Microsoft has just released a new beta of its MSN Toolbar. Wait, wasn't it the Windows Live Toolbar in the last release? It's starting to look like Microsoft might have an identity crisis...The new MSN Toolbar beta is now powered by Silverlight, Microsoft's own cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in for delivering interactive applications on the Web, which has just recently reached version 1.0.
The Toolbar itself is what you've come to expect from Toolbars: a search pane with lots of extra links to content and sites run by the Toolbar's publisher. The MSN Toolbar uses Windows Live Search and includes customizable at-your-fingertips MSN content.
We wish we could tell you that downloading and installing the Toolbar was a snap. Well, it wasn't. Continuing Microsoft's maddening tradition of making its software nigh impossible to download, with the requisite WGA checks, and Live ID passports, etc...downloading the MSN Toolbar was anything but simple.
First, you'll need to download Silverlight if you haven't already. Luckily, they've included a link to the download right from the Toolbar page. So far so good. It's after you download Silverlight that you run into this list of instructions:
Sign in to the Microsoft Connect website with your Windows Live ID
In the left pane, click Available Connections.
Next to MSN Toolbar Beta, click Apply.
Click Continue.
Register with Microsoft Connect, if you haven't already done so.
Fill in the nomination survey, and then click Submit.
When your application to join the MSN Toolbar Beta program is accepted, you'll receive a notification e-mail.
On the Microsoft Connect website, in the left pane, under MSN Toolbar Beta, click Downloads.
In the list of download packages, click MSN Toolbar Beta Install, and then follow the on-screen instructions to install Toolbar Beta.
Easy as pie.
MSN Toolbar is currently in beta, and requires XP or Vista, and Silverlight.
[via Tech today]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-03-2008 @ 3:49PM
John said...
I dont see what problem you had downloading!?
Open the link in explorer, let it do it's WGA check and click save. The only people that should have a problem downloading aren't using a legit MS operating system, or are hacking the activation.
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3-03-2008 @ 4:11PM
Jamus said...
Yep, it wants Silverlight. That alone is enough to push me away from it.
They just seem a bit heavy-handed with the Silverlight business. Not really advertising it or saying "come download this new and great tech and here is why we think it is good", but rather tying it into anything new and shiny so you have to get Silverlight just to get to what you were really wanting. Of course, that will help the Silverlight download stats...
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3-03-2008 @ 4:53PM
Christian said...
I can't seem to find it on their site does someone have more photos of it or how functional it really is?
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3-03-2008 @ 9:16PM
CT A said...
Does it have an email notifier? If not, I'm not interested.
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3-04-2008 @ 12:18AM
michael said...
@Jamus :
Can't you say the same for Flash, Java, and other things you just 'need' to download.
Besides, Silverlight isn't bad. It's pretty darn good. In some ways, better than Flash. Doing things like this will help spread Silverlight to more people. That's a good thing as it provides people with a better alternative.
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5-29-2008 @ 10:57AM
noushin tehrani said...
please if your msn install o download toolbar for hom pak
i want tur install new off after dawnlod or install on please.
thanks
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