While on the subject of the Messsenger Plus! Live contest, the release of Messenger Plus! Live 4.22.274 introduced a bug where after the 5th of June you wouldn't be able to access the Messenger Plus! Live contest. Therefore Patchou released a updated version to correct it and a few other bugs.

So if your contest button and menu item have disappeared, download Messenger Plus! Live 4.23 and install it to continue playing the contest.

Patchou has released the compatibility version of Messenger Plus! Live for the newly released Windows Live Messenger 8.5 BETA.

Apart from the compatibility addition, there is a couple of bug fixes, but that's about it. All you Messenger beta testers can now play the Messenger Plus! Live contest!

Download: Messenger Plus! Live 4.22.274
View: Messenger Plus! Live Contest Information

The leaked Windows Live Messenger 8.5 beta that seemed to have got a bit of attention this week (bringing down our site with the amount of downloads it had) has now been released as an official public beta.

MessengerSays mentions nothing on the leak, but talks about the build. You could question the release, most MVP's and interns believed 9.0 was the only version in development. The build no longer supports machines running anything older than Windows XP SP2, and finally moves settings into a new directory (Program Files/Windows Live/Messenger), which is creating problems for 3rd party addons.

Messenger Plus! Live will have an update to support the new beta soon, however there are problems where Plus! installs itself (if you re-install WLM, Plus! may no longer hook correctly because it is installed in a different directory).

I just want to note the public beta is no different than the leak of the other day. If you're having trouble installing the new beta, read this (apparently there are a few issues with the new installer).

Windows Live Messenger 8.5 Beta (English/UK)
Windows Live Messenger 8.5 Beta (English/US)
Windows Live Messenger 8.5 Beta (English/India)
Windows Live Messenger 8.5 Beta (French/France)
Windows Live Messenger 8.5 Beta (German)
Windows Live Messenger 8.5 Beta (Spanish/US)
Windows Live Messenger 8.5 Beta (Spanish/Spain)
Windows Live Messenger 8.5 Beta (Chinese [Simplified])
Windows Live Messenger 8.5 Beta (Japanese)

Last night Patchou released the latest version of Messenger Plus! Live, version 4.21.270. This version contains ways to access to the huge contest that is due to start next week to celebrate Messenger Plus!'s anniversary as well as a few other changes.

We'll post more about the contest next week but until then I'll keep this relatively short and end with these related links:

Download Messenger Plus! Live 4.21.270
View and discuss Patchou's announcement about the new version
Find out more about the changes in this build
Read the full change log
Find out more about the upcoming contest

Following on from the news about the latest Pidgin beta, the final version of Pidgin 2.0.0 was released yesterday.

This is the first release of the multi-platform and multi-protocol instant messaging client under its new name and "features extraordinary enhancements to features and functionality over the previous release".

Official release announcement
Find out more about Pidgin and its features
Download Pidgin

Just a quick post here to alert you about a new version to the feature packed MessengerDiscovery Live. The 1.3 update contains many new features as well as improving on others and fixing over 20 known bugs. Here is a small sample of the changes:

• The program is now compatible with Windows Vista
• The settings of the program are now more customisable
• New icons have been added to the display picture manager to zoom in/ out
• Support for dual monitors has been added
• You can now change your status by commands
• The history logger now logs personal message and nickname changes
• Improvements on various commands

Download MessengerDiscovery Live
View the full changelog
Visit the official website

Just a quick post here alerting you that an update for MessengerDiscovery Live has been released. The update essentially 'fixes' bugs in the program, has re-designed aspects and is now fully compatible with Windows Live Messenger 8.1.

Of course the program contains some exciting features, although some do not come together too well. That being said I do believe the new features such as the display picture manager are pretty hot. Enjoy!

Go to the official website
Download MessengerDiscovery Live 1.2

TheBlasphemer has released an update to StuffPlug (possibly prompted to do so by the leak of a private beta), which carries build number .387. There are many changes and improvements included in this build, some important changes are listed below:

- The program is now compatible with WLM builds 8.0.0812, 8.1.0168 and 8.1.0178
- New feature: Replace default emoticons with custom emoticons
- New: Installation directory is now customisable
- New: Loader, which should fix Windows Vista x64 problems
- New feature: 'Wordwheel Add', type the email address of someone not yet in your contact list in the word wheel, and it adds them
- New feature: Timezone clock in conversation windows
- Feature removed: AdHider
- Many other bug fixes and tweaks

View TB's news post about it
Download StuffPlug 3.0.387 BETA

Patchou has released Messenger Plus! 4.20, carrying build number 262. This release contains improved compatibility for Windows Vista and the 9 winning scripts that won the scripting contest in January.

Overall the improvements may not be noticeable, but there are many, and when you add them up you will notice a better experience of Messenger. You can find out more about the new features and improvements by reading absorbation's previous news post.

Download: Messenger Plus! Live 4.20
View Change Log
Read and discuss Patchou's news announcement

Just a quick post here to alert you that Messenger for Mac has been updated. I'm not entirely sure what the update has included, but this version now has full integration between you and your Yahoo! contacts.

You have to remember Messenger for Mac is targeted towards business users, hence integrates well with Microsoft Office. As a consequence Messenger for Mac lacks features that would attract Messenger's main target audience of teenage users. However webcam support, as well as other fun new features are expected in the near future.

Download Messenger for Mac 6.0.2