The whole point of the Windows Live ID system is that it is a single, integrated login system that allows MS to maintain one database...Having a Windows Live ID allows one to access any and all of the public services that MS has available.Has anyone else noted the trend at some websites that will allow one to "login" using their Facebook, Google or YouTube account? It's really very convenient! :(

If only the MS (.NET) Passport as it was called at one point caught on more than it did. I liked that idea, but apparently (non-MS) decision makers at the time did not or we would be using it on the entire web by now. If I could log in with the Live ID on all sites I frequented, that would be great! But that doesn't take away from the fact that I find the current subscription method overkill. Perhaps if I could use the Live ID for more, but what is it good for?Cue music, oh wait, next thing you know I'm being called a pacifist.:( :( Didn't we have a horse beating smiley at one point?

Ah, yes, MS-Passport...Back then everybody was up in arms against universal login via Passport because they thought Microsoft was going to:

1. take over the World (unreasonable), and
2. a single login would represent a serious security risk if it was hacked (it did).

Well, the Earth has gone around the Sun about ten times since and now for reasons unknown nobody seems concerned about irretrievably dumping their entire lives into Zookerberg's lap, nevermind universal login via Faceb@@k. Of course those having suffered Faceb@@k worms are well aware of the risks of "Faceb@@kID".The point is to show how folks as a crowd and individually can be completely inconsistent in their beliefs about what is appropriate and what is not based on the name of the Corporation involved and the date of the opinion (opinions change as the culture of Digital Everything matures.)So my conclusion is that opinions on LiveID are very personal, often rooted in non-negotiable beliefs that are deeper than the issue itself and therefore (as in religion and politics) most discussion seems pointless except for discovering who sides with you and who does not. And this thread seems to be no exception.Cheers,- jahman.

Ah, yes, MS-Passport...Back then everybody was up in arms against universal login via Passport because they thought Microsoft was going to:

1. take over the World (unreasonable), and
2. a single login would represent a serious security risk if it was hacked (it did).

Well, the Earth has gone around the Sun about ten times since and now for reasons unknown nobody seems concerned about irretrievably dumping their entire lives into Zookerberg's lap, nevermind universal login via Faceb@@k.  Of course those having suffered Faceb@@k worms are well aware of the risks of "Faceb@@kID".The point is to show how folks as a crowd and individually can be completely inconsistent in their beliefs about what is appropriate and what is not based on the name of the Corporation involved and the date of the opinion (opinions change as the culture of Digital Everything matures.)So my conclusion is that opinions on LiveID are very personal, often rooted in non-negotiable beliefs that are deeper than the issue itself and therefore (as in religion and politics) most discussion seems pointless except for discovering who sides with you and who does not.  And this thread seems to be no exception.Cheers,- jahman.

Also in the bucket of evil ....Cellular phones .... your every movement and location can be tracked.  Your conversations can be eavesdropped on.Credit cards - buying history and location is trackableWeb browser - if you have any cookies on allowed .. even its just for certain sites.Any computer connected to the outside world.... virsus, spam, spyware, data loggers.So everyone scared of the BIG, BAD Microsoft .. also needs to consider getting rid of their cell phone, credit cards, computers, and only browse the web on a public computer away from home.Last comment .. a reasonable man always open to the possibility that with more facts and knowledge that perhaps he/she could change their view.   The reason some people cant talk about religion or politics is because they have unreasonable views that don't stand up well to differing opinions.

Also in the bucket of evil ....Cellular phones .... your every movement and location can be tracked.  Your conversations can be eavesdropped on.Credit cards - buying history and location is trackableWeb browser - if you have any cookies on allowed .. even its just for certain sites.Any computer connected to the outside world.... virsus, spam, spyware, data loggers.So everyone scared of the BIG, BAD Microsoft .. also needs to consider getting rid of their cell phone, credit cards, computers, and only browse the web on a public computer away from home.Last comment .. a reasonable man always open to the possibility that with more facts and knowledge that perhaps he/she could change their view.   The reason some people cant talk about religion or politics is because they have unreasonable views that don't stand up well to differing opinions.

+1 !!!Also your car, if it is leased, uses GPRS to connect with your lessor, so if you fall behind with your lease payments they can and will keep your car from starting in the morning (a disgruntled employee was fired from a leasing company and then proceeded to shut-down the cars of 100+ lessees remotely from his home PC). Of course they also know where your car is at all times via a $5 GPS chip included with the kit so they can repo the car if they have to, straight from the parking lot of your favourite shopping center.All this information (mobile phone, credit cards, cookies, web forums of all sorts and yes, LiveID and especially Faceb@@k) is being commercially harvested, massaged and sold to advertisers by specialty data mining companies. And folks are worried about LiveID ... LOL!But hey, listen, this seems to be the world we're living in...Cheers,- jahman.

If only the MS (.NET) Passport as it was called at one point caught on more than it did. I liked that idea, but apparently (non-MS) decision makers at the time did not or we would be using it on the entire web by now. If I could log in with the Live ID on all sites I frequented, that would be great! But that doesn't take away from the fact that I find the current subscription method overkill. Perhaps if I could use the Live ID for more, but what is it good for?

Live ID is basically MS Passport, just renamed. Of course it didn't take on as a global ID for all the internet, but it is pretty consistent across Microsoft. Like I said, you use it for Xbox LIVE, xbox.com, Zune, Windows Phone Mobile Marketplace, Windows Live (hotmail, messenger, etc), Office Live, and probably others. If you do any billing with Microsoft (such as the Microsoft Store) it is via your Live ID, which I believe is why they take information like name and address. Of course if you never use any of those other Microsoft services it is not very useful, but that is no different than a Google, or Yahoo login. :)

And folks are worried about LiveID ... LOL!

They have their reservations in this context, yes. ;-p In the grand scheme of things, Live ID is rather futile. But that fact is hardly relevant in this specific discussion (much like the other contents of "the bucket of evil"). I mean, what's Flight Simulator as a hobby compared to bigger issues like war, poverty, hunger, etc... But I don't see anyone suggesting we shut down these boards.

Last comment .. a reasonable man always open to the possibility that with more facts and knowledge that perhaps he/she could change their view. The reason some people cant talk about religion or politics is because they have unreasonable views that don't stand up well to differing opinions.

If only that didn't come right after "So everyone scared of the BIG, BAD Microsoft ..". Perhaps you should listen to your own words of wisdom? Reasonable also means respectful.And that's my last post here. Damn last worditis.:(

They have their reservations in this context, yes. ;-p In the grand scheme of things, Live ID is rather futile. But that fact is hardly relevant in this specific discussion (much like the other contents of "the bucket of evil"). I mean, what's Flight Simulator as a hobby compared to bigger issues like war, poverty, hunger, etc... But I don't see anyone suggesting we shut down these boards.If only that didn't come right after "So everyone scared of the BIG, BAD Microsoft ..". Perhaps you should listen to your own words of wisdom? Reasonable also means respectful.And that's my last post here. Damn last worditis.:(

I dont follow you Mike .. where is my lack of respect in that post?  Please re-read .... I think you have misinterpreted my post.

If entering your real name and age is a problem (and there are valid reasons it should be) there are also valid reasons for Microsoft asking for this information: Microsoft is a very large and rich corporation and very large and rich corporations get hit with low-life nuisance lawsuits all the time, so it makes sense for then to take measures to protect themselves.

Its also worth noting that there are laws about collecting information about minors. In the U.S., for instance, children under 8 and children under 13 are entitled to special levels of protection online, which is why asking the birthdate is kind of essential for them. If you want privacy, do what others have suggested and create an anonymous account and make your birthday something other than what it really is, like 1/1/1950 or something.

Live ID is basically MS Passport, just renamed. Of course it didn't take on as a global ID for all the internet, but it is pretty consistent across Microsoft. Like I said, you use it for Xbox LIVE, xbox.com, Zune, Windows Phone Mobile Marketplace, Windows Live (hotmail, messenger, etc), Office Live, and probably others. If you do any billing with Microsoft (such as the Microsoft Store) it is via your Live ID, which I believe is why they take information like name and address. Of course if you never use any of those other Microsoft services it is not very useful, but that is no different than a Google, or Yahoo login. :)

That was my experience. My son has a ZunePass(?), an Xbox LIVE account, and a Games for Windows LIVE account. Except they are all the same account. Pretty convenient, actually. He and his friends/buddies (whatever Microsoft calls them) can stay in touch online with whatever they are doing--so he could be playing an Xbox game, his friend could be playing a GFWL game, and another could be listening to music in the Zune site but they can all chat with each other and get little pop-ups when they sign in--"Buddy1 signed in" or some such message.I learned all of this because I had to enter my information on it because as a minor, Microsoft/Google/Facebook, etc. has to follow certain privacy/protection laws and my son legally couldn't sign up for the account without my permission (or in this case, my credit card to pay for his Xbox LIVE membership!--don't worry, I made him work the debt off pulling weeds, raking leaves, etc. Kids nowadays are too soft! I had to walk 6 miles to school...both ways...up hill....in the snow year round!). This is why they ask for a birthday (says so on Facebook, Windows LIVE read me, etc.).Facebook, for example, doesn't allow anyone under 14 on it for these reasons.This is a convenience and legal protection, not a Microsoft trying to usurp all your personal information issue.

That was my experience. My son has a ZunePass(?), an Xbox LIVE account, and a Games for Windows LIVE account. Except they are all the same account. Pretty convenient, actually. He and his friends/buddies (whatever Microsoft calls them) can stay in touch online with whatever they are doing--so he could be playing an Xbox game, his friend could be playing a GFWL game, and another could be listening to music in the Zune site but they can all chat with each other and get little pop-ups when they sign in--"Buddy1 signed in" or some such message.I learned all of this because I had to enter my information on it because as a minor, Microsoft/Google/Facebook, etc. has to follow certain privacy/protection laws and my son legally couldn't sign up for the account without my permission (or in this case, my credit card to pay for his Xbox LIVE membership!--don't worry, I made him work the debt off pulling weeds, raking leaves, etc. Kids nowadays are too soft! I had to walk 6 miles to school...both ways...up hill....in the snow year round!). This is why they ask for a birthday (says so on Facebook, Windows LIVE read me, etc.).Facebook, for example, doesn't allow anyone under 14 on it for these reasons.This is a convenience and legal protection, not a Microsoft trying to usurp all your personal information issue.

+1!I appreciate your unbiased, un-ideological POV!BTW, please expand on having to "walk 6 miles to school...both ways...up hill". :-)Cheers,- jahman.

+1!I appreciate your unbiased, un-ideological POV!BTW, please expand on having to "walk 6 miles to school...both ways...up hill". :-)Cheers,- jahman.

Monty Python's Flying Circus - "Four Yorkshiremen"FOURTH YORKSHIREMAN: Right. I had to get up in the morning at ten o'clock at night half an hour before I went to bed, drink a cup of sulphuric acid, work twenty-nine hours a day down mill, and pay mill owner for permission to come to work, and when we got home, our Dad and our mother would kill us and dance about on our graves singing Hallelujah.FIRST YORKSHIREMAN: And you try and tell the young people of today that ..... they won't believe you.Regards, Mike Mann