:Windows Essentials
{{Short description|Freeware applications suite by Microsoft}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2012}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Windows Essentials
| logo = Windows Essentials logo.svg
| logo size = 250px
| screenshot = Windows Live Essentials 2011 applications on Windows Vista.png
| caption = Windows Essentials applications - clockwise from the top left: Mail, Messenger, Photo Gallery and Movie Maker.
| developer = Microsoft
| released = {{Start date and age|2006|08|25}}
| genre = Software suite
| license = Freeware
| website = {{URL|windows.microsoft.com/essentials}}
| discontinued = yes
| latest_release_version = 2012 (v16.4.3528.0331)
| latest_release_date = {{Start date and age|2014|04|17}}
| operating_system = Windows XP to Windows 10{{Cite web |url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17779 |title=Windows Essentials download options |access-date=July 18, 2016|work=Support|publisher=Microsoft}}{{Cite web|url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/18614/windows-essentials|title=Windows Essentials|access-date=July 22, 2016|work=Support|publisher=Microsoft|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722153031/https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/18614/windows-essentials|archive-date=July 22, 2016|url-status=live}}
}}
Windows Essentials (formerly Windows Live Essentials and Windows Live Installer) is a discontinued suite of Microsoft freeware applications that includes email, instant messaging, photo sharing, blogging, and parental control software. Essentials programs are designed to integrate well with each other, with Microsoft Windows, and other Microsoft web-based services such as OneDrive and Outlook.com.{{Cite web |last=Foley |first=Mary Jo |date=5 August 2006 |url=http://www.microsoft-watch.com/article2/0,1995,2008695,00.asp?kc=MWRSS02129TX1K0000535 |title=Microsoft Seeks Testers for Windows Live Essentials |work=eWeek's Microsoft Watch |publisher=Ziff Davis Enterprise |access-date=April 20, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630010844/http://www.microsoft-watch.com/content/web_services_browser/microsoft_seeks_testers_for_windows_live_essentials.html?kc=MWRSS02129TX1K0000535 |archive-date=June 30, 2012}}{{Cite web |url=http://winsupersite.com/article/cloud-computing/making-sense-of-windows-live-wave-3-part-1-how-we-got-here |work=SuperSite for Windows |title=Making Sense of Windows Live Wave 3, Part 1: How We Got Here |first=Paul |last=Thurrott |date=6 October 2010 |access-date=April 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918011152/http://www.winsupersite.com/article/cloud-computing/making-sense-of-windows-live-wave-3-part-1-how-we-got-here |archive-date=September 18, 2012 |url-status=live }}
Applications
Windows Essentials applications support installation on Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2, as well as Windows 10. Previous versions were also available on Windows XP and Windows Vista, and included Windows Live Messenger.
History
=Windows Live Installer (Wave 2)=
The first eappearance of a Windows Live Dashboard is seen with the initial "Windows Live Wave 2" unified installers from Windows Live Messenger 8.5, Mail and Writer that was released on May 30, 2007. In the "Windows Live Wave 2" suite of services, Windows Live Installer was the name of the website and software given to serve the purposes of allowing users to discover, download and install Windows Live software and services. Users were able to select the Windows Live software they wished to install on the website, and the website would pass on the information to the unified installer software such that the installer will only download and install those applications selected.{{Cite web |first=Long |last=Zheng |url=http://www.istartedsomething.com/20070907/live-installer-cookie/ |title=The cookie magic behind Windows Live Suite installer |work=iStartedSomething |date=7 September 2007 |access-date=19 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828213136/http://www.istartedsomething.com/20070907/live-installer-cookie/ |archive-date=August 28, 2008 |url-status=live }}
=Windows Live Essentials 2009 (Wave 3)=
The Windows Live Installer application was significantly updated with the subsequent "Windows Live Wave 3" release of applications, with the new inclusion of Windows Live Movie Maker (beta) and Microsoft Office Outlook Connector to its suite of products. On October 29, 2008, it was announced at the Professional Developers Conference 2008 that Windows Live Installer would be renamed as Windows Live Essentials, and would be integrated into Windows 7 to allow users to download the included Windows Live applications. However, the Windows Live Essentials applications will not be "bundled" with the Windows 7 operating system. This should allow more frequent updates to the Windows Live Essentials applications outside of major operating system releases.
On December 15, 2008, the "beta refresh" versions of Windows Live Essentials applications were released.{{Cite web |url=http://windowslivearchive.wordpress.com/2008/12/15/refreshing-the-windows-live-essentials-beta/ |title=Refreshing the Windows Live Essentials beta |work=Windows Live team blog archive |date=15 December 2008 |access-date=19 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228112321/http://windowslivearchive.wordpress.com/2008/12/15/refreshing-the-windows-live-essentials-beta/ |archive-date=December 28, 2014 |url-status=live }} This release included many changes since the previous beta release based on user feedback. A significant visual change in this release was the introduction of new application icons which added a common design theme to all the Live Essentials applications. The words "beta" were removed from most of the build numbers. On January 7, 2009, the "beta refresh" versions were released as the final versions, with the notable exception of Windows Live Movie Maker.
Microsoft updated Windows Live Essentials Wave 3 on February 13, 2009{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/02/windows-live-essentials-updated-to-build-14080640206.ars |title=Windows Live Essentials updated to build 14.0.8064.0206 |work=Ars Technica |publisher=Condé Nast |first=Emil |last=Protalinski |date=13 February 2009 |access-date=19 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417074054/http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/02/windows-live-essentials-updated-to-build-14080640206.ars |archive-date=April 17, 2012 |url-status=live }} and again on August 19, 2009,{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/08/windows-live-essentials-wave-3-updated-again.ars |title=Windows Live Essentials Wave 3 updated again |work=Ars Technica |publisher=Condé Nast |first=Emil |last=Protalinski |date=20 August 2009 |access-date=19 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123135206/http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/08/windows-live-essentials-wave-3-updated-again.ars |archive-date=January 23, 2012 |url-status=live }} when Windows Live Movie Maker was released out of beta and significantly updated with additional features since the beta version released in December 2008.{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/08/windows-live-movie-maker-14-finally-comes-out-of-beta.ars |title=Windows Live Movie Maker 14 finally comes out of beta |work=Ars Technica |publisher=Condé Nast |first=Emil |last=Protalinski |date=20 August 2009 |access-date=19 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201190225/http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/08/windows-live-movie-maker-14-finally-comes-out-of-beta.ars |archive-date=February 1, 2012 |url-status=live }} The final build number was 14.0.8117.0416.
After the release of Windows Live Essentials 2011, which dropped support for Windows XP, Windows Live Essentials 2009 was renamed to Windows Live Essentials for Windows XP and was made available for Windows XP users to help maintain the product user base. Some applications, such as Windows Live Movie Maker, were not included with Windows Live Essentials for Windows XP.
=Windows Live Essentials 2011 (Wave 4)=
File:PhotoGallery2011.png user interface displaying numerous image editing options]]
Microsoft released a public beta for the next major update for Windows Live Essentials dubbed "Wave 4" on June 24, 2010.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.windows.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2010/06/23/announcing-the-new-windows-live-essentials-beta.aspx |title=Announcing the new Windows Live Essentials beta! |first=Piero |last=Sierra |date=June 23, 2010 |work=Inside Windows Live |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=19 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023053723/http://blogs.windows.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2010/06/23/announcing-the-new-windows-live-essentials-beta.aspx |archive-date=October 23, 2012}} The updated applications include Windows Live Messenger, Mail, Photo Gallery, Movie Maker, Writer, Family Safety, Mesh, and Messenger Companion. For Windows Live Mesh, the application has been rewritten to be based on the previous Live Mesh and will allow PC and Mac users to keep their documents, pictures and music in sync across multiple computers. It was also announced that Windows Live Toolbar will be discontinued and replaced by the Bing Bar.{{Cite web |url=http://blogs.windows.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2010/06/02/preview-of-the-new-windows-live-essentials.aspx |title=Preview of the new Windows Live Essentials |work=Inside Windows Live |publisher=Microsoft|access-date=19 November 2012 |date=June 2, 2010 |first=Piero |last=Sierra |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216055115/http://blogs.windows.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2010/06/02/preview-of-the-new-windows-live-essentials.aspx|archive-date=December 16, 2012}} In addition, the ribbon user interface was incorporated into Mail, Photo Gallery, and Writer. The Wave 4 beta has dropped support for Windows XP; Windows Vista or Windows 7 is required for its use. The beta refresh of Windows Live Essentials 2011 was released on August 17, 2010. Microsoft released the final version of Windows Live Essentials 2011 on September 30, 2010. The applications were updated with a hotfix/QFE (except for Mesh and Family Safety) on December 1, 2010,{{Cite web |url=http://www.liveside.net/2010/12/01/windows-live-essentials-qfe-released-you-can-update-now/ |title=Windows Live Essentials QFE released: you can update now |work=LiveSide |date=December 1, 2010 |access-date=19 November 2012 |first=Kip |last=Kniskern |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225112126/http://www.liveside.net/2010/12/01/windows-live-essentials-qfe-released-you-can-update-now/ |archive-date=December 25, 2010 |url-status=live }} and that update became available through Windows Update from March 20, 2011.{{Cite web |url=http://blogs.windows.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2011/03/21/qfe1-for-windows-live-essentials-2011-now-available-through-microsoft-update.aspx |title=QFE1 for Windows Live Essentials 2011 now available through Microsoft Update |work=Inside Windows Live |publisher=Microsoft |date=21 March 2011 |access-date=19 November 2012 |first=Arthur |last=de Haan |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209121928/http://blogs.windows.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2011/03/21/qfe1-for-windows-live-essentials-2011-now-available-through-microsoft-update.aspx |archive-date=February 9, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} On May 2, 2012, Microsoft announced the re-branding of Windows Live. Although all applications in Windows Live Essentials 2011 suite will continue to function on Windows Vista, 7, and 8, there will be no significant updates made to these applications in the future.{{cite web
|last=Sinofsky
|first=Steven
|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/05/02/cloud-services-for-windows-8-and-windows-phone-windows-live-reimagined.aspx
|title=Cloud services for Windows 8 and Windows Phone: Windows Live, reimagined
|work=Building Windows 8
|publisher=Microsoft
|date=May 2, 2012
|access-date=19 November 2012
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140216162040/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/05/02/cloud-services-for-windows-8-and-windows-phone-windows-live-reimagined.aspx
|archive-date=February 16, 2014
|url-status=live
}} In June 2014, Microsoft announced that Windows Live Essentials 2011 would no longer be available for download on Windows Vista.
=Windows Essentials 2012 (Wave 5)=
Microsoft released Windows Essentials 2012 on August 7, 2012, for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users.{{Cite web |url=http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/windowsexperience/archive/2012/08/07/introducing-the-new-windows-photo-gallery-and-movie-maker.aspx |title=Introducing the New Windows Photo Gallery and Movie Maker |work=Windows Experience Blog |publisher=Microsoft |date=7 August 2012 |access-date=19 November 2012 |first=Brad |last=Weed |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121125100621/http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/windowsexperience/archive/2012/08/07/introducing-the-new-windows-photo-gallery-and-movie-maker.aspx |archive-date=November 25, 2012 |url-status=live }} Windows Essentials 2012 included SkyDrive for Windows (later renamed OneDrive), and dropped Windows Live Mesh, Messenger Companion and Bing Bar. Microsoft Family Safety is also installed for Windows 7 users only, as Windows 8 has built-in family safety functionalities. Further, Windows Essentials 2012 also dropped the "Windows Live" branding from the installer itself, as well as from programs such as Photo Gallery and Movie Maker, which have been branded Windows Photo Gallery and Windows Movie Maker respectively. These two programs have also received several updates and enhancements since their 2011 release, including video stabilization, waveform visualizations, new narration tracks, audio emphasizing, default save as H.264 format, and enhanced text effects for Movie Maker; as well as AutoCollage integration and addition of Vimeo as a publishing partner for Photo Gallery. No significant changes or re-branding were made in this release for other programs such as Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Mail, and Windows Live Writer.{{Cite web |url=http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/windowsexperience/p/essentials.aspx |title=Windows Essentials 2012 Q&A |work=Windows Experience Blog |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=19 November 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811022432/http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/windowsexperience/p/essentials.aspx|archive-date=August 11, 2012}} While the program is no longer available for download by Microsoft, it is still possible today to download the original pack for Windows Essentials 2012.{{Cite web|last=July 2017|first=Amy Oztan 30|title=10 Old Windows Programs and Games (And How to Get Them)|url=https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/old-windows-apps-and-games|access-date=2020-06-04|website=LaptopMag|date=July 30, 2017 |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904202558/https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/old-windows-apps-and-games|archive-date=September 4, 2018|url-status=live}} Such links are provided in the form of links to the Wayback Machine, and the suite can also be found on the Internet Archive.
Deprecation
Some of the apps included in the package are unsupported on Windows 8.1 and 10 and are removed after an upgrade. The Facebook integration in Photo Gallery and Movie Maker broke due to Facebook API changes.{{cite web|url=https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Facebook-Connect-is-no-longer-available-f31c8107-7b5a-4e3d-8a22-e506dacb6db6?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US&fromAR=1#BKMK_photo|title=Facebook Connect is no longer available|work=Office|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=September 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916084246/https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Facebook-Connect-is-no-longer-available-f31c8107-7b5a-4e3d-8a22-e506dacb6db6?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US&fromAR=1#BKMK_photo|archive-date=September 16, 2016|url-status=live}} Microsoft turned off Windows Live Messenger's service and redirected users to Skype, another one of its messaging services; the installer has not been updated to reflect this change.{{cite web|url=https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA12246/i-used-to-use-messenger-what-do-i-need-to-know-about-skype-for-windows-desktop|title=What's happened to my Messenger contacts in Skype?|work=Skype|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=September 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507023417/https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA12246/i-used-to-use-messenger-what-do-i-need-to-know-about-skype-for-windows-desktop|archive-date=May 7, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/2/15/3991370/windows-live-messenger-skype-upgrade-april-onwards|title=Microsoft is forcing Messenger users over to Skype starting April 8th|date=February 15, 2013|first=Tom|last=Warren|work=The Verge|publisher=Vox Media|access-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831103027/https://www.theverge.com/2013/2/15/3991370/windows-live-messenger-skype-upgrade-april-onwards|archive-date=August 31, 2017|url-status=live}} Windows Live Mail no longer works with Outlook.com using the proprietary DeltaSync protocol due to removal of support for the latter from Outlook.com,{{cite web|url=https://blogs.office.com/2016/05/05/using-windows-live-mail-2012-with-outlook-com-time-to-update-your-email-application/|title=Using Windows Live Mail 2012 with Outlook.com? Time to update your email application!|date=May 5, 2016|work=Office|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=September 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808030123/https://blogs.office.com/2016/05/05/using-windows-live-mail-2012-with-outlook-com-time-to-update-your-email-application/|archive-date=August 8, 2016|url-status=live}} but can be configured to use such accounts using either IMAP or POP3 protocols.{{Cite web|url=http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windowslive/wiki/livemail-email/windows-live-mail-and-outlook-mail/6edb5ba6-f9f2-40fd-80a1-fc23cc6fbfe0|title=Windows Live Mail and Outlook Mail|website=Answers|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=2016-10-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018205624/http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windowslive/wiki/livemail-email/windows-live-mail-and-outlook-mail/6edb5ba6-f9f2-40fd-80a1-fc23cc6fbfe0|archive-date=October 18, 2016|url-status=live}} Windows Live Writer no longer works with Blogger due to Blogger's authentication API changes.{{cite web|url=http://www.mybloggertricks.com/2015/12/windows-live-writer-stops-support-for-blogspot-blogs.html|title=Windows Live Writer Stopped Support For Blogger "Permanently"!|date=December 16, 2015|access-date=September 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909022057/http://www.mybloggertricks.com/2015/12/windows-live-writer-stops-support-for-blogspot-blogs.html|archive-date=September 9, 2016|url-status=live}} The suite had otherwise not received a major upgrade since 2012, and it had not received any updates through Windows Update since 2014, although Microsoft offered a downloadable (albeit buggy) update in December 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/3023377/microsoft-windows/windows-live-mail-woes-continue-with-re-re-released-kb-3093594.html|title=Windows Live Mail woes continue with re-re-released KB 3093594|date=January 15, 2016|first=Woody|last=Leonhard|work=InfoWorld|publisher=IDG|access-date=September 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913080343/http://www.infoworld.com/article/3023377/microsoft-windows/windows-live-mail-woes-continue-with-re-re-released-kb-3093594.html|archive-date=September 13, 2016|url-status=live}} Microsoft announced that the suite would be officially retired on January 10, 2017, and would no longer be available for download, and that after the end of support date applications already installed would continue to work but with "an increased security risk associated with use of unsupported products past their end of support date."
References
{{reflist|30em}}
Further reading
{{Refbegin}}
- {{cite web|url=http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-live/essentials-install-offline-faq |title=How do I install Windows Essentials while offline? |publisher=Microsoft|work=Windows Essentials Help & How-to |access-date=December 18, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323183936/http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-live/essentials-install-offline-faq|archive-date=March 23, 2012}}
{{Refend}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://windows.microsoft.com/essentials}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20170109223308/http://wl.dlservice.microsoft.com/download/C/1/B/C1BA42D6-6A50-4A4A-90E5-FA9347E9360C/en/wlsetup-all.exe Download for Windows Live Essentials 2012]
{{Windows Live}}
Category:Windows-only freeware