Shoutbox

Everybody you shouldnt have to worry at all about anything. Microsoft is basically just going through a metamorphosis. They are rebranding to MSN and Windows Live.  Everything will stay the same. You will download the "latest update", next thing you know you will be signing in with all your same information, and can talk and do everything you could before on MSN Messenger, just like normal, plus a little extra new features. So right now you're probably thinking this just seems like a name change to me! But really what it is is much more than a name change. Microsoft is just making this transition to Live very smooth so it doesnt inturrpt anything, basically us noticing it as a simple "name change".

There is a site that I recommend you read, its been posted before, but if anyone is interested in this type of information, visit the site: http://spaces.msn.com/members/MessengerSays/.

As well, Hotmail will be called Windows Live Mail as we already know, and its entire graphical user interface will be changing, with many new improvements.
Right now the www.live.com site you can preview it and full around with your start page. You can add panels such as your mail one, weather information, movie info etc... and move the panels around just like you can on www.msn.com. However when you do click on an email message in your mail panel, you will be directed to hotmail and not windows live mail, basically because it is in developing stages right now.

But yes there were some really good questions. I find it will be odd, but it seems that the "@hotmail.com" portion of our email address will not change. If this is so, we'd all be "antiques" and "rare" in a few years, However I am unsure if you were to sign up for a windows live mail account, lets say in a year from now, would youstill receive a "@hotmail.com", or "@msn.com" address, i'm thinking no, and if so what would it be?

And as for .NET, will that change? Who knows... all the account information will not be like cleared, and we will not be forced to sign up for anything else or have to barely lift a finger.

This whole transtion thing should be a smooth process, however that is if all things go according to plan. Microsoft has been known for its little mistakes, hopefully they pull it off without any problems they deserve it.

Oh one other thing about the new Live.com site. In my personal opinion and what i believe, if any of you are looking at it thinking "wow this looks really formal, neat, clean, smart". Because yes! it looks very professional. The Live team is focued on a simple clean almost "fresh" look. Simplicity infact is key, and is what they've noticed their customers have asked for. They are doing this for their users entirely. However the formality and simplicity of the site i believe is just for the beta process, so don't go thinkin its gonna be so plain. Afterall its a work in progress, they will focus on site design details once the real work and developing process is near completion.


edit...
forgot to mention, about the new name abbreviation, I am really curious to what it will be. MSL sounds good, standing for Microsoft Live. I'm noticing that WML is also what many people like to call it. I personally prefer MSL for  a few reasons. One, It flows better than WML, saying MSL just ya know is easy to say like MSN, and WML isnt. and Two, If you notice MSN is an abbreviation only for the Service, not the messenger application. If that were the case MSN would be called MSNM. WML would be the name of the application, where as MSL is the abbreviated name of the service, Microsoft Live.

The reason I bring this up is basicallay because this was all introduced yesterday. The nickname MSN was created within days of its arrival, so now is the chance to nickname the great messenger software for probably the next 6 years or more. WML or MSL? or any other preference? Whatever one people choose to go with use that name often and ya know, it should catch, and spread.