A blogger called Michael Sun has posted some screenshots of a new internal build of Windows Live Messenger labelled 8.0.0683.00_Branches on his blog. These screenshots show that the screenshots that were leaked at the beginning of this month/end of last month were real and that new features are coming to Windows Live Messenger.

The 'dashboard' space at the top of the contact list has changed again (from the leaked screenshots too) and now includes a new Windows Live Mail/Hotmail icon, a new Sharing Folders icon, a new (Windows Live?) Spaces icon, a new colourisation icon, and two completely new icons. The first is a picture of a calendar and is thought to either link to a new service (possibly Windows Live Calendar or the calendar feature in Windows Live Mail) or could link to the MSN Today page which has reappeared in this version, although it was thought that it was going to be replaced by Windows Live Today (possibly featuring a calendar) in future builds which has been confirmed to link to the new Windows Live Today page which has replaced MSN Today which was available in previous versions of MSN Messenger - the option as to whether this page pops-up when you sign in has appeared again too. The other new icon is a telephone which is beleived to open the Windows Live Call part of messenger. This is known to be in the new internal build and there are several new features to tie in with it too.

The new features/options are found in the options dialog and are Show me as 'In a Call' when I'm in a Windows Live Call (is the 'In a Call' a new status to replace 'On The Phone'?) and new sound options for the events of 'Outgoing Phone Ring' and Voice Call'.

Other new options include Show shadows and animation and the chance to choose a default Window Color. There is also an option whether to Show "contact says:" before every message.

The installer of this build is also new and features the option of enabling the Windows Live Sign-in Assistant which ties in with the new Windows Live ID (the replacement of the Microsoft Passport Network) and allows you to "see all your Windows Live ID accounts at sign-in with Internet Explorer". The other new setup feature is the option of integration with the Rhapsody music service from Real Networks (the makers of Real Player) as a result of the court settlement last year between them and Microsoft. Also the general program icon (as shown on the desktop etc) has also changed again.

Please be aware that this build is still internal and has not been leaked, although an April refresh build of Windows Live Messenger is expected soon! However, there is also news of expected features in later new versions - which include being able to encrypt your contact list when it is stored on your computer*, the appearance of Windows Live Today (as mentioned above), the interoperability with Yahoo! Messenger contacts, and the beginning of the use/development of Windows Live Messenger Add-Ins.

* Update: It has been confirmed that contact encryption is available in this build under the option Encrypt contact list data so that it is not accessible outside of Windows Live Messenger.

Screenshots:
New program icon
Installer
Contact list
Conversation window
Windows Live Call
About dialog


Original blog post by Michael Sun