Back in May we told you about a new custom content program called IMBooster. The program works with both Windows Live and Yahoo! Messenger and provides many themed packs containing various pieces of custom content. Adding itself directly into Messenger, IMBooster allows you to download various packs, video clips and even create your own winks from your webcam. This unique idea really makes the software stand out and gets a thumbs up from me.

IMBooster has since added thousands more pieces of content, new features and further compatibility for new versions of Yahoo! and Windows Live Messenger. The update also supports polygamy (multiple versions of Messenger running at the same time). However, due to a bug at Messenger's end, the program is not currently fully compatible with the Wave 3 public beta of Windows Live Messenger 9.

For those of you who didn't catch the program before, here is your chance to add some interesting and new content to your IM client.

Visit the IMBooster website

I laughed so much today when in a Messenger conversation with our designer Shrbr, his display picture of himself winked at me. I thought I was seeing things! However, it turned out it was a custom display picture, that alternates based on the emoticons you use within your conversations.

This feature isn't new, dynamic display pictures have been around since MSN Messenger 7, but the fact you can use pictures and even short clips of yourself I find fantastic. It was funny, and rather surreal when sunglasses appear on your friend's display picture out of nowhere.

All you need is a webcam connected to Windows Live Messenger. Go into the display picture options window and select the "Webcam Snapshot" button. You can then customise the changes with the "Tile with moods" option. This is a really clever feature, implemented well. But beware, it can make your contacts jump when your display picture suddenly winks at them!

View a screenshot of creating one in action

There has always been a problem to backing up your custom content on Messenger. It is stored locally on your computer, but in often hidden directories, masked by data files. Sometimes you need to backup up your settings and custom content if you changing PC or formatting your current. Windows Live Messenger Emoticons Backup allows you to do this.

The program will backup emoticons, winks, backgrounds, dynamic backgrounds and display pictures and allow you to restore them at a later date. Essentially this will save you a lot of time and hassle, and I guess I'm posting about this to index it for search engines, so anyone caught up in this situation has a solution.

Download Windows Live Messenger Emoticons Backup

Messenger has always been loved by people who enjoy customizing things. Using skins, various display pictures and emoticons are the normal method, but in recent years this has expanded into winks, backgrounds and dynamic display pictures. Now various programs have made this content free and easy to access. I want to chat a little about a new piece of software I've found: IMBooster.

The program works with both Windows Live and Yahoo! Messenger and provides many themed packs containing various pieces of custom content. Adding itself directly into Messenger, IMBooster allows you to download various packs, video clips and even create your own winks from your webcam. This unique idea really makes the software stand out and gets a thumbs up from me.

100% free and clean of adware is also a bonus, as this kind of software is renounced as creating annoyances across the network (such as Smiley Central). However, there were definite compatibility issues, for me Messenger just crashed when I signed in (maybe because I'm using Windows Vista). Nevertheless it still is a useful piece of software and for those who simply want to 'pimp out' your IM client IMBooster is a must.

Download IMBooster
Visit the official website

It's that time of year where it is either get a date or find yourself alone. If your one of those who asks people out via instant messaging (you know who you are) then the Messenger team have provided 30 free emoticons based on Valentines Day.

The emoticons are simple, look professional and are easy to install. Add them to your collection today.

Download the emoticons directly to Messenger

When winks arrived in MSN Messenger 7 they were throttled by security methods and over-priced websites selling them. Nowadays winks have been opened to affordable, if not free programs that add some unique and fun content.

Project Messy beta is an upcoming program that aims to provide free winks in a well designed application:



The website is well designed and I can see great things for Project Messy. Hopefully it will not conflict with other Messenger add-ons and thus hinder its success like SweetIM did.

You can beta test the program by signing up at the homepage. However, Project Messy beta is only XP compatible at the moment so Windows Vista users will have to wait a little while. Windows Live Messenger 8.5 beta also is not supported.

Visit the Project Messy website

SweetIM is a popular add-on for MSN, AIM and Yahoo! Messenger. It imports a huge range of custom content to personalise your IM client (winks, backgrounds, display pictures etc) to provide a better experience for those who like to 'pimp their Messenger'.

To be honest, it's not for me, despite I used to be a skinner myself I don't really have a desire to customise Messenger. Even though SweetIM does not suit my needs I find it an interesting program that has grown in users extremely quickly. Don't expect it to be bundled with adware either, unlike similar programs SweetIM is safe and clean.

Recently SweetIM has been released for AOL's instant messenger, AIM, attracting a new audience of 63 million users. Nevertheless, the program has issues with the popular add-on Messenger Plus! Live, something which will limit Plus! users as I bet they rather have a feature rich plug-in.

Still if you want to take your Messenger experience to the maximum, SweetIM will provide you with a lot of content that is easy to install.

Visit the SweetIM website

Anileator, creator of our podcast (which should return tonight ...) during his week off the web, has improved upon his remix of the default Messenger emotions. These are simply brilliant, they take a small variation of each emotion, and damn do they look good.

You can view them all manually here or download the pack itself, and simply run the executable file. This will then add all the files to Messenger instantly.

Thanks to Nile for making these, hopefully you will like them as much as I do.

View them within the database
Download the pack

Update: I (Nile) would like to point out that I did not make 100% of these and so the original creators deserve credit, however I did make about 98% of them and touched up the remaining 2% Enjoy!!!

We've found you free Messenger content several times before, but this time it's actually decent, non-promotion content that is free. No it's not the free XBOX 360 themed MeeGos but it is infact any Muggin you want for free - infact it's anything at all from Kiwee.

That's right, Kiwee (formerly Blue Mountain) are giving all of their content away for free, if you know where to look. This doesn't involve a ripping program and as far as I'm aware is 100% legit.

All you have to do is go here in Internet Explorer, click the sign in link in the top right corner and then choose anything you want from the site. When you come to download it should be free.

No-one knows how long this free offer will be available, however there is a message at the bottom of every free download page saying "*Kiwee reserves the right to modify this offer at any time. Users will be given the opportunity to provide their payment information". So download what you want today whilst you have the chance.

Get downloading!

If you're a regular visitor to Messenger Stuff then you'll know that we can't help but give out links to any free Windows Live Messenger content that we come across.

The latest we've found comes from yet another Windows Live Messenger promotion site. messengervibe.com offers 27 different theme packs by different artists (art artists not music artists that is) that have been especially made for you to download into your Windows Live Messenger account. As usual you need to be signed into Messenger and have the site opened in Internet Explorer to be able to download and install them.

This promotion site also features links to download or find out more about Windows Live Messenger, sign up for the Yahoo! contacts integration, make a Windows Live Space, and to the 'The Way The News Spreads' promotion page.

'Messenger Vibe' site

Previous free content we've featured:
Messenger's 7th birthday packs
"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" pack
World Cup winks