Microsoft's Windows Live Toolbar provides a single place to search for information on the Internet or your computer, and offers easy access to the online components of the Windows Live suite. The free download of Windows Live Toolbar also integrates anti-virus software and offers several niche functions.

Works Together

Windows Live Toolbar is part of Microsoft's overall Windows Live suite of free software to enhance its Microsoft Windows operating system. This package of programs includes an email client, photo organizer and instant messaging tool that are designed to complement each other.

Unified Search

Windows Live Toolbar is integrated into the Internet Explorer web browser. It provides a handy search box, a single location to begin hunting for specific information on either the Internet or the user's computer.

Convenient Buttons

Windows Live Toolbar also offers one-click access to the online components of Windows Live, along with buttons to translate web pages between languages and retrieve maps for addresses within a web page. The toolbar connects to Bing Maps--formerly Windows Live Local--to display driving directions or information on local businesses.

Smart Menus

With "Smart Menus" activated, the Windows Live Toolbar will display contextual menus when the user highlights relevant text in Internet Explorer, offering buttons to obtain weather and geographical information related to a highlighted address, or call up the share price and other data related to a highlighted stock symbol.

Virus Protection

Formerly known as the Windows Live OneCare Advisor, the Microsoft Security Essentials anti-virus software is included with the Windows Live Toolbar download.

Source:

Microsoft Windows Live: "Cool features you get with Windows Live Toolbar"

Microsoft Windows Live: "Smart Menus in the toolbar"