OneCare 2.0 Beta Available - Vista x64 is supported

[Guest StephenB]

From the OneCare team blog today:

 

http://windowsonecare.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!C29701F38A601141!4363.entry

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July 11

Download the OneCare Beta (v2.0) and let us know what you think!

After months of listening to customer feedback on Windows Live OneCare (v1.5)

and designing and testing new features and services for the product, we’re proud

to unveil the first public beta release of the next version, Windows Live

OneCare (2.0). Windows Live OneCare 2.0 automatically manages an even greater

number of security and maintenance tasks so users can spend more time using

their PCs and less time maintaining them. Sign up at

http://get.live.com/betas/onecare_betas!

 

In the new version, our aim was to help consumers better manage their home

environment. Our research has shown that most homes now have approximately 2.5

computers. This means that in addition to securing and maintaining multiple

PCs, consumers now need to do the extra work associated with connecting devices

and securing networks. To ease this burden, we added to OneCare features such

as multi-PC and home network management as well as printer sharing to help

address the modern home environment.

 

This new version also establishes a foundation to better address the needs of

small businesses. Many small businesses need to protect and maintain a number

of PCs but may not have the resources for extensive onsite IT support. To help

solve this problem, we added centralized backup to OneCare so local back up on a

small business network is a simple step instead of a time consuming hassle.

 

Here’s a quick overview of the new features we’ve added to OneCare version 2.0

to help keep users’ PCs and networks safe, reliable and performing well:

 

Multi-PC and home network management. Helps ease management of multiple-PC

environments by providing a single navigation bar for monitoring the security

and maintenance of networked computers. Also enables one-click actions to

resolve issues among computers within a home PC network.

Printer sharing support. Makes it easy to connect printers to local networks so

all users in the vicinity can use the same printer.

Start-time optimizer. Speeds PC boot time by removing rarely used applications

from start-up menu. This helps to address one of the noticeable areas of

frustration for PC users as time goes on.

Proactive fixes and recommendations. OneCare constantly monitors the specific

configuration of the user’s system and makes proactive fixes and recommendations

to improve the computing experience.

Monthly reports. Provides a summary in the Windows Live OneCare dialogue box of

key activities and recommended actions for all PCs in a local network.

Centralized backup. Enables users to centrally configure and monitor backups for

all PCs covered under the same OneCare subscription, with the data from all PCs

backed up to a central location.

Online photo backup. Keeps precious photos safe from theft or accidental loss by

backing them up to a secure, offsite location in Windows Live Folders (available

at an extra cost once v2.0 is out of beta).

On behalf of the entire OneCare team, I’d like to offer a special thanks to the

thousands of users who have sent us their thoughts and feedback on Windows Live

OneCare. Our goal with Windows Live OneCare is to make users life easier, at

least the PC and home network management part of it. Take a look at version

Windows Live OneCare beta (2.0) and let us know what you think.

 

Thanks for your continued feedback,

Gina (OneCare guest blogger)

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-steve

 

 

 

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Stephen Boots

MVP Windows Live

Windows Live OneCare Forum Moderator

sboots@mvps.org