MSN Spaces Book: Ideas

Curiouser and curiouser...

Tue, 27 Jun 2006 22:56:10 GMT

The excitement is building...can you feel it? Did you notice this new graphical box in the Help panel on the right side of your MSN Space today?

The new release is going to be great! Get ready to be wowwed. :)

Check this out! Microsoft LifeCam

Thu, 15 Jun 2006 18:56:42 GMT

Have you see the new Microsoft webcams that are optimized for Windows Live Messenger? These are truly awesome. The Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000 is available right now, retails for $49, and plugs seamlessly into Windows Live Messenger and includes face tracking technology, with pan, tilt, and zoom controls.

But here's the one I'm really excited about. The Microsoft LifeCam VX-6000 (which hasn't been released yet), will be $99, offers high-definition video with 1.3 megapixel video resolution (amazing), a 3x digital zoom, a powerful built-in micrrophone, a Windows Live Call button that enables you to push a button, choose a contact, and start a video conversation (actually the Windows Live Call button is available on both cameras).

My favorite feature is available in both models: One-Touch Blogging! The product description for the LifeCam VX-6000 on amazon.com says, "with One-Touch Blogging, a single click allows you to upload to Windows Live Spaces, an "online scrapbook" that lets you easily post blogs, photo albums, and personal music lists." Before you know it, video posting will be as easy as pushing a button!

Change the language display of MSN Spaces

Fri, 12 May 2006 16:37:31 GMT

Here's a cool tip I wouldn't have found if one of you hadn't left the question in the Comments area, so thanks! I know that MSN Spaces is huge all over the world and that you don't have to go far to find MSN Spaces in other languages (which I love), but I didn't know how to change the language display of MSN Spaces. So when one of you asked how to display your space in Spanish, I went looking for it. And here's what I found in MSN Spaces help:

You can change the language display by going to the Web site of the language you want to use and logging in as usual. Here are the links for a few languages:

For Spanish, go to http://spaces.msn.com?mkt=es-es
For Spanish (US), go to http://spaces.msn.com?mkt=es-us
For French, go to http://spaces.msn.com?mkt=fr-fr
For German, go to http://spaces.msn.com?mkt=de-de
For Japanese, go to http://spaces.msn.com?mkt=ja-jp

To review the whole list, click in the Search Help box (scroll down in the right margin of your space) and type "change language"; then click the Search Help arrow. Fascinating--and who knows? You might find you have a talent for picking up new languages. :)

MSN Spaces Possibilities

Tue, 09 May 2006 15:48:14 GMT

This is really cool. I saw this on your space, Mike, and thought I'd share it here because it's exciting. :)

The Xbox team called on MSN Spaces users who are also Xbox Live® members to blog about their experiences at E3 (the Electronic Entertainment Exposition in Los Angeles, California, May 9-11). The expo boasts the introduction of thousands of new games; plus Xbox 360 will be there en force (there were some hints about Halo 3 in the press yesterday) in addition to the other major contenders (Sony and Nintendo, obviously).

Visit the Xbox site to get the list of MSN Spaces users who are the official E3 bloggers. How cool is that? Use your MSN Space to share what fascinates you and you never know who might come knocking at your door! And we'll help you with the practicalities along the way. :)

MSN Spaces for Mother's Day :)

Tue, 02 May 2006 13:50:36 GMT

Are you at a loss for what to give your mom for Mother's Day this year? Here's an idea: Create a family MSN Space! You and your siblings (and your dad, if he's game) can put together a tribute space for Mom, with your favorite stories, photos, music, and more. Here are just a few ideas, off the top of my head, for items you could include on your Mother's Day MSN Space:

Family Story Blog posts from each of the kids
A list of "Our favorite moments"
A list of "Best recipes"
A list of "Mom's adventures"
A photo album of "Mom's garden"
A photo album of "Grandkid art" (you can scan drawings and paintings for Grandma and post them in this album)
A photo album of "Our baby pictures"
Links to gifts, destinations, or other sites you think Mom will love.
Use the HTML PowerToy to play her favorite song or show a video of the kids

Here are a couple of ideas for unwrappable gifts to go along with the MSN Space you create:

Create a personalized photo book with My Publisher. Send copies of the photos from your MSN Space to MyPublisher, an online publishing company that creates beautiful four-color photo books (hardcover) from your favorite images. You can customize it to include text from your MSN Space. (I've ordered several of these, and they are really great.)
Create a screen saver using Photo Story 3. Using those same photos, you can create a screen saver of family images and use Photo Story 3 (which is free!) to set the slideshow to great music. (Last year, for a new mom friend of mine, I created a slideshow of her baby's first year and set it to "What a Wonderful World," sung by Louis Armstrong. There wasn't a dry eye in the room!)
Create refrigerator magnets from your favorite photos on your MSN Space. Use Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006 (click here for a free trial download) or Microsoft Office Picture Manager (if you want simple) to touch up your favorite photos; then print them on photo paper, mount them in tiny frames, and glue craft magnets on the back. (This is a fun project for kids on a rainy spring afternoon.)

There are lots of things you can create once you get that creative vibe going! There's nothing that will make mom's face light up more than knowing you remember and care about the family moments you've shared together--and MSN Spaces can help you show her that in a special way. Happy Mother's Day! :) [kathy]