there is usually a thumbnail attached that gives you some more info before deciding to click through, you can even incorprorate a video as well in that feed that someone can then watch without leaving Facebook. Facebook is far more 'closed' in its nature as well. Where on Facebook can you include other sites in your feed that your users are visiting? I can't include in my feed on Facebook what I am doing on here all the time! And when I did begin including my twitter updates on there for example, my friends and family were not happy. Different users on there, different mindset entirely which is why so many are complaining about the new feed. Nov. 1
	Jeffreywrote: Wow - it got quiet here all the sudden! It's an interesting point that you made, TG, about having turned off twitter on Facebook. You said you "have stopped sending them to Facebook as well." Actually, what you did, when it was on, was give Facebook permission to publish them, and for it to change your PM from a twitter message. I also do this. I also do it with Digg and several other types of social services. Here's the thing, these are exactly the same thing as Windows Live Web Activities. On Facebook they’re called “Imported Stories.” Now, if your theory is that this type of feature sends people away, then why does it not also do that on Facebook? My theory is that it's not the aggregation effect that says, oh look here, here's a carrot for your to follow somewhere else, but that fact that Facebook allows you to also comment on the topic in place without having to leave the Facebook page to do so, and Windows Live requires that you leave to do the same. Here is the flow that I have come to thoroughly enjoy: If I Digg something, then it automatically posts to Facebook. Facebook is updated and thus Windows Live updates to see it too. One update hits all my favorite places for maximum exposure. Same with tweets. FB picks them up, then WL gets them, but I have a limited audience for tweets on WL so as to not disturb the natives, so to speak. FriendFeed picks up everything from everywhere, but I don't really share it openly by connecting it to my other social networks in a highly visible manner. It's there. You can visit my home page on it, but I actually pull it into Windows Live only for my own selfish viewing. Typically, it duplicates a post from somewhere else anyway. The big point I would like to make is this: Windows Live has a philosophy that you should only see updates from people you know. Facebook, FriendFeed do not have this same constraint. So, on Facebook your can make a comment on my Diggs without having to go to Digg! In Windows Live, you must go to Digg first and then mix your comment in with hundreds or thousands of others comments. I would not even know you posted a comment regarding my shared item in the first place. In my opinion, this is why the Live model hasn’t caught on. In a certain sense, it is anti-social. If you limit all activity to that inside the fishbowl, then life gets pretty boring fairly fast. What keeps things interesting in Windows Live is what we are all waiting for, Wave 4. Then there will be something new in the fishbowl to at least talk about. I fear though, based on what I’m seeing and things that have happened, that Wave 4 = Wave 3 plus some hobbled Office Web apps. I would absolutely love to be wrong on this, but reading between the lines, such as seeing Marcus leaving -- possibly because he doesn’t want to face a huge wave of disappointment? I truly hope I am way off and totally wrong. But I am a bit of a pessimist at this point. Anyway, the Live model is better for privacy by limiting comments and only showing your updates to those you permit. But, extrapolating from the Spaces design, I am hearing all the pro-Spacers complain about how hard it is to “meet” new friends. You can do this through comments from unknown Live people by the comments they leave on your blog, but now it’s hard to find interesting blogs to leave comments on. On Facebook, I see a news article a friend posted and there are all kinds of people on it. I don’t know them. They’re not in my network. But I can befriend them based on their comments. So, the argument goes both ways. But for those seeking virtual friends, I would think the FB way is more inline with your goals. I used to post Shared Favorites in Live all the time, and no one ever commented on them. Why? It’s because you have to click the link to go to the page where comments can be posted. It’s not like FB or FF where you can just comment right on the spot or “Like” it or whatever. I post the same things on Facebook and get a lot more response there. So, for me, blaming Web Activities for what appears to be reduced activity on WL is like shooting the messenger. If you get a “message” that I posted for an interesting link on FB, and you would like to comment on it, then WL makes you go to FB to reply. Would you agree that if you could just post an inline reply right on Windows Live that you would do so rather than go to the trouble of going to FB to make a comment there? People are going to these other sites because all their friends and family are there too. It was/is my hope that the shiny new wave 4 would be a big draw. But alas… (Sorry for the big comment!) Nov. 1
	Technogran ...wrote: Any ideas for the next mag? Any users Space that you have visited and thought Wow! Any news regarding Windows Live? Ideas that you hope and pray will be included in the next updates and would love me to talk about? Problems you are encountering on Windows Live? I need feedback folks! Oct. 28
	Technogran -wrote: So do I Andre and I do hope you are happy with the interview. Yes so do I! For me, it will largely depend I suppose on where the teams want to take it all, and what type of user they are aiming Windows Live at. Of course its possible to keep ALL of your users happy, from the little old Gran or Grandad sat at home with their one computer and needing to feel part of a community, and tell their thoughts and stories to the business user and information technology enthusiast. (geek) Yes you are right Seika and I have been accused of tweeting too much to be honest with you, and my tweets 'swamping' everything else! LOL I have turned them off now, and again you are right about it becoming annoying on other sites as well. My family and friends on Facebook don't want to see my tweets over there so I have stopped sending them to Facebook as well. Different mindset, different users etc, which is why they are all complaining over there about the new feed. LOL Oct. 27
	Andre Da Costawrote: Thanks TG, I need to check my Twitter inbox more often, just saw the link to the magazine. Quite a discussion going on here, love it. Hope our many wishes for the next version of Windows Live become true. :) Oct. 27
	Seika Natsukiwrote: TG: oversharing really depend on how you use the service. Retweeting everything or if posting dozens of tweets one after another create a lot of noise (not you, someone else in my stream). It comes to how it works. The WNF, and other activity streams like Twitter and Facebook had the same problem: space is limited but there’s a lot of peoples and even more updates. If someone dominate the space for something not deemed important enough, it’s noise killing of the updates from other peoples (because once it’s gone to the second page or more, less motivation to open it back). Oct. 26
	Technogran -wrote: You are welcome Arlene I am here to help. Like you I love Windows Live. A place that at first I took to be aimed at the younger end turned out to be a place where I could meet like minded individuals, read their stories,get to know them as if they just resided down the road from me instead of half way around the world. I have sympathised with them when they felt ill or out of sorts, and they have comforted me when I have been down. We have laughed, cried, shared admired, cood over grandchildren and pictures shown. It's where I feel at home, alongside many others. Oct. 26
	ARLENE Pwrote: Not being very techie, I just come on spaces and started a blog because I just enjoy a good gossip and love the decorating bit of it all, I started out with Wordpress but found that a bit high minded, then found Spaces, I haven't maybe made as many friends as many of you folks, but I enjoy the ones I have, I pop into Facebook now and then but find it a bit messy and disorganised, all this giving people lollipops and sending them flowers and hugs and stuff comes over a bit teen-yish, plus I keep losing the thread of what I was doing as you can't seem to hold a conversation unless you're playing Scrabble or something, oh dear this sounds a bit lke having a pop at FB, I'm just trying to get over that I like spaces, even if I don't undrstand all the nuts and bolts of it, so thanks Technogran for sorting us out now and then Oct. 26

Next > Last >>

Trackbacks

The trackback URL for this entry is:

http://gadgetgran.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!2418D1CD90C52C20!6105.trak

Weblogs that reference this entry

None