Microsoft's downloadable Windows Live tools all got an update last week and it looks like their online tools are next. According to the company, Hotmail is getting a major update in the coming few days, one that will increase the mail service's speed as much as 70 percent on slower machines.
Hotmail will also "combine the current classic and full versions of the service" to allow consumers to view the body of an email without clicking into it - a la Microsoft Outlook. Other changes include stronger virus and spam-detection technology, more storage, and a bunch of catch-up features such as IM access directly from the inbox, auto-complete functionality in the "To" field of outgoing messages, and easier calendar sharing options.
Following Windows Live Hotmail, other tools such as Windows Live Skydrive, Windows Live Spaces, and so forth will also get updates in the coming weeks.