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Hotmail Calendar gets Wave 5 M2 upgrade, other Windows Live web services to follow soon?

Oct 31, 2011 6:03 am by damaster | 10 comments

While browsing Hotmail Calendar today, something caught our sharp eyes as we noticed some very subtle changes to the Windows Live header. But having seen this before in internal Windows Live testing sites, we immediately realised that the service had recently underwent an upgrade to Wave 5 M2 version (Build 16.2.2907.1020), up from the previous Wave 5 M0 version (Build 16.0.XXXX) we noticed back in June. To see the difference, here’s a comparison of the Wave 5 M0 and M2 headers:

But the important thing here is not about the header change, but more about what this signifies. Based on our experience with previous Windows Live updates, we noticed that before any major upgrade begins across the Windows Live web properties, it usually starts with Hotmail Calendar. Back in June, we first noticed the new Wave 5 M0 header change in Hotmail Calendar on June 7, and only a week later major updates to both Hotmail and SkyDrive began rolling out on June 16 and June 20 respectively. The same held true back in September last year for the Wave 4 web services refresh. This time, we believe it is no coincidence that we’re seeing the new Wave 5 M2 header change to Hotmail Calendar first as a precursor to roll outs of the new Hotmail and SkyDrive too. In fact, we have heard reports from LiveSide readers that the new Hotmail has already started rolling out to selected few accounts, with a bigger rollout scheduled in the “coming weeks”.

To give you a recap of what’s coming next in the Windows Live world, the Wave 5 M2 update is expected to bring us the following new features and improvements:

Please note that the list of new features above is not exhaustive, as there are certainly new upcoming features that we do not yet know about. But at the same time we cannot guarantee that they will all come as part of the upcoming update, or if they’re coming this year at all. Either way, it is good to see that Microsoft is finally moving away from the large “wave” updates that happens every one-and-a-half years and moving towards a tighter update schedule that brings “a little bit of innovation” every few months. Make sure you stay tuned at LiveSide as we bring you the latest news on Windows Live!

This entry was posted in News and tagged Calendar, Hotmail, UI, Wave 5, Windows Live. Bookmark the permalink.

http://doctorwhofan98.wordpress.com/ doctorwhofan98
I was hoping for some new calendar features. :-( But it’s a start. I can’t wait for the Hotmail updates to reach my account, and I’m excited about then new SkyDrive features.
I’m probably the only one who thinks this, but I hope a Metro interface isn’t brought to Hotmail. Metro is made for touch, and when people want to use touch they should use the Mail app in Windows 8. Hotmail has the best interface out there in email, and has done since they launched Wave 4. I hope they won’t change it, just add great new features.
- http://twitter.com/harlemS Travis Pope
  I cant see myself wanting a metro styled hotmail either. I’m not really excited for the new Hotmail stuff, but we need these new SkyDrive features… I’ve been dying to clean up my SkyDrive for weeks and doing so with the current version is a right pain in the…
- john
  Metro is not necessarily for touch. Look at the Microsoft website, its technically metro, but very obviously designed for a mouse.
  The point being, that the current Hotmail is ugly. It does not look at all like the metro style Windows 8 is going for. Something needs to change because inconsistency is ugly, just ask Google.
E Greisman
But what about essentials?
Guest
What about Live Profiles, any changes/upgrades/improvements there or is it considered a dead project? I still believe it can be great and has lots of potential but they don’t seem to care.
- http://cid-280a1538334a1cb9.profile.live.com/ Seika
  There hasn’t been any update to it for long time, not even those web activities partners (actually the number dwindled and some services never updates anymore).
  The big problem with Live Profile, especially the web activities, IMO, is that they require friends to actively fill in the informations. Why would they bother, especially when they are already in the comfort zone of Facebook. Asking them to switch is difficult especially for non-influencer, and without the activity stream, the whole service is nearly useless.
  They should allow the enthusiasts to fill in the blanks and help ease the adoption for their friends. Or maybe even build it into the best social media client (instead of service) then play the embrace and extend strategy from there.
  - Eric
    I agree, imo Live Profiles still has lots of potential..
    If they redesign it a bit and add a few small but useful features to make it more user-friendly, take advantage of Skype (contacts/friends/profiles/emails, etc, etc – but allow it to exist both as integrated and as a standalone), SkyDrive’s 25gb, Photo Gallery, windows phones, hotmail,add “tasks” to the calendar,even add some -certain- features in the “favorite things” section to actually make people want to check it out,�
    they could create an ecosystem much bigger than iCloud..
Anonymous
Can’t waid for it to roll out. :-)
http://doctorwhofan98.wordpress.com/ doctorwhofan98
I don’t know if anyone has noticed, but Windows Live Account has been upgraded to Wave 5 M2, along with the new header.
The new SkyDrive might be coming as soon as next week, it seems…
- Guest
  i ‘m still on w5m0…