LiveSide - News blog : Live Mesh

Live Mesh for Snow Leopard: fixed, now works :)

Kip Kniskern — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:54:00 GMT

When Apple released its latest version of the Mac OS X operating system, dubbed Snow Leopard, last August, an unfortunate side effect was that Live Mesh for Mac no longer worked. After rewriting a lot of code, the Live Mesh team is reporting today that Live Mesh for Mac has been updated and is ready to work with OS X 10.6, Snow Leopard:

To upgrade to this new release, you will need to reinstall Live Mesh for Mac. To do so, please go to http://www.mesh.com, sign in with your Live ID, and download the Mac client software from the “Devices” page.

Version number

• Live Mesh Mac: 0.9.4501.0

Included in this update

• Mac – Repairs client use for OS X Snow Leopard (10.6)

Feedback

We appreciate your patience as we worked on this fix for you and thank you for using Live Mesh. We’re working hard to create the best experience and appreciate any comments you have. Please send your feedback on how Live Mesh can be improved, or send anonymous feedback in our forums here. Also, if you have a moment, please rate Live Mesh

The new version will work with Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard), too, but it’s not required. However users of the newest Live Mesh for Mac version should notice some performance, stability, and sync enhancements.

Live Mesh incompatible with Apple Snow Leopard 10.6

Kip Kniskern — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:40:00 GMT

Apple released Snow Leopard 10.6, the latest upgrade to its OS, last week, and the list of incompatible apps keeps growing. The latest is unfortunately Live Mesh. From the Live Mesh blog:

With the recent Apple announcement regarding the availability of Mac OS X Snow Leopard (10.6), we want Live Mesh Mac users to be aware the current Live Mesh Mac software is not compatible with the new OS X version (10.6). We will continue to support Mac OS X Leopard (10.5) users. We apologize in advance for the inconvenience.

Two new Windows Live services coming soon: Documents and Devices

damaster — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 12:34:58 GMT

Our friend Picturepan2 from LiveSino.net has discovered two new services coming soon to Windows Live Wave 4: Windows Live Documents and Windows Live Devices. Here’s a screenshot showing the two new services added to the header of an internal testing website:

(Documents and Devices had been added to the header. Also notice that Events has been removed.)

It’s not hard to guess what Windows Live Documents will offer, considering that Office Live joined the Windows Live team at the beginning of this year. However, what will Windows Live Devices offer? Fortunately we were able to dig further and gained a preview of the homepage for Windows Live Devices, currently undergoing internal testing:

While were weren’t able to add any “devices” to Windows Live, it appears that Windows Live Devices will come coupled with a downloadable counterpart – an updated Windows Live Sync that is much more similar to Live Mesh’s functionalities, that will also become part of Windows Live Essentials. Like Office Live, the Live Mesh team also recently joined the Windows Live group at the start of this year. Recall what Stephen Rose (Windows Sr. Community Manager) mentioned a few weeks ago telling us to “watch for more seamless integration between your desktops and mobile devices.” Could this be it? Or are there more coming?

It seems like Windows Live Wave 4 is well underway, and the consolidation of Office Live and Live Mesh with Windows Live could only make it better. So stay tuned at LiveSide as we bring you more from Windows Live Wave 4!

Update: Looks like SkyDrive will form the “Live Desktop” component for Windows Live Devices. Also, the mention of “digital photo frames” in the screenshot above suggests that we’ll see some integration with FrameIt?

Live Mesh: Version Update For Windows (June 25, 2009)

Sunshine — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:53:44 GMT

Over on the Live Mesh Team Blog the following just got announced:

Live Mesh for Windows 9.4014.7 has been released. It will automatically update. No action is required on your part. See the following sections for details, and thanks for using Live Mesh.

Version number

· Live Mesh Desktop: 0.9.4014.7
· Live Mesh PC (x86 and AMD64): 0.9.4014.7

Included in this update

· PC – Fixes for display problems in the Resolve Conflicts dialog box on computers running Windows 7
· PC – Improved performance in memory handling
· Layout and link changes on www.mesh.com
· Server-side fixes for improved performance and stability

I’ve checked by checking for updates from the Live Mesh client but so far no update here…but maybe I’m just too hasty :P

Anyways, if you want to leave feedback for the Live Mesh team you can do so on Microsoft Connect or, anonymously, here. If you have some time the team would appreciate it if you take a few minutes to rate Live Mesh.

Live Mesh updates; inches toward v1.0

Kip Kniskern — Tue, 12 May 2009 03:42:41 GMT

Another week, another incremental Live Mesh update, this time all the way from 0.9.3424.31 to 0.9.4014.4. According to a blog post on the Live Mesh blog, the changes deal mostly with web browser issues:

Fixes

· Updated date/time stamp UI for news events

· Added news events for permission level changes to folders

· Fixed UI for folder permissions in Firefox 3.0, IE8, and Safari

· Fixed general IE8 compatibility issues

· Improved performance and functionality for large file uploads

If you have Live Mesh set to accept automatic updates, you won’t have to do anything. You can check by right clicking the Live Mesh icon, and then Options. If you prefer not to have Live Mesh update automatically, you can still get the update by clicking on “Check for Updates” in the same right click menu.

Live Mesh updated for Mobile, Mac, Live Desktop

Kip Kniskern — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:41:47 GMT

A new service update is now available for Live Mesh Mac, Mobile, and Live Mesh Desktop has been updated as well, according to a post on the Live Mesh team blog.

The release “continues to tune performance” and has added a few features and fixes:

Features

The last location used in the folder synchronization dialog is now saved.

Live Mesh News will displays the date and time for all news events.

Fixes

Improved the update experience

Device status (online/offline) now properly displayed on the Live Desktop

News now correctly displays the year.

Version numbering has been consolidated on Mac, Mobile, and Desktop, they all are at 0.9.4104.3. If you’re on the Mobile beta, you will be presented with a pop-up, just click the button and Live Mesh will update (this may take a bit as the update is rolled out over time – I just tried on my phone and am still on 0.9.3424.9)

The blog post also promises an update to the Windows client software “coming in the next few weeks”.

Live Mesh version update: bug fixes, new features

Kip Kniskern — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:14:20 GMT

If you have Live Mesh for Windows installed, today you should be receiving a version update, to 0.9.3432.31, according to a post on the Live Mesh forums. Included in the update are both bug fixes (including optimized MOE CPU/memory use) and some new features:

Added option to hide the Live Mesh folder shortcuts on your desktop.

Live Mesh now remembers the last location used in the folder synchronization dialog.

Live Mesh News will now display the date (as well as time) for all news items, even older ones.

Curtain mode now properly supports multiple-monitor computers running Windows Vista

The update has already been pushed here, so depending on your settings you should either be prompted or have the update automatically install.

Does Live Mesh crash your Mac? Here’s the fix

Kip Kniskern — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 16:37:02 GMT

Last week’s Live Mesh Service Update fixed a number of problems, including one that crashed Macs shortly after startup (ooh, hate that!). If you haven’t had the issue with your Mac, well it’s fixed now so you won’t have to bother with it. If however you were experiencing the problem, there are a couple of steps you need to take to get back in good order, according to a post on the Live Mesh forums:

Our recent Live Mesh for Mac update addressed a few issues that caused the Live Mesh for Mac software to shut down shortly after launching. If you have not encountered these problems, the new release will prevent it from occurring. If, however, you’ve experienced this problem, you will need to make sure you have the updated software installed (version number 0.9.3821.962 or later) and complete the steps below to fully resolve the issue:

Make sure that Live Mesh is not running on your Mac.

Run the “CleanKeychain” tool. To do this, right-click the Live Mesh application, click Show Package Contents, open the Contents folder, then the Resources folder, and then double-click CleanKeychain.

Open Finder and navigate to your Home folder. Open the Library Folder and then the Application Support folder. From the Application Support folder, move the “Live Mesh” folder to the Trash.

Remove your Mac from your mesh. To do this, go to www.mesh.com and sign in. On the Devices page, select your Mac, then in the Options drop-down menu, click Remove device from Live Mesh.

Run the new Live Mesh for Mac software on your Mac. Please note that you will have to sign in and add your Mac as a new device.

Sync folders again with your Mac.

Operators are standing by over at the Live Mesh Forums, so if you have questions or problems, you can post them there.

Live Mesh: Service Update (March 4, 2009), Mac And Live Desktop

Sunshine — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:15:11 GMT

The Live Mesh Team is releasing another Live Mesh update for Mac. Besides this update the Live Desktop will also be updated (at the time of writing this has not yet been updated). This release contains bug fixes as well as new features:

Features

New Media Viewer on the Live Desktop.

Live Mesh News will now display the date (as well as time) for all news items, even older ones.

Fixes

Improved the Live Desktop quota calculation.

Optimized MOE CPU/memory use.

Fixed Mac client startup errors that caused client to shut down shortly after launching.

Mac passwords containing extended characters now work properly.

Device status (online/offline) now properly displayed on the Live Desktop, in the notifier, and in the Mesh bar.

News now correctly displays the year.

The version numbers after the update are:

Live Mesh for Mac: 0.9.3821.962

Live Desktop: 0.9.3424.31

Live Mesh: PC, Mac And Mobile [overview]
All previous Live Mesh articles

A quick look at the new Windows Live FrameIt Client PowerToy

damaster — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 11:10:04 GMT

Yesterday we told you about the new Windows Live FrameIt and hinted at the FrameIt Client coming soon. Today we were able to get hands on with the latest FrameIt Client PowerToy. Here’s a screenshot of the client attempting to add my FrameIt collection named “LiveSide”:

So, you might ask, what is the FrameIt Client and what does it do? Here’s what the official help file says:

FrameIt Client is a PowerToy which enables you to subscribe to collections (RSS image feeds) on the Windows Live FrameIt service, and place the images in those collections into folders on your computer. FrameIt Client keeps the contents of these local collections synchronized with the collections on the Windows Live FrameIt service. This means that your local FrameIt Client collections are always up to date, and contain the same dynamic content and fresh images as your FrameIt service collection RSS feeds on the web.

Using the features provided in FrameIt Client:

You can send multiple RSS feeds to one folder, direct each RSS feed to a different folder, or send the same RSS feed to several different folders.

You can specify the size of the images (width and height) that are placed in each folder, or leave them at the native sizes in the RSS feed.

You can direct the contents of a Windows Live FrameIt service collection to a FrameIt Client plug-in, which can provide support for special devices, or perform virtually any function on the collection images. Information on how to create a FrameIt Client plug-in is provided in the FrameIt Client section of the FrameIt SDK.

So what good does it do? And why would you want to use the FrameIt Client PowerToy? Microsoft gives us the following response:

You can use FrameIt Client collections (local synchronized folders) for several useful purposes:

as the source folders for a USB-connected digital picture frame

as the source folders for a screen saver, slide show, or other image display program.

You can add the synchronized folders to your Windows Live Mesh and share the images with others.

This means that besides being a completely online service that only provides photos and images directly to internet-capable digital photo frames, with the use of the new FrameIt Client PowerToy you’ll be able to extend your FrameIt Collections (or Collections you subscribe to) locally on your computer for other uses. These extended uses include things such as automatically displaying the photos on an non-internet capable digital photo frame, or use them as your customised screensavers (and desktop background) that dynamically updates as the content of your Collection changes.

What’s also interesting to note is that Microsoft refers to “Windows Live Mesh” now instead of Live Mesh – a result of Microsoft’s recent reorg joining the Live Mesh team with Windows Live group.

Please do take note that the FrameIt Client will be a PowerToy that is designed for advanced power users only and will only be available in English. This product may not be supported by Microsoft in the future.

Help improve Live Mesh!

Sunshine — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:59:27 GMT

The Live Mesh Team is already gathering feedback on Live Mesh forums, Live Mesh Blog and Microsoft Connect, but there are more ways to collect feedback. In their constant search for feedback, the Live Mesh Team is now asking you to help them improve Live Mesh by providing them with feedback through:

1. An online Customer Satisfaction Survey

This will only take a few minutes of your time: Customer Satisfaction Survey

2. Anonymous data collection
One of the best tools for improving Live Mesh is anonymously collecting statistics on how Live Mesh is behaving on each of your devices. With this tool the Live Mesh Team can monitor a variety of data points, such as the frequency of errors, typical network settings, and the reliability of sync. The data will be anonymously uploaded to a central server after which the team can aggregate the results across all of the users who choose to participate.

Because this feature sends some data about your devices to Microsoft, it is disabled by default. To turn on this option, click the Live Mesh icon in the notification area of your Windows taskbar and click your user name. Then, click Options, select the checkbox next to “Help us improve Live Mesh…,” and click OK.

[P.S.: The Send Feedback on top right is because I’m on Windows 7]

Learn more about this tool.

Your help is greatly appreciated!

Live Mesh: Mac Software Hotfix (0.9.3712.831)

Sunshine — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 17:52:42 GMT

We missed out on this one with all the other news (and playing about in Windows 7):

To all Live Mesh customers who have experienced crashes with the 0.9.3712.831 version of the Live Mesh for Mac software: A new version of the software that resolves this issue is now available.

Please update or reinstall Live Mesh for Mac to receive the new version. If you continue to encounter problems, please let us know.

Thank you,

The Live Mesh Team.

Live Mesh : Mac Software Hotfix (0.9.3712.831)

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Live Mesh team joins Windows/Windows Live org

Kip Kniskern — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 18:18:50 GMT

Mary Jo Foley is reporting that the Live Mesh team, which started out as a special project under Ray Ozzie and known at first as Windows Live Core, has joined the Windows / Windows Live org, under Senior Vice President Steven Sinofsky. Mary Jo followed up on a tip and received confirmation from Microsoft:

“The Windows Live, Live Services Platform, and Live Mesh teams will now be a part of the unified Windows Live organization under Steven Sinofsky, Senior Vice President, Windows and Windows Live Engineering. David Treadwell, Corporate Vice President, Live Services Platform, will now report to Sinofsky and will continue his work on the Live Services Platform.”

While there have been lots of rumors and speculation about possible Microsoft cost cutting moves, including layoffs and/or reorganization, moving Live Mesh under Windows Live isn’t surprising, given that we’ve already been told that elements of Live Mesh will be incorporated into Windows Live products and services. We doubt this is a cost cutting move, rather a long planned move to move Live Mesh out of incubation and into the mainstream.

Windows Live FrameIt to integrate with Live Mesh, client and SDK coming soon

damaster — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:08:46 GMT

One piece of information that came out of CES 2009 that went unnoticed was about Windows Live FrameIt. The FrameIt team blog today posted a link to a Channel 10 video about the upcoming support for Live Mesh in FrameIt. In the video Cynthia Hagan demonstrates a new version of Windows Live FrameIt (including the new Wave 3 header) and how she used Live Mesh to sync offline photos to her FrameIt-enabled Samsung digital photo frame. What this means for FrameIt is that besides from obtaining photo sources from an RSS feed where the photos are already available online, FrameIt can now source photos stored in your computer using Live Mesh technology. You can check out the video here.

What’s more news is that according to this incubation website titled “Windows Live FrameIt Extras”, Microsoft is also planning on releasing a Windows Live FrameIt client and also an SDK for Frameit. It would be interesting to see how this ties in with Windows Live Photo Gallery and Live Mesh.

Stay tuned at LiveSide for the latest information on Windows Live FrameIt!

Live Mesh Notice: Scheduled Maintenance

Sunshine — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:21:42 GMT

The following maintenance notice appeared on the Live Mesh Forums:

To all our valued customers: The Live Mesh team will be performing some scheduled maintenance on the following days this week and next: January 14^th, 15^th, 16^th, & 19^th. The maintenance should not generally impact Live Mesh availability, though occasional short interruptions are possible. If you experience an outage that lasts longer than 2 hours please let us know.

Thank you,

The Live Mesh Team

P.S. The Windows Client update is live now!

Live Mesh
Live Mesh Forums

More read of interest:
2009: The Year Ahead – Live Mesh
Live Mesh wins TechCrunch “Crunchies” award: best technology innovation
Liveside’s Live Mesh Overview