Windows Live Video Messages
Encyclopedia
Windows Live Video Messages was a Windows Live
service by Microsoft
. It combined digital video
with e-mail
into a service that allows all webcam
users to create, send, and receive video messages to anyone in their Windows Live Contacts
list, even when they are offline. The service also provided a Windows Sidebar gadget for Microsoft LifeCam users that allows them to access their top six contacts and essential Video Messages features directly from their desktop.
Windows Live Video Messages was discontinued on July 21, 2010. The functionalities of Windows Live Video Messages was replaced by the Windows Live Messenger
Wave 4 release.
Wave 4 release.
to stream videos uploaded to and stored on the website by other users. Users are given 4GB of storage space for their video messages and each video message can be up to two minutes.
Users are required to have a Windows Live ID
to record, send, manage, or view multiple video messages. However, the viewing of a single video does not require sign in to Windows Live ID. Users who have signed in to their Windows Live ID account are able to access and view their Windows Live Contacts
and directly send video messages to up to 7 recipients. Users are able to control who gets to see their videos by locking or unlocking the messages they had sent. Only unlocked messages can be forwarded or saved by recipients of their video messages. Users are also able to reply to and forward their received video messages, similar to how e-mail
functions. The service also supports users to save their video messages directly onto their computer.
If the user is using a Microsoft LifeCam and Windows Vista
, they may also use the Microsoft LifeCam Video Messages Sidebar gadget to record, send, forward, and watch video messages directly from their desktop.
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...
service by Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
. It combined digital video
Digital video
Digital video is a type of digital recording system that works by using a digital rather than an analog video signal.The terms camera, video camera, and camcorder are used interchangeably in this article.- History :...
with e-mail
E-mail
Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
into a service that allows all webcam
Webcam
A webcam is a video camera that feeds its images in real time to a computer or computer network, often via USB, ethernet, or Wi-Fi.Their most popular use is the establishment of video links, permitting computers to act as videophones or videoconference stations. This common use as a video camera...
users to create, send, and receive video messages to anyone in their Windows Live 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, even when they are offline. The service also provided a Windows Sidebar gadget for Microsoft LifeCam users that allows them to access their top six contacts and essential Video Messages features directly from their desktop.
Windows Live Video Messages was discontinued on July 21, 2010. The functionalities of Windows Live Video Messages was replaced by 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...
Wave 4 release.
History
Windows Live Video Messages was officially released to public on September 9, 2008. On April 28, 2009, Windows Live Video Messages was updated featuring the new Windows Live "Wave 3" theme and various minor updates and bug fixes. On May 22, 2010, Microsoft announced that Windows Live Video Messages would be discontinued on July 21, 2010. The functionalities of Windows Live Video Messages was replaced by the Windows Live MessengerWindows 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...
Wave 4 release.
Features
With Windows Live Video Messages, recipients don't have to download video files onto their computer and play them locally. The service utilizes Microsoft Silverlight 2.0Microsoft 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...
to stream videos uploaded to and stored on the website by other users. Users are given 4GB of storage space for their video messages and each video message can be up to two minutes.
Users are required to have a 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 record, send, manage, or view multiple video messages. However, the viewing of a single video does not require sign in to Windows Live ID. Users who have signed in to their Windows Live ID account are able to access and view their Windows Live 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 directly send video messages to up to 7 recipients. Users are able to control who gets to see their videos by locking or unlocking the messages they had sent. Only unlocked messages can be forwarded or saved by recipients of their video messages. Users are also able to reply to and forward their received video messages, similar to how e-mail
E-mail
Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
functions. The service also supports users to save their video messages directly onto their computer.
If the user is using a Microsoft LifeCam and Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
, they may also use the Microsoft LifeCam Video Messages Sidebar gadget to record, send, forward, and watch video messages directly from their desktop.
See also
- MSN SoapboxMSN SoapboxSoapbox on MSN Video was a service from Microsoft via its MSN portal. It is similar to YouTube in that it is an internet video-sharing service. As of December 17, 2006, it was an invitation-only beta. In February 2007 it entered public beta. In order to be able to upload content, users are...
- Windows LiveWindows LiveWindows 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...
- Windows Live MessengerWindows Live MessengerWindows 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...
- Windows Live Silverlight Streaming