If you love to share photos and files online, you’ve probably tried a few different services—with features like online photo albums, privacy settings, drag-and-drop uploading, and photo printing.
You start off with one service, then try another, then you join the one your work friends use, then try one with a cool photo organizer, then one of your services shuts down (for example: AOL Photos, which is about to close its doors, or Sony ImageStation, which spun down earlier this year) and migrates you to another company’s service which is completely different.
Suddenly you’re using half a dozen sites and spend more time messing with account information than having fun.
Ouch!
Ironically, wanting all those features and options to make your life easy actually makes your life really complex. Today, most people aren’t looking for another whiz-bang doodad, they want to simplify their lives online.
Now, how specifically does Windows Live help you do that for photos and files?
The new Windows Live Photo Gallery (beta) plays a big part.
Photo Gallery is one of several free programs from Windows Live, which automatically finds and organizes photos across your hard drive (by year, month, or day, by folder or by tags you add). There’s great photo editing support. Plus, you can easily publish your photos online to share with the people you choose. The service can use your existing Messenger or Hotmail account, so no extra passwords to remember!
Here’s what it looks like to publish photos online using Windows Live Photo Gallery (beta):
Here’s what a Windows Live online photo album looks like:
But… what about sharing files other than photos?
What about sharing the flyer for my sister’s choir group recital, or creating a public archive for my soccer league’s monthly newsletters? If I’m going on a trip, but I have to work, how can I bring the files I need with me?
Well, you could use e-mail to throw files around as attachments, but that gets complicated.
What you really need is an online hard drive to share your stuff with the people you choose (as well as yourself!) from any Internet-connected computer.
Windows Live SkyDrive does all that. You get 5GB of free storage and can easily upload files through drag and drop then share them with whoever you choose—and again, it works with your Messenger or Hotmail account so management is simple.
Problems solved!
Here’s what it looks like to use SkyDrive’s drag-and-drop file upload interface:
At the end of the day, if you waste too much time futzing around with different photo and file sharing accounts (or if your service is being discontinued) consider Windows Live. You get easy-to-use photo sharing, 5GB of storage, and a suite of services integrated with a single account—all free!
Simple drag-and-drop, plus photo album sharing makes switching from your current services easy. Although, if you don’t mind multiple accounts, Windows Live works with other services as well (for example: Photo Gallery publishes to Flickr.com and other sites). So, use whatever works best for you.
Let’s keep sharing simple and fun.
- Ian Tien, Senior Product Manager, Windows Live
With the NEW Hotmail can someone tell me how to pull up my contacts list & forward an email???? I can pull up my list but don\’t know how to attach or forward the email I received. Thanks!! I agree….definitely the OLD Hotmail was easier. Jackie
Please make the new change compatible with the mobile devices, im used to check mails via mobile, its older version was accessible, but this version is not, when i click on inbox, it rout me again to the same page. i cant see my mails now. My handset is Sonyericson w950i. And i use it with opera mini.
I don\’t know what you did with my mail but I don\’t like it. I liked the old one. Now help me get back to the one I like.
I agree that this one is no good. I much prefer the old hotmail. How do I get it back?????
WHO\’S STUPID IDEA WAS THIS????? I CAN\’T MOVE THE E MAILS FROM MA LAST PERSON ON MY LIST, THE DUMB THING DOES NOT SCROLL TO THE END, I WANT THE OLD HOTMAIL BACK, CAN\’T DEAL WITH THIS CRAPP, PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE, TELL ME HOW TO CHANGE IT, PRONTO.
HA! I TRY SENDING WINDOWS A MASSAGE, GUEST WHAT, THEY\’R NOT TAKING ANY DO TO SOM BULL SH!!!!!@!!! BOTTOM LINE, THEY DON\’T CARE PEOPLE, I\’M MOVING ON, AFTER YEARS WITH HOTMAIL I\’M GONE, THEY DIN\’T EVEN LET US CHOOSE THE NEW ONE OR STAYING WITH THE OLD VERSION, PITTI BUT IF ANY ONE FIGURES OUT WHO TO GET THE OLD VERSION PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE, LET ME KNOW.
How do you forward a photo to somebody??????????
hey i am fed up wth this new shape.give me back my hotmail
This new HOTMAIL was not tested… Its like the PC/APPLE ad… BUT not funny… When i open a folder, i can just read the latest email
and no more… Cannot adjust the reading window… and can read only 1/2 of a large e-mail When i open an attachment ( that i had read before) that dammm letter just keep moving but the attachment NEVER opens.. TEST before changing and PLLLEEEAAASSSE
restore the olde HOTMAIL and fire the manager who oked this mess…
Alright what happened, cannnot make a new file, what happened?????? Stupid now it\’s anew file with everything in it, GEE !! why don\’t I just kep it in INBOX PFTTTTT, RIGHT Some 1 get back 2 me!!!! PLZZZZZZZ
Give us back our old one this one isn\’t half as good. I like to see outmail as well
ok why i cant find my page kno more it\’s like gone not there kno more all my picture\’s
Ok i cant read my messages with the old one i could excess my e mails from my phone now i cant wat a hassle do something
I have a prolem finding my files. They disapear. I can\’t answer no space given .SmTm I can\’t open Eml.
Inbox, folders, junks, sent, all disapeared. I have already moved my importent friends to another Email.
Attached files will not open. Apparently I\’m not the only one having problems. Please help us!
Attached files will not open. Apparently I\’m not the only one having problems. Please help us!
GIVE ME MY FK OLD HOTMAIL BACK THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you heard the old saying if it aint broke dont fix it want my old hotmail back %$$#%^^$
I can\’t send any messages. I want the old hotmail back.
I don\’t like this new email. I can\’t send my emails like I use to. I am having trouble getting into areas that I need to get to. Please let me have my old version back. I will have to go to another email server if this problem is not resolved
I lost most of my old emails saved in different folders! Special memories gone/lost forever! How can you make a sudden change like this, impose a whole new-looking format (which sucks by the way!) and not migrate all of our old messages properly? I want my lost emails from my most precious folders back!!!
This is really funny, you guys at Microsoft are still promoting this "product" with all the complaints below!!
i\’m very disappointed wit this stupid updates
I wonder what Windows Live would be like, if it would download correctly. I cannot access my email inbox or junk box at all. They both flash on the screen for a brief minute, but then gone. I haven\’t been able to access my junk box for over a week, from my office and thats not so good. Thankfully I can access it from my other computer, but I should not have to. I have tried deleting messenger from my system and re-installing, but still the same nonsense. Why don\’t you permit me the option to decide whether or not I want to change, not just do it for me. I don\’t appreciate it at all.
I have an old monitor which has a small screen. It has become increasingly difficult to access my mail and read it. But what I really dislike is the lack of access to mail I have sent, and many other items which were handy for me. I haven\’t even tried to retrive old email, which, from other comments, I take it is impossible now. I joined hotmail this year because I didn\’t like aol (which, by the way, still has all my old aol mail.) It was a hassle to switch, but I guess I need to find yet another way of using email and the internet in general. I will wait patiently (like 1 week) and then change yet again.
Marilyn
Pffff … What Did You Guys Do ??
I Can\’t Read Ma Emails , Nor Send Any Emails :S:S
There\’s No Way I Could Work This Way
Pffff … What Did You Guys Do ??
I Can\’t Read Ma Emails , Nor Send Any Emails :S:S
There\’s No Way I Could Work This Way
how am i supposed to send emails??????????????????????
If this is the "new updated version"…..I would prefer the old outdated version. I haven\’t been able to send any outgoing emails since the update. How long is it going to take for ya\’ll to fix this problem?
what kind of junk will you dream up next. you guys must have night mares give us the old one back this is nuts
This is way to confusing!!! lets just go back to the old way it\’s much easier.
I do NOT care for this "NEW"format at ALL !! PLEASE give us the option of the "OLD" format to use. This is way too ugly and just not easy to get through—why are "Contacts" so screwed up – all I see is names -I want to see the old format there too…..you give us no option/choice but to investigate other emails to change to, if this is the format forever. It stinks. PLEASE RETURN TO THE "OLD" FORMAT….!!!!!
This is so disappointing for a MAJOR EMAIL distributor to be so miserable to use now. Don\’t leave it this way. Working out the "kinks" will not be satisfactory for your "subscribers" - we want the "OLD" format back !! S O O N !!!!
not happy with the changes. Can\’t we go back to the classic version. I can\’t open attachments!!!
I DONT LIKE THE NEW VERSION EITHER, I CANT FIND MY FOLDERS
PLEASE GO BACK TO THE OLDER VERSION…MAYBE WE SHOULD GO
TO YAHOO EMAIL….LOL
oh nooooo i dont like new verison.. please put old verison back.. there no switch version from OPITION. i cant find anything my email. i cant send or attach or anything.. this new version is sooo STUPID… please get old verson back as soon SOON! WHY THERE NO SWITCH VERSIN ON OPITION!!! UGH !! ??????
I used the photo gallery to send emails because I thought it was such a great idea. Wrong!!!Nobody got the emails so I ended up sending the photos as attachments on hotmail.
Couldn\’t open attachments either –had to log on to hotmail and gmail to get my attachments
;/[/[\’/
whats going on! i cant send any meassges! i want my old hotmail system bak on! this one is playing uP no good!!
Please bring back the older version. It was much less complicated. Sometimes it is very
difficult to open attachments.
I don\’t like this new version, i\’m having trouble printing full page.
This sucks!!!! What the hell were they thinking?????
Why can\’t I open my attachments in hotmail now? I could last week! Please change it back!
I do not like at all, I prefer classic style.
I do not like this presentation at all! It would be nice to have a choice before changes are made for me!
its tooo bad.i cant see my sent items,junks and as well as my saved folder.kindly tell me how to get back my old hotmail view?? menans i wanna back my old view.how to switch????????????????????/////////
This is a stupid new version, we are using the 14" monitor, cannot find the SEND folder, Junks mail too. and all the personal folder also dont know where is it. Pls give a choice to change back to old version
Hello, I am extremely disapointed with the new version, it does not work for m
it is not userfriendly. I loved the old version better. Please bring it back
Wonder if all these comments (which are pretty negative) are being read and dealt with? THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN! Get your shi* together and sort this mess out. Ive only just got an account with you lot and already am banging my head against a brick wall to work the bloody thing out and I KNOW that I am not dumb and am able to navigate around websites, but this is just shite. Im very tempted to go elsewhere if nothing is done to fix the problems. I could have designed this better than the bloody fool who did and Im certainly not THAT technically inclined. Fix it, or Im gone (as with approx 392 others….)
this sucks, can not get my email at work now, always comes up busy try again later
Please restore my old hotmail, this sucks alot and i hate it! I cant access it just like i do do in my initiall account. thanks bye
Zainab
I am a new \’silver surfer\’ and too old to change. I just managed to get a handle on the old Hotmail system, please don\’t confuse me any more. I just don\’t understand the new system. If you must have this new system, keep the old system running alongside for the people who don\’t like change, like me. Thankyou in advance. XX
I am having trouble printing a full page, left side box of options is too big, takes up half the page.I hate this, want classic view back, if it AINT BROKE, DON\’T FIX IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I much rather prefer to use the old system. Newer technology should not be more complicated, if you are planning on improving the system then do so in an easier manner. Also, give everyone the option to choose. I cannot find my folders, and the screen is too tight, that\’s plus …..what was wrong with the old way?
ABSOLUTE RUBBISH. CANT EVEN TYPE OR SEND AN E-MAIL AT ALL.
CRAP CRAP CRAP
Oh does this new look for email suck, big time. Hate it .I want the old back. Have to scroll
way over in order to read a message. Why mess with something that is operating good
for the public, nothing else to do?
I AGREE I WOULD ALSO LIKE THE OD ONE BACK , I CANT EVEN READ THE EMAIL AND TO FORWARD TO ADD CONTACTS
IS ABOSOLUTELY INSANE .
What about ALL OF US who do have a life and don\’t spend every spare second screwing off on the internet??
don\’t do me anymore favors.
I don’t like what you have done to my contacts.
I don’t like the font displays and I can’t find a way to change them.
I don’t like childish and cutesy.
I want the old one back.
If your PD guys want to offer it as an option fine just don’t force me there, did I mention I DON’T LIKE THE NEW SYSTEM!!!!
I can always start depending on my Yahoo account and not this one!!
It does not work well on my comp I am unable to see my inbox or junkmail. It\’s like it is not fully loaded or something………
Why are you all still miserable. Save your sanity, get a new email host. I went to Yahoo! and OMG, I can actually read my emails. They transfered my contact w/o a hitch. Their format is similar to what hotmail used to be, but better, I think!
Go with those who appreciate you. There are plenty of free email hosts.
Of course now that I\’d like to transfer my files to yahoo!, I can\’t get in them.
M. Rivera in Culver City
HOw do we get the Old version, back this one sucks
THIS SUCKS…….BACK WITH THE OLD
i thought it was just me i can read my email either is there a solution to this
I want the old version back. Main complaints: I can\’t view any photos sent to my email, and you made both side bars so big that the actual email text is in like size 6 font. Give us an option to go back to the old one.
WOW ! I feel so much better since I stumbled into this forum ! I was begining to think I was just a total computer dummy ! I have been trying now for DAYS and DAYS to "Easily" e-mail either photos or photo files……CAN\’NT BE DONE ! I wrote to the e-mail "Help" they wrote back and said that a more experienced tech would be in touch with me and after seeing all the other dissatisfied clients here I can understand why I have yet to hear from anyone else ! Also….when I try to "Forward" an e-mail and I click on the "To" button it brings up my contact window but I can only see the first 4 or 5 addresses it wont let me scroll down to the bottom ! If you are going to change something it would seem that you would change it for the better and there is no way all you computer savy folks can possibly feel like this is better ! I would imagine you all are quite embarassed and ashamed ! Meanwhile your clients are searching for and finding alternative avenues !
This version ain\’t working out at all …. You just tried to make it look better …. Its freaking inconvenient …..! (Yeah in everyway possible) … Its a big blow for people like me who have been using hotmail for ages ….Time to find another mail id …..!
the screen is extreamly small i hate the new hotmail it\’s very pointless … they shouldchange it back to the old one
This new hotmail live needs to leave……..noone likes it and i\’m sure alot of people are not only dissapointed with this but would rather have the old hotmail back including me!!! so who do we need to talk to (opps sory), we have spoken and noone is listening or they need to come off that cloud they are on. so i guess if we sperad the word about this new hotmail live service and how it is not "ALL THAT" maybe we could find another website that we can be happy with, i mean at least when you send a fwd to "ALL YOUR CONTACTS THEY ALL" can receive them! not to mention the "SMALL SCREEN" that does not show more like it use to. "I MEAN BUY A CLUE PEOPLE HOTMAIL LIVE SUCKS"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I GUESS I\’LL CHECK OUT A NEW HOST LIKE YAHOO OR SOMETHING I\’VE GOT FRIENDS WHO GAVE UP ON HOTMAIL A LONG TIME AGO.
I love the new Live Hotmail. Works just fine for me and I haven\’t had any problem configuring it to work the way I want it to. To bad others can\’t get over their opposition to change to take the time to work with it. Your negativity isn\’t going to make the transition any easier.
Go back to the old one!!!!! This sucks!!!!
I HATE THE NEW EMAIL……I can read emails fine………can\’t reply, send a new ones, forward existing ones or open most attachments. I coach, replying to email is essential to keeping my teams organized….not to mention the regular \’Hey, how are ya\’ kind of note to keep in touch with friends………not happenin\’…………I can\’t even email my friends to rub in their face when my hockey team beats their\’s …………… isn\’t the point of hotmail to be able to communicate? HATE IT! Am looking for a new account….problem…..as a coach, everyone has THIS address……….thanks a lot hotmail!
Most of these people need to learn how to express themselves its not about "i hate the new email" this is just for expressing the problem you have so hey can find a solution…your nagging isn\’t asked for. Personally it\’s working out great for me i like the new look everything is working properly. You guys are doing a great job.
You have ruined this site. I am transferring my stuff from hotmail the things that aren\’t erased or lost. You all are totally stupid and insane. The site is unmanageable.
I just thought my computer was stuffed
Gee, I read most of that. Odd thing is, I like the new UI. It\’s quick to sort, easy to see source, & scales up fine to my screen & monitor for readability. There don\’t appear to be a lot of extra bells & whistles, but I got through a couple of days of junkmail, seeing what came from where (source) & sorting the trash to delete from the good to keep & organize (sort) in record time (for slow, old me). & it\’s easy to mark or report suspicious stuff (not a lot of that so the filters must be good, just an occasional trojan & some phishing, mostly, from people I hope are even harder up for Sam\’s checks than I am). Saving, consolidating & merging contacts is also quick & easy. It seems to me the "work" (please pardon my departure from TOS about offensive language) part of handling email was dramatically reduced (& with less disruption).
On the down side, it\’s so bright it hurts my eyes & there isn\’t a lot of configurability for appearance, or other drop in modules or function evident which people with other tastes (or, conceivably, additional or other needs) may want. I imagine they\’ll make that another change later on, but now that I\’ve actually enjoyed getting through the email debacle quickly & easily, for once, without exhausting myself so that I can\’t go on to do other things, I hope they don\’t break that basic functionality, which as far as I\’m concerned, rocks.
It\’s a paradox that I\’d pay for somthing that can so effectively limit the cruft so that I can cut through the chores, undistracted, even though, when the chores are done, the other things make for fine entertainment.
Dennis
I have a mac, it\’s hard enough navigating it now that we have this new format, it sucks!!!!! I can\’t see any of my folders, when I do manage to get access to my inbox, I can\’t delete or read any of my e-mails. Do SOMETHING!!!!!!!!
This is the worst version so far. Is there any way to expand pages so more messages show up? The last version allowed something like 100 per page. Did I just miss how to change this setting? They should just scrap this and go back to the old version.
This is "ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE", GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS PROGRAM, PLEASE!!!!!PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!
CAN\’T FIND ANYTHING, HORRIBLE TO NAVIGATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ARE YOU THE SAME PEOPLE RUNNING THE WHITE HOUSE????????????????????????????
I hate this, I can\’t find anything!!! It USED to be easy and simple. Who designed this??? I don\’t think I\’m going to use my email anymore. I\’m going to delete my account if they don\’t change this back. What they hell…Can\’t they just Leave some things alone?!!!
Can\’t they give US the choice…I don\’t want to switch…It want the old version. It was quick and easy…I mean "Myspace" doesn\’t do this, It give the the choice to switch or stay the same. Maybe who ever runs this should take some notes?? I mean, I want to go on, Check my email…And be done, Now I have to mess around with this stupid thing forever to just send a message. I don\’t like it! I don\’t think that I will either. IT\’S INCONVENIENT & ANNOYING!
i am an old lady. i cannot adjust to this new hotmail.i can not make the screen the right size,it is a huge rectangle.i tried help but it did not help me. i can not figure out where my saved drafts went. i need everything in one place like the old hotmail.please bring it back now.
I hate this new live hotmail.I want to empty my entire inbox without deleting all 5000 e-mails but i can\’t like to be able to.I don\’t want to blog!I don\’t want to share !I work all day at an office.I need fast,simple,& easy!This sucks!I will be switching to yahoo or something else.I want what I want,not what you want.Can\’t find the forward to send an e-mail to someone.I hate everything about this live hotmail.It is STUPID!!!!!!!!
THIS IS THE 5TH TIME I HAVE LEFT A COMMENT, BUT STILL NO RESOLVE. AFTER READING BLOG COMMENTS EVERYONE COMMENTS I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS SUCKS!!!!!!! MY MOTHER IS HEARING IMPAIRED, HAS HEALTH ISSUES AND IN A WHEELCHAIR WITH A SPINAL DISABILITY. I HAVE CAREGIVERS 24 HOURS FOR HER, THEY ALSO ARE HEARING IMPAIRED. I LIVE 50 MILES FROM MY MOTHER. YOU HAVE DESTROYED MY ABILITY DO YOU HEAR ME DESTROYED!!!! MY CRITICAL ABILITY TO COMMUNIATE WITH THEM AND HAS CAUSED MAJOR HEALTH AND CARE DECISIONS FOR HER,. THERE HAVE BEEN SITUATIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED THAT ARE DIRECTLEY RELATED TO YOUR DICTATORSHIP CHANGE. THANKS FOR NOT LISTINING TO OUR PROBLEM AND CORRECTING THEM. GOD BLESS MY MOTHER, THIS IS A HEALTH ISSUE FOR US. I BEG YOU. HELP ME SORRY BUT I DONT THINK YOU WILL, OR YOU WOULD HAVE RESPONDED ALREADY. DO KNOW WHAT BOHICA MEANS, THIS IS WHAT YOUR TELLING US.
Yes I\’m in the minority, but I love it !!! the new interface… the calendar sharing… At the office we have all changed our email addresses to hotmail and it is working great especially when we can view each others shedules and agenda from home, office, cell or anywhere… the folders (even personal folders, calendar and contacts are all there and easy to access… We are making plans for using the SkyDrive with the share features to exchange files we have to update everyday… We are also using Windows Live One Care on all PC\’s now (5 at home, 2 at the office)… working great !!! Wish it did for all of you !!
Ian, "another whiz-bang doodad,"
What a beautiful concept! Actually, if you make one of these to add to the rest of the Live software, I\’ll have it.
Thanks.
That\’s the greatest piece of writing I\’ve seen in a long time and completely matches my sense of humour. Love it:-)
Love "Live" too. LLM (Or Long Live Microsoft)
what with SHARING PHOTOS STUPID THING HOW CAN I TURN OFF That activity heeeeeellppp. I cant see pictures, and he dont give me to save the picture.
I like the concept of Skydrive, but I find it\’s clumsy to use. It doesn\’t allow me to upload or download entire folders to and from my Shared Folders. Also, it would be nice if Skydrive could be added to your modules.
I am a paying member why are people I share photos with seeing ads now?????? This is making me look very cheesy. This for me is THE deal breaker!
why does my blog photos always show up in a new album? and i can\’t move that album to the bottom of the list… i don\’t want my blog photos in an album.
I DO not agree that the new windows live space makes things faster. I just LOST 4 hours trying to place my photos IN THE ORDER I Wish. And windows seems to place them back in the order IT CHOOSES, which appears to be by Date Taken. Worse, my older photo files have been modified by Live Spaces, and the people who want to see them cannot see them in the order I placed them initially. Which means that the comments I wrote, which made sense in the order the photos were placed, DO NOT MAAKE SENSE ANYMORE. To me, all this is a BIG step backward.Bernard
welcome
i am havin trouble gettin my web cam goin please help me it\’s nexxtec cam and i do need a lot of help