Windows Live Essentials 2011 QFE3 Released

Summary:

Windows Live Essentials 2011 QFE3 was released on March 20, 2012. The QFE3 build version is the fourth update to the Windows Live Essentials 2011 (WLE 2011) suite of programs since initial release.

Links:

• Windows Team/Windows Experience Blog Notice for WLE 2011 QFE3
• Windows Live Download Links (Full version and Web Version installers on Microsoft Servers)
• Windows Live Essentials Application Version Numbers

Comments:

• From the Windows Team/Windows Experience Blog

<Quoted Print>
“Today, we released an update for Windows Live Essentials 2011 in all 48 languages.
This minor release includes numerous updates across all of the programs in the Essential package, including Windows Live Messenger, Mail, Photo Gallery, Movie Maker, Family Safety, Writer, and Mesh.” In the coming weeks, customers on Windows Vista SP2 and Windows 7 will receive a notification prompting them to upgrade to the new version. Since this release contains critical fixes for the Essentials package, in a few months, the update will become required for all eligible customers.”

• A ‘change log or details of the included updates was not made available by the Windows Live Team or the Windows Team though as in the past  ‘under-the-hood’ related changes for stability, reliability, better integration and robustness across the WLE 2011 suite of applications, integration with the cloud (e.g. Hotmail, SkyDrive, connected or available 3rd party social services) and Windows 8 and/or IE10 would be expected.
• Rudi R (Microsoft Anwsers Forum Moderator) provided some ‘Additional details’ in an unlikely-hard-to-find place (Microsoft Answers/Messenger Forum-April 3, 2012) on the included changes in WLE 2011 QFE3.  (Click ‘Additional details’ for a snapshot of the Microsoft Answers information).
• Consistent with past practice no significant changes to useability features are really noticeable though users may notice during signon to Windows Live Messenger an additional option to register your pc as a Trusted PC. (Trusted PC is an account managment tool/Security Proof to aid account recovery/Password Reset). Imo, it would be prudent to understand and use Trusted PC if your pc is a private/not shared pc.
• The Windows Live Installer is version 15.4.3555.0308

 

Revisions:
March 20, 2012: Original Draft date
March 21, 2012: Original Publish date
March 22, 2012: Updated to include links (Notice, Download and Version Numbers)
April 11, 2012: Updated to include references to QFE3 changes (Microsoft Answers) and ‘Trusted PC’