Xbox Live Monitor
  by Michael R. Brumm

UPDATE: After the release of the Xbox 360, Microsoft overhauled their Xbox Live website and Xbox tab in MSN Messenger. Now, their services offer most of the features my monitor provided. In addition, the changes made to their website broke the querying method that my monitor uses. Rather than fix the monitor and duplicate Microsoft's services, I've decided to retire this project.

Want to be alerted when your friends are online, but don't want watch your Xbox all the time?

Trying to keep in touch with your clan members, but don't know when they are online?

Waiting for someone to add you to their friends list?

Want to stalk that cute girl you met on Xbox Live?
(not recommended)

Own a computer that's also on the Internet?

Then have I got the solution for you!
The "Xbox Live Friend Monitor"!

How Does This Work?

The Xbox Live Friend Monitor works as a specialized web browser that displays your friends list, automatically refreshes the list, and provides instant notifications when changes to your friends list occur.

Want to be notified when one of your friends come online, but can't sit in front of the Xbox or the computer? Select their name in the list so that it appears in the text box, then click on the "Add" button, and then check the "Alarm" check box. Turn up the speakers on your computer and go watch some TV, do the dishes, or go to sleep. When your friend comes online, your computer will beep loudly to let you know!

If you don't check the "Alarm" check box, the Xbox Live Monitor will do its best to keep track of when your friends came online and went offline.

Spend a lot of time on your computer, but want to know who is online and offline? Close (don't Exit) the Xbox Live Monitor, and it will notify you on the task bar:

If you are waiting for someone to add you to their friends list (and so they aren't on your friends list yet), you can type their name into the text box, click on the "Add" button, and then check the "Alarm" check box. When they add you, the alarm will sound.

How is This Different Than the MSN Alerts for Xbox?

Xbox Live Friend Monitor:

1. does not require you to be signed onto MSN Messenger.
2. will not annoy you with alerts about friends you are not interested in monitoring.
3. can beep continuously instead of just one little notification.
4. shows the status of all your friends in one list.
5. displays when friends last played.

Requirements

Gamertag Linked to a .NET Passport
  Link Your Gamertag to a .NET Passport for FREE on Xbox.com

Supported Operating Systems: Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003, or higher
(Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 requires Service Pack 6a.)

Software Requirements:
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 or later
Microsoft Windows Installer 2.0 or later
Microsoft .NET Framework Version 1.1