Microsoft released an update to its Windows Live Essentials 2011 beta, which brings added functionality to Movie Maker, Writer, Mail, and Family Safety.

With the update, Microsoft has made Windows Live Messenger faster, more social, and more efficient; the update delivers shorter sign-in times, quicker social media feed refreshes, swifter animation speed, and compatibility with Facebook chat. Video chat now uses 30 percent less CPU resources by deferring work to the GPU.

In addition, facial recognition works more quickly. Photo Gallery has also received a preview mode and improved tree view, Writer gets better Office integration and spell check, and Family Safety`s Web filtering is now 35 percent faster than before.

BDST: 1715 HRS, 19 August 2010