14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has completed the worldwide rollout of the latest update of its Windows Live suite of services and applications. Announced just last week, the refresh is designed to stretch Windows Live across the social networking universe, and to position Microsoft's services as a hub designed to centralize users’ activities from various hotspots on the Internet. Microsoft has been gradually introducing the update to Windows Live servers around the world, and, as of April 28, all users are able to enjoy extra web activities as well as enhanced contact importing capabilities.
“We’ve now completed rollout of an update that includes more web activities and more partners for importing contacts,” revealed Rob Dolin, program manager, Windows Live. “An easy way to check to see if you’ve got the latest release is to go to WebActivities. If you see about a dozen web activities, you’re not there yet; but if you see about 30 web activities, then you’ve got the update.”
As it debuted the update, the Redmond company announced that it had inked fresh partnerships with a range of companies owning hot web properties. Now Windows Live can be connected with an impressive list of Internet destinations. “If you use any of the listed websites, think about adding them to your profile. Any new stuff you do on the sites you add (like a song you choose on Last.fm, photos you post on Smugmug, or a status update you make on Facebook), will go into “What’s new with you” on your Windows Live profile,” Dolin added.
In addition to the new 20 extra activities, the software giant has also bridged Windows Live with social networks in order to allow end users more control over their contacts. Contacts can be imported into Windows Live from Facebook, Hi5, LinkedIn, MySpace, and Tagged, but also additional social networks.
“And here are a few other recent improvements that you may notice: RSS feeds are now easier to find for blogs and lists; you’ll start to notice improved results when searching for people on Windows Live from the Windows Live Home or People pages; on Windows Live Home, you can now update your personal message inline, without going to a separate message editing page,” Dolin said.