To LiquidSolstice:
The Live thing is Windows Live Search. It's an app that looks up maps an local businesses on the Internet. It also does driving directions, and has a voice-activated search feature, but it's voice-in only -- no voice out.
Since the data comes from the 'Net, you'll either need WiFi or a data plan. Personally I like TomTom Navigator *much* better for GPS-based on-the-road navigation, but being 16, you probably won't need GPS-nav too soon, will you?
And for home screen plugins, yeah the HTC Home plug is pretty cool -- I ran with it for about the last month or so, but I decided it was just too big, and not flexible enough for my needs. I've been using SPB Mobile Shell 1.5 for about the last two weeks, and I love it! Only disadvantage: It's not free. It is, however, well worth the money. (Same is true for SPB Plus and SPB Diary, in my humble opinion.)
HTH, -Jake