Is there an application that you can use on your PC to login to for xbox live?

I'd like to know what my friends are playing, who is on, send them messages, etc. All without having to use a website, some kind of small application would be nice. Are there any sorts of apps like that or no?

i'd like to see that...

there are some apps for ipod touch, but u only can see who's in; not send em messages

u can do that on xbox.com, but i know u want a program not a website

Yeah, a program. It just seems like a natural extension of the whole keeping connected philosophy.

You can do all that using the XBOX page, I don't see the point of having another program do it when you can do everything there

XBList

http://benhollis.net/software/xblist/

I'm using this right now. It works pretty well

Games for Windows Live.