Windows Live Series

The Bottom Line: The Windows Live package of products represents Microsoft's attempt to serve and integrate a broad array of dynamic, online services. These Web 2.0 tools include those for e-mail, mapping, scheduling, instant messaging, managing RSS feeds, bookmarking, and vertical search. Many of these free products remain in beta testing. This list will continue to evolve as Microsoft updates and adds Windows Live products. See our 10 favorite Windows Live tools here.

CNET editors' take

The Bottom Line: The Windows Live package of products represents Microsoft's attempt to serve and integrate a broad array of dynamic, online services. These Web 2.0 tools include those for e-mail, mapping, scheduling, instant messaging, managing RSS feeds, bookmarking, and vertical search. Many of these free products remain in beta testing. This list will continue to evolve as Microsoft updates and adds Windows Live products. See our 10 favorite Windows Live tools here.

CNET editors' take

The Bottom Line: The Windows Live package of products represents Microsoft's attempt to serve and integrate a broad array of dynamic, online services. These Web 2.0 tools include those for e-mail, mapping, scheduling, instant messaging, managing RSS feeds, bookmarking, and vertical search. Many of these free products remain in beta testing. This list will continue to evolve as Microsoft updates and adds Windows Live products. See our 10 favorite Windows Live tools here.

CNET editors' take

The Bottom Line: The live file-sharing capabilities and clear video call quality make Windows Live Messenger stand out.

Release Date: 06/19/2006

CNET editors' take

The Bottom Line: The Windows Live package of products represents Microsoft's attempt to serve and integrate a broad array of dynamic, online services. These Web 2.0 tools include those for e-mail, mapping, scheduling, instant messaging, managing RSS feeds, bookmarking, and vertical search. Many of these free products remain in beta testing. This list will continue to evolve as Microsoft updates and adds Windows Live products. See our 10 favorite Windows Live tools here.

Release Date: 06/19/2006

CNET editors' take

The Bottom Line: The Windows Live package of products represents Microsoft's attempt to serve and integrate a broad array of dynamic, online services. These Web 2.0 tools include those for e-mail, mapping, scheduling, instant messaging, managing RSS feeds, bookmarking, and vertical search. Many of these free products remain in beta testing. This list will continue to evolve as Microsoft updates and adds Windows Live products. See our 10 favorite Windows Live tools here.

Release Date: 06/19/2006

CNET editors' take

Product info

The Bottom Line: Windows Live Favorites lets you save, import, and arrange bookmarks in subject folders, then view saved links without leaving the page--but it doesn't hook you up with other users' favorite URLs the way Del.icio.us does.

Release Date: 06/15/2006

CNET editors' take

The Bottom Line: Windows Live Toolbar can enhance the usefulness of Internet Explorer, make Web surfing more fun, and spare you some mouse clicks--if you take the time to get acquainted with its features.

Release Date: 06/15/2006

CNET editors' take

The Bottom Line: Designed to replace Outlook Express, Windows Live Desktop Mail beta is a preview edition of Microsoft's new, free desktop e-mail application, which lets you edit images and read messages from Gmail and Yahoo accounts.

Release Date: 06/15/2006

CNET editors' take

The Bottom Line: The Windows Live package of products represents Microsoft's attempt to serve and integrate a broad array of dynamic, online services. These Web 2.0 tools include those for e-mail, mapping, scheduling, instant messaging, managing RSS feeds, bookmarking, and vertical search. Many of these free products remain in beta testing. This list will continue to evolve as Microsoft updates and adds Windows Live products. See our 10 favorite Windows Live tools here.

Release Date: 06/15/2006

CNET editors' take

The Bottom Line: The Windows Live package of products represents Microsoft's attempt to serve and integrate a broad array of dynamic, online services. These Web 2.0 tools include those for e-mail, mapping, scheduling, instant messaging, managing RSS feeds, bookmarking, and vertical search. Many of these free products remain in beta testing. This list will continue to evolve as Microsoft updates and adds Windows Live products. See our 10 favorite Windows Live tools here.

Release Date: 06/15/2006

CNET editors' take

The Bottom Line: The Windows Live package of products represents Microsoft's attempt to serve and integrate a broad array of dynamic, online services. These Web 2.0 tools include those for e-mail, mapping, scheduling, instant messaging, managing RSS feeds, bookmarking, and vertical search. Many of these free products remain in beta testing. This list will continue to evolve as Microsoft updates and adds Windows Live products. See our 10 favorite Windows Live tools here.

Release Date: 06/15/2006

CNET editors' take

The Bottom Line: This reputation-based, peer-to-peer question-and-answer service lets you seek and offer all kinds of knowledge online while integrating with other Windows Live Contacts, Messenger, and Spaces.

Release Date: 06/15/2006

CNET editors' take