Windows Live Essentials
If you are not aware, the suite of programs under Windows Live Essentials stopped being available from Microsoft in Jan 2017. If you already have them installed, they will keep working. However, if you have to re-install Windows then you will not be able to download them again.
This was an excellent group of programs and it is a pity that they are gone. These are some alternatives:
|
NAME |
Alternative for Windows 7 |
For Windows 10 |
|
Windows Live Mail (WLM) |
Mozilla Thunderbird https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/ CARE! Hotmail/Live/Outlook Email accounts no longer work on WLM If your have G Mail , Yahoo Mail, or Hotmail / Outlook / Live, you can always log in via a browser. |
Win 10 Mail App comes with Win 10 &, while not as good as WLM, this App is being continually improved. Mozilla Thunderbird will also run well on Win 10. |
|
Windows Live Writer (WLW) |
Open Live Writer (An “open source” fork of WLW) |
Same as for Win 7 This post was written and uploaded with Open Live Writer. |
|
Windows Live Photo Gallery (WLPG) |
Paint.net https://www.getpaint.net/ OR MORE ADVANCED Free “Open Source” program called – The Gimp https://www.gimp.org/ |
The Photos App that comes with Win 10 will do everything and more than WLPG did (Apart from a Collage) Use The Gimp for a Collage and other advanced editing.) |
|
Windows Live Messenger |
Skype messenger but there are plenty of others. |
Same as Win 7 |
|
Windows Live Movie Maker (WLMM) |
Loss of WLMM is a disappointment & is the hardest to replace unless you pay for a program. Adobe Premier Elements is probably the best but it is expensive AUD $130 A cheaper “paid” option is Sony Vegas Movie Studio – COST USD$50 http://www.vegascreativesoftware.com/us/vegas-movie-studio/ There are good reviews for the following free “open source” program: “Shotcut” https://www.shotcut.org/ |
A video editor called “Story Remix” will be a part of the Photo App in Windows 10 . It is due later this year. However, this looks like it will be like the old “Photo Story” but with videos as well as still photos. Until then the alternatives under the Win 7 column will also work on Win 10. |