Windows Live Messenger is a GUI centric application with much of its unique design breaking away from standard Windows API interfaces. The Messenger development team, to all their credit, have successfully implemented their own, image rich and unique approach to desktop interfaces. Although nothing extraordinary today, it was far more revolutionary several years ago. As revolution turned to evolution, so did Messenger's style. Never have I seen so many changes to a piece of software in such a short timeframe. So below is a screenshot timeline of MSN/ Windows Live Messenger GUI over the past five years (the years of which, I have personally witnessed):


Screenshot timeline: Sign-in Window


Screenshot timeline: Contact List


Screenshot timeline: Conservation Windows

A new build of Microsoft's Messenger for Mac has revealed an updated GUI more in-line with the current range of Windows Live products.

Bundled as part of Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac's new beta, the latest build released to official testers has several bug fixes and sports the Windows Live color scheme while maintaining its OS X style interface, as the screenshots reveal:


The new design is now closer to its Windows equivalent

We at Messenger Stuff could not sign into the build due to technical difficulties, but those of you wishing to download the latest build can do so over at Wikikou.

Source: Wikikou: Mac Messenger 8 BETA 5 with Mac Office 2011

Wait, now I am getting confused, those screenshots are stirring up something or other, and it could be a well thought joke or it is the real thing. First the new news, thanks again to the andyman, is that the design is featured in another Windows Live product, Windows Live ID which is the replacement for the.net passport. Where it shows the colour scheme used as well at the new blue buddy image.

So in conclusion, well kind of the new Windows Live Messenger design does seem real after all and following a design of other Windows Live products and to be honest I can't complain, I love the new concept and I hope it stays. Hopefully I will confirm this with a genuine leak of the new update. Just a quick post guys to clear up some things, have a nice day.

Hum looks like those two new screenshots of the new Windows Live Messenger design could have been an early April Fools joke. If you look at them closely, you can see some obvious flaws in the design, which suggests they were not real. By now we would have expected a leak or some news from the live team but not yet which is very strange but they still maybe real and if they are, it sure is good news to me.

Everyone seems to want that design; well a small skin to slightly change Windows Live Messenger to look like that has been released thanks to the skinner, Monkey. It actually looks really good, and although it is mainly focused on the contact list, it looks like the real thing. If you want to uninstall you will have to uninstall Windows Live Messenger, and then reinstall it again. Enjoy!

Download the skin

You may of seen on, well every news site just 2 screenshots of the new, suspected wlm build coming up. Just 2 screenshots and people are loving it, I too have been captured by the clean glassy effects that look so much better when you look back at the orange design all those months ago.

However, I think I can safely say it is looking more and more like Windows Vista. Maybe Windows Vista Live Messenger? But I really can't complain because if those screenshots are real I will be sure using it ASAP and dancing that the live team have fixed their main problem. Well this could be the last of the concepts so take a look for yourself, however no betas are expected anymore so waiting is all we can do.

View the amazing new contact list