So last year, Microsoft started the initiative, where by a portion of the advertising revenue would donated to the organizations that users of the messaging program choose.

So for example out of the 10 organizations that are listed here, when I use Live Messenger, a portion of the ad revenue is donated to Stop Global Warming. So, within a year of this initiative being launched, US $1.3 Million has been donated as a whole to the different organizations. This is amazing and all it takes to join is to follow the steps here, to make a small change as to how you display your name in Live Messenger. Go ahead and make a difference, all with an IM .

So, hopefully by now, everyone has heard of Surface, a huge interactive table that allows users to interact with digital content using natural motions, hand gestures and actual physical objects.

Well after many months of talk and speculation, the first Surface units are out and in select AT&T stores. Although the functionality is limited to providing information to shoppers at the moment, they are hoping for advanced interactivity in the future so that people can do more with these units. Check the video out for details.

Hopefully we see them soon in other locations. Can’t wait .

No One Wants to Look Dumb is a new ad campaign that is going around for MSN. Some of the videos they have are pretty funny, such that they highlight the fact that MSN has the content you might need to prepare yourself for daily conversations.

Going on a First Date

They even have a Facebook Page that you can view as part of the campaign. Anyway if you head over to the site, you can send a quick dose of awesome using the phone or through email to a friend and remind them on how MSN can help them with their daily life conversations.

So it has been a while since I put an update in here last. Things have just been so busy at work that I haven't had a chance.

But during that time Live Maps has had a huge update. Windows Live in general is rolling out updates, but the one for Live Maps is something to talk about.

Above is some changes that have been made to the Virtual Earth 3D portion of Live Maps. It allows you to currently tour Las Vegas and a few others and see the sights in color. These cities are now more detailed than before and hopefully they get rolled out to other cities soon.

Another cool feature that I really like is the MapCruncher feature that has been under Microsoft Research for a while but is now out in production. It allows you to take maps such as seating charts and bike trails and things like that and essentially map them on top of Live Maps. Here is an example in regards to the Boston Districts, and as you can see below on the edge is the Map, and on top of it is the City Council Map for the area that you can add and then align by assigning a couple of points and the rest is magic.

(To do this you just need a collection or favorites of places that you like to visit and under the actions menu choose to add the MapCrunch layer.)

There are also more updates as can be seen on the Virtual Earth's Team blog, however I really felt these were the ones that really made Live Maps a lot more interesting and fun to use. And for those of you who have mobile phones, don't leave home without the Windows Live for Mobile Phones application.