What Is Windows Live Toolbar Beta?
A part of the full suite of applications provided by Windows Live, Windows Live Toolbar is a simple search engine embedded into Internet Explorer. The toolbar lists a set of recommendations to users as they type into the search box. Bookmarks and favorites are also listed in the toolbar, helping to stream Windows Live experiences across multiple platforms. At the time of writing (June 2010), the toolbar is still in its beta, or testing, phase, but is available for the public (users are encouraged to give feedback on their experiences with the toolbar).
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Features
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The Windows Live Toolbar incorporates features from Windows Live, and Microsoft's new Bing search engine. Visually, the toolbar is aesthetically pleasing, with many animation features and effects that pop out as a user enters text, suggesting search options or alternatives. The toolbar displays breaking news, as well as the current weather. The toolbar is customizable to allow feeds from any of your favorite websites as well.
Benefits
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The Windows Live Toolbar can be installed in multiple browsers, including Firefox, Internet Explorer and Opera. When using the toolbar, you can access content windows, which enable any user to view MSN web pages without leaving your current web page. Users of the toolbar also have the ability to customize the theme of the bar, as well as change its color.
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Function
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Windows Live Toolbar functions alongside Microsoft's other Windows Live applications and the new Bing search engine. Windows Hotmail is compatible alongside the Toolbar. When signed on to your email, the Windows Live Toolbar will receive instant notification of any emails you may have received during your web browsing period. You can also send instant messages to any of your Windows Live contacts via the toolbar.
History
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Windows Live was first introduced in 2005 by Microsoft. The majority of these programs are web-based applications, accessible by using a web browser. Initially, the main means of using search via Windows Live was done by using an application called MSN Search. Two years later, Microsoft decided to identify its search function alongside its line of Windows Live applications. As a result, MSN Search became Windows Live Toolbar.
Significance
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Windows Live Toolbar has allowed Microsoft to encourage usage of the other Windows Live applications. As a result, the web browsing experience is streamlined, and many of the activities that would require many different windows and instances of web browsers can be done in one browser. Windows Live Toolbar has since been renamed the Bing Bar, yet the experience remains the same.
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References
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