Kolz Blog

If you haven’t tried Windows Live Hotmail, I suggest making the update, especially if you’re already using Hotmail. I’ve been using Hotmail for more than 6 years and really enjoy the new capabilities in the latest version, some of which include:

• Using 2GB of storage
• Listening to songs and voice mail messages using a built-in audio player. You can listen to MP3 and WAV files.
• Detecting when a contact is online. A Windows Live Messenger window will pop up when you choose to chat.
• Using an inline spelling checker, which underlines misspelled words and connects to a dictionary and thesaurus, just like in Microsoft Office Word.
• Avoiding potentially dangerous messages. The security bar on top of incoming messages turns yellow or red according to the potential danger. Hotmail won't block senders from your contact list, but most messages won't show pictures or links until you allow them. I've found it to be a pretty straightforward buffer zone against phishing and other scams.

You can learn about other the Hotmail features at the Windows Live Hotmail site. What I want to tell you about is the Microsoft Office Outlook Connector Beta, which is now available to download. With it, you can use Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 or Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 to access and manage your Windows Live Hotmail accounts, including e-mail messages and contacts. I’ve used it a couple of days, and I’ve found it much easier to get mail from multiple accounts in one place. So why is the Outlook Connector useful? The Outlook Connector gives you a better experience than Hotmail, at least in my opinion. It shows your folder structure, keeps track of read and unread messages, and shows you your contacts (and calendar for paid users). I use Outlook at work, so I'm much more comfortable with the user experience. If you’re already using Outlook, particularly with multiple e-mail accounts, the Outlook Connector is a great way to manage your accounts together with powerful tools. --Jason Kozleski