What's in Windows Live Essentials?

Windows Live Essentials consists of the following Windows Live-branded applications:

Mail connects to any POP3 e-mail account, including Gmail, Hotmail, or Yahoo Plus. Mail also includes a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) reader and a calendar that automatically synchronizes events with Microsoft’s online Windows Live Calendar service.

Messenger, Microsoft’s consumer instant messaging (IM) and presence client, uses the public Windows Live Messenger (formerly MSN Messenger) service and lets users exchange text messages and pictures and play simple games. It cannot connect to Microsoft’s business-oriented IM and messaging product, Communications Server. (Microsoft does offer a service for business customers that allows the Communicator client used with Communications Server to connect to the Windows Live Messenger service.)

Photo Gallery enables users to organize, tag, and perform simple edits on digital images and share images by uploading them to Windows Live Photos or Yahoo’s Flickr service.