14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is currently cooking a revamp to the collection of Windows Live categories. According to the Redmond company, the new and modified categories for the Windows Live product family will be made available via WSUS at the beginning of September. However, back in June, Chris Jones, corporate vice president, Windows Live Experience Program Management revealed that the company was beginning to step into the next phase of evolution with Windows Live. In this context, the overhauling of Windows Live categories for WSUS could in fact signal the moment Microsoft will deliver the new suite of products and services under the Windows Live brand umbrella promised for this summer. There has been in fact talk about the Windows Live Installer, an equivalent of Google Pack, designed to allow one stop access to offerings such as Windows Live OneCare, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Photo Gallery.
"Windows Server Update Services 3.0 (WSUS 3.0) enables information technology administrators to deploy the latest Microsoft product updates to computers running Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2, and Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4 operating systems. By using WSUS, administrators can fully manage the distribution of updates that are released through Microsoft Update to computers in their network," Microsoft revealed in the description of WSUS.
"In September, we will be submitting Beta releases for [eight new / modified product categories in the Windows Live family of products]. The apps will be marked as Optional and Feature Packs. We will let you know when we ship the final release (RTM) version of the Windows Live software. We recommend that if you chose to subscribe to updates for [the categories in Windows Live] - subscribe as a group, treating all categories and updates to this family of products together," stated a member of the Microsoft Update team.
According to the Redmond company, via WSUS you will be able to access the following categories: Windows Live, Messenger Installation and Upgrades, Photo Gallery Installation and Upgrades, Mail Installation and Upgrades, Writer Installation and Upgrades, OneCare Family Safety Installation, Sign-in Assistant Installation and Upgrades and Toolbar Installation and Upgrades.
One important note that stands out of the crowds is Windows Live which "contains updates/upgrades for all Windows Live programs. All Windows Live programs are compatible with both Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems," and could possibly point to the Windows Live Installer.