14 DAY TRIAL // Undoubtedly, one of the aspects of Windows 7 that has generated a lot of user enthusiasm, and for good reason, is related to customization. The latest iteration of the Windows client comes with a range of personalization options, with the new Theme feature, and the actual themes released by Microsoft, being extremely well received. Still, the Redmond-based company is taking it one step forward with the release of a free Windows 7 Theme tool dubbed the Windows Experience Pack. And to top it all off, the Windows Experience Pack is not only designed to allow users of Windows 7 to customize their desktops, but also the software giant’s free instant messaging client: Windows Live Messenger.
“While we can’t send all of you on vacation, we can give you something special to help you daydream and customize your PC and online experience,” revealed Brandon LeBlanc, Windows Communications Manager on the Windows Client Communications Team. “With the Windows Experience Pack, you are able create an alter-ego of yourself in a specific destination – a beach, mountain, safari, or city. When you create your alter-ego, you create a fully customized avatar for that destination that becomes a part of a Windows Live Messenger and Windows 7 theme for your PC. You’ll also be able to download a .jpg image of your avatar to share, print, or use as your icon on social networks.”
Windows Experience Pack is capable of creating a Windows 7 theme complete with a desktop background, out of a plethora of wallpapers, a screensaver, and an avatar which can be personalized and bundled with pictures of end users. “For Windows 7, you are given the choice between 3 desktop backgrounds for your destination and a screensaver featuring multiple photos from your destination,” LeBlanc added. “The Windows Experience Pack was created and optimized for Windows 7, but it can be downloaded and used on PCs running Windows XP or Windows Vista too (although performance and features may vary).”
When it comes down to Windows Live Messenger, the Windows Experience Pack will put together a personalization pack. “For a specific destination you pick, the following Windows Live Messenger elements are created for you to use in Messenger for your alter-ego: 1 static display picture, up to 4 dynamic display pictures, a wink, 7 new emoticons, a new Messenger scene.”
Windows Experience Pack is a Cloud-based application that will produce an executable with the Windows 7 and Windows Live Messenger customization package in accordance with user preferences. Once downloaded and executed, the customization package will offer customers the possibility of saving the avatar locally and choose Bing as the default search engine and MSN as the default home page. For users that don’t have Microsoft’s IM client, the package is designed to also download and install Windows Live Messenger.
Microsoft Windows 7 90-Day Eval VHD is available for download here.
Another Windows 7 RTM Enterprise 90-Day Evaluation is available for download here.
Windows Live Messenger 9.0 (2009) 14.0.8089.726 is available for download here.
Windows Live Mail 2009 14.0.8089.0726 is available for download here.
Windows Live Family Safety is available for download here.
Windows Live Writer 14.0.8089.726 is available for download here.
Windows Live Photo Gallery 2009 14.0.8081.709 is available for download here.