Windows Live Hotmail
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This article or section contains information about computer software currently in development. The content may change as the software development progresses. |
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| Windows Live Hotmail | |
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 Windows Live Hotmail inbox (M10) |
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| Developer: | Microsoft |
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| Preview release: | "M10" / March 28, 2007 |
| Available language(s): | Multilingual |
| Use: | E-mail, Webmail |
| License: | Proprietary |
| Website: | http://mail.live.com |
Windows Live Hotmail is a web-based e-mail service by Microsoft. A beta version was released on November 1, 2005 alongside the release of Windows Live. Formerly code-named Kahuna and briefly named Windows Live Mail,[1] Windows Live Hotmail is to replace MSN Hotmail once it is complete. It features two gigabytes of storage space, automatic spell checking, custom filters, and a range of safety features.
Access to the beta is available to existing MSN Hotmail users who click a "Join Windows Live Mail Beta" button below the Hotmail logo. It is still available with an invitation, either sent by request from the Windows Live Ideas website, or from a friend who is an existing beta tester.
The original MSN Hotmail service required a $19.95 subscription to remove advertisements and add 2 GB of space (plus a higher attachment limit). Windows Live Hotmail provides 2 GB of space for free, but still has advertisements for free users.
The Hotmail brand was founded by Jack Smith and Sabeer Bhatia, and commercially launched in 1996 as one of the first webmail services on the Internet. Hotmail was bought by Microsoft in 1997 and, by 1999, had reported more than 30 million active members. Windows Live Hotmail is Microsoft's offering in the webmail revolution that began with the launch of Google's Gmail in 2004, which introduced significantly increased storage space and new interface designs using Ajax technology. Along with Gmail, another of Windows Live Hotmail's main competitors is Yahoo! Mail Beta.
Windows Live Hotmail is fully compatible with Internet Explorer 6.0 and higher, and Mozilla Firefox 1.5 and higher. However, many of the features are missing when viewed in other browsers such as Opera and Apple's Safari, where users will be shown the "classic version" of the service.
All users have the option to choose this "classic version" which is similar to the original MSN Hotmail interface, but incorporating the AJAX environment with the new features of Windows Live Hotmail. Upon entering the beta, users are upgraded to the "classic version" by default, and are given the option to change to all the AJAX capabilities of the new full version. Windows Live Hotmail also suggests to users with a slower internet connection or a monitor that is under 1024 x 768 pixels to use the "classic version" option.
[edit] Features
[edit] Address auto-complete
When composing an e-mail in the New Message screen, users can type a letter in the "To:" textbox; if that letter appears in any e-mail address or contact name, all those contacts will appear in a pop-up drop down box.
[edit] Color schemes
Windows Live Hotmail allows users to change the colour of the webmail site; thus, everytime the user signs in with that particular e-mail address, this colour will be the layout. The current choice of available colours are as follows: Blue Vapor (Windows Live default colour scheme), Blue, Red, Black, Silver, Pink, Green, Purple and Orange.
[edit] Contact updates
Windows Live Hotmail has an option for the user to subscribe to a contact's information so that any new data will automatically updated in each others contact list. It will also notify you if a contact has updated their Windows Live Space.
[edit] Image thumbnails
Windows Live Hotmail automatically converts large image attachments into thumbnails for easier viewing. Images can be viewed at their full size with one click.
[edit] Keyboard shortcuts
Windows Live Hotmail provides users with keyboard shortcuts for quick navigation, as opposed to using the mouse.
[edit] Languages
Windows Live Hotmail is currently available in Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovakian, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish and Ukrainian.
[edit] Reading pane
Windows Live Hotmail features a "Reading Pane" similar to that of Microsoft Outlook, allowing the user to read mail messages without leaving the inbox. Users can choose to have it at the side of messages, below the messages, or remove it completely if they wish.
[edit] Rich text editing
The New Message page of Windows Live Hotmail lets users customize their message with various fonts, sizes and colours. Users can also change the alignment of text, add bullet points and much more. A selection of emoticons for users to add to the message is also provided. There is no option to turn off rich text editing in favour of a plain text composition interface yet.
[edit] Right-click, shift-click, and ctrl-click
Windows Live Hotmail offers many features that make it resemble traditional offline applications. Users can right-click for context-sensitive actions such as Reply, Forward, Mark as Unread, and more. Clicking on messages while holding the Shift or Ctrl keys allows for selecting multiple messages more easily than with the provided checkboxes.
[edit] Safety features
Windows Live Hotmail has extensive security and safety features - some patented - including SenderID, SMTP Authentication, phishing heuristic detection, Bonded Sender, mailing list detection and forwarding detection. Potentially unsafe mail is caught by Windows Live Hotmail and it does not open the message until the user requests that it do so. It has proven particularly useful in notifying users of phishing attempts. Potentially unsafe file types are also blocked for downloading after being sent as an attachment (See screenshot, right).
[edit] Search capability
The indexed search capability of Windows Live Hotmail includes searching through the address and subject headers, and for some accounts, the message content. The search results will appear in a temporary new "folder" at the bottom of the folder list and the user can currently search both "Mail" and "Contacts" as well as "Web" (Depending which page you are on, e.g. Inbox, Contacts, etc)
[edit] Speed
The user interface is built using Ajax technology which allows the page to load in the background, and provides a fast loading user experience. Although it is fast, dial-up users may find it very slow to use. A "classic version" lacking some functionality is therefore available for them.
[edit] Spell checking while typing
This feature can be seen in the New Message user interface and checks the user's spelling as it is typed, similar to the spell checking functions in Microsoft Office applications. Misspelled words are underlined in red, and right clicking on it displays a drop down menu of suggestions. Currently, spell checking is available only for English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. However, more languages are planned to be supported in the future. Windows Live Hotmail is the only webmail service that features this function.
[edit] Storage
Windows Live Hotmail Beta comes with 2 GB of free storage. A notification is sent to the user if they come within 50 MB of this limit. There is also a bar on the "Today" screen which notifies the user how much percent of their storage they have used.
[edit] Screenshots
[edit] Features and Pages
 Today - MSN Today (Full Version) |
 Today - Recent Updates (Full Version) |
 Today (Classic Version) |
 Add a New Contact (Full Version) |
 Right-Click Options (Full Version) |
 Drag and Drop Functionality (Full Version) |
 Colour Scheme Options (Full Version) |
 More Options (Full Version) |
[edit] References
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
| Web Applications: | Academic • Account • Agents • Alerts • Barcode • Books • Calendar • Call • Clipboard • Contacts • Custom Domains • Dev • Drive • Essentials • Expo • Favorites • FolderShare • Gallery • Healthcare • Help Community • Hotmail • ID • Ideas • Live.com • Maps • OneCare Safety Scanner • Product Upload • Products • Publisher • QnA • Search • Shopping • Spaces • Video |
| Software Applications: | Mail Desktop • Messenger • OneCare • OneCare Family Safety • Search Center • Toolbar • TV • WiFi Center • Writer |
| Mobile Services: | Live.com Mobile • Mail Mobile • Messenger Mobile • Search Mobile • Spaces Mobile |
| Microsoft Live Labs: | Deepfish • Photosynth • Relay Service • Security Token Service |
