29 Jun 2007

By Barry Levine

June 27, 2007 12:14PM

Adding to a continuing trend of online storage, Windows Live Folders allows users to store up to 500 MB of data online. Microsoft indicated it will keep a close eye on how much is used, and might expand the Live Folders limit. Originally codenamed “Live Drive,” Live Folders allows a user to upload from either Internet Explorer or Firefox.

The Windows Live family got two new members on Tuesday, when software giant Microsoft launched “managed” beta releases of Windows Live Folders and Windows Live Photo Gallery.

The new releases, which are part of Microsoft’s “software and services” strategy designed to provide online services components to its software products, are the first in an upcoming series of releases. The strategy counters moves by Google and others to provide hosted versions of application software, which, in many cases, also have desktop components.

Live Folders is currently only available to limited groups of beta users in the U.S., with Live Photos for beta users in the U.S., China, France, Germany, the UK, India, Japan, and Spain. Final versions are expected to be launched later this year.

Free Online Storage

Adding to a continuing trend of online storage, Windows Live Folders allows users to store up to 500 MB of data online at no charge. However, Microsoft indicated it will keep a close eye on how much is used, and might expand the limit.

Originally codenamed “Live Drive,” Live Folders allows a user to upload from either Internet Explorer or Firefox, using a Windows Live ID to protect the account and limit access to it. Privileges for some users can be restricted to reading only, while others might be allowed to add and delete files. All sharers use their own Windows Live ID, and the current maximum file size is 50 MB.

The Photo Gallery is essentially a free upgrade to Vista’s Windows Photo Gallery, and runs on XP as well. It lets Vista and XP users organize and publish photos and videos using Windows Live Spaces.

More To Come

Chris Jones, Windows Corporate Vice President of Windows Live Experience Program Management, said that computer users five years ago used the Internet “primarily to get content and information.” Today, he noted, people are part of “multiple social networks,” with multiple devices communicating through e-mail, instant messaging, and other services, and with stockpiles of digital photos they’d like to share.

The emerging set of software and services that Windows Live is offering, he added, is designed to allow people to remain “connected,” with sharing, browsing, managing, and creating capabilities, and “protected,” with enhanced safety and security features. Historically, Jones said, Windows Live has been defined by individual services, but now it will focus on “delivering a richer, more unified experience.”

Other recent releases for Windows Live have included Windows Live Mail beta, Windows Live Messenger beta, and Windows Live Writer beta. Jones said that more releases will be rolled out soon, including a single installer so that customers can have an all-in-one download for the entire suite of Windows Live services.

He said that this strategy, with integrated services accompanying software, will be extended to Microsoft Office and Windows Mobile.