- Messenger Plus! 4.83: Patchou has released a small update for Messenger Plus! Live which addresses some bugs and compatibility issues, whilst removing traces of the recent contest. [Read more]
- MessengerDiscovery 3.0 plans: Matt, the creator of MessengerDiscovery has already outlined the program's future development plans. Perhaps the most notable new feature on the list is the end of the proxy connections and the application becoming open source to encourage other developers to migrate to Messenger. [Read more]
- eBuddy receives a re-code: The hit web messenger eBuddy is working on a new web messenger, from the ground up, drawing on newer technologies and better user-interaction. A sleeker interface, along with greater depth for customization and a new layer of polish ensures the service stays up to date with this fast moving industry. [Read more]
- Interview with Marcus Schmidt: Marketing manager over at Microsoft, Marcus Schmidt reveals his personal thoughts about the future of Windows Live Messenger and what he would like to see in the upcoming Wave 4 series of Windows Live products. [Read more]
- A standalone web messenger from Microsoft: Microsoft Singapore have released their own web messenger client based on the Messenger API library. As the old Microsoft web messenger was recently discontinued for one built inside of Windows Live Hotmail this is an interesting move, yet one that should please those seeking a fully featured, yet non-bloated client on the web. [Give it a go]
mynetx: Do you think the Windows Live team cares for their users’ demands? Why?
Sean Bradford: Definitely, as the Windows Live ecosystem evolves so do the products. Windows Live Homepage is a perfect example. When the “What’s new” feed was launched back at CES 2009, users requested more feeds be added. Since then Microsoft has added 40+ services to the list of partners, including Facebook, Digg, Twitter, and much more.
mynetx: Looking into the future: Within the next five years, where could you picture Windows Live?
Sean Bradford: Windows Live has grown tremendously since its initial launch. I think the main focus on Windows Live has turned to its online services. As more and more online services are launched, I foresee Windows Live becoming a central hub for communication and collaboration for users.
Read the rest of the interview at mynetx – Windows Live Enhancedmynetx: Your job in the Windows Live Platform team must be a great one, true?
Siebe: Absolutely, I get to work with some very smart people and develop great new products for Windows Live. Being on top of the latest and greatest web stuff is a great way to spend my day :) It's a dream come true, haha.
mynetx: As an MS worker in the Live team, are you running Messenger 24/7? Maybe you’ve got kind of a daily routine with Windows Live.
Siebe: Yeah, my life pretty much revolves around Messenger. I love the new MPOP feature (signing on at work and at home). I talk to my friends and parents back home on Messenger, as well as the rest of my team. Being up in Canada away from my manager and the rest of my team is a bit of a challenge, but using Messenger all day to communicate makes things a lot easier.
Read the rest of the interview at Mynetx's blogmynetx: Skins - good word. Is customizing the Messenger interface fun for you? Or a serious business? Or in between?
Will: Well a bit of both really. Originally I started skinning as a hobby so that I could help improve my abilities as a multimedia designer. I was hoping that by working with an established user interface I would be able to gain a deeper understanding as to how the user interprets UI’s.
I never really expected to be doing it for that much mainly because I didn’t think that audience was big enough at the time. But it seems that has changed in recent times so now I do treat it more seriously.
But yeah for the most part there is still the original sense of fun which attracted me to doing it in the first place.
View the rest of the interview at Mynetx's blogon Fri 30 Jan 2009 (18:48 GMT) (1395 views)
Patchou created controversy some years ago when he was awarded a Microsoft Most Valued Professional (MVP) award for his contribution to MSN Messenger. However, it was soon revoked when Microsoft community members continuously highlighted the optional adware program included in his add-on. The capitalist approach to creating software has raised debate, and the article looks deep into the issue. The author then gets the opinions of similar programmers, including the creators of Stuffplug and MessengerDiscovery Live.
But this is a man who has also outraged millions. His sin? A Faustian pact with dark forces responsible for distributing adware, those pop-up windows that torture PC users the world over. Messenger Plus! Live comes bundled with a "sponsor's program", which the unwary install unwittingly on their machines. They are then subjected to messages urging them to buy insurance, take out credit cards, play poker or download ringtones. To his opponents this breaks a sacred code of geek ethics and the two sides engage in furious online debates. Supporters say Patchou has provided a brilliant piece of software free to millions of people and the adware is harmless; critics call him "a scam artist making money off gullible young Live Messenger users".
Read the full article at the Guardian website (highly recommended)on Wed 14 Jan 2009 (20:08 GMT) (1285 views)
- IMO is a small, stable, compact web Messenger has undergone major changes this week. The development team have been working hard to improve services and have recently launched a new and improved imo.im, along with eight cool new features. IMO now offers a number of options that allow you to personalize your contacts list and prioritize your buddies. Click here to check IMO out!
- This week has seen an update to the Messenger protocol (common when new versions are released). However, there has been implementation problems, freezing some 3rd party IM clients out from signing into the Messenger servers. Although the issue has now been claimed to be resolved, there is an update for Pidgin and Messenger for Mac users to download
- Rebelsean has recently had the opportunity to interview some Windows Live directors. Having recently moved to Neowin, Sean has not forgotten his Messenger roots and has brought up the issue of tabbed conversations and what we can expect from Windows Live Wave 4. Generally he got a good feel for the direct Windows Live is heading in, and although is not Messenger specific, it still provides a useful insight to what's going at the live front
Although there are only three relatively small pieces of news to cover, I thought it may be in your interest to know about them. There are a few other stories that should pop-up in the next couple of days, but with most of my admins currently busy or disappearing, don't count on us to cover everything until February starts.
Create your own web messenger: LiveSide have created a highly detailed, eight-part tutorial on how to create a web messenger for Windows Live Messenger using the API developer library. Click here to view part 1, and use the tags to locate the post tags to find the rest of the tutorials.
Significant sign-in bug present in Wave 3: The MessengerSays blog has brought up an important concern, over another sign-in bug, that has famously plagued Windows Live Messenger since it was first launched. The bug occurs when users block the new-style groups within the program. There is no current solution, but the Messenger team have assured users a fix is being developed.
Windows Live Calls powered by Voype: Our friends over at mess.be have the scoop on this one:
After earlier deals with Verizon and Net2Phone, and then completely pulling outbound PSTN calling earlier this year, Microsoft has teamed up with Telefonica, the largest telecom provider in Latin America, to reinstate the Make a Phone Call feature in Windows Live Messenger. Telefonica's Voype service allows Messenger users in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, the United States and Venezuela to make calls directly from their client to landlines and cell phones around the world at a reasonable price.
Interviews with the Messenger team: LiveSide have had the chance to interview the Messenger team on a recent visit to Raymond. Altogether there are three videos, all of which make interesting viewing. Watch, part 1, part 2 and part 3.
Free Halloween Messenger theme pack: It's a week until Halloween is upon us yet again. It's not such a big thing here in the UK, but I know you Americans treat it as a national holiday so, grab your free theme pack from Microsoft today.
The competition has ended and you can now watch the video online, you should check it out here. You can read more about it here also. There is not much really to say on the topic, but the videos may be of interest to you. The lucky winners also won a few prises also, including a top of the range webcam.
The conversations will be broadcasted live for anyone to see and you never know you may tackle a controversial issue. Then again knowing webcam you may see a family member walk past naked, you would be more famous that way. So, sign up, it takes one moment of your time, and you never know what may happen.
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