Yet another old Longhorn-based project bit the dust today when Microsoft Max’s website was suddenly shut down and replaced with the following message:

“Thank you for participating in the beta of Microsoft Codename Max. Over the next week, we will be shutting down the Max services and our team forums. Over the past year, you’ve sent us tons of fantastic feedback that we’ve incorporated not only into Max, but into the platform layer with the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0.

If you’re interested in seeing where we go with these ideas, keep your eye on Windows Live. We look forward to delighting you in the future!”

That announcement will surprise many, since the team had released a new update to their project last month and Max seemed to be coming together quite nicely…

I want to say at this point, I find JCXP.net a highly respectable website of which forums are brimming with fun and knowledge and n00bs asking silly questions; I think they’re great. However I do believe this story which was originally posted on Neowin is wrong.

Windows Live will be one of the main supplier to the Windows Ultimate Extras. Other additions will be added, such as the “Aurora Desktop” will be added at a later date. Microsoft Max (speaking carefully because I’m not saying this is gonna happen) will be transformed somewhat into a Windows Live service, which will then be added as a Windows Ultimate Extra for download.

Still love you guys at JCXP – I usually have a morning blog-roll where I check out the broadest but best sites for technology news – LiveSide is one of them, so is Bink, and the latest addition is Long Zheng at istartedsomething.com. Lovely 🙂