Windows Live 'Wave 4' Essentials Previewed

The next version of Windows Live Essentials, a set of free client applications for Windows PCs, will include a new Sync client that automatically synchronizes user-specified file folders among multiple PCs and with an online storage service, and gives users remote desktop access to their computers through a Web browser. The “Wave 4” updates also include incremental improvements to other Essentials applications, particularly Photo Gallery. The updates will roll out later in 2010 and help Microsoft and Windows OEMs compete with Apple’s iLife suite of applications, which is bundled with new Mac computers.

Updating Windows Between Releases

Introduced in 2007, Windows Live Essentials is a bundle of free client applications for common consumer tasks, such as e-mail, instant messaging, and photo and video editing. The Essentials clients incorporate online functionality, but they are not restricted to using Microsoft’s Windows Live services—for instance, the Mail client works with Microsoft’s Hotmail service as well as any e-mail account that uses the Post Office Protocol (POP) or Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP), and the Photo Gallery client lets users post photos or slide shows to Windows Live SkyDrive as well as Facebook, Flickr (owned by Yahoo), and YouTube (owned by Google).