OneCare 2.0 Beta Available - Vista x64 is supported

From the OneCare team blog today:

http://windowsonecare.spaces.live.co...141!4363.entry
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July 11
Download the OneCare Beta (v2.0) and let us know what you think!
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 Folders (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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-steve



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Stephen Boots
MVP Windows Live
Windows Live OneCare Forum Moderator
sboots@mvps.org