Microsoft Announces New Web-Based "Live Mesh"

"Microsoft Live platform" by niallkennedy.

Yesterday, Microsoft announced a pretty cool new online service that will take the Google Documents concept to the next level: users of Live Mesh will be able to sync content from their computers, handhelds, cell phones, and potentially even their Zunes with that of other users in the same mesh, via the internet. As we understand it, the service is like an inter-office computer network, but users can upload/download content at any time and anywhere they have access to one of the "enmeshed" devices.

It’s not exactly revolutionary, but Live Mesh sounds plenty convenient. Right now, we use (abuse?) our Google account to store documents, photos, and music from our home desktop in case we need to access those files when we’re not at home. With Live Mesh, our friends, coworkers, and family could access those files too—without needing to find new storage space on their own systems to download the information.

Some of the buzz around this new service is that web developers will be able to write compatible programs to tweak Live Mesh to their exact needs. Hmmm... Microsoft may be learning how to play well with others.

What do you think, Seattle? Is Live Mesh enough to catapult Microsoft to the top of the Web 2.0 game? Would you use this service?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@seattlest.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Katelyn in News on April 24, 2008 12:30 PM

Comments [rss]

FridayHarbor

I went to the website and tried to "take the tour" but it wanted me to install Microsoft silver light...

And that's where I gave up.

Microsoft is definitely going down. Even though they're pitching this product as a service that breaks down the barriers between your devices and locations they will waste no time to make sure they are locking you into other things.

RMH

This is going to suck so hard.

DeadNed

Sort of sounds like a knock off of .mac for apple. Does this mean i get to share my virus and spyware seamlessly across my network now?

Also, hate to point out the obvious, but google has a service to handle all of your documents, spreadsheets, and presentations called google docs. they also have a service for pictures too...

buddhabrad

It would be an awesome concept if they could just figure out a way for Vista to work with my printer, router, Xbox, etc.

bilco

This diagram was just so bad, I went back to give it another look. Apparently the 'other devices' they need to support include the Bondi Blue iMac (discontinued January 1999), and a really primitive-looking Blackberry.

Are they aware the iPhone exists???

bilco

Bingo on the diagram - what a mess! But, it does a good job of illustrating the 'clarity' of the MSFT vision.

Katelyn

The name doesn't sit well with me either, it reminds me of a screen-door crawling with insects. And re: the diagram, there is no excuse for such awful design! I don't get it -- they're MICROSOFT. How can they not afford to hire better designers? Even the mesh.com site looks hella dated.

Troy Morris

1) That 'thing' behind him is ugly as a hittin' stick.

2) They really need to drop the "Live" stuff, it's not clicking with us.

3) If they really want to be Web 2.0, they should misspell their product names in a quirky manner.

4) It's all in the execution. If I understand the concept correctly (which is 4a- make the concept clear in a single, short sentence), it could ideally be a system where you have some magical, ether contained computer that has files accessible by you on any machine anywhere there is an internet connection.

That's cool. That's what we've been waiting for since 2002. By "we," I mean me and 2 other of my friends.