Windows Live Toolbar

Not to be confused with Bing Bar.

Windows Live Toolbar
Developer(s)Microsoft
Final release
14.0.8064.0206 / 12 February 2009; 15 years ago (2009-02-12)
Operating systemWindows Server 2008, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7
TypeBrowser extension (Toolbar)
LicenseFreeware
WebsiteArchived official website at the Wayback Machine (archive index)

Windows Live Toolbar was a browser extension toolbar for Internet Explorer. It superseded MSN Search Toolbar.[1] Windows Live Toolbar provided a simple search interface that starts to list results as the user types in a search query and uses Bing as its search engine. The toolbar also allows users to synchronize their Internet Explorer favorites across multiple computers and provides an interface to Windows Live and MSN services.

Microsoft also added more tools to Windows Live Toolbar by acquiring Onfolio and integrating it into Windows Live Toolbar.

Founded by JJ Allaire, Allaire Corporation co-founder and creator of the programming language ColdFusion, along with Adam Berrey[2] and Charles Teague,[3] Onfolio was an online research tool that could be used to collect data from the web and make annotations such as inking and text highlighting. Onfolio could be used to download online pages for offline viewing, including document files such as Adobe PDF. It could also be used as an RSS reader. Users could share the information and feeds collected by Onfolio via email and blogs.[4][5] After Microsoft acquired Onfolio, it integrated the product with Windows Live Toolbar, which was the only way to get Onfolio.[6] As of August 2008 however, Microsoft announced that the Onfolio has been discontinued.[7]

Older versions of Windows Live Toolbar also provided a form filler and a highlight viewer, but these features have been removed.

Windows Live Toolbar is included with Windows Live Essentials "Wave 3" release.[8] However, it is no longer a part of the "Wave 4" version of Windows Live Essentials (released on 30 September 2010[9]); it is replaced with Bing Bar.[10] According to Microsoft, Windows Live Toolbar was officially discontinued on 31 March 2011.[11]

The IE Favorites syncing option was previously included initially as favorites.live.com and then in the Windows Live Toolbar, it is now part of the Windows Live Essentials suite, in the Windows Live Mesh solution.

  1. ^ Weinberg, Nathan (9 March 2006). "Windows Live Toolbar". InsideMicrosoft. Blog News Channel. Archived from the original on 25 May 2006. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
  2. ^ Kontzer, Tony (15 March 2004). "Allaire Founder Debuts Online Research Tool". CRN. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  3. ^ Moore, Galen (19 March 2009). "Teague said to be leaving General Catalyst". Boston Business Journal. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  4. ^ "OnFolio Express". Microsoft Partner Pack. Microsoft. Archived from the original on 24 October 2004. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
  5. ^ "OnFolio 1.03". Download.com. CBS Interactive. 27 February 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
  6. ^ "Microsoft Enhances Windows Live Toolbar Capabilities With Acquisition of Onfolio". News Center. Microsoft. 7 March 2006. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
  7. ^ "Information about Onfolio product activation and data export". Support. Microsoft. 6 August 2008. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
  8. ^ "Windows Live Essentials". Microsoft. Archived from the original on 8 June 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2010. Windows Live Essentials programs [~snip~] Toolbar: Search instantly from any webpage.
  9. ^ Sierra, Piero (23 June 2010). "Announcing the new Windows Live Essentials beta!". Inside Windows Live blog. Microsoft. Archived from the original on 25 June 2010.
  10. ^ "Windows Live Essentials beta". Microsoft. Archived from the original on 5 August 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2010. Windows Live Essentials beta programs [~snip~] Bing Bar: Get search results from Bing without leaving the website you're on.
  11. ^ "Windows Live Mesh and Devices Help Center". Microsoft. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2011. If you used Live Mesh beta, Windows Live Toolbar, or Windows Live Sync (all discontinued on March 31, 2011), here's what you need to know before you start using Windows Live Mesh...