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Windows Live Messenger for TV

Posted at 21:07 on Jan 3rd 2007 by Gerard :: Discuss

Microsoft has silently announced its plans to support Windows Live Messenger 8.1 within Vista Media Center.

Previously known as Project Nero, the project (Windows Live for TV) codenamed Orbit will be in limited beta test to US participants shortly.

The main features will be:

Browse millions of Spaces in rich 3D graphics with new Gallery views and full keyword search
Find out what your friends have been doing and saying on Windows Live Spaces
Have real-time text and voice conversations
Call your friends' mobile or landline telephones by signing up with Verizon Web Calling to make affordable domestic and international calls
Easily navigate with your mouse, keyboard or a TV remote (remote navigation requires Microsoft Media Center Remote and IR)
Make free PC-to-PC calls to other Windows Live Messenger users.

"Windows Live for TV is an early beta 3D browser application that makes it easy to connect to your social network as well as friends and family from within Vista Media Center or IE7.0. You're be able to view the best of Windows Live Spaces and communicate with Friends and Family over Windows Live Messenger 8.1 with voice & text chat as well as make a phone call.

Media Center has brought the PC to heart of the home, adding Windows Live services to Media Center will make it easier to stay in touch with your social network. Our goal in creating Orbit is to bring social networking to a new form factor that is both intuitive and fun to use. We built the application in Windows Presentation Framework (.NET 3.0) and it will run within Vista Media Center or directly in Vista hosted IE7.0 browser."

LINK: In Orbit (Orbit Team Blog)