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Windows Live Web 2.0 facelift is go

Microsoft's flabby skin still on display though

Microsoft climbed on board the wobbly social networking bandwagon yesterday when it began rolling out changes to it Windows Live services worldwide.

The company said last month it would give Windows Live a Web 2.0-stylie makeover, essentially in an effort to be down-wid-the-kidz in the Google online world.

Or, as the software giant preferred to put it, its cumbersome web-based offerings - including Hotmail and Spaces - will be “in sync” with customers’ digital lives.

The new-look Windows Live is being rolled out globally over the next 24 hours or so, Microsoft said. That's a bold move given that just last month it said customers outside of the US would have to wait until early next year to see the changes to its online services.

Microsoft has added themes to Windows Live as well as upping its free online storage in SkyDrive to 25GB and a new feature that allows users to import contacts directly from Facebook to Windows Live.

It’s also added a common header across all the Windows Live properties to offer more “consistency” to its users. Many have previously grumbled about the clumsy interface.

Just last month Microsoft was bitchslapped by hordes of Hotmail fans after overhauling that service. Thousands complained that they couldn’t view their inboxes or had lost their sent items since Microsoft revamped its free email service.

As for the El Reg verdict, sadly the new site still looks pretty clunky and uninviting to us. And as for being able to view all of the services on the homepage, it’s not exactly going to plan at the moment.

It seems the email service currently has an error. A message reads: “Sorry, we’re having trouble displaying your messages right now. Try going to your inbox instead.” ®

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