I’m always on the lookout for the latest web trends, so I keep an eye on CNET’s Webware, a tech site about “cool web apps for everyone.” They review fun and innovative web tools, and forecast the latest online trends.
So I was pleased to see that for the third year in a row, several Windows Live products have been nominated for their annual Webware 100 Awards.
If you aren’t familiar with these awards, each year, Webware readers nominate outstanding products in ten categories of Web 2.0 services. The Webware editors then select the 300 finalists, and invite readers to vote on the final picks.
This year, five Windows Live products have been nominated, among a total of 13 Microsoft products. In the Communication category, they’ve nominated Windows Live Messenger and Windows Live Hotmail. In the the growing category of Infrastructure and Storage, Windows Live Sync, Live Mesh (Beta), and Windows Live SkyDrive have all been nominated. Several great Live Search and Microsoft Office Live services were also nominated, along with Internet Explorer 8 and Microsoft Silverlight.
And this is where you come in. Vote for us!
If you love chatting with your friends in Messenger, or depend on Hotmail to stay in touch, vote for us in the Communication category. If you can no longer live without all of the remote access, sharing, and synchronization features of Windows Live Sync or Live Mesh (Beta), or your 25 GB of free online storage on SkyDrive, then vote for us in the Infrastructure & Storage category.
Here are all of this year’s Microsoft nominees:
Communication (Vote!)
- Windows Live Messenger, chat, play games, or swap photos with friends.
- Windows Live Hotmail, fast, easy, reliable e-mail, with storage that grows as you use it.
Infrastructure & Storage (Vote!)
- Windows Live SkyDrive, with 25GB of free online file storage and sharing.
- Windows Live Sync, peer-to-peer file synching and sharing, plus remote access to multiple computers.
- Live Mesh (Beta) ties together your network of devices, synchronized folders, and cloud storage.
- Microsoft Silverlight helps developers “light up the web” with richly interactive web applications that work across platforms and browsers.
Search & Reference (Vote!)
- Live Search gives you fast, relevant results… plus gorgeous photos on the Search page.
Browsing (Vote!)
- Internet Explorer 8, faster, easier, safer browsing—and have you tried the new Accelerators that provide instant driving directions, translations, and more?
Location-based Services (Vote!)
- Live Search 411, a free directory assistance number (1-800-CALL-411) that can also send maps, movie listings and more right to your phone.
- Live Search Maps, if you haven’t tried their bird’s eye view yet, prepare to be wowed.
Commerce (Vote!)
- Live Search Farecast (Beta) helps you find the best airfare deals by predicting when prices are likely to rise or fall for your destination.
Productivity (Vote!)
- Microsoft Office Live Workspace (Beta) is your online place to save, access, and share documents and files.
- Microsoft Office Live Small Business helps your small business get off the ground with free website hosting, e-mail addresses, online document storage, and more.
You can also check out last year’s winners, (Windows Live Home, Hotmail, Messenger, and Live Search were all winners), and the 2007 Webware 100 (Hotmail, Messenger, Live Search, and Microsoft Virtual Earth took home prizes).
Be sure to vote in all categories, and soon, because voting will end on April 30, 2009, at noon Pacific Time.
- Antonia
Windows Live team
