A new Windows Live Messenger build has been released via the auto-update system again. Details of any changes in this build are totally unknown it seems like an unneeded update for testing, however it is thought to be part of kicking off and disallowing users using the old beta build.
More information on this update soon (if there is any).
More information on this update soon (if there is any).
Yesterday evening Microsoft released several more of their Windows Live services. Windows Live Search, Windows Live.com and Windows Live Local / Local Search have all lost their beta tags and been let out into the real world.
By Thursday, Windows Live Search will have completely replaced MSN Search and will be the search engine used on both the Windows Live and MSN homepages. A summary of all it's new features is available at the Windows Live Search blog and more information is on it's product page.
Information about the latest release of Live.com can be found on it's blog and info about Live Local on their's.
Windows Live Mobile has also just released an update (although it doesn't appear to be out of beta yet) allowing you to view you Live.com page on your mobile device. More information courtesy of their blog.
Microsoft press release
Windows Live Search and Live.com factsheet
Windows Live Local factsheet
Team blogs:
Live.com
Windows Live Search
Windows Live Local
Windows Live Mobile
By Thursday, Windows Live Search will have completely replaced MSN Search and will be the search engine used on both the Windows Live and MSN homepages. A summary of all it's new features is available at the Windows Live Search blog and more information is on it's product page.
Information about the latest release of Live.com can be found on it's blog and info about Live Local on their's.
Windows Live Mobile has also just released an update (although it doesn't appear to be out of beta yet) allowing you to view you Live.com page on your mobile device. More information courtesy of their blog.
Microsoft press release Windows Live Search and Live.com factsheet Windows Live Local factsheetTeam blogs:
Live.com Windows Live Search Windows Live Local Windows Live MobileIn early August I told you about a upcoming skin for Windows Live Messenger called Vista Live Messenger. The skin was designed to make Windows Live Messenger look and feel like the Windows Vista Aero theme, a popular concept for many skinners now.
A few hours ago a beta was released to hopefully gather opinions for the finishing touches to the skin. It looks great and hopefully you will like it to. Of course talking about a design is useless, you have to try it for yourself.
Note: The skin does not contain an installer at the moment. You simply have to extract the archive, copy and paste msgsres.dll into C://Program Files/MSN Messenger overwriting the current file. Make sure you close Windows Live Messenger down first and make a backup of the old msgsres.dll file beforehand, just in case you want to remove the skin.
Download Vista Live Messenger for Windows Live Messenger 8.0
Download Vista Live Messenger for Windows Live Messenger 8.1
View our guide on installing skins
Download Vista Live Messenger beta
View a screenshot Vista Live Messenger beta
A few hours ago a beta was released to hopefully gather opinions for the finishing touches to the skin. It looks great and hopefully you will like it to. Of course talking about a design is useless, you have to try it for yourself.
Note: The skin does not contain an installer at the moment. You simply have to extract the archive, copy and paste msgsres.dll into C://Program Files/MSN Messenger overwriting the current file. Make sure you close Windows Live Messenger down first and make a backup of the old msgsres.dll file beforehand, just in case you want to remove the skin.
Download Vista Live Messenger for Windows Live Messenger 8.0 Download Vista Live Messenger for Windows Live Messenger 8.1 View our guide on installing skins Download Vista Live Messenger beta View a screenshot Vista Live Messenger betaSorry about the delay here guys, but some of you may already know that a new build of Windows Live Messenger was released two days ago. At first no noticeable changes were found, it just seemed the same, but over the last few days some details have come to light and I will try and sum them all up here.
A few weeks ago Fanatic Live reported of a security issue with how Windows Live Messenger stores passwords. It was shocking to know they were stored as plain text and any small program could steal them within seconds. The vulnerability has still not been fixed despite this issue needs to be fixed ASAP, once again Microsoft are looking bad and Windows Live Messenger seems to scream 'rushed'.
Fanatic Live also posted changes within the files. The installer dated back to July 29th and is 90KB larger (not much) and 10 files have been modified in some way. I think it is a bit sloppy how it took 11 days from the build being compiled to it being released. On another note the installer now includes the Windows Live Toolbar if you want to install it.
Like in every new build (as it seems) the sign in issue has been 'fixed' again. I have seen threads all over various messenger support forums saying they have issues signing in with the new build, so who knows what is going on. However, program manager Leah provided us with an explanation why messenger had sign in troubles on the MessengerSays blog. Apparently it had something to do with the length of your friendly name.
Also webcam video and sound quality have been improved. You can now see your contact's webcam in sharper picture and hear them more clearly which is a great change seeing as these features have not been touched in such a long time.
Messenger Plus! Live is also having issues with the new build. The Yahoo! integration problem has come back to some people probably suggesting some changes have happened in this build with the Yahoo! integration, but the Windows Live Messenger team have mentioned nothing about it. On a side note another Messenger Plus! Live build is coming soon (4.02) to contain various bug fixes. Patchou is taking it easy for a bit (I don't blame him) and then he will work on some new features.
In conclusion this build may seem like no changes have happened. However, some good source code improvements have been happening and hopefully the sign in error has been tackled for the final time, but I think it may come back to haunt us again.
Download Windows Live Messenger 8.0.0812
Download A-Patch for Windows Live Messenger 8.0.0812
View the MessengerSays blog post
A few weeks ago Fanatic Live reported of a security issue with how Windows Live Messenger stores passwords. It was shocking to know they were stored as plain text and any small program could steal them within seconds. The vulnerability has still not been fixed despite this issue needs to be fixed ASAP, once again Microsoft are looking bad and Windows Live Messenger seems to scream 'rushed'.
Fanatic Live also posted changes within the files. The installer dated back to July 29th and is 90KB larger (not much) and 10 files have been modified in some way. I think it is a bit sloppy how it took 11 days from the build being compiled to it being released. On another note the installer now includes the Windows Live Toolbar if you want to install it.
Like in every new build (as it seems) the sign in issue has been 'fixed' again. I have seen threads all over various messenger support forums saying they have issues signing in with the new build, so who knows what is going on. However, program manager Leah provided us with an explanation why messenger had sign in troubles on the MessengerSays blog. Apparently it had something to do with the length of your friendly name.
Also webcam video and sound quality have been improved. You can now see your contact's webcam in sharper picture and hear them more clearly which is a great change seeing as these features have not been touched in such a long time.
Messenger Plus! Live is also having issues with the new build. The Yahoo! integration problem has come back to some people probably suggesting some changes have happened in this build with the Yahoo! integration, but the Windows Live Messenger team have mentioned nothing about it. On a side note another Messenger Plus! Live build is coming soon (4.02) to contain various bug fixes. Patchou is taking it easy for a bit (I don't blame him) and then he will work on some new features.
In conclusion this build may seem like no changes have happened. However, some good source code improvements have been happening and hopefully the sign in error has been tackled for the final time, but I think it may come back to haunt us again.
Download Windows Live Messenger 8.0.0812 Download A-Patch for Windows Live Messenger 8.0.0812 View the MessengerSays blog postPatchou has released an update to Messenger Plus! Live, that was released 3 weeks ago. This release contains the custom emoticon panel that was absent from the original Messenger Plus! Live release.
Improvments also include:
Messenger Plus! Live changelog
Download Messenger Plus! Live 4.01.240
View Custom Emoticon Panel
Improvments also include:
- Compatibility for the "Clean Messenger" patch
- Compatibility with MSNP14 (currently enabled when you sign-up for Yahoo! Messenger interoperability)
- The 'Quick Icons Panel' has returned
- Other minor bug fixes
Messenger Plus! Live changelog Download Messenger Plus! Live 4.01.240 View Custom Emoticon PanelRight this very minute Messenger Plus! Live was official released to the public. This post has been pre-written so I could publish it the second it came out. Over its progress I have provided you with news and updates about the program and I hoped it helped.
Messenger Plus! Live is an entire re-code of Messenger Plus! providing you with many features to uplift your messenger experience. But I am sure most of you already knew that. Probably the best new feature is the new scripting engine. Scripts are replacing plugins for the better, they are easy to code and to create, and they are just as advanced as plugins were. Soon a full database of scripts will be right here on Messenger Stuff.
Messenger Plus! Live matches Windows Live Messenger's design, so it appears to directly integrate itself with the program. All the great old features are now back like tabbed chatting and coloured names. No real new features have been coded, but in future versions you can expect some great ones coming. The program may have been leaked on two occasions, but many changes have happened since then, tons of bug fixes and some important features have been coded back in. Generally the program is now ready for the rest of the world to enjoy.
I have really enjoyed testing the program, giving my suggestions, fixing bugs etc and now it is ready I hope you enjoy Patchou's and all the tester's hard work pumped into the program. But don't let me nag on, download and use, I mean it's the best way to find out about the program.
Download Messenger Plus! Live 4.0.0235
Visit the offical website
Messenger Plus! Live is an entire re-code of Messenger Plus! providing you with many features to uplift your messenger experience. But I am sure most of you already knew that. Probably the best new feature is the new scripting engine. Scripts are replacing plugins for the better, they are easy to code and to create, and they are just as advanced as plugins were. Soon a full database of scripts will be right here on Messenger Stuff.
Messenger Plus! Live matches Windows Live Messenger's design, so it appears to directly integrate itself with the program. All the great old features are now back like tabbed chatting and coloured names. No real new features have been coded, but in future versions you can expect some great ones coming. The program may have been leaked on two occasions, but many changes have happened since then, tons of bug fixes and some important features have been coded back in. Generally the program is now ready for the rest of the world to enjoy.
I have really enjoyed testing the program, giving my suggestions, fixing bugs etc and now it is ready I hope you enjoy Patchou's and all the tester's hard work pumped into the program. But don't let me nag on, download and use, I mean it's the best way to find out about the program.
Download Messenger Plus! Live 4.0.0235 Visit the offical websiteThe version of Windows Live Messenger available for download from messenger.live.com has now been upgraded to the 8.0.0792 that was (mistakenly) released earlier this week.
The setup no longer has the tendancy to come up with an error message whilst it is trying to load but otherwise appears to be the same version as was released before. Still, it is worrying that a new build had to be released at all so short an amount of time after the launch.
Oh and some important information here. Some of you (like me) may not be able to install and get an error message about a hardware problem. Don't worry, it is just an ill coded installer, you have to uninstall your old build and then install this one. The installer is just bad work, really it is totally rushed and poor, but what can do you about it?
Download the new build
Get it in your localised language (if it does not automatically at the link above)
More info about the new build and some of the changes in it
Update: On a related note, over at ideas.live.com the 'Beta' tag has finally been removed from the Windows Live Messenger page and it now contains the words "Just released".
The setup no longer has the tendancy to come up with an error message whilst it is trying to load but otherwise appears to be the same version as was released before. Still, it is worrying that a new build had to be released at all so short an amount of time after the launch.
Oh and some important information here. Some of you (like me) may not be able to install and get an error message about a hardware problem. Don't worry, it is just an ill coded installer, you have to uninstall your old build and then install this one. The installer is just bad work, really it is totally rushed and poor, but what can do you about it?
Download the new build Get it in your localised language (if it does not automatically at the link above) More info about the new build and some of the changes in itUpdate: On a related note, over at ideas.live.com the 'Beta' tag has finally been removed from the Windows Live Messenger page and it now contains the words "Just released".
Nearly two days after the initial release of Windows Live Messenger a new version it now available to download. The version build, 8.0.0792 was released just a few minutes ago, so far the reasons for it being here are unknown but we can assume it contains bug fixes. However, there is one problem. The installer script appears to be corrupt (how silly). I mean a new version is out for millions to download and it won't work, d'oh. Then again it may not of ever meant to be released, more news on this build soon.
Edit: It appears to only effect the english version, other languages work fine.
Edit 2: According to my sources it is for a Yahoo! Messenger intergration upgrade. It explains why the messenger servers keep going down in the last hour. But this is not confirmed and therefore maybe wrong. Let's hope it's not.
View the download for Windows Live Messenger 8.0.0792
Edit: It appears to only effect the english version, other languages work fine.
Edit 2: According to my sources it is for a Yahoo! Messenger intergration upgrade. It explains why the messenger servers keep going down in the last hour. But this is not confirmed and therefore maybe wrong. Let's hope it's not.
View the download for Windows Live Messenger 8.0.0792Finally here it is, Windows Live Messenger build 8.0.0787 released to the public. A full list of changes will be provided soon, but from first looks some icons, the font and text sizes have changed and a lot of bugs seem to have been fixed. The whole program runs much smoother as well. This is the first official Windows Live product to be released now, soon Windows Live Mail and Windows Live Spaces will follow. We can expect users of MSN Messenger quickly being told about the update soon.
Update:
OK then, around 9:00PM GMT time on Monday, Windows Live Messenger became official for all to download and use. One problem from the start was the installer, it was ugly and it not work all to well. Also the program installed into the MSN Messenger directory (wtf) and contains traces of MSN services within the product. This may mean there will never be a Windows Live Messenger directory.
The beta tags are off and that should mean the program is less buggy. However, the program still consumes my process memory really badly and that itself was one of the major issues. I have a low amount of RAM (256 MB) and keeping a lot of high usage programs running affects how I can use my computer, *sigh*. The toasts have also changed, the top bar is much smaller and neater, I personally don't like it but I can see the reasons for changing this.
In conclusion there are no new major things. Bug fixes and slight changes are what is in this version, it is a big step from MSN Messenger so if you have been using the Windows Live Messenger betas, don't expect too much to of changed. Unfortunately there is no Yahoo! Messenger integrating yet, nevertheless Yahoo! is releasing a new version tomorrow, how convenient.
You can download it in different languages:
English, Spanish, French, Dutch, Portuguese (Brazilian), Italian , German, Chinese (Traditional), Russian, Polish, Finnish, Hungarian, Turkish, Slovak, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Japanese, Taiwanese, Hebrew, Greek, Korean, Portuguese (European), Arabic.
Other links:
View a screenshot of this new build*
Official Windows Live Messenger site
Microsoft press release
Microsoft Q&A with Martin Taylor, corporate vice president of Windows Live and MSN
Patches:
Both Mess Patch and A-Patch have been updated for this version (although I recommend not *using the "Translucent Dashboard" option in Mess Patch as it mucks up the UI as it has in the screenshot featured above [and makes me, at least, very confused]):
Mess Patch
A-Patch
Update:
OK then, around 9:00PM GMT time on Monday, Windows Live Messenger became official for all to download and use. One problem from the start was the installer, it was ugly and it not work all to well. Also the program installed into the MSN Messenger directory (wtf) and contains traces of MSN services within the product. This may mean there will never be a Windows Live Messenger directory.
The beta tags are off and that should mean the program is less buggy. However, the program still consumes my process memory really badly and that itself was one of the major issues. I have a low amount of RAM (256 MB) and keeping a lot of high usage programs running affects how I can use my computer, *sigh*. The toasts have also changed, the top bar is much smaller and neater, I personally don't like it but I can see the reasons for changing this.
In conclusion there are no new major things. Bug fixes and slight changes are what is in this version, it is a big step from MSN Messenger so if you have been using the Windows Live Messenger betas, don't expect too much to of changed. Unfortunately there is no Yahoo! Messenger integrating yet, nevertheless Yahoo! is releasing a new version tomorrow, how convenient.
You can download it in different languages:
English, Spanish, French, Dutch, Portuguese (Brazilian), Italian , German, Chinese (Traditional), Russian, Polish, Finnish, Hungarian, Turkish, Slovak, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Japanese, Taiwanese, Hebrew, Greek, Korean, Portuguese (European), Arabic.
Other links:
View a screenshot of this new build* Official Windows Live Messenger site Microsoft press release Microsoft Q&A with Martin Taylor, corporate vice president of Windows Live and MSNPatches:
Both Mess Patch and A-Patch have been updated for this version (although I recommend not *using the "Translucent Dashboard" option in Mess Patch as it mucks up the UI as it has in the screenshot featured above [and makes me, at least, very confused]):
Mess Patch A-PatchOver at the Messenger Plus! forums, Patchou has said that we will know the release date for Messenger Plus! Live from tomorrow. He has been dropping a lot of hints:
When this date is announced we will bring it to you as soon as we can, and you can be amoungst the first to know. An idea of when it will be released is around two weeks after Windows Live Messenger becomes offical, which should be soon now.
Patchou's pre-announcement announcement
Thanks to Matti for the info.
I'll announce tomorrow a final release date for Plus! Live.
I should make an announcement about this tomorrow 
Yep: just wait for Messenger Plus! Live (soon), you won't have this problem anymore
When this date is announced we will bring it to you as soon as we can, and you can be amoungst the first to know. An idea of when it will be released is around two weeks after Windows Live Messenger becomes offical, which should be soon now.
Patchou's pre-announcement announcementThanks to Matti for the info.
Messenger Stuff