Windows Live Wave 4: What We Know So Far

I am, seemingly, constantly writing new posts with bits of information about Windows Live Wave 4 and I thought it might be useful for people if I collect all the bits of info up into one post.

New Services

There have been very few leaks about new services but the ones we do know about are:

• Devices – Would seem to be a Live Mesh way to link and sync your various devices, whether they be PCs, Macs, Mobiles, etc, with each other and the cloud. The service may provide configuration options and remote control/use of the device.
• Documents – Seems like the Documents service will be the new way to save and store Office documents, and I guess store any file, on Windows Live; SkyDrive will probably be the backend for this service which is likely to incorporate Live Mesh like functionality.

There is one other service I think we can expect to be added to Windows Live:

• Videos – Surely Microsoft has not given up against Google with YouTube in the online video market so I am expecting some kind of Video service, it could well be an additional aspect of the Photos service.

Changes To Existing Services

• Header – although not being a real service it appears in most Windows Live services and is set to change again for Wave 4. As you can see below the header has been restructured into only 4 heading, or pillars, with the lesser services accessed by hovering over the service names. The header will also be dynamic showing users how many unread emails they have and how many of their contacts are online.
  
• Web Messenger – It appears that Microsoft will be bringing Messenger properly online by allowing users to access the service wherever they are in Windows Live, I would guess it will act similarly to Facebook Chat.
  

Changes To Existing Applications

In general all the content editing applications within Windows Live will now be receiving the ribbon interface and the other applications, Messenger, will receive a UI overhaul similar to that of the Zune software.

• Mail – The application will now have access to the calendar down the right hand side and will support a conversation mode for collecting emails together to more easily follow a conversation between a contact. It also sounds like Windows Live Mail will support various Gmail features and I can guess it will support other email clients functionality.
  
• Writer – All that is currently known is that it will have the ribbon interface.
  
• Messenger – Messenger looks to be getting quite a major make over with an additional pane to the left which we are certainly not used too. It appears as if this new pane will display a list of everything that is new with a user’s contacts. Another interesting thing to note is the “Connected to” control at the bottom right of the windows, perhaps we will be able to use other instant messaging services from Messenger. 
  Messenger 2010 will also be supporting tab conversation windows, something a lot of people have been asking for for some time, I’m not sure I really see the appeal.
  
  Users will also be able to control their online presence with the Aero thumbnails when using Windows 7.
   
  I believe the next image is only a concept image created by a fan however I think it shows what Messenger 2010 will look like.
  

Others Things To Expect With Wave 4

• Integration – I believe there will be a high level of integration of Windows Live with other Microsoft products and services, we already know the Office Web Apps will be accessed through Windows Live but I also think Windows Mobile (6.6, 7 or the “Zune Phone”) will feature Windows Live very heavily.
• Social – I think Microsoft will try and make Windows Live Wave 4 more of a social networking platform where users can share information easily to many people across various services, for exampling hitting the upload button in Photo Gallery will upload the photo to Windows Live Photo, Facebook, Flickr, Twitpic etc at the same time. I also believe we can expect to see a URL shortening service to help this sharing of information.
• TVs – It has been rumoured that Microsoft have been talking with a few TV makers so we might see some level of access to Windows Live on TVs in the future, I doubt this would be completed in time for the launch of Wave 4 but perhaps later in the year.

If you want to keep track of the latest Windows Live Wave 4 news then you might to check out this collection of posts.

Jan 22, 2010

• Posted by Gilly
• 1 comment
• Windows Live
• Devices, Documents, Mail, Messenger, Photo Gallery, Videos, Wave 4, Windows Live, Writer