The Windows Live Contacts gadget is a client-side browser JavaScript object that enables visitors to use their Windows Live contacts with your Web site.  Instead of typing a shipping address into a shopping cart form, for example, the user could simply select one of their Windows Live contacts from the contact gadget.  The user saves time and effort in completing the order, and you gain the benefits of an address book for your Web site without having to implement, maintain, and provision data storage and management UI on your servers.  The user maintains control of their personal contacts data, while you focus on providing services with data the user gives you. (Read the privacy notice for the Windows Live Contacts gadget.)

See the Windows Live Contacts gadget working in our live samples:

• Start a Party
• Map Your Contacts

A key aspect of this gadget is maintaining secure data isolation between multiple domains.  The gadget obtains the user’s contacts data from Windows Live servers via a secure HTTPS connection and releases to your Web page only the data for the contacts that the user selects and approves for sharing with your Web page.  In this way, users stay in control of their data, which offers them a level of confidence in dealing with third-party Web sites.  

Your Web site needs to make a clear statement to the user about how you will be using the data they share with you.  The Windows Live Contacts gadget requires that you supply a URL to a privacy statement and that you display that URL to the end user when they are prompted to approve transfer of the selected contact data to your site.  If you use the shared data only for the current activity and then discard it, you should say so in your privacy statement.  If you store the shared data on your servers for any purpose, you should say so in your privacy statement and provide means for the user to review or delete such stored data.

I'm really impressed with this tool. Writer is a desktop application that makes it easier to compose compelling blog posts using Windows Live Spaces or your current blog service.

Few things that I really loved about this tool. Firstly WYSIWYG authoring you can now author your post and know exactly what it will look like before you publish it.

Secondly Photo publishing writer makes inserting, customizing and uploading photos to blog. Once you've inserted the picture writer provides an editing tool to modify picture size, text wrapping, borders and apply effects.

Thirdly Map publishing writer inserts Windows Live Local map into your post and Lastly Drafts you can close your window anytime it autosaves, you can keep unlimited number of items in the draft.

Writer SDK is available it allows developers to extend writer's capabilities.

Download now

Photosynth takes a large collection of photos of a place or object, analyzes them for similarities, and displays them in a reconstructed 3-Dimensional space. With Photosynth you can:

• walk or fly through a scene to see photos from any angle;
• seamlessly zoom in or out of a photograph even if it's gigapixels in size;
• see where pictures were taken in relation to one another;
• find similar photos to the one you’re currently viewing;
• explore a custom tour or see where you’ve been; or
• send a collection to a friend.

check it out..

I just received an invitation to try out the beta version of Windows Live Mail Desktop a email client like Microsoft Outlook Express.

What it gives you

Try WLM Desktop Beta

On 20th June two new domains will be available for users signing up for a new Windows Live ID @live.com and @windowslive.com. These new domains will be available when you sign up for a new account with Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Family Safety Settings, and www.live.com.

Check out WLM Support Blog.

Windows Live Developer community site is launched.

Windows Live Developer community is your one-stop shop for the Windows Live Platform, including information on getting started with Windows Live services, latest documentation and APIs, samples, access to community areas and relevant blogs, and announcements of future releases and innovations.

Windows Live Books is Microsoft’s online search service for books. The service will give information seekers a distinctive, powerful set of tools for finding answers to their questions through the discovery of trusted book content—and provide publishers with a new way to connect with potential customers.

As publishers, you add your content to Windows Live Books through the Windows Live Books Publisher Program. Participation in the program is free, and it takes just a few simple steps to sign up. Once you've submitted your books, WLP will handle the rest: It will scan your books, index them, and help bring them to the attention of millions of Windows Live Search users. It’s easy and it’s free!

Check it out: http://publisher.live.com/

Microsoft is in the process of preparing the rollout of Windows Live LifeCams, their new High Definition set of webcams. This series of web cameras will feature high definition still shots on all models and high definition video on some. They will also include a common interface for their software, dubbed the "LifeCam Dashboard." read more...

The new live.com is LIVE...

Whats New?

You’ll notice hot new themes!

http://www.live.com

• Live.com beta
  Have your way with this page. Sign in, get the content you want—news, sports, search results, whatever—add columns, and move stuff around at will. It’s all you.
  
• Windows Live Mail beta
  It’s all new web mail, built from the ground up. Preview your e-mail without loading a new page each time (like Outlook®) drag and drop messages into folders, and generally power through your e-mail in a flash.
  
• Windows Live Safety Center beta
  It’s like taking your PC in for a tune up at the service station. If the service station was free and available 24/7. Get free on-demand virus cleaning and a comprehensive PC health checkup to help keep your PC running its best.
  
• Windows Live Favorites beta
  You are away from your own computer and want to get to the important sites you use everyday? No problem, now that your Internet Explorer Favorites can travel with you.
  
• Windows Live Messenger beta
  
  Coming soon - This will be the next-generation MSN Messenger. The name is new, but it will still be free to download Messenger and use most of its features. And there will be some remarkable new ways to instantly share and connect with friends.
  
• Windows OneCare Live beta
  The things you should have to help protect your PC, but probably don’t because they’re such a hassle. Stuff like virus scanning, firewall settings, tune ups, and software backups—delivered to you in a friendly, easy-to-use package that runs quietly in the background.
  
• Windows Live Search beta-mobile
  
  Coming soon - Picture this: You search for a restaurant with your phone, then click on the result to be connected immediately. Plus, you can see detailed maps, driving directions, and more—all formatted to fit the screen on your mobile device.
  
• Custom Domains Beta
  Already own your own Internet domain name?
  Have us host e-mail and IM for you in a domain you already own.
  • Create up to 20 e-mail accounts within your domain
  • Get a 250 MB inbox for each account*
  • Check your e-mail from any Web-enabled PC
  • Junk e-mail filter protection using Microsoft SmartScreen technology
  • Virus scanning and cleaning of e-mail
  • Seamless access with MSN Messenger, MSN Spaces, etc