E-mail, photo programs stripped from Windows 7

[nekrosoft13]

Microsoft has decided that Windows 7 won't include built-in programs for e-mail, photo editing, and movie making, as was done with Windows Vista, CNET News.com has learned.

The software maker included Windows Photo Gallery, Windows Mail, and Windows Movie Maker as part of Vista, but later chose to offer separate downloadable Windows Live programs that essentially replaced those components with versions that could connect to online services from Microsoft and others.

Microsoft told CNET News late Monday that it has decided to remove those features entirely from Windows 7 and instead offer only the service-connected Windows Live versions as optional free downloads. Earlier on Monday, Microsoft had declined to say how it was handling things.

In a follow-up interview on Monday, Windows Live general manager Brian Hall said Microsoft made the decision to remove the tools from Windows for several reasons, including a desire to issue new operating system releases more quickly than it has in the past. The move also removes the confusion of offering and supporting two different programs that perform essentially similar functions.

"It makes it much cleaner," Hall said.

Lastly, he said, making the Windows Live tools completely separate from the operating system paves the way for Microsoft to work selectively with specific partners.

"We can do things with specific partners to enable really great experiences that might be hard in Windows," Hall said.

Antitrust rules make it hard for Microsoft to tie operating system features to specific services.

Microsoft last week rolled out the latest "Wave 3" releases of its Windows Live programs, adding Windows Live Movie Maker to the mix of programs, which includes Windows Live Photo Gallery and Windows Live Mail as well as blogging tool Windows Live Writer and instant messaging program Windows Live Messenger. While Windows XP and earlier releases had an instant messaging program built in, Microsoft took out that feature in Windows Vista.

Hall said it was too soon to say if the "Wave 4" release would precede Windows 7 or be coincident to it. Microsoft has said it will have Windows 7 on the market by January 2010, while CEO Steve Ballmer has said he is pushing for a release next year.

"We'll do Wave 3 and then we'll figure it out," Hall said.

It remains to be seen just how Microsoft will distribute the Windows Live programs in conjunction with Windows 7-based PCs. Presumably the company could strike deals with computer makers or retailers to include the software, or links to download it.


http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10048142-56.html

[DRen72]

As long as the extra stuff is truly a free download and well supported, then I don't really mind that.

[npras42]

Originally Posted by -=Gib-McFragger=-

Now if only they would make Internet Sucksplorer OPTIONAL, that would make my day.

Then what would you use to download Firefox, Chrome or Opera?

Windows Mail was one of the few things I liked about Vista. Made it more of a consumer O/S, having the option to have that.

[nekrosoft13]

Originally Posted by npras42

Then what would you use to download Firefox, Chrome or Opera?

i was about to say the same

[bacon12]

Originally Posted by nekrosoft13

i was about to say the same

They could include a command line browser like Lynx.

A text only browser would be very secure.

[Sazar]

Originally Posted by bacon12

They could include a command line browser like Lynx.

A text only browser would be very secure.

Sure would make life rosy for about 90% of all users.

/sarcasm

[Shamrock]

Originally Posted by -=Gib-McFragger=-

Now if only they would make Internet Sucksplorer OPTIONAL, that would make my day.

I will go further and say they need to ditch the IE, Windows Media player, Disk Defragmenter, Paint, Sound recorder, Wordpad, Windows Messenger, Firewall, etc.

[nekrosoft13]

maybe ditch the explorer.exe as well?

[Badboy_12345]

you can download and install them for free anyway..

Dont see a problem.

I never use windows inbuilt mail anyway. Always use Office outlook

[glObalist]

Originally Posted by npras42

Then what would you use to download Firefox, Chrome or Opera?

Keep 'em on a USB stick and install from there. Or use eplorer.exe for the download.

[Wolfhound]

Originally Posted by nekrosoft13

maybe ditch the explorer.exe as well?

I was thinking this, and no wallpaper too, and only kernel and a command prompt you can download via command line the desktop and all this features.... uuhhh wait that´s linux no?... seriously I don´t mind if Microsoft include all the features they want but I´ll be more happier if you can "hide" or uninstall or select on install what features you need or want, but this will make instalations more painful for non techie people and for deploying windows on corporate enviroment. For me making some features out of windows 7 and make them downloable for free is a good step, you can choose what windows Live components you need or use and ditch the ones you don´t use.