Live Services
Encyclopedia
Live Connect is a collection of APIs and common controls that allow developers to have a deeper control and offers access to the core Windows Live
services and data through open and easily accessible application programming interfaces (APIs)
. At MIX07, Microsoft's Senior Architect Danny Thrope described:
Live Connect is built on standard web technologies such as OAuth 2.0
, Representational State Transfer (REST)
, and JavaScript Object Notation (JSON)
, and is designed to work with any technology or device including ASP.NET
, Microsoft Silverlight
(in-browser and out-of-browser models), Windows Presentation Foundation
(WPF), Adobe Flash
, PHP
, and Java.
Live Connect was released on June 24, 2010 as part of Windows Live's "Wave 4" release (known then as Messenger Connect), and unites previously separate APIs of Windows Live (Windows Live ID, Windows Live Contacts, Windows Live Messenger Web Toolkit, and others) into a single API that is based on industry standards and specifications. On September 13, 2011, Messenger Connect was renamed to Live Connect and brings additional APIs for SkyDrive and Hotmail contacts
and calendars as well as adding XMPP support for the Messenger
service.
Metro-style apps. Developers may select from several different types of integration, each covering a variety of scenarios, including:
Live Connect include the following capabilities for websites, applications, and devices:
, Writer
, and Messenger
. These APIs are separate from Live Connect, and includes the following capabilities:
Windows Live
Windows Live is the collective brand name for a set of services and software products from Microsoft, part of their software plus services platform. A majority of these services are Web applications, accessible from a browser, but there are also client-side binary applications that require...
services and data through open and easily accessible application programming interfaces (APIs)
Application programming interface
An application programming interface is a source code based specification intended to be used as an interface by software components to communicate with each other...
. At MIX07, Microsoft's Senior Architect Danny Thrope described:
Live Connect is built on standard web technologies such as OAuth 2.0
OAuth
OAuth is an open standard for authorization. It allows users to share their private resources stored on one site with another site without having to hand out their credentials, typically username and password.OAuth allows users to hand out tokens instead of credentials to their data hosted by a...
, Representational State Transfer (REST)
Representational State Transfer
Representational state transfer is a style of software architecture for distributed hypermedia systems such as the World Wide Web. The term representational state transfer was introduced and defined in 2000 by Roy Fielding in his doctoral dissertation...
, and JavaScript Object Notation (JSON)
JSON
JSON , or JavaScript Object Notation, is a lightweight text-based open standard designed for human-readable data interchange. It is derived from the JavaScript scripting language for representing simple data structures and associative arrays, called objects...
, and is designed to work with any technology or device including ASP.NET
ASP.NET
ASP.NET is a Web application framework developed and marketed by Microsoft to allow programmers to build dynamic Web sites, Web applications and Web services. It was first released in January 2002 with version 1.0 of the .NET Framework, and is the successor to Microsoft's Active Server Pages ...
, Microsoft Silverlight
Microsoft Silverlight
Microsoft Silverlight is an application framework for writing and running rich Internet applications, with features and purposes similar to those of Adobe Flash. The run-time environment for Silverlight is available as a plug-in for web browsers running under Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X...
(in-browser and out-of-browser models), Windows Presentation Foundation
Windows Presentation Foundation
Developed by Microsoft, the Windows Presentation Foundation is a computer-software graphical subsystem for rendering user interfaces in Windows-based applications. WPF, previously known as "Avalon", was initially released as part of .NET Framework 3.0. Rather than relying on the older GDI...
(WPF), Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
, PHP
PHP
PHP is a general-purpose server-side scripting language originally designed for web development to produce dynamic web pages. For this purpose, PHP code is embedded into the HTML source document and interpreted by a web server with a PHP processor module, which generates the web page document...
, and Java.
Live Connect was released on June 24, 2010 as part of Windows Live's "Wave 4" release (known then as Messenger Connect), and unites previously separate APIs of Windows Live (Windows Live ID, Windows Live Contacts, Windows Live Messenger Web Toolkit, and others) into a single API that is based on industry standards and specifications. On September 13, 2011, Messenger Connect was renamed to Live Connect and brings additional APIs for SkyDrive and Hotmail contacts
Windows Live Contacts
Windows Live Contacts is part of Microsoft's Windows Live services. It integrates tightly with Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Mail and Windows Live Profile to provide users access to their contact's profiles and information...
and calendars as well as adding XMPP support for the Messenger
Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Xbox 360, Blackberry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x and Zune HD...
service.
Libraries, interfaces, and controls
Live Connect provides a variety of ways for developers to integrate their applications. Live Connect can be used on websites, in desktop applications, as well as Windows 8Windows 8
Windows 8 is the codename for the next version of the Microsoft Windows computer operating system following Windows 7. It has many changes from previous versions. In particular it adds support for ARM microprocessors in addition to the previously supported x86 microprocessors from Intel and AMD...
Metro-style apps. Developers may select from several different types of integration, each covering a variety of scenarios, including:
- OAuth 2.0
- Representational State Transfer (REST)
- JavaScript Object Notation (JSON)
Live Connect include the following capabilities for websites, applications, and devices:
| Service | Implementation | Description |
|---|---|---|
| SkyDrive | Photos | Allow users upload, view, share or print photos stored on their SkyDrive Windows Live SkyDrive Windows Live SkyDrive, initially called Windows Live Folders, is a free-of-charge file hosting service that allows users to upload files to a cloud storage and then access them from a Web browser... from within the developer's website, application, or device. |
| Documents | Allow users open, save, access, and share documents stored on their SkyDrive Windows Live SkyDrive Windows Live SkyDrive, initially called Windows Live Folders, is a free-of-charge file hosting service that allows users to upload files to a cloud storage and then access them from a Web browser... from within the developer's website, application, or device. |
|
| Hotmail | Calendar | Allow developers to access and save calendar appointments to the user's Hotmail Calendar and provide developers the ability to remind their users important events based on their existing Calendar events. |
| Contacts | Allow developers to access their user's Hotmail Contacts Windows Live Contacts Windows Live Contacts is part of Microsoft's Windows Live services. It integrates tightly with Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Mail and Windows Live Profile to provide users access to their contact's profiles and information... list, and allow these users to identify which of their contacts are already members of the developer's website or application. |
|
| Messenger | XMPP Interface | Provides APIs for developers to integrate the Windows Live Messenger Windows Live Messenger Windows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Xbox 360, Blackberry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x and Zune HD... instant messaging service on their website, application, or device via the XMPP protocol. |
| Status Update | Allow developers to update a user's status on Windows Live Messenger Windows Live Messenger Windows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Xbox 360, Blackberry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x and Zune HD... to let their friends know that they are currently using your website or application. |
|
| Sharing Badge | Allow developers to integrate a "sharing badge" on their website, allowing users to share the content on the developer's website or application via Windows Live Messenger Windows Live Messenger Windows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Xbox 360, Blackberry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x and Zune HD... . |
|
| ID | Authentication | A single sign-on solution which allow users to identify themselves by using their Windows Live ID Windows Live ID Windows Live ID is a single sign-on web service developed and provided by Microsoft that allows users to log in to many websites using one account... to authentication through to the developer's website or application. |
| Profile | Allow developer's website or application to access their user's Profile Windows Live Profile Windows Live Profile is the website for Windows Live users to manage their profile information. It is a profile feature which displays information about the particular user, their recent activities, and their relationship with other Windows Live users. The profile is associated with a user's... data such as name, birthday, work profile, and contact details. |
Windows Live Client Extensibility APIs
In addition, Microsoft also offers Windows Live Client Extensibility APIs for Windows Live Client softwares such as Windows Live Photo GalleryWindows Live Photo Gallery
Windows Live Photo Gallery is a photo management and photo sharing application released as a part of Microsoft's Windows Live initiative. It is an upgraded version of Windows Photo Gallery, which is a part of Windows Vista....
, Writer
Windows Live Writer
Windows Live Writer, developed by Microsoft, is a desktop blog-publishing application that is part of the Windows Live range of products. It features WYSIWYG authoring, photo-publishing and map-publishing functionality, and is currently compatible with Windows Live Spaces, SharePoint blogs,...
, and Messenger
Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Xbox 360, Blackberry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x and Zune HD...
. These APIs are separate from Live Connect, and includes the following capabilities:
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Messenger Activity SDK | Allows developers to build applications and games that take advantage of the multiuser communication functionality provided by Windows Live Messenger Windows Live Messenger Windows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Xbox 360, Blackberry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x and Zune HD... . These applications and games can be accessed via the "Activities" or "Games" menu within a Windows Live Messenger Windows Live Messenger Windows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Xbox 360, Blackberry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x and Zune HD... Conversation window. |
| Photo Gallery SDK | Includes the Publishing Plug-in Platform which enables the creation of photo and video publishing plug-ins for Windows Live Photo Gallery Windows Live Photo Gallery Windows Live Photo Gallery is a photo management and photo sharing application released as a part of Microsoft's Windows Live initiative. It is an upgraded version of Windows Photo Gallery, which is a part of Windows Vista.... , as well as Simple Extensibility Points which provide ways to extend, customize, and integrate with Windows Live Photo Gallery Windows Live Photo Gallery Windows Live Photo Gallery is a photo management and photo sharing application released as a part of Microsoft's Windows Live initiative. It is an upgraded version of Windows Photo Gallery, which is a part of Windows Vista.... . |
| Writer SDK | Includes the Application API that allow developers create applications that launches Windows Live Writer Windows Live Writer Windows Live Writer, developed by Microsoft, is a desktop blog-publishing application that is part of the Windows Live range of products. It features WYSIWYG authoring, photo-publishing and map-publishing functionality, and is currently compatible with Windows Live Spaces, SharePoint blogs,... to create new posts or "Blog This" items for links, snippets, images, and feed items, the Content Source Plugin API that help developers to extend the capabilities of Windows Live Writer Windows Live Writer Windows Live Writer, developed by Microsoft, is a desktop blog-publishing application that is part of the Windows Live range of products. It features WYSIWYG authoring, photo-publishing and map-publishing functionality, and is currently compatible with Windows Live Spaces, SharePoint blogs,... to insert, edit, and publish new types of content, and the Provider Customization API that allow developers to customize and add new capabilities to the Windows Live Writer Windows Live Writer Windows Live Writer, developed by Microsoft, is a desktop blog-publishing application that is part of the Windows Live range of products. It features WYSIWYG authoring, photo-publishing and map-publishing functionality, and is currently compatible with Windows Live Spaces, SharePoint blogs,... user interface. |
External links
- Live Connect
- Live Connect Interactive SDK
- Live Connect Documentation on MSDN
- Windows Live for Developer Blog - official team blog for Windows Live Messenger Connect
- Windows Live Plug-ins Developer Information