A few weeks ago Microsoft made the fresh out of the box Windows Mail program that comes with Vista obsolete when they released Windows Live Mail as part of a ‘Software + Services‘ objective that they apparently couldn’t get together in time for the release of Vista. They’re about to do it again, this time with Windows Photo Gallery.

Called Windows Live Photo Gallery (apparently everything is better when it’s live), the program includes all the features of Windows Photo Gallery, but adds the following:

• Improved image editing features like Panoramic stitch, histogram, and sharpen image.
• Improved tagging and organization including the ability to quickly sort by name, file type, tag or date.
• Publish photos directly to your photo galleries on Windows Live Spaces.
• Auto event grouping and tagging when importing photos (and video) from your camera to PC.
• Improved Photo Import Tool.

Windows Live Photo Gallery is still in a closed beta, but will be available later this summer. Brandon, at the Windows Experience Blog is using it now and reports that it is much improved on it’s predecessor.

Any bets on what the next Vista program to go Live will be? I’m going with Windows Live Notepad.