April 21, 2008 12:00 PM PDT

Webware 100 winner: Windows Live Hotmail

by Webware staff

Windows Live Hotmail is the latest iteration of Microsoft's free Web-based e-mail service. The multipane interface lets you drag-and-drop messages into folders, or right-click messages for a menu of options. There's also a "Today" tab of news that loads when you sign in. Windows Live Hotmail even lets you choose a color theme in case you feel like customizing it to match your tastes.

Microsoft has also rolled out some useful features like instant spell-check, a built-in audio player, an RSS feed reader, and previews for Office documents and PDFs. However, what makes Hotmail interesting is its rich history. It was the first real Web mail to hit the mass market before Microsoft bought it up and changed it year over year, including the overhaul back in May of 2007 that took over two years to develop.

Winner: Windows Live Hotmail (Get.Live.com)
Category: Communication

Winners in this category:: AIM; Gmail; iChat; meebo; Microsoft Windows Live Messenger; ooVoo; Pidgin; Skype; Windows Live Hotmail; Yahoo Mail; Back to the Webware 100 Winners page

Topics:: Chat and e-mail

Tags:: Windows Live Hotmail,; Webware 100 2008

Share:: Digg; Del.icio.us; Reddit; Facebook

About Webware100

Webware100

Add this feed to your online news reader

After 5 years, Firefox faces new challenges

Mozilla helped reshape the Web since releasing Firefox 1.0 five years ago. Now it's got a reawakened Microsoft and Google Chrome to reckon with.

There's a map for that: GPS or smartphone?

Almost every handset comes with mapping software these days, but standalone GPS devices are becoming more affordable than ever.

Inside CNET News

Scroll Left Scroll Right

Nanotech - The Circuits Blog
Intel Celeron chip anchors $249 Acer Windows 7 laptop
Best Buy is launching its lowest-advertised-price laptop to date--and it's definitely a laptop, not a Netbook.
Gallery
Images: Firefox through the ages
Fully Equipped
Does the new Kindle have better contrast?
The latest generation of Amazon's Kindle not only features "global" wireless connectivity but what appears to be a slightly improved screen with a higher contrast that leaves blacks looking a shade deeper.
Beyond Binary
Microsoft pulls Windows 7 download tool
Software giant takes down tool aimed at making it easier to put Windows 7 on Netbooks after blogger raises question about whether the software improperly uses open-source code.
Video
Exploratorium's shocking 40th anniversary kicks off
Health Tech
Intel debuts text reader for the blind
The Intel Reader is a new mobile device designed to read printed text aloud for the blind or those who have a difficult time seeing or reading.
Video
A new workout for the Wii
The Social
A new set of rules for social games
Playfish's $300 million sale to Electronic Arts seems to spell good news for other makers of social-network games, but this is a fast-growing and messy niche filled with one plot twist after another.
Cutting Edge
Winner declared in space elevator race
LaserMotive wins $900,000 in NASA's Space Elevator challenge, where teams compete to see who could drive their space elevator the fastest.
Gallery
Photos: Top-rated reviews of the week
Crave
Store your files, Death Star plans
Tyme Machines, makers of licensed USB drives, has released its Series 1 sculpted 3D Star Wars character USB thumb drives.
Green Tech
Energy costs to soar if no carbon deal, agency says
The International Energy Agency says that without a global agreement on climate change, the ratio of energy spending to gross domestic product will double by 2030.

Webware 100 winner: Windows Live Hotmail

Chat and e-mail

Windows Live Hotmail,

Webware 100 2008

About Webware100

Most Popular

After 5 years, Firefox faces new challenges

There's a map for that: GPS or smartphone?

Inside CNET News