I decided to use a nickname because I did not want my real name to be findable on the web. This is also the reason why I started using an artist name later that people link to me today: Klaus Neumann.

Yesterday though, I took the decision to be honest and use my real name in my businesses and e-mails. One thing should stay, though: I still do not want to have my last name appearing on the web. So, in public profiles you will see me using my first names: Jo Michael. You’re eager to find out about my full name? Just leave me a message.

So far, that’s the change I meant…

Google is one of the companies that had and have to take rather much criticism. Everything started when Google launched their new e-mail service Gmail in 2004. Privacy protectors were much worried – as Google uses contents of the messages that users send and receive to display personally customized advertisements.

Google has to read my e-mail to guess my interests and to be able to display matching ads in Gmail. But exactly this collides with the secrecy of the post, according to privacy advocates and the U.S. Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC). Concerning Gmail, this is not a real problem in my opinion, as it is not employees reading my e-mail, but automatic programs – in fractions of a second, and completely anonymous. Here the displayed ads help to ensure that Google can continue to offer its e-mail service for free. I find: That’s totally okay.

In the meantime, Google has the reputation of a data hydra. Maybe not totally incorrectly. In any case, Google knows what I am watching on Youtube, where I am at the moment (Google Maps location service, for example on iPhone), what my house looks like (Street View), who my friends are (Android cell phones and Gmail contact list), which web sites I like to surf (Google Chrome browser), what I like to read (Google eBookstore), and which things I am shopping for on the Web (Google Shopping search).

But why the current discussion around Google Analytics? It is a statistics service used by website operators, bloggers and shop owners to get more information about their visitors. Therefore, data about your browser, your screen resolution and your operating system are sent to Google as soon as you open any website making use of Google Analytics.

The total collected data are not suitable for an exact location detection or definition who I am as visitor of the website. Plus, the collected user information is made available to the site owner only in anonymized form, for example: “50% of your visitors use 1024 times 768 pixels as screen resolution.” Here I see clear advantages for the owners – and finally for me, the visitor, as well. Finally it is me drawing advantage from the website knowing me well, being optimized for my needs and browser features. This is why mynetx.net uses Google Analytics as well.

Collecting these anonymous data – yes, my IP address belongs to them as well, as it changes once per day anyways – does not appear to be a big problem for me. I think it does not collide with privacy guidelines. And I am sure that if there is a test court case, it is going to have a similar judgment. After all, I live in Europe, and I should be allowed to make use of tech to my advantage. And Google belongs to tech as well.

• July 2010
  • On July 1, 2010, I found an e-mail in my inbox having the subject: “Congratulations 2010 Microsoft MVP!” I got awarded with the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award in the Windows Live expertise, and I took great delight from getting to know this.
  • The Windows 8 documents leaked by a HP employee have consequences on people spreading the leaks. Among others, some Live Spaces are closed.
• August 2010
  • The new Hotmail Wave 4 version is now enabled for all users worldwide. It introduces features like Sweep, Active Views and viewing messages in conversations.
  • Windows Live Essentials gets a new beta refresh. It adds correct Gmail handling to Live Mail as well as Facebook Chat to Messenger.
• September 2010
  • The public Internet Explorer 9 beta starts after 5 Technical Previews. The user interface has been renewed and made much sleeker.
  • Both the emergency service Microsoft Vine and the notification system Windows Live Alerts are shutting down.
  • The Windows Live team announces its partnership with WordPress.com to transition all Windows Live Spaces until March 2011, including automatic content migration.
  • On September 30, 2010, Windows Live Essentials 2011 is released, supporting Windows Vista and Windows 7.

• October 2010
  • In the Windows Live Messenger for iPhone app, more languages, support for iOS 4 and Facebook Chat are added.
  • Messenger Plus! 4.9 is published as intermediary update with limited support for Messenger 2011.
• November 2010
  • Google Streetview launches in Germany for the 20 most important cities. The first village to get Streetview is the Bavarian Oberstaufen.
  • You can now use Hotmail with your own e-mail address, using POP3 aggregation.
  • Facebook Messages attempts to reinvent messaging regardless of its source – email, SMS or web messaging.
  • mynetx.net interviews Harrison Hoffman, Evangelism Product Manager at Microsoft, about his personal thoughts regarding Windows Live.
• December 2010
  • The whistle-blower website Wikileaks keeps appearing in the news. For 2011, publications concerning major U.S. banks are already announced.
  • The antivirus solution Microsoft Security Essentials gets updated to version 2.0.
  • Monster.com and Orbitz are the first partners to launch Active Views inside your Hotmail inbox. They are running sandboxed Javascript to provide dynamic contents while you don’t have to leave the inbox.

Summarizing 2010, how has Windows Live developed in the past year? What were the major focuses for the development team? I will shed some light on this tomorrow.

Today, we are going to take a look at the first half of 2010, that is, from January to June.

• January 2010
  • Details and first photos about Messenger Wave 4 emerge.
  • You can now connect SkyDrive to Windows Explorer — using CloudStorageExplorer.
  • Hotmail Wave 4 will add Conversation view for messages.
• February 2010
  • The cloud system Windows Azure launches officially.
  • The social network Facebook launches its new home page layout.
  • Windows Live ID has an outage, causing that customers cannot sign in anywhere.
  • The Windows Live Messenger extension Messenger Plus! becomes silent at Yuna Software, its new owner, but eventually the silence is broken and we can move on to new pastures.
  • The Chinese website cnbeta.com discovers the design of Windows Live Writer 2011.
• March 2010
  • Google acquires the online image editor startup company Picnik.
  • The IT trade fair CeBIT 2010 takes place in Hanover, Germany.
  • The release roadmap for Windows Live Wave 4 surfaces.

• April 2010
  • Live.com changes to be Windows Live Home.
  • Office 2010 reaches RTM status, its development is finished.
  • Chris Jones talks about the future of Windows Live.
• May 2010
  • The search engine Google overhauls its interface.
  • Angus Logan showcases the Windows Live Messenger App for Apples iPhone smartphone.
  • mynetx.net takes an in-depth look at the new features in Hotmail Wave 4.
  • Messenger 2011 retires the existing “View webcam” feature and instead relies on Video calls, which are easier to maintain. Users’ reactions are overly negative and loud.
  • The complete feature list of Windows Live 2011 is published. Remarkable new features include Messenger’s Facebook Chat module as well as Photo Fuse and facial recognition in Photo Gallery.
  • On May 31, Windows Live Events is closing.
• June 2010
  • Office 2010 and Office Web Apps are released to the public. Office Web Apps allow to edit documents, spreadsheets and presentations right in your web browser.
  • The Windows Live Wave 4 public beta launches in 7 languages.

What was your personal highlight in the first half of 2010? I am curious to know!

Some peaceful, silent, relaxing days with the warmth of your family is what we wish all our readers. While we take a little rest over the holidays, there is still much on the dawn regarding Windows Live, Messenger Plus!… not to forget the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas early next month. Windows Live will be there as well, and we will keep you updated with news and reports from there.

Over the past 2 years, this site has grown from a small blog with few articles to a multilingual site with some 1,200 people visitors reading the articles every day. From a simple domain gift by my friend Joshua Atkins, mynetx.net has evolved to the center of my online life. I would never have foreseen this… and, to be honest, it would never have taken place without you, my readers. Thank you for being loyal readers!

When I wrote my first post in September 2008, I promised: “There is more interesting stuff to come than these lines.” This promise has surely come true, with me writing news stories about Wave 3, then Wave 4, in interviews with Messenger-related people, like Angus Logan (Microsoft), Kip Kniskern (LiveSide.net), or Will Ingles (Messenger skinner, Design Evolved). It was thrilling getting to know so many different opinions and connecting with folks all over the world: from Canada to New Zealand, from Brazil to Shanghai.

You’re still there, reading? Great! Now comes your task. As always, I want to offer high quality content. To improve, I need your input: Tell me what you want to read, which topics you are interested, and of course, what you dislike in this website. Bluntly, shoot your opinion! I’m looking forward to read it.

The coming weeks will get interesting again. At the dawn, I can see Windows Live Wave 4, Messenger Plus! 5 as well as first information about Windows 8. As has always been, I will focus you and the benefits you draw from being attached to Windows Live. For the next two and more years!

Windows Live, enhanced.
— mynetx

Being asked whether he doesn’t consider it unfair for customers not to support Flash contents on iPhone and iPad, he declared that Apple is not a company with unlimited resources. To have success, you have “to bet the right technological horse”. That is why Apple chooses technologies that have a future.

Jobs noted that Apple had been the first company to dump the floppy disk. Later, they were among the first ones adopting the USB interface. “Sometimes when we get rid of things, people call us crazy. But sometimes you just have to pick the things that are going to be the right horse to ride forward. And Flash has had its day, but HTML5 is starting to emerge. The video looks better and it works better and you don’t need a plug-in to run it. And while 75 percent of the video on the Web may be available in Flash, a lot of it is available in HTML5 as well,” the Apple CEO explained.

“We didn’t set out to have a war over Flash. We made a technical decision.” Jobs explained that it was Adobe who made an arguing topic out of it, when they had a problem with the iPad. Apple is getting tired that Adobe is talking bad about them. That’s why Steve Jobs noted his ‘Thoughts on Flash’ and published them.

Finally, Steve got asked what he is replying to people wishing Flash support on the iPad. “We’re just trying to make great products. We don’t think Flash makes a great product, so we’re leaving it out. Instead, we’re going to focus on technologies that are in ascendancy. If we succeed, people will buy them and if we don’t they won’t. And, so far, I have to say, people seem to be liking the iPad. We are selling an iPad every 3 seconds.”

In 2007, Irving had left Microsoft to spend some time with his family. Before, he had been working for Microsoft for 15 years in total, finally being responsible for Windows Live Services. Among others, Irving was responsible for Microsoft’s e-mail, blogging, messaging and VoIP services. At Yahoo, he is working directly for the Corporate President Carol Bartz.

According to his own statement, Irving starts working for Yahoo on 17 May. “I’m thrilled to be sharing my experiences and background with the world class people at Yahoo! (…) to make Yahoo! even more central to daily online life than it has been over the past decade and a half,” he wrote in Yahoo!’s Corporate Blog.

1. Messenger problems: Resolving sign-in error 80072ef3 (24 July)
2. Plus!Patch 2.0.1 Beta for Messenger 2009: the first Patch Skin (11 January)
3. Messenger problems: Solving Messenger error code 81000306 at sign-in (14 July)
4. Phasing out Windows Live Messenger 8.1, 8.5 and 2009 QFE1 (28 August)
5. Messenger problems: How to solve error code 8e5e0713 (21 July)
6. Free e-book: Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition – Build a program now! (19 April)
7. Messenger problems: Sign-in errors 80072ee2 and 80072efd and their solution (23 July)
8. OneCare and Windows 7 (30 March)
9. Still on Messenger 8.5? You need to upgrade now. (6 November)
10. How-to: Minimize Messenger to the system notification area in Windows 7 (14 May)

As this list shows, Messenger users have experienced various error codes and couldn’t fix them on their own.  Of big concern was the upgrade to Windows 7, with OneCare not working and Messenger changing its minimize mode.

Will Windows Live Messenger 2010, currently in development, be more compatible with the users?

Social Networks have existed ever since the beginning of the decade, varying from social blogging portals, such as Windows Live Spaces, to video-hosting networks, such as YouTube, to mere social networks, such as Hi5, Bebo, MySpace, and most importantly, Facebook.

Throughout the many years that this decade delimited, several social networks emerged, each for its significant purpose.  Amongst them was the well-known social network, MySpace, which leapt in popularity for its ability to integrate all the social networking structures under one site.  For a start, MySpace seemed to be a quite neat site, as it provided the many capabilities one could use to customise his or her profile.  However, many users started abusing these capabilities by displaying their profiles with abysmal colours that simply hurt the eyes.  Additionally, filling their profiles with automatically played garish music that causes you to bounce out of your chair owing to shock.

A couple of years later, Facebook gained popularity as of a well-presented, well-organised feature set.  As Facebook proceeded to grow in popularity, it began introducing APIs for third-party applications to assimilate, enhanced privacy settings to tinker with, and further enhancements to stay connected in “real-time.”  Wait!  Did I just say “real-time”?  Well, yes.  That is why Twitter has been in the centre of attention for this year, as the service it provides promises to deliver real-time messages from one end-point to the other.  However, Facebook and Twitter are not the only “real-time” contingent social networks on the web, as Google Wave promises to exhibit “real-time” emphasis on a web-based service intended to unite social networking, instant messaging, and e-mail delivery.

Speaking of “real-time,” Google has recently introduced its “Cloud Computing” concept, where through Google’s new Chrome OS, users will be able to store their data online (in the cloud) so to be accessed anytime, anywhere, it will make use of Google Docs, Google Calendar, Google Weather, Google Calculator, and all the plentiful services Google has to offer.  Therefore, users will no longer be as dependable on physical storage media, as all their files would be stored virtually, on the web.  On the other hand, Microsoft is introducing a breakthrough innovation to application development—this innovation is known as Windows Azure—an Operating System solely designed to allow developers to provide users with “Cloud Computing” technology and products to use, on the fly.

“Real-time” was the keyword for this year, 2009, as social networks have been dragging it further with real-time improvements and enhancements to the way we share and connect.  However, as I see it, 2010’s new keyword would be “cloud computing,” where users store and maintain their data online to access them wherever they are, securely and easily.

May you have an exceptional New Year!

MPLCode

A Messenger Plus! script for sending/receiving programming codes formatted instead of plain-text.

WLMStatus

Allows to display your current Messenger status on a website or forum signature. Several people have notified us of permanent error messages like “Failed to validate download signature,” and the next update will fix this. Also stay tuned for the next server release, which will introduce Messenger Plus! format codes parsing and correct emoticons placing on the images.

Plus! VRT Radiospeler

If you are living in Belgium, this is going to be interesting for you: listen not only to all radio programs broadcast by the VRT, as the upcoming update adds on-demand stations for even more radio fun in Messenger. Get more info about this from Bram Lancsweert.

Skinning work

I am currently working on updates for 3 Messenger skins, including Apple Live Messenger, stormless Messenger and Plus!Patch. Pending any surfacing news about the next version of Messenger, I will release these updates as soon as I finished coding support for Messenger 2009.

Twitter2PSM

Everybody knows Twitter these days, and I have plans to add OAuth support to the next version of Twitter2PSM. What should I add as well? Leave a comment or tweet and we’ll see.

Oh, before I forget: I will change the script name, but am too lazy to think of a new name. The easier way: I ask you! Think about a new, unique name for Twitter2PSM (that does not include the word “Twitter”). If I take the name you suggested, you win $10 USD!

mynetx.net

I don’t want to mention too much in beforehand, but: I will create a corporate site for mynetx Creations. The URL mynetx.net will not redirect to blog.mynetx.net anymore, but there will be a prominent link to it instead. The site contents? Well, that’s a surprise!

Oh, and my secret drawer…

Yes, I have some stuffs in my secret drawer too. When I pull them out, I will tell you. I also started cooperations with some very cool sites, but it’s just too early to talk about those.

Questions? Suggestions? Begging? Tips?

Leave a reply, tweet me, poke me, ping me, contact me however you like to!

For nostalgic reasons, I have reactivated the original blog theme.  Here is what it looked like:

When I looked at the theme today, I got some ideas for the current theme as well, so stay tuned!
Up and on to the next year of watching Windows Live, enhancing Messenger, chatting with friends—just mynetx: Windows Live Enhanced.

Well, using online map services like Bing Maps is really fun, especially when there is Bird’s Eye view of the location you are interested in. We visited our home town virtually and were simply amazed at the accuracy and level of details you can see in those photos.

When we had checked out locations, we thought about how to get there. How good that you can check trains and their timetables online! We just entered our departure and arrival locations, date, number of people, hit ‘Submit’—and instantly got our train connections. Then it was only a matter of seconds to hit ‘Print’ and get some tiny PDF files containing the site, using a PDF printer.

After our vacation, we will probably plug in the SD card of our digital camera and let Windows Live Photo Gallery do the rest.

Long story short—what would we do without our computer? It has become part of our daily life.

What are your plans for the summer? I’m curious.

The Live album features the following 9 tracks:

1. I. Glass of Water
2. II. 42
3. III. Clocks
4. IV. Strawberry Swing
5. V. Hardest Part / Postcards from far Away
6. VI. Viva La Vida
7. VII. Death Will Never Conquer
8. VIII. Fix You
9. IX. Death And All His Friends

Grab your free copy—now!
Free Download: Coldplay—LeftRightLeftRightLeft

Thank you Bram Lancsweert for the hint!

If you’re interested in using Theme “Codename H” as well, just have a go – it’s free!

Update: Expect special day themes to come up now and then. The first one is the “Love” theme, available on Valentine’s Day, Feb 14.