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 (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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