It was reported in mid-2004 that Hotmail users would get a storage boost from the measly 2MB to a slightly more generous 250MB (possibly in response to Gmail’s whopping 1GB), it just wasn’t clear who would be getting that upgrade. Nearly two years on, I still see people reminiscing on that news wondering why they only have 2MB.
The answer is close, the frontpage of Hotmail has the following at the bottom left:
250MB inbox available only in the 50 United States, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Eligible Hotmail users will first receive 25MB at sign-up. Please allow at least 30 days for activation of your 250MB storage to verify your e-mail account and help prevent abuse. Microsoft Corporation reserves the right to provide 250MB inbox to free Hotmail accounts at its discretion.
The better news is, Windows Live Mail is set to come with 2GB of storage space.
If they can soon manage 2GB, what was so hard about giving everyone 250MB?
75 Microsoft employees joined a Microsoft “Hack Day” on Thursday, which was focused around Windows Live products and services.
Hack Day is Microsoft’s way of getting inspiration, creativity, and ideas out of its employees. “We knew lots of people had cool ideas because they talk about them all the time in the hallways,” Jennifer Johnston, a Senior Microsoft product manager commented. She continues to say that the employees at Microsoft needed a chance to get those ideas out.
A grabber for many Microsoft employees (besides the chance to spend a day letting their ideas run loose) were the prizes. A boxed set of Lord of the Rings and an Xbox 360 were just some of the prizes awarded for the best ideas. Some of the programs that came out of Hack Day included a Windows Live Messenger auto-reply message that kicks in when a person is away, and a garage sale listing program that plotted a route using an online map.
Perhaps you’re one of the many users who have been hit by the 30 day expiration in Hotmail; yeah, the thing which results in you losing ALL your email! It’s happened to me on a few occasions with an account I rarely use, it also happened to Tom, who was rather annoyed.
Omar, one of the program managers in Windows Live Mail, has responsed to Tom’s cries and says that the 30 days will be changed 120 days in Windows Live Mail! He also states the good reason for this expiration, just imagine how many old abandoned accounts would exist if none were to be purged. Anyway, good on them for extending it, more happy customers.
Messenger Plus! has beed update to fix some compatibility issues with the soon-to-come Messenger Plus! Live 4.00 (it still is not compatible with Windows Live Messenger). Apparently there is no difference between the new version and the last build. It has been recommended that if you plan to use Windows Live Messenger then Patchou recommends you to update to this version.
Another update is a move to a new sponsor program, Circle Development Ltd. Nicely, they listened to user feedback and because of that, no more user homepage/search bar hijack for Internet Explorer users. As always, it’s optional to install but Patchou appreciates the support. Also, Messenger Plus! Live will also have the new sponsor program just as this build. It’s expect to be the last version/update for MSN/Windows Messenger 4, 5, 6 and 7. As Patchou says “Goodbye Messenger Plus! 3 :)”
Security software maker Symantec is hoping to cash in on enterprise customers’ growing headaches around managing and protecting instant messaging applications, including the freely available IM clients so popular among today’s users. While corporate messaging systems made by companies including Microsoft and IBM have long been pitched as the best answer to security issues raised by the proliferation of freely available IM software made by companies such as AOL, Google and Yahoo, Symantec said it is hoping to help address the fact that those applications still find a way onto the desktops of millions of workers every day.
To combat the problem, the company is introducing Symantec IM Manager 8.0, its latest IM and real-time communications management package, which promises to help secure both types of messaging systems. The new product will be made available to customers sometime before the end of this month, the firm said.
In addition to fighting the many types of threats being launched over IM networks, including viruses and phishing attacks, the software maker said the product can also help companies deploy and enforce messaging security policies. The package also promises to aid firms working under federal compliance regulations to keep a closer eye on information being shared via IM.
Read more at eWeek
