There is only one thing at which Microsoft certainly beats Google and that is design and looks. Google has the tendency to use the most minimum amount of graphical attractions and keeps it services white and clean whereas Microsoft understands the psychology of users in a much better way and provides them with services that are useful as well as highly visually appealing. Especially since the launch of Windows Live Trends everyone has seen how Microsoft has beaten the hell out of Yahoo and Google when it comes to looks and graphics of their web page.
Windows Live Personalized Homepage To Get a Face Lift
LiveSide is reporting that a new Windows Live Homepage Design is said to replace the current Windows Live Personalized Homepage as revealed by Tetuya Onoda (Windows Live Director) at a briefing given to the Japanese Press. The new Windows Live interface (which you can see in the picture above) is said to act as a portal that will integrate all Windows Live services featuring modules that will allow you to monitor and even access different Windows Live Services.
New Windows Live Personalized Page Features
Here are some of the features of the new Windows Live Interface as discussed by LiveSide
- Providing access to your emails and contacts through Windows Live Hotmail
- Showing the upcoming calendar items from your Windows Live Calendar
- Allowing blog and photo publishing direct to your Windows Live Space
- Showing the status of Windows Live OneCare installed on your home pc
Ok now thats really something isn’t it?
The press briefing also mentioned about a feature that will enable users to use a single sign-on for Windows Live ID and be able to use all Windows Live Services at once. Here is a good flowchart that shows it all
Do you think Microsoft will win the heart of its users using strategies that focus on design rather on quality of services? or do you think Microsoft is far behind Google and needs to do a lot to catch up?
Update: Microsoft has actually updated the Windows Live Home with some new features. The Windows Live Suite integration is still pending but definitely the new looks are worth seeing. Here you go with a screenshot
I like Googles simple design over Microsofts bloated one. But I am not your average web surfer, so possibly the design will appeal overall to others.
I HATE Google’s boring simple design and the whole of thier services (especially GMail) look UGLY.
Whereas I absolutely love the Windows Live Services - especially this new Live.com homepage which will be coming and the other Windows Live Wave 2 products and services.
I do not think Windows Live has to catch up with Google anymore, becuase what does Google now have which Windows Live doesn’t??
I do however think Windows Live Spaces needs to catch-up with MySpace and Facebook and then I will start using Spaces.
I abosolutely love everything about this new Live.com interface and hope it is consistent with the other Wave 2 interfaces (especially Hotmail and Favorites) when it is released.
Now this is why I always say “Long Live LIVE!” BillGates always said his success is because of GUI stuff and that is why Windows are so successful, it will work same with new Live homepage. As to competition with Google, this will shake iGoogle after this new Live homepage is launched!
This will certainly give Google a huge shock as I assume more people would switch to Live Personalized Homepage because of the cool GUI and new features integration.
Just keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best to come soon
I have been a great fan of Live products, but Google although has less looks, I still feel that it has better features especially the google apps with custom domain.