There have been several small developments over the past week, mostly involving the new public beta of Windows Live Messenger 9. Here is the stuff that may not warrant a full news post, but we didn't want to slip under the net:

• The MessengerSays blog, the official blog of Windows Live Messenger, has gone through the details of the Wave 3 update explaining each new feature in depth, complete with screenshots and even videos.
  
  
• A-Patch has been updated for the Wave 3 beta version. Following concern over the future development of skins and patches, the popular Messenger patching application has found a walk-a-round and has been updated to include a vast amount of features. For those of you who hate ads, or certain things within Messenger, this is your chance to block them out.
  
  
• The Windows Live Messenger library has been updated to version 2.5 which improves on the web API of the program, giving web developers more access to the workings of the Messenger servers.
  
  
• Patchou has commented on a version of Messenger Plus! Live for Windows Live Messenger 9. He told users: "I'll start working on it today [Wednesday 17/9] but I can't say yet if I'll release something publicly before the final version is released by Microsoft or not (all of that depends on when they'll actually release a final)."
  
  
• LiveSide have revealed how they found the Wave 3 download links, and defended themselves for making them public. I believe they are still very bitter about their DMCA notice they received a few weeks ago (as are we), and have tried to persuade Microsoft to have better PR relations. They make a valid point.

Just a quick post here to let you know you can patch all the elements you don't like out of the M1 build of Windows Live Messenger 9 leaked a couple of days ago.

The new version is missing some features, due to the dramatic changes Windows Live Messenger 9 has created. It sure feels nice to remove all the advertisements, buttons, etc, you don't want to look at and that bloat up Messenger. Then again you probably get more out of the vast array of skins for Windows Live Messenger 8.5, I know I've already gone back to using Oil Slick.

Download A-Patch for Windows Live Messenger 9 M1

Forget what I said about Mess Patch, forget it all I tell you! The news of Windows Live Messenger 8.5 pushed A-Patch to release an update, not only as the current patch that works with the new leaked beta, but the patch that helps you visualise the changes you can make to Messenger.

The 'Preview Area' feature, currently in beta shows you exactly what options you are applying to Messenger in real time i.e. you change an option and you can see exactly what it does. The feature is not perfect, but damn it is a great idea and when fully ready will make A-Patch the king of the patches all over again.

A-Patch is a fantastic patch, but in the past year it has lacked in new features. This shows it is coming back and I can't wait for new options to customise Messenger.

So if you use Windows Live Messenger 8.5 check it out, you can edit Messenger to how you like and try out this cool new feature.

Visit the official website
View a screenshot of the 'Preview Area' feature
Find out more about patching Messenger