Windows Essentials (WEs) is an important suite of apps for windows users. All the apps in this pack are free.  Microsoft keeps updating this program to deliver new features. WEs was introduced for Windows XP users, too. But now it is available for only Windows 7 and 8.

You can download Windows Essentials suite using this link: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-live/essentials-home

The suite is an online installer. You can select all the apps in suite or install only selected apps.

So what you get in Windows Essentials suite?

(1) Windows Messenger
It is similar to GTalk and Yahoo Messenger. Skype is now part of Windows messenger. You can chat face to face or make high-definition calls using Windows Messenger. You can use it send IMs and chat with your Facebook friends. It is also available for Android and Windows Phones. You can make audio or video calls on web phone and mobile, you can share documents, too.

(2) Movie Maker
With Movie Maker you can create a movie from your captured photos and videos, add music in it, and add theme. It has some useful features as video stabilizer, adding background music from music sources, add cool text effects.

(3) Photo Gallery
Photo gallery let you manage your pictures taken from digital camera. You can search and manage your picture and tag them properly, so you can search a picture any time. Photo Gallery also works as a picture viewer. You can use Photo Gallery tools to create Panorama images, picture collage, slide show, and merge photos.

(4) Live Writer
Live Writer is the only Windows Essentials application that I use daily or I use. It is a much-needed application for blog publishers. You can add blog accounts to compose and publish blog posts without opening web interface.

(5) Microsoft Mail
You can add your all the emails accounts like yahoo mail accounts, Gmail accounts, Hotmail Mail and any so on. It can be used to read and compose email using your email accounts without opening web interface. You need to have configured email accounts before using them.

(6) Family Safety
You can monitor your kids’ online activities. So you can keep an eye on the things they are doing when you are not on the desk.

(7) Windows SkyDrive
Microsoft’s online file hosting and sharing service is also included in this suite.