Windows Live Hotmail Wave 3 Rollout has started!

The next update of Windows Live Hotmail, Wave 3, has begun rolling out to end users. Currently, Bay: 136 & Col: 102 have been upgraded to Wave 3. Other bays will receive updates in the coming days.
Here are the improvements in the Wave 3:

– No Full and Classic versions. Both are now combined to provide faster and simpler interface.
– Enhanced address book, allowing customers to easily see emails they’ve exchanged with contacts and keep contacts in one consolidated place to use across Windows Live services.
– Ever Increasing Storage – 5 GB to start, with an additional 500 MB per month if customers hit their limit
– Integrated web-based IM with Windows Live Messenger
– Improved spam fighting technologies that significantly reduce spam.
– Integrated calendar features and Outlook Connector.

And here are the screenshots of the new Hotmail : [Screenshot 1] [Screenshot 2] [Screenshot 3]

Thanks to LiveSide.net for this update.

Three new Ultimate Extras!

Microsoft has released three new Ultimate Extras for Windows Vista Ultimate Edition users. These include a game called Microsoft Tinker, Ultimate Extra sounds from Microsoft Tinker and Windows DreamScene Content Pack #4. You can download them from Windows Update.

Microsoft Tinker is a puzzle based game where players get a set amount of moves to move a robot around a puzzle and solve the level. Sound scheme lets you change your computer’s sound profile to that of Microsoft Tinker. And DreamScene Content Pack includes some new high definition videos.

Cheers!

Windows 7 Milestone 3 (6780) Screenshots!

Thinknext.net has posted many new screenshots of Windows 7’s M3 build. Looks like Microsoft is going for a lighter UI and there are some promising changes elsewhere in the OS as well. (Paint and Wordpad finally get a new look)

Some changes :

1. A lighter interface than Vista
2. Ribbon interface in Wordpad and Paint.
3. Some changes in looks of Start Menu
4. Calculator UI changed.
5. A new term Libraries is introduced which is equivalent to Documents
6. A few changes in Windows Explorer’s toolbar.
7. System Tray icons setting option in Control Panel
8. Few more options in control panel like Locations and Other Sensors, Credential Manager and Biometric Devices.
9. New Theme options for windows
10. Homegroups
11. Some display setting changes
12. Games updates in Games Explorer
13. Some changes in Windows Media Player
14. New PowerShell

Hop over to Thinknext for screenshots!!!

Update : I think he has taken off the screenshots after receiving an email from Microsoft 😦

Windows Live Wave 3 Betas available for download!!!

Yep, Beta versions of Windows Live suite (Wave 3) are now available for download. The download includes Messenger v9, Windows Live Movie Maker, Mail with Calendar synchronisation, Writer, Photo Gallery, Family Safety and the Outlook Connector.

You can choose from following two links to download. The first one will only download applications you need while the second one will download everything and you can choose which ones to install. Enjoy!

[Web-Installer] (990KB)

[Offline Installer] (134MB)

Google Desktop 5.8

Google Desktop makes searching your computer as easy as searching the web with Google. It’s provides full search over your email, files, music, photos, chats, Gmail, web pages that you’ve viewed, and more.

It also helps you gather new information from the web and stay organized with gadgets and sidebar. Google Gadgets can be placed anywhere on your desktop to show you new email, weather, photos, personalized news, and more. Sidebar is a vertical bar on your desktop that helps you keep your gadgets organized.

Version 5.8 of Google Desktop has been tweaked for increased performace. It utilises 50% less memory during startup and shutdown also happens five times faster!

[Download Google Desktop]