Messenger Plus! Live 4.50 has been in beta testers hands for a few weeks now, and there are some significant changes. A new design, numerous tweaks and some impressive new features really make this release one of the best ever. Here are the main changes:

Skinning

Messenger Plus! Live's main new feature is fully integrated skins within Messenger! The program manages skins, allows skin creators to develop them easier than ever before (no more .rle issues) and customize Messenger's design to its full potential. It is seriously impressive and I bet more skins like the ones available for MSN Messenger. Skins will be made faster and in a larger quantity. Windows Live Messenger itself could not implement this feature better. Skinning also allows manipulation of Messenger's windows, something which was never possible before. You can see a basic example of this happening in the screenshot below:

Design

Messenger Plus! Live has fully integrated its design with Windows Live Messenger 8.5, but with additional tweaks that Messenger itself can benefit from. Check a look at some screenshots in our gallery and see the new design for yourself.

Changes to contact list clean-up

The new contact list clean up wizard has two modes: one for the contacts on your list and one for the contacts that have you on their list. This helps you know the people you have deleted that still have you in their contact list and who knows you may want to add them again.

Event notifications within conversations





Chat logging

The chat log viewer has had various improvements, which can make the script we talked about, Log Manager seem a little dated. However, new features such as a print preview menu, faster browsing their ability to search within multiple logs, reading over old chats is better than ever.



Scripts

A new debug window is present and the script editor window now has line numbers and the ability to close off certain sections. Basically the script editor is now more practical and similar to that of most modern code editors.

Others

• An additional options menu has been adding to contact cards.
• Encrypted log files an now have an optional password hint.
• Event notifications such as when a contact signs out is enabled by default.
• The installer system has been improved with a bigger uninstaller menu and is faster on Windows Vista.
• An option has been added that allows you to hide your 'contact is typing a message notification', something we have already talked about in the past.
• You can show your currently installed scripts with the (!SVER) command.
• A /exit command has been added which closes all current chats and exits Messenger.
• There is now 'disable sign-out confirmation when chats are opened' option in the Customize section of the preferences.

I can assure you the changelog goes on and on and on and you will notice the various little tweaks for yourself. The list above are just the main changes. However, what you will really notice is the development of skins. If you are skinner don't think we have been skinning for long, testers only got it enabled as of yesterday, so you are pretty much in the same shoes as us.

View some screenshots in our gallery
Download the current release of Messenger Plus! Live