Windows Live Events: Welcome to the social

Posted By: Sarah Perez | Oct 15th, 2007 @ 4:00 AM

Windows Live Events , a new feature of Windows Live Spaces, has just launched bringing you a place to create, manage, and share events. With one-click from Spaces you can acces the single-page setup for a Live Event. Customize your event by using one of the 100+ available templates. The "Add Map" button inserts a Windows Live Map showing the exact location of the event. You can also relocate the pushpin's location on the map, a handy feature especially if you're having a picnic in a park, where a street address can only be so accurate. The last step is an option where you can choose a personalized web address, like [eventname].events.live.com, for your event's homepage.

Click "Create" to save your event and you'll see buttons to "Invite Guests," "Edit Details," "Share Photos," "Start a Discussion," and "Customize." Customize gives you the option to change colors, themes, layout, or add Spaces modules to your event's page. You can add music, videos, custom lists, an RSS feed, or other gadgets, like the weather widget, to your page. When you are satisfied that your customizations are complete, you can start inviting people to your event by using the "Invite Guests" button.

Hotmail/Live Mail users will find the contact list integration useful, a feature which lets you easily invite any guests whose email addresses you already have saved in your address book. You can also enter in email addresses to send the event to anyone else you choose. Another large button at the top of the event's page gives you the option to publicize the event by blogging it to your Space. For you and your guests, the event's page provides links to add the event to your Microsoft Outlook Calendar, Apple’s iCal, Yahoo Calendar, or Google Calendar. The discussion board feature and the ability to share photos on the event's page, make the event homepage feel less like a simple online invite, and more like a social network for the event.

After the event is over, all the attendees can share photos using the "Share Photos" option, which also allows for album creation. The event's page can stay up for as long as you choose, as you would actually have to go into your Options, then Event Details, and scroll to the bottom to locate the delete option, something you won't do by accident. Use this launch as an excuse to have a party and let us know what you think of the tool.