Attention Windows 7 + Live Sync users!

From the official Windows Live Sync blog, regarding the Windows Live Sync mandatory update:

If your computer was already running Windows 7 before this update, you’ll have to go to the Sync website to add your computer back to all the folders you’re syncing. We know this is a hassle and we apologize for this inconvenience. You’ll also see that your computer shows up on the Sync website with a new name—you can safely go ahead and delete the old computer from the website. Rest assured that your files and folders are safe.

Source: Windows Live Sync outage and client update - Windows Live

Updated: Download update for Windows Live Sync

As we notified you a few days ago, Microsoft has released an updated version of Windows Live Sync (14.0.8089.0726 for Windows). This is a mandatory update, meaning that users must install it if they want to connect to the service.

Update (2009/10/14): There is a known issue with Windows 7.

Please read this before installing the update.

 

Click here to download Windows Live Sync

Windows Live Sync mandatory update on Thursday

A mandatory update for Windows Live Sync, that fixes a serious compatibility problem with Windows Easy Transfer will be released on Thursday, October 22nd.

Windows Live Sync users will need to go to the Sync website to install an update in order to be able to sign in to Windows Live Sync. Users will not be able to use Sync until they install the update.

Source: Windows Live Sync Official Blog

Download Windows Live ID Sign-in Assistant 6.5

If you are using Windows 7, then Windows Live ID Sign-in Assistant 6.5 is a must-have for enabling Windows 7 applications to deliver great features like sharing documents, pictures, music, and video.

Through the online provider, the Sign-in Assistant helps a Windows 7 application running on one computer identify and communicate with other computers that are associated with the same Windows Live ID. Just by linking your Windows Live ID to the user account on each Windows 7 computer you own, you enable those computers to identify each other and work together more easily than has been possible in the past.

Windows Live ID Sign-in Assistant 6.5 can be downloaded in 32-bit and 64-bit flavors.

Download details: Sign-in Assistant

Office 2010 / SkyDrive Integration

As LiveSino is reporting, Microsoft Office 2010 will support direct document storage / sharing with Windows Live SkyDrive, as presented by the screenshot below (notice that this screenshot is not from the official Technical Preview Microsoft released to Office 2010 testers).

 

Source: LiveSino

Just got my invitation for SkyDrive Office Web Apps (screenshots included)

Just after I published my previous post on Windows Live SkyDrive Office Web Applications Technical Preview, I logged in to my SkyDrive and ta-da! I had received my invitation:

Even though the ‘Learn More’ did not work, it takes you to http://g.live.com/8seskydrive/LearnMorePreview.

In order to join the program, I had to accept a Supplement to Microsoft Service Agreement (which was surprisingly less than expected):

After accepting the invitation, I was automatically forwarded to the home page of SkyDrive:

 

but with new capabilities:

Unfortunately,  you cannot create new documents in this Technical Preview but this feature will eventually be available during the beta timeframe:

If you weren’t lucky enough to receive an invitation today, sign up for early notification about Office 2010 Beta to know when you can try it out too.

Stay tuned for more!

View Office Web Apps in action!

Even though “starting today, a select group of SkyDrive customers will be invited to try out a technical preview of the online versions of Microsoft Office Excel, Word and PowerPoint, also known as the Office Web Apps, integrated right inside their Windows Live SkyDrive experience” (source: Windows Live Wire), you can see a demo of the Excel Web App, Powerpoint Web App, Word Web App, and their sharing capabilities right away:

Source: TechNet Edge

Windows Live Events retiring in 2010

Starting in early September, 2009, you won’t be able to create new events using Windows Live Events. You’ll still be able to access and edit your existing events until 2010, and we encourage you to save your photos and files from your existing events before then. In 2010 you will no longer be able to get to any of your old events, and you won’t be able to download and save old event photos and videos.

You can use Windows Live Calendar to create, plan, and manage events and invite friends and family all from one place—and you don’t need to wait for Windows Live Events to retire! You can check out these step–by-step instructions to see how easy it is to create an event in Calendar.

Source: Windows Live Wire

SMS for Windows Live

This new service by Windows Live allows you to:

• Update your personal message
• Check your Windows Live Calendar
• Invite people to join your network
• Get contact info for people in your Windows Live contact list

To use these services, first you’ll need to register your mobile number with Windows Live and then you’ll just send a text message (SMS) with a “command” to a shortcode:

• If you’re in the US and your mobile operator is AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, or Nextel, your shortcode is MyLive or 695483.
• If you’re in the UK and your mobile operator is Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile, O2, or Virgin, your shortcode is 88804.

Standard SMS messaging costs apply in both the US and UK. So your mobile operator will charge your normal rate for each text message you send and receive. There’s no additional charge from Microsoft.

Read more at source.

Technorati Tags: windows live,sms,microsoft

No Hotmail with Outlook Express after September 1st

If you are using Microsoft Office Outlook, Outlook Express, or Entourage to view your Windows Live Hotmail, the DAV protocol retirement may affect you. Microsoft is changing the way these programs access Hotmail e-mail which will require you to take action. We’ll be sending a note to customers who are likely affected to remind them to take action.

To continue to receive e-mail from your Hotmail account in your mail program, please select one of the alternative solutions below before September 1, 2009. After this date, new e-mail can only be delivered to your mail programs through the following alternative solutions. However, you can continue to view your e-mail via the web at http://mail.live.com or http://www.hotmail.com.

If you use Microsoft Office Outlook to view Hotmail, you can download Office Outlook Connector for free to continue accessing your Hotmail within Outlook 2003 or 2007. If you’re using Outlook 2002, you will need to change the settings in your Outlook program. Click here to learn more.

If you use Outlook Express to view Hotmail, you can choose to download Windows Live Mail (recommended) for free or change the settings on your program to access your Hotmail within Outlook Express. Click here to learn more about your options.

If you use Entourage to view Hotmail, you will need to change the settings in your program to continue receiving Hotmail messages in Entourage. Click here to learn more.

Source: Windows Live Blog

Technorati Tags: outlook express,microsoft,hotmail

Microsoft has shut off the Windows Live Messenger IM for users in the countries embargoed by the US

When you try to sign in to Windows Live Messenger, you receive the following error message:

810003c1: We were unable to sign you in to the .NET Messenger Service.

Microsoft has shut off the Windows Live Messenger IM for users in the countries embargoed by the US hence Microsoft no longer offers Windows Live Service in your country.

• Cuba
• Syria
• Iran
• Sudan
• North Korea

Source: Messenger Support Blog