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Wow, it has been a while since I last posted here so I feel I owe an explanation. Having just started university things have been a bit manic and with Halloween being tonight, I thought I should squeeze in a post before venturing out.
- 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]
Beta test MessengerDiscovery with Facebook Chat integration
on Wed 23 Sep 2009 (19:12 GMT) (7608 views)
on Wed 23 Sep 2009 (19:12 GMT) (7608 views)
A couple of weeks ago we stumbled upon a new feature coming to MessengerDiscovery and today Facebook Chat comes to Windows Live Messenger with the public beta test of MessengerDiscovery 2.1.
The feature seems really useful for those into the popular social networking website Facebook, which for me personally is the main way to contact my friends aside from my mobile phone. Hopefully Microsoft has a first party solution coming too in Windows Live Messenger 10.
View screenshots of MessengerDiscovery with Facebook Chat integration
Download MessengerDiscovery 2.1 beta
As promised, everyone can now download and install the latest version of MessengerDiscovery - version 2.1. Everyone is invited to test this new version and report bugs/give feedback. MessengerDiscovery 2.1 has been in development for three of months and has undergone some rigerious testing to ensure that you do not encounter any major bugs even though it is a beta.
The feature seems really useful for those into the popular social networking website Facebook, which for me personally is the main way to contact my friends aside from my mobile phone. Hopefully Microsoft has a first party solution coming too in Windows Live Messenger 10.
View screenshots of MessengerDiscovery with Facebook Chat integration Download MessengerDiscovery 2.1 betaLast month's update to MessengerDiscovery was by no means the end of a heavy development period. A couple of days ago, the program's developer, Matt posted within his forums that he was continuing with development:
Within the last hour details of the update surfaced on the MessengerDiscovery Twitter feed, where three tweets giving light on a Facebook chat integration feature were posted. The tweets [1] [2] [3] read:
This looks very exciting, but we will have to wait and see how well the feature is implemented and what changes it brings to the Messenger experience.
View a screenshot of the new Facebook chat integration inside MessengerDiscovery
It has been a couple months since a major update but I am happy to announce that MessengerDiscovery 2 is back into full-time development. Along with a new MessengerDiscovery version I will be announcing/releasing a few new products that I've been working on during my big break.
Within the last hour details of the update surfaced on the MessengerDiscovery Twitter feed, where three tweets giving light on a Facebook chat integration feature were posted. The tweets [1] [2] [3] read:
This looks very exciting, but we will have to wait and see how well the feature is implemented and what changes it brings to the Messenger experience.
View a screenshot of the new Facebook chat integration inside MessengerDiscoverySpeedlinking posts are where I organise all my bookmarks and go over some small news items over the past couple of weeks (or in this case, a month) and write them up here. As ever we aim to deliver all news, no matter how mediocre they may seem, so let's get it out of the way in this post.
- eBuddy reveals statistics (17th July): It may interest you to know the popularity of the hit web messenger. Its new iPhone App reached the top spot in the App Store in 40 countries within the past week, their Mobile Messenger has been downloaded 25 million times and over 1,750,000,000 are sent with eBuddy each week. [Read more]
- Trillian Astra enters public beta (19th June): The IM buzz for several years now has been about the future of Trillian and we have been posting about it for a long time. The Windows and Web version has entered a public beta phase for everyone to try out. [Read more]
- 10 IM Apps for the iPhone (15th July): A recent article I came across at theAppleBlog gives an overview of the various IM apps available for the iPhone and presents a rounded and informed overview of each. [Read more]
- MessengerDiscovery 2.0.48 (10th July): The update provides 12 important bug fixes, new API features and an improved tray menu among several other things. According to Matt via his Twitter feed the update was due some weeks before, but was delayed as he had the flu. [Read more]
- LiveScratcher public beta (16th July): This week we talked about what TheBlasphemer was doing in 2009, where his new project, LiveScratcher was discussed. Now an early build has been uploaded for Messenger developers to experiment with. If your interested, give it a go. [Read more]
Recently we reported on the new public release of another popular messenger add on, MessengerDiscovery 2.
It would be honest to say the software has had it's problems in the past and as such user's opinions may have been tainted, mine included. However at each major release I give the program another test run for fairness sake.
And that part of the story is no different for me this time around. I downloaded the public release and gave it a spin.
MessengerDiscovery 2 software and website sports a brand new interface that compliments the default style of Windows Live Messenger 2009, the new interface was designed in part by Will ' Willz' Ingles, known for an impressive collection of skins for rival add-on Messenger Plus. In fact rival seems the wrong word to use when describing MD2's relationship with Messenger Plus! Live as the software works flawlessly alongside MP!L almost as perfect partners.
MD2 isn't heavy on resources, only taking 17MB of RAM usage and 0 CPU, The features I've tried all work and look fantastic. I've not uninstalled the software after a few runs, it's not causing me any hassle.
I also love the new Phishing Filter Protection, an new and original feature, almost worth the download alone.
I'm actually recommending MD2 to people now, with added plugin support and toast skins you can still customize and enhance your messenger experience, even furthering the existing functions of MD2
The only downside I have experienced is very minor, and that occasionally at startup MD2 will report that it is failing to load (although it has) however I can see this issue being solved fairly quickly by a update build.
So if you're looking for something new to play with or have had a bad experience with MessengerDiscovery in the past try giving the new version a go I'm sure you'll be pleased at how it has evolved.
It would be honest to say the software has had it's problems in the past and as such user's opinions may have been tainted, mine included. However at each major release I give the program another test run for fairness sake.
And that part of the story is no different for me this time around. I downloaded the public release and gave it a spin.
MessengerDiscovery 2 software and website sports a brand new interface that compliments the default style of Windows Live Messenger 2009, the new interface was designed in part by Will ' Willz' Ingles, known for an impressive collection of skins for rival add-on Messenger Plus. In fact rival seems the wrong word to use when describing MD2's relationship with Messenger Plus! Live as the software works flawlessly alongside MP!L almost as perfect partners.
MD2 isn't heavy on resources, only taking 17MB of RAM usage and 0 CPU, The features I've tried all work and look fantastic. I've not uninstalled the software after a few runs, it's not causing me any hassle.
I also love the new Phishing Filter Protection, an new and original feature, almost worth the download alone.
I'm actually recommending MD2 to people now, with added plugin support and toast skins you can still customize and enhance your messenger experience, even furthering the existing functions of MD2
The only downside I have experienced is very minor, and that occasionally at startup MD2 will report that it is failing to load (although it has) however I can see this issue being solved fairly quickly by a update build.
So if you're looking for something new to play with or have had a bad experience with MessengerDiscovery in the past try giving the new version a go I'm sure you'll be pleased at how it has evolved.
Great news for MessengerDiscovery lovers: MessengerDiscovery 2 has been released to take your Windows Live Messenger 2009 experience to a next level. Almost all the "old features" are there intact (including the one to hide the advertisements), some has been take off because aren't possible anymore and some others because has to be developed in other different and complicated way and maybe will come back in next releases.
So here is what Matt (MessengerDiscovery creator) has said in MessengerDiscovery forums:
Besides this Matt has released a new website to celebrate the release of MessengerDiscovery 2. With the help of the amazing skinner Willz now you will enjoy a new whole graphic design of MessengerDiscovery together with the amazing improvement of the new implementation of .Net technology in this super Windows Live Messenger addon.
Take a chance to test it.
Download: Download MessengerDiscovery 2 (for Messenger 2009 only)
Report a bug: MessengerDiscovery Community Forums (need to be registered)
Note: You should notice a full compatibility with Messenger Plus!.
So here is what Matt (MessengerDiscovery creator) has said in MessengerDiscovery forums:
8 months of development and testing and MessengerDiscovery 2 is at long publically available!
MessengerDiscovery 2 has been completely re-written using Microsoft .Net technology and boasts some serious advantages over any previous version of MessengerDiscovery.
Plugin support is one of the most important upgrades so now any one (even you) can write a plugin for Windows Live Messenger, MessengerDiscovery 2 makes it very very easy!
MessengerDiscovery 2 is now translated into 20 different languages and can be translated into any other.
Besides this Matt has released a new website to celebrate the release of MessengerDiscovery 2. With the help of the amazing skinner Willz now you will enjoy a new whole graphic design of MessengerDiscovery together with the amazing improvement of the new implementation of .Net technology in this super Windows Live Messenger addon.
Take a chance to test it.
Download: Download MessengerDiscovery 2 (for Messenger 2009 only) Report a bug: MessengerDiscovery Community Forums (need to be registered)Note: You should notice a full compatibility with Messenger Plus!.
MessengerDiscovery 2.0.0019 Beta for Messenger 8.5 and 2009
on Sat 21 Feb 2009 (20:02 GMT) (5255 views)
on Sat 21 Feb 2009 (20:02 GMT) (5255 views)
The Windows Live Messenger add-on MessengerDiscovery has been published in version 2.0.0019 Beta, being compatible with both Messenger 2009 and 8.5. Matt Holwood, its creator, has rewritten the entire program using .NET, and the result is a sleek, yet powerful engine enhancing the features of Messenger to a new level. Don't wonder though, this is a Beta with all consequences. Don't expect everything to be working.
It has always been a domain of MessengerDiscovery to provide functionality that none of the other prominent add-ons have, especially regarding Patchou's Messenger Plus!, as well as TheBlasphemer's StuffPlug. Behind the product stands a bit different philosophy than behind the others – while all add-ons strive to help the user with useful things, MessengerDiscovery is not sponsor-powered, nor do I see MD as being an all-round add-on, but rather as providing enhanced security and unique features.
Here are some of the highlighted MessengerDiscovery 2.0.0019 Beta features:
All this goes along with a wonderful shiny, fresh new design, created by star designer Will Ingles:
When I saw the first private builds of this Beta back in early December 2008, I got really excited about it. I am amazed about the design, and about what Matt re-coded from scratch in just about 2 months. In future versions of MessengerDiscovery, you will be able to make use of its engine, as it will have a complete Plugins engine...
However, I also learned that there are some problems when you have Messenger Plus! installed, if you are using its Tabbed Chats feature (tabs won't disappear from the tab-bar then although their windows are closed). Also, from my latest tests, the phishing protection seems to have some issues in Messenger 2009, Version 14.0.8064, but I think Matt will fix them as soon as he publishes a new beta. Just remember his statement: “there is still a lot of work to be done, so this is nowhere close to the final product”.
Download MessengerDiscovery 2.0.0019 Beta
Visit the MessengerDiscovery 2 Beta site
Share your thoughts in the MessengerDiscovery Community Forums
What do you think about MessengerDiscovery?
MessengerDiscovery is about to undergo a massive transformation. Coming in 2009, The new Messenger Discovery will change the way you look at Messenger forever. For those die hard fans, we have prepared a special beta version just for you. Compatible with both Messenger 8.5 and 2009. Just remember there is still a lot of work to be done, so this is nowhere close to the final product.
It has always been a domain of MessengerDiscovery to provide functionality that none of the other prominent add-ons have, especially regarding Patchou's Messenger Plus!, as well as TheBlasphemer's StuffPlug. Behind the product stands a bit different philosophy than behind the others – while all add-ons strive to help the user with useful things, MessengerDiscovery is not sponsor-powered, nor do I see MD as being an all-round add-on, but rather as providing enhanced security and unique features.
Here are some of the highlighted MessengerDiscovery 2.0.0019 Beta features:
- Do not tell contacts when you are typing a message
- Use a chat-only nick name
- Send nudges as fast as you want
- Send files if you or your contact is appearing offline
- Allow unlimited file transfers
- Do not let nudges shake the conversation window
- Right-align your messages
- Capitalize the first letter of every message you send
- Show window on top when you receive a message
- Do not blink the window when you receive a message
- Show alerts on definable events
- Check every received URL for phishing sites (using PhishTank)
- Ask you whether you want to join grouped conversations
All this goes along with a wonderful shiny, fresh new design, created by star designer Will Ingles:
When I saw the first private builds of this Beta back in early December 2008, I got really excited about it. I am amazed about the design, and about what Matt re-coded from scratch in just about 2 months. In future versions of MessengerDiscovery, you will be able to make use of its engine, as it will have a complete Plugins engine...
However, I also learned that there are some problems when you have Messenger Plus! installed, if you are using its Tabbed Chats feature (tabs won't disappear from the tab-bar then although their windows are closed). Also, from my latest tests, the phishing protection seems to have some issues in Messenger 2009, Version 14.0.8064, but I think Matt will fix them as soon as he publishes a new beta. Just remember his statement: “there is still a lot of work to be done, so this is nowhere close to the final product”.
Download MessengerDiscovery 2.0.0019 Beta Visit the MessengerDiscovery 2 Beta site Share your thoughts in the MessengerDiscovery Community ForumsWhat do you think about MessengerDiscovery?
- Are there any features you miss?
- Bugs you are annoyed of?
- Tell us what you think about it!
Guardian interviews Patchou and other programmers about adware
on Fri 30 Jan 2009 (18:48 GMT) (1599 views)
on Fri 30 Jan 2009 (18:48 GMT) (1599 views)
The Guardian is a paper I read everyday, before school, with a coffee, with my friends. During a free period I went online to research into an essay and clicked into the technology section, where I found an article on the Messenger Plus! Live creator, Patchou. Btw, I want to make it clear my life does not involve around being an old man, reading newspapers and drinking coffee, I do have real fun too.
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.
Read the full article at the Guardian website (highly recommended)
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)For all of you who have an urge to constantly modify your Messenger with the latest versions, add-ons and skins this news is for you. MessengerDiscovery is a long and successful add-on for Windows Live Messenger adding several unique and rather interesting features. Now Matt, the creator of the program has released a public beta specifically for the Wave 3 beta of Windows Live Messenger 9.
From that statement it seems the program will be buggy. Heck, every final version of MessengerDiscovery has been buggy and has lacked that polish which makes the good stand from the great. I say use the beta with caution, as it is still not a supported product.
Visit the MessengerDiscovery 2 beta website
I was working very hard on MessengerDiscovery 2 trying to get it perfect and releasing it at the end of next month, but I wasn't planning on WLM 9 becoming public so soon. So I am going to release a public beta (2.0 preview) ... This version is 80% compatible with Windows Live Messenger 2009 Beta (version 9), most features work but the MessengerDiscovery engine has not been thoroughly tested.
From that statement it seems the program will be buggy. Heck, every final version of MessengerDiscovery has been buggy and has lacked that polish which makes the good stand from the great. I say use the beta with caution, as it is still not a supported product.
Visit the MessengerDiscovery 2 beta websiteNew is slow, but it has been happening, while all this time I have been busy. So I think it's time for a catch-up post!
i'm Initiative concerns:
mess.be have discovered Microsoft have raised $1.5 million on the i'm Initiative campaign since its launch sixteen months ago. However, in ads on just one new campaign, the Talkathon Microsoft have spent $5 million! One could argue Microsoft aren't really raising money for charity, but are attempting to portray themselves in a favourable light to users, which in my book is a big no no.
TinyURL blocked:
The 3rd party company in charge of stopping viruses spreading though Messenger have come under fire again, when they blocked TinyURL links within messages. The system has been controversial since it blocked websites containing .info domains, or entire websites such as YouTube and eBuddy. The system is also ineffective as there are workarounds virus creators can implement and the poor coding means it slows down Messenger. This is probably not the last we will hear of the crazy blocking system either.
MessengerDiscovery Live update:
Version 1.5 brings webcam recordings, encrypted messages, pinable contacts and skinable alerts. Download the update from the official website. As always MessengerDiscovery is feature rich, containing many new and wonderful ideas. It is just a shame they are coded sloppy and this update continues that trend.
MSN Messenger UK stats: - Source
So there we are, a nice little wrap up of the news over the past week or so, but don't worry there is still more to come, some of which is more interesting than this dribble. But being honest, with no development updates, news has been and will remain slow until when Windows Live Messenger 9 is near ready.
i'm Initiative concerns:
mess.be have discovered Microsoft have raised $1.5 million on the i'm Initiative campaign since its launch sixteen months ago. However, in ads on just one new campaign, the Talkathon Microsoft have spent $5 million! One could argue Microsoft aren't really raising money for charity, but are attempting to portray themselves in a favourable light to users, which in my book is a big no no.
TinyURL blocked:
The 3rd party company in charge of stopping viruses spreading though Messenger have come under fire again, when they blocked TinyURL links within messages. The system has been controversial since it blocked websites containing .info domains, or entire websites such as YouTube and eBuddy. The system is also ineffective as there are workarounds virus creators can implement and the poor coding means it slows down Messenger. This is probably not the last we will hear of the crazy blocking system either.
MessengerDiscovery Live update:
Version 1.5 brings webcam recordings, encrypted messages, pinable contacts and skinable alerts. Download the update from the official website. As always MessengerDiscovery is feature rich, containing many new and wonderful ideas. It is just a shame they are coded sloppy and this update continues that trend.
MSN Messenger UK stats: - Source
MSN Messenger has topped a group of 10 websites and applications which account for 30 per cent of the UK internet use.
Web users spend 2.6billion minutes a month on MSN, almost eight per cent of the UK's total of 33billion minutes.
EBay, Facebook, Google and iTunes are among the other "500 club" - sites who see users log at least 500million minutes online.
So there we are, a nice little wrap up of the news over the past week or so, but don't worry there is still more to come, some of which is more interesting than this dribble. But being honest, with no development updates, news has been and will remain slow until when Windows Live Messenger 9 is near ready.
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Messenger Stuff
