Tag - MSN
Messenger for Mac 7 released
on Tue 29 Apr 2008 (21:25 GMT)
on Tue 29 Apr 2008 (21:25 GMT)
Messenger for Mac 7, the official Windows Live Messenger client for Macs, has finally been released.
The main improvement is the much-awaited introduction of audio and video chats, although if you're a non-business user of Messenger for Mac you will probably be disappointed. The A/V features require your network to be running Office Communications Server, but chats can be made to people on other networks using OCS and even to Windows users running Office Communicator. Business users also get updates to make Messenger for Mac more like Office Communicator, for example more presence information.
Regular users of Messenger for Mac, who use their Windows Live IDs to sign in, will see no sign of these new features. Instead, the main thing they have to look forward to in the new version is being able to give contacts nicknames and to search through contacts in a way similar to the 'word-wheel' in Windows Live Messenger for PCs. Another new addition is integration of the Mac OS X Bonjour technology.
The audio and video features for non-corporate users seem no closer either:
>> Download Messenger for Mac 7 (official source)
>> Find out more about Messenger for Mac
>> Release announcement at the Office for Mac team blog
>> Find out more about the new A/V features (and the lack of them)
>> Get help for the new version
>> Information about corporate use and deployment
The main improvement is the much-awaited introduction of audio and video chats, although if you're a non-business user of Messenger for Mac you will probably be disappointed. The A/V features require your network to be running Office Communications Server, but chats can be made to people on other networks using OCS and even to Windows users running Office Communicator. Business users also get updates to make Messenger for Mac more like Office Communicator, for example more presence information.
Regular users of Messenger for Mac, who use their Windows Live IDs to sign in, will see no sign of these new features. Instead, the main thing they have to look forward to in the new version is being able to give contacts nicknames and to search through contacts in a way similar to the 'word-wheel' in Windows Live Messenger for PCs. Another new addition is integration of the Mac OS X Bonjour technology.
The audio and video features for non-corporate users seem no closer either:
"We provided a look at our roadmap late last year and we remain on track--delivering A/V support to our corporate users and continuing to work with the Windows Live team to make A/V support available for (consumers)," senior marketing manager Amanda Lefebvre said in a statement.
>> Download Messenger for Mac 7 (official source)
>> Find out more about Messenger for Mac
>> Release announcement at the Office for Mac team blog
>> Find out more about the new A/V features (and the lack of them)
>> Get help for the new version
>> Information about corporate use and deployment
MSN ads are hilariously awful
on Sat 22 Mar 2008 (22:13 GMT)
on Sat 22 Mar 2008 (22:13 GMT)
There have been several new advertisements, mostly in North America, to promote MSN (not Windows Live, apparently there is a difference: Windows Live being mainly services and MSN mostly content). These are, to say the least, terrible. Yes they are imaginative, but they just make no sense!
Again it's up to good old LiveSide to sum up the story:
Again it's up to good old LiveSide to sum up the story:
It appeared this week in south Seattle, and I've been hearing some radio ads on local stations, too. Apparently this is part of a new campaign by The Wunderman Network, called No One Wants To Look Dumb, which as far as I can tell fails its own test, miserably. Aside from the 'ad campaign from your parents generation' look and feel to the whole thing, there's the videos.
Messenger for Mac 7 makes another appearance
on Tue 29 Jan 2008 (19:45 GMT)
on Tue 29 Jan 2008 (19:45 GMT)
There was been some confusing rumors over MSN Messenger for Mac. Some websites have suggested that the client was being re-branded as something new, containing a fresh re-design and finally adding features such as video conversations. Back in November last year we reported:
Some photos has been circulating around the Internet of the new program on display, which you can view here. All I can say is it looks very cool and I'm looking forward to the official release.
>> View the photos at Flickr
>> View Mac Mojo's post about development
MS will no longer update the MSN Messenger for Mac, but they are going to release a brand new client for Mac OS X that is according to him 'Really, really cool and awesome' but he would not provide any more details due to his NDA.
According to the Mac BU [Business Unit] they've reached a milestone in the development process of Messenger for Mac 7.0 with the recent launch of a private beta with new Audio and Visual capabilities for a select group of enterprise customers using Office Communication Server 2007.
Some photos has been circulating around the Internet of the new program on display, which you can view here. All I can say is it looks very cool and I'm looking forward to the official release.
>> View the photos at Flickr
>> View Mac Mojo's post about development
MSN Mobile releases Windows Live Messenger mobile edition
on Wed 12 Dec 2007 (18:48 GMT)
on Wed 12 Dec 2007 (18:48 GMT)
There may be tons of web messengers out there, each with their own mobile version and even iPhone designed version. However, the official one by Microsoft seems to go unnoticed. MSN Mobile has now added full support for Windows Live Messenger, compatible with most modern mobile phones:
It may have the advantage of being developed by Microsoft, but in reality its around two years too late. Meebo and eBuddy have been doing this for too long and across multiple IM networks for this to have any significant impact.
>> View screenshots of Messenger for MSN Mobile
>> Source: Live with Phil Space
The new service, that is available from mobile.msn.com comes in two flavors, a WAP 1.x version and a version for WAP 2.x phones. When you hit the service from your phone we detect your device capabilities and route you to the correct version. Its the WAP 2.x version that probably most exciting to folks that have purchased a new phone in the last couple of years as it most likely has a decent xHTML/HTML browser in it. For those lucky folks this new service now provides:
- Rich emoticons support
- The ability to view and manage up to five active conversations
- Customers can change the display names, status etc
- Full access to your Live Contacts, still my favorite live service
- Search your contacts, hide offline contacts etc
It may have the advantage of being developed by Microsoft, but in reality its around two years too late. Meebo and eBuddy have been doing this for too long and across multiple IM networks for this to have any significant impact.
>> View screenshots of Messenger for MSN Mobile
>> Source: Live with Phil Space
Confusion over the future of MSN Messenger for Mac
on Sun 11 Nov 2007 (10:34 GMT)
on Sun 11 Nov 2007 (10:34 GMT)
This week has raised confusion about the future of MSN Messenger for Mac. Along with information about Windows Live Messenger 9, rumors suggested that the program would be re-designed for the better:
Microsoft then responded to this well received piece of news. This was summed up by ZDNet:
So MSN Messenger for Mac won't be re-branded, but it will get a lot of new exciting features to attract a wider market.
MS will no longer update the MSN Messenger for Mac, but they are going to release a brand new client for Mac OS X that is according to him 'Really, really cool and awesome' but he would not provide any more details due to his NDA.
Microsoft then responded to this well received piece of news. This was summed up by ZDNet:
As it turns out Office 2008 for Mac will include Messenger for Mac 6.0 [out of] the box [...]
According to the Mac BU [Business Unit] they've reached a milestone in the development process of Messenger for Mac 7.0 with the recent launch of a private beta with new Audio and Visual capabilities for a select group of enterprise customers using Office Communication Server 2007.
According to the Mac BU [Business Unit] they've reached a milestone in the development process of Messenger for Mac 7.0 with the recent launch of a private beta with new Audio and Visual capabilities for a select group of enterprise customers using Office Communication Server 2007.
So MSN Messenger for Mac won't be re-branded, but it will get a lot of new exciting features to attract a wider market.
Use any version of MSN Messenger again using resource hacking
on Sat 06 Oct 2007 (20:01 GMT)
on Sat 06 Oct 2007 (20:01 GMT)
I already briefly mentioned you can resource hack into MSN Messenger and trick the Messenger servers you are using an newer, secure version. Ahmad, creator of A-Patch created this tutorial on how to do so.
You're done, run Messenger.
Use this at your own risk. This should also work on 7.5 builds. I hope to create a small patch soon which will do all this at a click of a button. This is a good method that will allow you to use your favourite Messenger client again.
- Exit Messenger and open up msnmsgr.exe using Resource Hacker.
- Expand the 'Version Info' folder.
- Expand the '1' folder.
- Click on the green icon numbered '1033' (number might be different if using a different language, that's fine)
- Now on the right side of the window change:
VALUE 'FileVersion', '7.0.0816' to
VALUE 'FileVersion', '7.0.0820' and change:
VALUE 'ProductVersion', '7.0.0816' to
VALUE 'ProductVersion', '7.0.0820' - Click the Compile Script button at the top.
- Click File > Save.
You're done, run Messenger.
Use this at your own risk. This should also work on 7.5 builds. I hope to create a small patch soon which will do all this at a click of a button. This is a good method that will allow you to use your favourite Messenger client again.
MSN Messenger back on Windows XP!
on Wed 26 Sep 2007 (21:38 GMT)
on Wed 26 Sep 2007 (21:38 GMT)
Good news for Windows XP users still wanting to use MSN Messenger. The new 7.0.0820 build released a couple of weeks ago now allows XP users to sign into it, without any hassle. Anand from the MessengerSays blog has this to say:
This is great news and it shows that the Messenger team are listening to its users.
>> Source: MessengerSays blog
We've seen feedback from several people that they would like to stay on a version of MSN Messenger. Given that many of us currently on the Windows Live Messenger team also worked on MSN Messenger for years, we can appreciate the sentiment. Based on this, we have a new option we hope you'll like.
For those of you on XP who are passionate about staying on MSN Messenger, we've now released the new, more secure build of MSN Messenger 7.0 build 0820 for Windows XP, and we recommend you install and use this build (rather than running MSN Messenger 7.5 on XP in Windows 2000 compatibility mode as we realize some of you are doing). If you currently have MSN Messenger 7.5 installed, we recommend you uninstall it via Add/Remove Program
For those of you on XP who are passionate about staying on MSN Messenger, we've now released the new, more secure build of MSN Messenger 7.0 build 0820 for Windows XP, and we recommend you install and use this build (rather than running MSN Messenger 7.5 on XP in Windows 2000 compatibility mode as we realize some of you are doing). If you currently have MSN Messenger 7.5 installed, we recommend you uninstall it via Add/Remove Program
This is great news and it shows that the Messenger team are listening to its users.
>> Source: MessengerSays blog
'Phase 2' of forced upgrade now in progress
on Sun 23 Sep 2007 (21:05 GMT)
on Sun 23 Sep 2007 (21:05 GMT)
Microsoft have began 'phase 2' of updating Windows users to the fixed builds of MSN/ Windows Live Messenger. Now users using Windows 95 to Windows 2000 will have to update to MSN Messenger 7.0.0820:
What I find interesting is that Microsoft are still forcing the update despite the high amount of criticising comments left on the MessengerSays blog.
In the second phase, we are turning on the Mandatory Security Upgrades for Windows 2000, Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, and Windows ME. As noted in the security bulletin, we have built a new version of MSN Messenger 7.0, build number 7.0.0820, that will run on Windows 2000. This version of MSN Messenger has also been tested for Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, and Windows ME. Users should expect these upgrades to start soon.
To recap, the set of Messenger clients that do not have the webcam security vulnerability are:
To recap, the set of Messenger clients that do not have the webcam security vulnerability are:
- Windows Live Messenger 8.1 (for XP and Vista)
- MSN Messenger 7.0.0820 (for Windows 2000 and Windows 98, SE, ME)
- Windows Messenger – all versions (XP only)
- MSN Messenger 5.0 for Windows 95.
- Microsoft Messenger for Macintosh (all versions)
What I find interesting is that Microsoft are still forcing the update despite the high amount of criticising comments left on the MessengerSays blog.
More on the forced upgrade to Windows Live Messenger
on Sat 15 Sep 2007 (12:01 GMT)
on Sat 15 Sep 2007 (12:01 GMT)
I've been receiving a lot of emails the past couple of days and reading many comments on various Messenger blogs and forums about Windows XP users being forced to upgrade from MSN Messenger to Windows Live Messenger. To sum up there are many users who find the program new and exciting, and of course those who find the update restrictive and incompatible with their system.
Windows Live Messenger is seen as a resource hogging, new designed, new branded MSN Messenger and people don't seem to like it. Many people stick with MSN Messenger for a variety of reasons as Windows Live Messenger may have compatibly issues or people simply don't like change.
MessengerSays, the official development blog of Windows Live Messenger has posted about the forced update three times now. They are addressing problems and listening to feedback. Nevertheless, there seems no sign that the team will reverse their decision.
The ionic thing about this was Microsoft forced users to update to fix a security hole that wasn't even being exploited. This was to protect user's computers and of course avoid a bad experience using Messenger. However, by doing this they have created more tension between the program and its users on a scale worse than what a virus could do. In my opinion MSN Messenger should still be available to everyone.
Another thing to note is, if you're on Windows XP and using the new MSN Messenger 7.0.0820 build to avoid the update, you will no longer be able to sign in. According to Messenger MVP Sunshine you will be forced to update:
Basically if you're using Windows XP, MSN Messenger is a thing of the past. Say hello to Windows Live Messenger or find an alterative client. If you have an issue report it to the offical Windows Live Messenger newsgroups.
>> MessengerSays: Upgrading to Messenger 8.1
>> MessengerSays: We hear you!
>> MessengerSays: Securing Messenger
Windows Live Messenger is seen as a resource hogging, new designed, new branded MSN Messenger and people don't seem to like it. Many people stick with MSN Messenger for a variety of reasons as Windows Live Messenger may have compatibly issues or people simply don't like change.
MessengerSays, the official development blog of Windows Live Messenger has posted about the forced update three times now. They are addressing problems and listening to feedback. Nevertheless, there seems no sign that the team will reverse their decision.
The ionic thing about this was Microsoft forced users to update to fix a security hole that wasn't even being exploited. This was to protect user's computers and of course avoid a bad experience using Messenger. However, by doing this they have created more tension between the program and its users on a scale worse than what a virus could do. In my opinion MSN Messenger should still be available to everyone.
Another thing to note is, if you're on Windows XP and using the new MSN Messenger 7.0.0820 build to avoid the update, you will no longer be able to sign in. According to Messenger MVP Sunshine you will be forced to update:
Even tho it says in the system requirements of 7.0.0820 that you can run it on WinXP you are not supposed to do so. WinXP has gotten into the requirements by mistake, this will be fixed. MSN Messenger 7.0.0820 will only run on OS'es pre-Windows XP..all on WinXP and Vista will have to upgrade to Windows Live Messenger.
Basically if you're using Windows XP, MSN Messenger is a thing of the past. Say hello to Windows Live Messenger or find an alterative client. If you have an issue report it to the offical Windows Live Messenger newsgroups.
>> MessengerSays: Upgrading to Messenger 8.1
>> MessengerSays: We hear you!
>> MessengerSays: Securing Messenger
MSN Messenger 7.0.0820 released to the world
on Thu 13 Sep 2007 (19:50 GMT)
on Thu 13 Sep 2007 (19:50 GMT)
As I predicted a couple of days ago a new build has been released for MSN Messenger 7.0, fixing a known webcam exploit. The update has come in to protect Windows users using Windows 2000 or below. XP users will be forced to upgrade to Windows Live Messenger 8.1 or higher.
Since the release there have been numerous requests by XP users who still want to keep MSN Messenger. Some people are very reluctant to use Windows Live Messenger for a variety if reasons. So what can you do to keep using MSN Messenger? Well there is a choice ...
First of all you could trick the Messenger protocol into keep using MSN Messenger, although there are no know tools for this yet you will probably see one crop up soon. The most common fixes are either changing the Messenger build number using resource hacker or selecting the compatibly mode when running the program (see screenshot).
Messenger MVP Sunshine had this to say on the issue:
Users should be promoted of the security update, but forcing users to switch to what seems like a new program is suicide for Messenger. I think things like this is what is putting MSN/ Windows Live Messenger firmly in the past, the market of instant messaging has changed since the glory days of just chatting to friends.
>> Download MSN Messenger 7.0.0820
Since the release there have been numerous requests by XP users who still want to keep MSN Messenger. Some people are very reluctant to use Windows Live Messenger for a variety if reasons. So what can you do to keep using MSN Messenger? Well there is a choice ...
First of all you could trick the Messenger protocol into keep using MSN Messenger, although there are no know tools for this yet you will probably see one crop up soon. The most common fixes are either changing the Messenger build number using resource hacker or selecting the compatibly mode when running the program (see screenshot).
Messenger MVP Sunshine had this to say on the issue:
If you are on WinXP and you don't like Windows Live Messenger you can also get the renewed MSN Messenger 7 version:
MSN Messenger 7.0.0820 for Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Millenium and Windows XP
The workaround posted here will probably stop working soon too, eventually you will not be able to sign in with 7.5 anymore (as long as you are using it you are also putting your comp at risk)! Users on Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Millenium will be forced to upgrade to 7.0.0820.
Detailed info: Microsoft Security Bulletin MS07-054, Vulnerability in MSN Messenger and Windows Live Messenger Could Allow Remote Code Execution (942099)
MSN Messenger 7.0.0820 for Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Millenium and Windows XP
The workaround posted here will probably stop working soon too, eventually you will not be able to sign in with 7.5 anymore (as long as you are using it you are also putting your comp at risk)! Users on Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Millenium will be forced to upgrade to 7.0.0820.
Detailed info: Microsoft Security Bulletin MS07-054, Vulnerability in MSN Messenger and Windows Live Messenger Could Allow Remote Code Execution (942099)
Users should be promoted of the security update, but forcing users to switch to what seems like a new program is suicide for Messenger. I think things like this is what is putting MSN/ Windows Live Messenger firmly in the past, the market of instant messaging has changed since the glory days of just chatting to friends.
>> Download MSN Messenger 7.0.0820
Messenger sounds of the past
on Sun 19 Aug 2007 (21:04 GMT)
on Sun 19 Aug 2007 (21:04 GMT)
I was giving the downloads database a much needed tidy up the other day, adding new skins, editing screenshots and fixing broken links. I had to install MSN Messenger again to take some screenshots and to be honest I started using for the day. I missed a lot of the old tweaks it had.
Most of all I realised I preferred the old MSN Messenger sounds. The Windows Live Messenger ones sound softer, but they just don't have the same feel to them. I decided to take these sounds and use them in Windows Live Messenger myself. So I thought I would share the sounds with you.
To install them simply unzip the zipped folder and paste the files into your Messenger directory. Then within Messenger go to Options > Tools and select the 'Alerts and Sounds' tab. There you can navigate to the new sound files to use with Windows Live Messenger. Enjoy!
>> Download the old MSN Messenger sound files
Most of all I realised I preferred the old MSN Messenger sounds. The Windows Live Messenger ones sound softer, but they just don't have the same feel to them. I decided to take these sounds and use them in Windows Live Messenger myself. So I thought I would share the sounds with you.
To install them simply unzip the zipped folder and paste the files into your Messenger directory. Then within Messenger go to Options > Tools and select the 'Alerts and Sounds' tab. There you can navigate to the new sound files to use with Windows Live Messenger. Enjoy!
>> Download the old MSN Messenger sound files