Microsoft releases new Outlook Connector with Windows Live Calendar beta synchronisation for all

Jul 23, 2008 12:42 am by | 38 comments

 

Microsoft has just released a new version of the Outlook Connector, giving users access to the Windows Live services through Outlook. In what will be a popular move (judging by the comments on our last Calendar post), the latest version now adds in calendar synchronisation. This allows users of the new Calendar beta to synchronise multiple calendars to Outlook, and manage them from within the client. We’ve been tracking this release since we heard about the new version giving calendar synch to all users, which is a change from the older versions of the connector where calendar synch was only available to those with an MSN Premium subscription.

After a brief play with the new version, functionality looks good , with all calendars appearing in Outlook automatically after configuring the connector at startup. Just enter in your Live ID details during login and as with previous versions, it will download all your folders and email from Hotmail. With the new version 12.1 though, it’ll also download your calendars, which will be first noticeable when you switch to the calendar tab in Outlook.

The existing web calendars will show up in the sidebar, and the basic tasks are easy to do. From creating a new calendar, through to adding or editing an appointment, and then sending it out to other users should you wish to do so. For those who use Outlook in a corporate environment, and want to manage their personal calendar using the same tools, this is a great step forward and hopefully something that will help push for increased usage of the overall calendar service.

Download

Update: Service seems to be running fine now. Also if you add multiple Live IDs to the Outlook Connector you also get all the various WL Calendars :)

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  • Slimy

    Download link doesn’t work.

  • nightryder21

    Download link does not work.

  • JMisczak

    The link is correct, as Microsoft’s Outlook Connector download page links to the same page – it’s just down. Is there a mirror?

  • nightryder21

    I only get the error page.

  • Chris

    Guys just put up a new link which works for me now. Lets see if this one stays up.

  • JMisczak

    The alternative link won’t work either if you’re in Firefox. In IE, I got the download prompt window and the error page, so there’s definitely something a little screwy. I uploaded the connector to my Skydrive for those of you who still can’t get it.

    Outlook Connector 12.1: http://cid-cc8a5e9e7d4ff0f7.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Public/OutlookConnector.exe

  • kmturner

    Both links don’t work for me …

  • nightryder21

    Thanks Chris, but that one is down again. Maybe you can host it from your skydrive.

  • Chris

    Before I forget, I had to restart Outlook after setup in order to get it synchronising properly. All working fine now though.

  • Chris

    Just checked, like Jmisczak says the the 2nd link worked ok in IE, except the confirmation page after the download popped up gave me a 404.

    Thanks for sharing it on Skydrive though in the meantime though. I’ll update when there is a better link.

  • JMisczak

    Yeah guys, hit up my Skydrive in the meantime.

    Is there any word on perhaps adding Windows Live Calendar functionality to the Windows Live Mail client? I like that application better as it’s more light weight, but I can’t do without a calendar.

  • yanverm

    download link works for me, I let you know if everything works fine after installation…

  • Khristopher

    Now we wait for Windows Live Mail to get the Calendar functionality… we’re waiting Microsoft…

  • sp1der

    oh very good!!!
    should be perfect if I can sync also notes & task… :-)

  • Hb8

    So confused about Microsoft’s Live Services strategy.

  • yanverm

    my old calendar is now integrated into windows live autmatically and I can see my new windows live calendars, but when I go to “outlook connector”, “about outlook connector” it still says version 12.0.6237.1003 . And in the status i got this error message:

    Errors :

    Time: 23/07/2008 19:48:42
    Error in Calendar
    Unable to connect to Windows Live Calendar.

    Time: 23/07/2008 19:48:43
    Error in Calendar
    Synchronization error.

    Anyone having the same problems? By the way, before this release my calendar syncronisation worked perfect (with the old live calendar)

  • yanverm

    another strange thing, I installed it on a second PC, and there only the old calendar is getting synced… :-)

  • zeke009

    I’ll have to give this a shot at home. I hope to be able to retire my usual rant about the ridiculousness of the MSN Premium subscription and Calendar sync not being included in Hotmail Plus very soon when this is final.

    Now I’ll just have to join Hb8 on the multiple directions of the Live services. ;)

  • yanverm

    even if the calendar status gives an error, it seems to syncronise between outlook and windows live calendar (restart live mail or outlook to see the updates)… but still not working for my second pc… I supose there are some connection problems at microsoft, wich will be resolved soon (remember difficult startup of apple mobile me ;-) )

    @zeke009 & Hb8: idd it’s becoming confusing, it seems they want to catch up apple and they release one thing after the other, forgetting to communicate about it or to bring out as software package… but we must admit, they are finaly working hard on it and that makes me realy happy!

  • Chris

    zeke009 – constructive criticism is always welcome in the comments, saves it from it just being us doing the ranting ;)

  • bigkahuna

    Installed successfully, but live calendar is not synchronizing. I have removed the previous version (which successfully synced with msn calendar) and this version fails to sync.

    The server status output shows the following:

    Outlook Connector Version 12.0.6237.1003

    Account: gadinaveh@hotmail.com

    Signed in successfully at 7/23/2008 11:52:55 AM

    Mail: Last successfully refreshed at 11:53 AM.
    Calendar: Error at 11:53 AM.
    Contacts: Last successfully refreshed at 11:53 AM.

    Errors :

    Time: 7/23/2008 11:52:57 AM
    Error in Calendar
    Synchronization error.

    Time: 7/23/2008 11:53:01 AM
    Error in Calendar
    Synchronization error.

  • sp1der

    Also I have problem…
    I have deleted an event on outlook, but live calendar isn’t sync.

    Time: 23/07/2008 21.03.22
    Error in Calendar
    Synchronization error.
    Unable to synchronize item : test – 20.54
    Look for a log in the Sync Issues folder.

  • jamiet

    Damnit. It doesn’t do the ONE thing that I want it to do. i.e. Show my Exchange calendar at http://calendar.live.com

    Shame. Wake me up for the next one.

  • yertthedestroyer

    I hate to be negitive, but since they have an outlook variant, when do we get:
    Windows Live Calendar client app (SaaS rocks)
    Thunderbird extension providing same functionality (or at least open protocols allowing it)

  • JMisczak

    I doubt we’ll see a Windows Live Calendar client application, but rather its inclusion in the Windows Live Mail.

    That being said, where is the calendar functionality in Windows Live Mail?

  • mrmckeb

    Delete your old account, restart Outlook and it works.

  • mrmckeb

    Ok, well it worked for a moment… I only have the one account and it doesn’t seem to like to synchronise the calendar when it’s the primary/only calendar.

  • nnbe

    Hi guys. It works well with my FREE live mail account. I live in Vietnam.

  • Alimaggs

    Another issue:

    I have a Windows Live ID which I set up using ‘passport.net’ using my own domain. I don’t use Hotmail, I use my current ISP, but I do use Windows Live Calendar just fine.

    Do I have to use Hotmail to be able to sync my calendars? I can’t think of a technical reason why this would be the case… I use Spaces (alimaggs.spaces.live.com) just fine, and I use Windows Live Messenger and Windows Live Calendar… I’m just wondering if anybody else is in the same situation – using a WL ID but with a different email provider??

  • jamiet

    Alimaggs,
    You don’t require hotmail as far as I know.

    I used to be in your situation but then I used admin center (admincenter.live.com) to switch my mail from being managed by my crappy ISP to being managed by Hotmail. With that I get all the goodness of deltasync2.0 in WL Mail as well. Plus I got Liev Alerts when i get new mail etc…
    The point being I get all the goodness of a .hotmail, .live or .msn account without actually having one.

    -Jamie

  • the andyman

    @JMisczak, the calendar funtion in Windows Live Mail should be in the next version (released as part of the wave 3 suite)

    As for a timescale:
    “Microsoft recently completed its internal “Milestone 1″ release of its next wave of Windows Live services, according to Brian Hall, General Manager of Windows Live. Microsoft is planning to make the first test bits of software and services for the PC, Web and phone that are part of “Windows Live Wave 3″ available to folks outside the company as part of a private beta later this summer, he said.” Source: http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1494

  • foaf

    I”ve been waiting for this for so long, and am so happy it’s here. But I’m in a corp evironment, so is there anyway to sync the calendar but not the hotmail?

    Personal emails on corp PC = not good!

  • zeke009

    How can I sync my local calendar over the top of my Hotmail calendar? Am I missing an option to do this?

    Being able to view them side by side is nice, but I don’t look see myself dragging and dropping events between calendars.

    Remember the old MSN Intellisync tool and how that used to sync Calendars? That is what I’m looking to accomplish.

  • foaf

    zeke, I was just about to post the same question. I can’t see the option to actually ‘sync’ a calendar.

  • bigkahuna

    As suggested above, I removed the live mail account and re-created. this got rid of the calendar connection errors – i already some sync taking action (up-stream into calendar.live.com)

  • BV2312

    Has anyone noticed if they have got the default holiday calendar on WL Calendar for their location? I had my location set to US and then when i changed it to UK, the local holiday did not come up and has not come up on my other accounts….

  • DavidK

    I notice that there is no task or note functionality with Windows Live Calendar, so I’m assuming that there will be no sync function for these either. A shame.

  • sp1der

    Hi all,
    calendar sync work very well! :-)
    But I hoped to be able to synchronize also tasks and notes! :-(
    Also, when I can synchronize the timing of Windows Live Mobile with the timetable Calendar Live? I need it absolutely …

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