Windows Live Favorites, version one, was released just the other day. This service is one of many Windows Live services (see ideas.live.com for a full list) and this one enables you to access your favourite web sites wherever you are and whenever you have access to the Net. You're able to have up to 1500 sites on your list (yes, there are people who have as many favourites as that).

You'll firstly want to copy your favourite sites from your Favorites in Internet Explorer (or other browser). So load Live Favorites (favorites.live.com) in your browser and sign in using your Windows Live ID (we used to call it our Hotmail or MSN account). Now choose Import or click Add and follow the steps so that your favourites on your home or work computer are stored on the Live Favorites server and become accessible from whatever computer you're logged onto with your Live ID. Use Live Favorites help if you've got favorite sites listed in other browsers or sites such as del.icio.us.

Once your favourites are loaded into Live Favorites you'll see they're listed under five headings: Top, Title, Tags, Sharing and Address. You can sort your list by ascending or descending order by clicking on any one of these column headings. Some properties of each entry in your list can be edited by simply right-clicking on its title. The popup box lets you edit or add information about the particular site. For example, you may want to change the title for easier recognition. You'll also see a box into which you can enter tags (or keywords) that describe the main type of information contained on the site. So you could tag all sites that give you information about digital photography or videos or music or history - whatever your interests are. Then you could sort these sites by clicking the Tags column heading to more easily find them.

The other column of interest is the Sharing one. When first loaded, all your favourites are classed as Private. So if you want to share some or all your favourite sites on your MSN Space, for example, you'll need to set the site as being shared by ticking Share this favorite when you right-click a particular entry in your list.

You'll probably find it more convenient to access your Live favourites from Windows Live Messenger. You mightn't see the Live Favorites icon (a big yellow star) on your tabs list so go to your personal settings in Messenger and click Tabs. Live Favorites is probably down the bottom of the list so move it to the top, below Windows Live Messenger contact list, for quick access. Whenever you want to add a new site, click the arrow alongside the Manage button. Note you're told how many favorites you have and you can make use of Find in favorites to search your list.

Firstly visit Pass the POI (www.passthepoi.com) to see plenty of collections of locations created by people around the world. The list is constantly expanding and is full of variety - the BBC London jam cams collection is good example to try or choose the list on the right side of the page.

Now you're ready to put together your own collection on the Live Local map. Sign in to your Windows Live ID so you can save your collection. Either search for a location (city, landmark or address) and a pushpin is placed for you or place a pushpin yourself. Now right-click to bring up an entry box to enter a title, make some notes, add a web address of a photo (or screenshot), and enter a link to a particular web site.

Once you've done your first entry, save your collection, and from now on, any new entries are automatically saved for you. To share your collection with others (e.g., post it to your MSN Space), you need to make your collection Public. You can see from viewing the collections at Pass the POI that those who view your collection can extract a lot of information and it's a convenient way to share a trip, local history, sights around your area, or use in your business.