By Nathan Weinberg
Expert Author
Article Date: 2007-07-12

Participants in the beta of Windows Live OneCare 2.0 had their software updated to the new beta over the last day or so. Take a look at some of the interface changes:



So, what's different?

Well, you're supposed to install OneCare on all your computers, then manage it centrally here. You manage everything on your network, including backing up to a central location. If you have Windows Home Server, it'll take advantage of that as well. There's also an online photo backup feature, with free storage for your photos, but you'll have to wait until the end of the beta to use it, unless you get an email instructing you to test it right now.

The Firewall has a new setting that turns off certain activities automatically if you are in a public place. These activities will be suspended until you change zones. Take a look:

Activity	Home or work zone	Public place
Network Discovery	On	Suspended
File & Printer Sharing	On	Suspended
Media Center Extender	On	Suspended
Streaming Media	On	Suspended
Virtual Private Network (VPN)	Off	On
Internet Connection Sharing	Off	Off
ActiveSync	Off	Off
Remote Desktop	On	On

The Configure Firewall dialog is WAY streamlined, with everything on a single page instead of a growing number of tabs, with the more advanced options hidden under a second dialog. This means there is an interface for less advanced users to fix firewall problems, while there are still tons of options for tweaking your firewall if you know how to.

There is a new feature under Tune-up for tweaking what happens at the startup of your system. It lists some programs that run at startup, with stats for how often and how recently you use those programs, and a simple click to disable that program. Goodbye, Adobe Acrobat Speed Launcher! So long, Google Toolbar Notifier!

Virus protection has an option to "look for virus-like behavior", or just check for viruses and spyware. You get to choose how proactive it it.

There's printer sharing, which automatically shares any printer connected to any computer in your OneCare "circle" with all the other computers. This should take the guesswork out of printer sharing in most cases.

There's detailed support logging, including a Monthly Report you can have displayed automatically so you know if anything happened in the last month.

Read more at Bink (including a link to get the beta).

See screenshots at Paul Thurrot.

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