Windows Live is changing.. Live services have been modified to allow installation from a central source - The Windows Live Installer.

Windows Live Installer groups all of the available Windows Live services and allows downloading from a single interface. The installer will create a new folder in C:/Program Files called Windows Live, and place the Installer Dashboard within. It bundles the following optional software:

· Windows Live Sign In Assistant

The Sign In Assistant allows simplistic login to Windows Live services on the web, providing a Windows XP login type screen for web based Live ID credentials. The Sign In Assistant has been upgraded to support Windows Live Linked IDs.

· Windows Live Messenger

Messenger 8.5 is available for download, with a fresh new Windows Vista style interface. This is installed into the Windows Live base folder, making the long awaited transition away from the MSN Messenger folder within Program Files.

· Windows Live Writer

Writer is a program that interacts with online blogs, including Windows Live Spaces. This very post was created with Writer. Writer has several innovative features making blog posting easier and allowing full commitment to an online blog. Writer is installed in the Windows Live base folder and includes a spell checker and the option to save drafts.

· Windows Live Mail Desktop

Mail Desktop is intended to be a direct replacement to Windows Mail of Vista (Microsoft's progression from Outlook Express 6). Mail Desktop will finally allow the checking of E-mail from Hotmail via a standalone client on the host computer. This service was otherwise premium through Microsoft Office Outlook.

· Windows Live Toolbar

The Toolbar integrates with Internet Explorer and provides access to Writer, Messenger, Spaces and many more features with a series of downloadable buttons. The Windows Live Toolbar Suite was given an extremely high rating by Alex Kara previously. Search the Windows Live Gallery for more information.

· Windows Live Photo Gallery

The Photo Gallery acts as a substitute for Microsoft Office Picture Manager, providing Windows Live specific features for maximum interaction with other Live software. This program can handle images and provide basic manipulation and editing.

· Windows Live Family Safety

Family Safety is an introduction to Parental Controls via Live IDs. Parents can now use their Windows Live IDs to monitor or restrict their children's browsing activities for security. This system cannot be abused and users must be 18 years or over to be eligible to use this service. This will install in the Windows Live base folder and will begin restricting the system upon installation. If not required, uncheck the option to install this.

Alex Kara rates the improved Windows Live Installer and the Dashboard interface a 4/5. There were some installation problems, especially if older versions of the mentioned programs were found. Closing other programs and repeating the installation fixed the errors.

Alexander Karapetian