Oh boy, Microsoft really did something to improve their service „Windows Live“ (Live.com), which has been on the web for a couple of years – so far without any big success, because the guys didn’t try hard enough. What they basically did was to repeat old web tactics, which means search engine in this particular case linked with some other features (there was this funny function that you could really ask a question like „How old can a crocodile get?“), and were hoping for Google to get down. And of course that didn’t happen at all.

In stead Google went on being the No. 1 in business, Apple got more and more buyers and Yahoo! rejected the best offer they could possibly receive.

But now finally Microsoft is moving on with an improvement worth to be mentioned.

Live.com gets a new face and great functions, that combine the best of the web, such as Twitter, LinkedIn, flickr and so on. (Facebook doesn’t seem to be in which is odd because Microsoft invested some 250 million dollars into the social network.) Their goal is to bring all your activities on the WWW together in one place, where your friends and family can see what you’re doing. You just have to tell Live.com where your profiles are and it will create a cool landing page, on which you can also add favorite blogs, websites and more and it even conjuncts Microsoft desktop applications and online services.

Further on your friends will be able to see new changes immediately when they are done. And everytime they are writing you an e-mail via Hotmail or are chatting with you with the Live Messenger those people can see your latest updates, so for instants thumbnails of some pictures you’ve just uploaded or reviews of recently bought products.

Have a look at this nifty video to get the impression: http://blip.tv/file/1462663/ (I can’t embed it, but WordPress.com doesn’t aloud me to do so… )

Of course Microsoft will still try to force you on the dark side, because one approach obviously is to get you to upload your videos, photos and other files onto the Windows Live storage or encourage your friends to join Live.com.

But all in all it seems to be a great service. One indication is that reliable Blogs such as TechCrunch and RWW are talking about it in the most significant spades.

I still won’t use it. Why? Because I got a MacBook Pro at home and I’d never trust Steve Balmer.
Anyway it’s the right way to go for Microsoft and I wish them all the best.