Edit and Share Photos and Videos with Windows Live Photo Gallery


Posted by Brandon LeBlanc on Wednesday, September 05, 2007 4:25 PM 40 Comments
Along with updated betas for Windows Live Messenger 8.5, Windows Live Mail, and Windows Live Writer - users can now install and test the second beta of Windows Live Photo Gallery. Back in June, Microsoft announced Windows Live Photo Gallery as the successor to Windows Photo Gallery in Windows Vista with a closed beta program. Starting today - anyone can now choose to install and try out Windows Live Photo Gallery.

This new release of Windows Live Photo Gallery offers some impressive enhancements over the previous beta as well as the existing Windows Photo Gallery in Windows Vista.

First off, users get improved color adjustment and cropping capabilities for fixing their photos. These enhancements allow users to easily make changes to their photos before sharing them. You can now adjust the detail of your image by sharpening your image up or change the levels of shadow and highlights in the image's exposure. Under "Adjust exposure" users now have a Histogram of their photos. This will help in adjusting the right levels for making your images look the best. 

A new feature has been added to Windows Live Photo Gallery that will make many users happy (I for one am crazy about this feature). Users can now right-click on an image file to resize that image. You can even select multiple images and resize them together (batch resize was a popular feature request by users).

I do a ton of resizing images and being able to do this right from Windows Live Photo Gallery is a deal thing for me.

With shooting a ton of photos, not all of those photos turn out to be worth anything. So why import them onto the PC? With Windows Photo Gallery I was unable to preview and pick and choose the images I want to import off my camera. With Windows Live Photo Gallery you can with the new Photo and Video Import tool.

  

The Photo and Import Tool is a lot smarter in Windows Live Photo Gallery. It will list your images by date and allow you to enter names and tags for different photos on different dates.

After importing your images and fixing them all up - Windows Live Photo Gallery lets you publish those photos to your Windows Live Space. This makes it incredibly easier to share photos with friends and family. In importing photos to your Windows Live Space, you can create an entirely new album of photos or add the photos to existing albums already on your Windows Live Space.

 

You'll notice that Windows Live Photo Gallery supports the recently announced new optimize feature for your photos when publishing them to Windows Live Spaces. By choosing to "Optimize photos for printing" - your photos will be uploaded to Windows Live Spaces at a higher quality so that you can either print your own photos or order prints of your photos online. Users can also enjoy impressive full screen slide shows from Windows Live Spaces after uploading higher quality images through Windows Live Photo Gallery. Through Windows Live Spaces, you can take advantage of their new partnership with HP Snapfish (U.S. only currently - with more markets expected to come online later). Click here to read a bit from Windows Live Spaces Product Manager Chris Keating on Windows Live Photo Gallery and Windows Live Spaces.

Users are not only able to publish photos to Windows Live Spaces, but also videos to Soapbox on MSN Video.

  

Another on my favorite new features is the ability to create a panoramic photo. You can take a series of photos and stitch them together to create a panoramic photo. Here is a panoramic photo of the parking lot at my apartment complex (I stitched 8 photos together to create it):

If you love Windows Photo Gallery - you're definitely going to love Windows Live Photo Gallery. .

Keep your eyes on the Microsoft Photography and Video Blog. Matter a fact, Program Manager Scott Dart has posted pointing people to where they can download Windows Live Photo Gallery. Expect to hear more from Scott and his team very soon.

In testing out the latest Windows Live Photo Gallery release, be sure to submit feedback using feedback.live.com. This is the best place to submit bugs you may found.

SEP 05
 

Posted by Jason

Well that's just great, no 64-bit support!  Thanks, Microsoft.
SEP 05
 

Posted by Brytown

im sure at some point there will be. Hold your 64 horses. feedback should be left at feedback.live.com
SEP 05
 

Posted by Brytown

I just got it i have a question for anyone that can answer, Will "windows live photo gallery" Replace "vista photo (overwrite) when it looses its beta tag? I notice windows live mail did but its not "beta". If so i wont loose anything? thanx
SEP 05
 

Posted by Brandon LeBlanc

Brytown, what do you mean replace? With today's betas - when you install the beta of Windows Live Photo Gallery, it does in fact replace the icon for Windows Photo Gallery on Windows Vista (however the app itself does not get removed - you can find it in Program Files). Windows Live Mail does the same thing.

Windows Live Mail has not lost the beta tag and continues to remain in beta as of today's released betas.

- Brandon
SEP 06
 

Posted by LiveSide - News blog

Well it's taken a while to get here, but it looks like Windows Live is becoming a better defined
SEP 06
 

Posted by Brytown

i see i found them but yeah the icons did change... and the old ones said cannot find this ect. but they are still there ok thanx :)
SEP 06
 

Posted by Brytown

The reason i thought maybe the others lost there beta tags is my messenger dosnt say beta anymore when open and in "All Programs" Windows live gallery still says beta the rest dont anymore? *shrugs* either way they all seem to be working fine now thanx!
SEP 06
 

Posted by someone

This is one nice app from MS...thank you...I'm looking forward to export abilities using WIC...do you plan to add these in the next version? And if you enable themed slideshows (pan and zoom, sepia effects...) for all Vista versions like Home Basic, Business, it would be still nicer.
SEP 06
 

Posted by marshall

How can MS release these without 64-bit support!!!!!!
SEP 06
 

Posted by barb

the previous betas of these Live pplications supported x64. either MS is dropping x64 support for Live or their internal testing is sorely lacking. It appears to be an issue with the installer. I don't see any reason why they can't fix this quickly IF THEY WANT TO.
SEP 06
 

Posted by windowhugger

Dear Microsoft,

Who actually asked for something like this to be a part of the OS? How can you  justify bloating up an OS with such non essential features like this? Why couldn't you have put these features on a seperate "Plus Pack" or whatever?
SEP 06
 

Posted by chakkaradeep

Hi,

The only difference I found between Windows Vista Ultimate's Photo Gallery and Windows Live Photo Gallery is the Live Spaces photo integration :(. As I dont share my photos via myspace, I uninstalled it as am quite happy with the Vista' Photo Gallery.
SEP 06
 

Posted by chakkaradeep

Hi,

The only difference I found between Windows Vista Ultimate's Photo Gallery and Windows Live Photo Gallery is the Live Spaces photo integration :(. As I dont share my photos via my space, I uninstalled it as am quite happy with the Vista' Photo Gallery.
SEP 06
 

Posted by omgbbq

Looks like a nice app and I would love to try it, but there is no x64 support. :/

I thought with the release of Windows Vista, x64 would no longer be treated as the red-headed step-child. Why exactly should anyone switch to x64 if we can't run even Microsoft software? Beta or not, it should be available to all Windows users.

SEP 06
 

Posted by Brandon LeBlanc

To everyone running 64-bit and unable to install the betas - do not worry. Microsoft fully intends to support 64-bit users for the new Windows Live installer and apps at release.

chakkaradeep, if you read my article above - you'll notice that Windows Live Photo Gallery does have quite a few differences outside publishing photos to Spaces. They've added several new tools for fixing photos, made bug fixes from issues seen in Windows Photo Gallery, and even included the ability to batch resize photos (which I use ALL the time).

windowhugger, Windows Live Photo Gallery IS NOT part of the OS. It is a free download from Microsoft by choice of the user. Windows Vista does ship with Windows Photo Gallery but Windows Live Photo Gallery is the successor to that. In order to install - the user must choose to do so.

Barb, I knew it was only a matter of time I would see you comment on this! :-)

- Brandon
SEP 06
 

Posted by omgbbq

Brandon,

Unfortunately, it still does not allow me to install the beta release. If Microsoft wants us to transition to 64-bit, they need to treat those OS's the same as their 32-bit releases. This includes all releases, not just RTM's. Otherwise, the customers who are trying to transition are being left out from testing and leaving feedback. It also means 64-bit builds are getting a lot less testing. You can't assume a 64-bit build will "just work." It will also slow the adoption of 64-bit. People will not want to run it because of lack of support. It is highly frustrating every time Microsoft releases a piece of software that may be useful, but then I find out it won't run on a version of their own operating system.
SEP 06
 

Posted by Brandon LeBlanc

omgbbq, very good points. Unfortunately the only thing I can relay to you at this point is support at RTM.

I have a 64-bit laptop running and I am stuck in the same situation. However, fired up Virtual PC 2007 with a 32-bit install of Windows Vista to install the new betas on. Not sure if that would work for some folks.

- Brandon
SEP 06
 

Posted by Brytown

chak i found out the same thing i like the mail and mesenger but i found myself going back to the original photo gallery i dont really use live.com for anything other than map and picture search.
SEP 06
 

Posted by Brandon LeBlanc

Brytown, for some Windows Photo Gallery make be all a user needs. But keep in my that the new Windows Live Photo Gallery has new features that expand on what Windows Photo Gallery offers. Its like an upgrade. Windows Live Photo Gallery also has nothing to do with Live.com - it simply taps in to Windows Live Spaces for uploading photos and MSN Soapbox for uplaoding videos. However even without using those two features - Windows Live Photo Gallery has a lot to offer someone who is into digital photography. There are some very impressive changes made to the fix tools in making your photos look better after importing them off your digital camera. Even the import tool to import photos is quite a bit better than what ships with Windows Photo Gallery.

I just want to make sure folks know that whole being able to publish photos and video is plus - Windows Live Photo Gallery offers some other changes over Windows Photo Gallery worth looking at which I mentioned above in this post.

- Brandon
SEP 06
 

Posted by chakkaradeep

Brandon, Thanks for the reply :)

I will again install it and give it a go ;)
SEP 06
 

Posted by chakkaradeep

Live Writer is excellent though ! Good improvements on the Live Writer !
SEP 06
 

Posted by tino

Please hire some good ui designers. All Windows Live programs look ugly and are even more chaotic designed than the Vista apps. Didn't they learn from Vista? Or didn't they even read some of the Microsoft blogs about UI, design and usability?

Unbelivable.
SEP 06
 

Posted by ForeverDestiny

Randome question here. If i want to get a 64bit version of vista and right now i have a 32 bit. do i need to buy the operating system again?
SEP 06
 

Posted by torobucks

NO compare to picasa2, Very poor effect, slow speed, and huge size!
SEP 06
 

Posted by marshall

Given the fact that WLinstaller refused to install the apps on x64 platforms, and there is no way to separately install these apps on Vista x64 by downloading the individual packages, supporting x64 at release probably means that the apps will begin beta testing for x64 at release....

Guess we should wait for SP1 (or if these apps are upgrades.... SP2?) for these apps....  I don't know about you but I certainly feel shunted by MS on touting 64-bit support and now something made public (beta or not) from MS is not supporting it......
SEP 06
 

Posted by Brandon LeBlanc

Marshall, actually, all of the apps (Windows Live Messenger, Mail, Writer and even Photo Gallery) all worked on 64-bit PC's at Beta 1. So its no secret they work on 64-bit PC's. Its the new shared installer that does not work currently.

Also: the Windows Live apps have absolutely NOTHING to do with SP1 for Windows Vista.

torobucks, not sure what you mean by "huge size" - the app itself isn't very big. If you're having performance issues (you shouldn't be) be sure to let the team know at feedback.live.com.

- Brandon
SEP 06
 

Posted by Brytown

so based upon what your saying tho many vista users like the style of the original it wont be updated with the stuff from live apps.. I mean are there any plans to update the original viewer with theese things?

Brytown.
SEP 06
 

Posted by Brandon LeBlanc

Brytown, Windows Live Photo Gallery is the successor to Windows Photo Gallery.

Updates won't occur to Windows Photo Gallery.

Here on out - its Windows Live Photo Gallery that will continue to be updated moving forward.

- Brandon
SEP 06
 

Posted by Brytown

I'm also going to agree with tino's comment (if they are going to try and match the blue from vista use the same colors, I don't think its picky to say none of it matches??? When using the beta mail i noticed the colors on the top bar and the sleek transparency (i got it about a week ago) Then i get this and its 2 shades lighter blue no transparency but the splash screen was the same. Also i cant change the background color? Or did that move. I just think that ult users or vista users should just get an updated version that matches the other apps i am an (UI) interface designer So it sticks out like a soar thumb for me maybe allot less for others. The same with windows vista Basic windows inside of are glass enabled endowment, I think they should tune to the appropriate shade of the glass tent.. Its one of the things in my day to day experience that i notice and in the back of my head i know cosmetic changes to vista will come last.. I only hope people remember consistency visually can improve an experience greatly. I know its suspose to be a suite but i had most of theese things already tuned to the style of vista. I just hope its not like xp where those things turn to antiqies. I think good coding and design is the presuit of prefection... Not dumping one thing and premoting the updated version as a "whole seperate entity". MS does this ALOT, meeting space / for the new one Windows mail / for the new one/ ect ect. I find my self a bit conflicted because i LOVE to hear ms is working on new things but in the end its the way they go about it maybe? Even after all the obvious things are said It still comes back the same. Totaly agree with tino in that respect.
SEP 07
 

Posted by Brandon LeBlanc

Forever Destiny, you can order the 64-bit media for Windows Vista here (remember that Windows Vista Ultimate comes with a 64-bit disc). You do not need to buy the OS again. Just order the media.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/2057/ordermedia/default.mspx

- Brandon
SEP 07
 

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SEP 07
 

Posted by kev_gordon

Brandon,

did MS include my suggestion (on a previous article on Windows Live Photo Gallery) to automatically reorient thumbnails based on the exif information?

My biggest complaint about Photo Gallery (and the Windows built in pictures screensaver) is that it does not automatically rotate pictures and thumbnails to match the portrait/landscape orientation information present in most files, as most digital cameras now include this info.
SEP 09
 

Posted by TheNewAugustus

The Photo Gallery improvements are nice, but why is this not just shipped as a Windows Update to the Photo Gallery built into Vista?  Yes, it has the Spaces integration, but I don't see how that makes it appropriate to bundle with Web services.

Microsoft has a very poor history of updating products, and it looks like Vista is following the same road.  Those who purchased Vista Ultimate with the promise of boatloads of additional content have yet to see anything compelling delivered.  These sort of program updates should be shipped as part of the original OS.  I want to run Windows Photo Gallery and Windows Mail, not some other programs.
SEP 10
 

Posted by Brytown

Agreed. a feeling of unity in the OS is lost in a way. Since it has one more major option it shouldt be a whole other program under a diferent name. As for the other improvments they should just be updated. I can understand the mail being live, though because of every other website.
SEP 13
 

Posted by toph

I agree that most users will be confused by the name switch. And there does seem to be a bit of UI inconsistency, looking at the screenshots. (I haven't installed it yet.)

Here's a question: does it lose anything that the original Photo Gallery had? Is it any less integrated with Vista because of it being a separate program? And do settings, tags and captions all carry over from the original?

Thanks. Overall, it looks like it could be a nice improvement.
SEP 13
 

Posted by Brandon LeBlanc

toph, Windows Live Photo Gallery does not lose anything the original Windows Photo Gallery had - in fact it improves upon what Windows Photo Gallery had. Windows Live Photo Gallery is the succesor to Windows Photo Gallery.

You most certainly do not lose tags or captions for your photos. Metadata for images remain in tact. Windows Live Photo Gallery continues to also let you view RAW image files within the app just like Windows Photo Gallery did with the proper RAW codec installed.

As far UI inconsistencies... its currently a beta and the UI has yet to reach its final state. Expect its UI to align with the rest of the Windows Live suite of apps.

- Brandon
SEP 13
 

Posted by toph

So I suppose it's as much an upgrade (as opposed to a new program) as Windows Movie Maker 2 was an upgrade from Windows Movie Maker 1, which is a good thing in my book because I like most everything about Windows Photo Gallery and I see no reason to start anew. :) The name change just made me wonder.

I do notice that the left-hand navigation has changed a bit, removing Ratings and the Pictures and Videos virtual folders (as opposed to the Pictures and Videos physical folders). I see that Ratings are still accessible in the center pane. But is there still a way to see every video in the library, whether it's in the "Video" folder or the "Shared Video" folder or some other random folder?

Anyway, thanks for being so responsive Brandon!
MAY 16
 

Posted by japsiatel

PLEASE HELP HERE I do NOT see this feature ANYWHERE in my windows photo gallery. I have home premium and there is just a button "make movie" nothing else :( :(
MAY 16
 

Posted by Brandon LeBlanc

japsiatel, these features do not exist in Windows Photo Gallery. This post talks about and what you need is Windows Live Photo Gallery which you can download at http://get.live.com.

Windows Live Photo Gallery is sort of a upgrade from Windows Photo Gallery :-)

Thanks,

Brandon
MAY 16
 

Posted by japsiatel

omg this is so COMFUSING but thank you!!!!
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