Microsoft's software-and-services solution, Windows Live, continues to reach for its goal to one day become the one-stop home of all-round web-based services.
After the arrival of its Wave 3 software back in September - including new versions of Messenger, Mail and Photo Gallery - the Redmond giant has today turned its attention to the online counterpart; Windows Live services.
Over the next 24 hours, Microsoft will be issuing Wave 3 updates to its myriad of Windows Live services, including Windows Live Home, Windows Live Spaces, Windows Live Events, and Windows Live SkyDrive - alongside those, it'll be launching the all-new Windows Live Groups, Windows Live Photos, Windows Live Profile and Windows Live People.
The goal, says Microsoft, is to launch “the new face of Windows Live” - but, as one can see from the sheer number of services on offer, it's still very much a mish-mash of offerings that carry many faces and struggle to provide an easy and unified interface.
It isn't through a lack of trying, though. Wave 3 of the Windows Live services introduces a fresh new look, and it's a look that's finally carried over to almost all other Windows Live services - providing a sense of similarity that was previously absent.
In addition to the visual overhaul, Microsoft has increased the per-user storage capacity of its Windows Live SkyDrive service to a generous 25GB. Furthermore, that service now ties in with Windows Live Photos to make it suitable for free-and-easy online storage of your photo collection.
Functionality, albeit improved thanks to features such as the ability to import contacts from Facebook, remains a little cluttered and cumbersome. The promise, however, is that both Windows Live software and services will one day become so tightly integrated that they'll offer the ideal online extension to any Windows operating system. Despite having failed to get Windows Live anywhere near ready for the launch of Vista, it looks as though the platform could be an invaluable component to Windows 7.
There's a whole lot to explore, and if you're interested, the best place to start is windowslive.com.
