Live ID is not a new concept in the Microsoft world. An XBox Live ID is almost essential to get the full features offered on the XBox. Many Microsoft customers find that the ability to Sync devices through a shared Live ID for both devices makes media sharing and versatility on multiple devices a pretty handy feature. So offering multiple device sign in on the computer with a shared ID was a natural next step.
Create Your Windows Live ID
If you think that you can’t access the Windows Live ID features without a Microsoft email address, don’t concern yourself. You can sign up to Windows Live ID with any existing e-mail service. There will be no need to create a new Hotmail account to register your Windows Live ID and set up your account for your Windows 8 Machine.
Existing Windows Live ID
If you already have a Windows Live ID then your ready to start personalizing your account. This includes the ability to change your lockout screen to sound setting for functions such as receiving a message on messenger or where you stopped on a video saved to a SkyDrive. All of this is set and remembered.
This allows users to “save their place” before switching to another device. As long as the user signs up with their Windows Live user ID then the account will appear the same with the same running available applications and other personal features. Much like an XBox Live account remains the same on each XBox connected to the Internet when a user signs in with their XBox Live ID.
When setting up your account you may be concerned with having an ID associated with work, and one for your recreational or personal time on the computer. Not only can it help to avoid a cluttering of information, especially for those who do much of their work using a computer, but it can help the user to avoid unnecessary distractions such as frequent social network updates.
For many users creating a work ID and a separate social ID is an easy answer. For others they would prefer to simply be able to limit information allowed on another computer. Windows 8 will let you put restrictions on particular systems that will only affect that local host. This innovation may help users to avoid having to have several user Live ID’s and integrate their use into one easy to access Windows Live ID.
Account Security
When considering the regular use of Windows Live ID security is a top consideration. Keeping personal information personal and protecting passwords along with user data is all top priority. Several measures have been put into implementation just for these reasons.
By using a combination of password protection, secret question security as well as encryption of sensitive data, Microsoft has gone to great lengths to make sure that your experience with a Windows Live ID is a safe one.
If at some time your account is compromised there are safeguards for you in that case as well. Your account will be put in a limited state that will not allow for use of Live ID features, but will let you access your local host computer. Once you have recovered your account through secondary authentication you will once again have access to your account and your personal settings.
Good or Bad?
The ability to have access to a personalized account does seem pretty nice. I can think of several different scenarios in which it could be a handy feature to be able to access. And with the choice of setting specific devices to appropriate settings also adds to the possible versatility of Windows 8. And if Windows 8 becomes the next big thing in Windows then it will be even more useful as it is implemented on more machines.
