Skip to main content

Microsoft Ships Windows Live OneCare

Microsoft today took the beta off of all-in-one, automatic and self-updating PC care service Windows Live OneCare. The service is now available for purchase online or at retailers for an annual subscription rate of $49.95 for up to three PCs.

Windows Live OneCare, said Microsoft, was first released as a beta back in November. The now fully functioning service has a variety of features, including anti-virus and firewall protection features and automatic updates, as well as anti-spyware functionality; regular PC tune-ups; backup and restore functionality; and help when needed through a variety of modes — e-mail, phone and chat — with all service support coming from Microsoft for no additional charge.

Recommended Videos

“Windows Live OneCare delivers what millions of consumers have been asking for: one source for top-to-bottom maintenance, support and performance optimization tools plus increased protection that takes the worry out of PC care,” said Bill Gates, chairman and chief software architect at Microsoft, in a statement. “This ‘just take care of it’ experience enables customers to focus on what they really care about, which is to be able to sit down at their PCs and enjoy their digital lifestyles.”

Digital Trends Staff
Digital Trends has a simple mission: to help readers easily understand how tech affects the way they live. We are your…
Microsoft is fixing my biggest problem with Windows 11 on handhelds
Asus ROG Ally with the Windows lock screen.

We're finally starting to make some progress on the handheld experience of Windows 11. Although Windows 11 handhelds like the ROG Ally X are some of the best handheld gaming PCs you can buy, that's despite their use of Windows, not because of it. Now, the latest Windows 11 Insider preview (build 22631.4387) adds a feature that should make navigating the OS much easier on a handheld -- a keyboard built for gamepads.

Windows has included an onscreen keyboard for years, and updates over the last couple of years have even made it usable with touch inputs. On a handheld, however, there are two problems with the keyboard. You can't invoke it naturally -- you have to bind Windows + Ctrl + O to a hotkey -- and you can't use your controller to navigate it. With the new update, Microsoft is fixing that last point, at the very least.

Read more
Microsoft just released its ‘unified gateway to Windows’ for Mac
The Surface Pro 11 on a white table in front of a window.

Microsoft has launched a new Windows App for Mac that unifies the remote access Windows experience. There are even versions for iOS, iPadOS, and web browsers, with an Android version in public preview mode.

Windows App: Your gateway to Windows on any device

Read more
Microsoft OneDrive vs. Dropbox: Which is the better deal?
dropbox on a pc computer.

Dropbox and OneDrive are two of the most popular cloud storage services available on the market today. They go toe-to-toe in many areas; however, they have enough differences to make them appealing to different consumers.

Dropbox has integration with several creative and communication-based third-party services, including Adobe Premiere Rush, WeVideo, Otter.ai, Simon Says, DaVinci Resolve, LumaFusion, and Sprout Social. The service is more favorable for creatives and artists, who may be using their cloud storage to save video, images, and music, and can benefit from access to tools that can aid their expression.

Read more