Windows Mail on a Mac

K1LLSW1TCH · 12 Dec 2009 at 23:23

Hello I'm not sure if a similar question has been posted recently so I apologise in advance if I missed it during the search. I use Windows Live Mail (formerly Hotmail) and was wondering if there are any applications I can download that will allow me to send and receive messages from my desktop, without having to go and use the web based interface.

Cheers in advance for any replies.

"andy" · 12 Dec 2009 at 23:28

doesnt apples mail app do it ?

MagicBoy · 12 Dec 2009 at 23:36

"andy" said:
doesnt apples mail app do it ?

It does.

K1LLSW1TCH · 12 Dec 2009 at 23:40

MagicBoy said:
It does.

Are you sure? The last time I tried it, a few months I couldn't get it to work, I thought it didn't support the Microsoft servers?

I'll give it a try now and edit my post accordingly.

Edit: Well that seems to have worked just fine. Thanks for the help and next time I'll RTFM before I come making new threads!

HumbleCoder · 13 Dec 2009 at 00:05

Mail .app uses POP to access WLM. This is not how Windows Live Mail the app works. Unfortunately Hotmail/Windows Live does not offer IMAP support it has its own protocol for IMAP like features, highly annoying IMO.

POP3 is crap, IMO.

MagicBoy · 13 Dec 2009 at 00:15

It seems to be a recent addition, didn't work last time I tried it.

POP3 might be "crap", but it's better than nothing. If you want IMAP then use gmail/Mobile Me etc.

"andy" · 13 Dec 2009 at 00:19

HumbleCoder said:
Mail .app uses POP to access WLM. This is not how Windows Live Mail the app works. Unfortunately Hotmail/Windows Live does not offer IMAP support it has its own protocol for IMAP like features, highly annoying IMO.

POP3 is crap, IMO.

you sure it doesnt work with IMAP ? im 70% sure i just set mine up as IMAP. even mentions it all over the site

heres the guide for it anyway if anyone else wants to use there live email with mail.app

http://help.outlook.com/en-us/140/cc511390.aspx

HumbleCoder · 13 Dec 2009 at 00:55

"andy" said:
you sure it doesnt work with IMAP ? im 70% sure i just set mine up as IMAP. even mentions it all over the site

heres the guide for it anyway if anyone else wants to use there live email with mail.app

http://help.outlook.com/en-us/140/cc511390.aspx

Mail .App supports IMAP and so does Outlook etc but Windows Live Mail uses a special connection protocol called DeltaSync access Hotmail/Windows Live, that's why the WL install thingy in Windows offers an Outlook connector.

POP3 is crap because it's difficult to sync across difference computers and webmail. Folders/read mail/sent does not sync. This might not be a big problem to you but I find it very very annoying.

"andy" · 13 Dec 2009 at 03:59

ahhh. think ive been getting confused because my account is @ live. but it is a uni one with the online outlook support. just realised that hotmail/normal live dont support all that jazz

allosunshine · 13 Dec 2009 at 07:17

If you want Hotmail folder support theres an app called mBox mail. Its not the best at updating he folders as sometimes I have to close and reopen mail to update them but its the only solution out there at the moment. It works brilliantly on my Ipod Touch.

nav... · 13 Dec 2009 at 10:06

1. Setup gmail account
2. Set gmail account to check hotmail via pop3
3. Use gmail account hence forth as hotmail is ****ing lame
4. Setup mail to check gmail via imap.
5. Thank me from the bottom of your heart

Vonhelmet · 13 Dec 2009 at 23:07

Frankly, why anyone would use Windows Live Mail is beyond me, but yes - Mail does support it.

MagicBoy · 13 Dec 2009 at 23:29

I've had an account since they appeared in 1996 and my Uni mail account had a 5Mb limit. It's not my primary account, but comes in handy nowadays for diverting potential spam sources to.