Windows Live Messenger 2011 second public beta released
on Tue 17 Aug 2010 (22:13 GMT) (13455 views)
on Tue 17 Aug 2010 (22:13 GMT) (13455 views)
The public beta of Windows Live Essentials Wave 4, which includes Windows Live Messenger was updated this evening, addressing several bugs while adding new features to the previous build.
Most significantly Messenger now includes full Facebook intergration, allowing you and your Facebook friends to talk between clients, a feature heavily requested and even implemented by third party developers:
According to the Inside Windows Live blog:
More information soon.
Most significantly Messenger now includes full Facebook intergration, allowing you and your Facebook friends to talk between clients, a feature heavily requested and even implemented by third party developers:
According to the Inside Windows Live blog:
- Messenger is quicker at loading information, signing in and uses 30% less CPU for video messaging
- Facebook intergration has been further implemented, starting today in the US, UK, France, Brazil, Germany, and Russia
More information soon.
A public beta of Windows Live Messenger 2011 has been released by Microsoft. Coming part of an extensive package of Windows Live Essential's new betas, Microsoft's IM client has received an array of new features and improvements for users to test before the application's official release expected mid-August.
Some observations we've made
Community impressions
Having kept a close eye on the Windows Live Essentials beta page all of yesterday I was excited when my download started at around 19:30 (BST). The installer was simple to say the least: it lacked any sort of solid GUI and after waiting a long 20 minutes for it to complete I was ready to sign in.
My first impressions were positive, the layout looked slick and although the social pane was hardly relevant (just having Facebook notifications in it would be ideal for me) I quickly switched to the classic contact list and marveled at the obvious implementation of sorting contacts into columns - why didn't they think of this before!
The honeymoon period quickly ended however, as the program began to repeatedly crash upon signing in. Then the impressions of others began to hit my computer screen thick and fast: most of which were negative - issues over installing, signing in and the privacy changes plagued any new positive features. Yes Messenger is buggy but I'm trying to forgive it, after-all it is a beta for a reason.
ZDNet blogger Zack Whittaker likened the Essentials beta as “watching a clown run across a minefield.” While Peter Bright over at Arstechnica praised the small design decisions noting a "cleaner and crisper" appearance that incorporates more whitespace. There has been a mixed set of opinions.
From experience there is typically a lukewarm response to any sizable Messenger upgrade. Microsoft however, are moving in a new direction and it seems like the right decision. The Windows Live Messenger 2011 public beta is no panacea to the IM/ social networking gap, but Microsoft seem to be the only company attempting to change that position in order to fire some energy back into its flagship instant messaging service.
Screenshots
Screenshot: Installer privacy settings
Screenshot: Social pane
Screenshot: Classic contact list
Screenshot: Contact list - large contacts
Screenshot: Multi-column contact list
Screenshot: Conservation window
Screenshot: Tabbed chatting
Screenshot: Facebook integration
Screenshot: About window
View our gallery of screenshots for the previous leaked beta back in March
Download Windows Live Essentials Wave 4 beta
Some observations we've made
- The build number is 15.3.2804.607.
- Display names have been replaced by real names associated with that particular Windows Live ID. This is a significant change, most probably associated with Messenger's social networking push. Some users however, have expressed concerns over the idea, with worries over privacy for those who choose not to publish their real identities.
- Microsoft MVP CookieRevisied has criticized the feature, stating: "This isn't about 'getting used to changes' or 'getting rid of the old and going forward in time', or even a 'personal taste of a feature' or whatever, this is all about privacy!"
- The multiple location login feature introduced in Windows Live Messenger 2009 has received further integration, allowing you to control all devices currently connected to Messenger. This works particularly well if you're using the Messenger for iPhone app released this week.
- The contact list has received several UI modifications, allowing you to remove the "social pane" feature and maintain the classic design using several columns for organizing friends.
- The main contact list features a larger square advertisements, while the text promotion feature at the bottom of the conservation window has been replaced by an image banner. [Read our previous discussions on the new Messenger advertisements]
- Contact sorting has become highly customized. You can order your contacts by their online status, if they are favorites, by specific groups, who you appear offline to and "others".
- The UI has remained mostly unchanged in terms of color scheme and layout. Previous Windows Live betas have witnessed significant UI modifications.
- Facebook is fully integrated into the build. Status updates are synchronized and you can share information between the applications.
- Toast notifications are larger and more rectangular, featuring a more simple design:
- Keywords are underlined within conversations which then become searchable. Links to YouTube and other services also receive thumbnail previews which then play embedded into the client (pretty cool, even if it is a little buggy at the moment).
- There has been no word on whether a compatible Messenger Plus! Live will be released for the beta. Based on previous releases however, Patchou is likely to provide a beta build within the next couple of weeks.
Community impressions
Having kept a close eye on the Windows Live Essentials beta page all of yesterday I was excited when my download started at around 19:30 (BST). The installer was simple to say the least: it lacked any sort of solid GUI and after waiting a long 20 minutes for it to complete I was ready to sign in.
My first impressions were positive, the layout looked slick and although the social pane was hardly relevant (just having Facebook notifications in it would be ideal for me) I quickly switched to the classic contact list and marveled at the obvious implementation of sorting contacts into columns - why didn't they think of this before!
The honeymoon period quickly ended however, as the program began to repeatedly crash upon signing in. Then the impressions of others began to hit my computer screen thick and fast: most of which were negative - issues over installing, signing in and the privacy changes plagued any new positive features. Yes Messenger is buggy but I'm trying to forgive it, after-all it is a beta for a reason.
ZDNet blogger Zack Whittaker likened the Essentials beta as “watching a clown run across a minefield.” While Peter Bright over at Arstechnica praised the small design decisions noting a "cleaner and crisper" appearance that incorporates more whitespace. There has been a mixed set of opinions.
From experience there is typically a lukewarm response to any sizable Messenger upgrade. Microsoft however, are moving in a new direction and it seems like the right decision. The Windows Live Messenger 2011 public beta is no panacea to the IM/ social networking gap, but Microsoft seem to be the only company attempting to change that position in order to fire some energy back into its flagship instant messaging service.
Screenshots
Screenshot: Installer privacy settings Screenshot: Social pane Screenshot: Classic contact list Screenshot: Contact list - large contacts Screenshot: Multi-column contact list Screenshot: Conservation window Screenshot: Tabbed chatting Screenshot: Facebook integration Screenshot: About window View our gallery of screenshots for the previous leaked beta back in March Download Windows Live Essentials Wave 4 betaThe popular web messenger service, eBuddy is about to receive a major refresh, which will be available to users from April 6. Originally named e-messenger until 2004, eBuddy has expanded to become one of the largest web IM platforms available today. We at Messenger Stuff have been given an early preview of what the new eBuddy has to offer.
The upcoming release takes the web application in a new direction, boasting a similar interface to its largest competitor Meebo. So how does eBuddy compare? I'll put to you the problem I've always had with eBuddy: its interface. The design and layout has always been bland and bloated for the user. It seems uncomfortable on my screen. This redesigned build however removes its out-dated system of pop-up windows and instead renders the application in your current browser window. Everything from the login form to sending a message is now unadulterated, simple and maintains a high level of polish. The whole package now feels more modern and in line with the modern web. A spokesperson for eBuddy summarised the changes perfectly:
The great thing about eBuddy is its integration with various other IM platforms. All IM clients tend to share the same basic functionality e.g. setting a display name, chatting to a friend, blocking a certain individual. eBuddy however, includes features for each specific client. Need to set your personal message? Nudge a contact? You can! eBuddy, particularly for MSN/ Windows Live Messenger users is simply your desktop client, but available at any computer without having to install anything. You can't claim eBuddy is a stripped down, half-coded version of Messenger (unlike what a lot of web messengers are out there).
The level of customisation in eBuddy is thus its greatest strength. You can sort your contacts however you prefer or use several buddy lists from various platforms in one window.The tabbed interface improves navigation, conservations are easier to follow and the new jQuery functions make using the application nothing short of beautiful.
eBuddy appears to be going from strength to strength, with a wider userbase and a superb iPhone application. A refresh to the main client itself appears to mark the end of a significant step in eBuddy's development strategy.
Honestly I never was a huge fan of eBuddy, preferring Meebo when I was pushed to use a web messenger. Now I have to re-think my use for Meebo as the new eBuddy provides a vast array of features presented in a clean and creative way. If any of you have any similar allegiances to a certain web messenger I would recommend, come April 6 to give the new eBuddy a try. You may just make the switch.
View a screenshot of the new buddy list
View a screenshot of the chat window
The upcoming release takes the web application in a new direction, boasting a similar interface to its largest competitor Meebo. So how does eBuddy compare? I'll put to you the problem I've always had with eBuddy: its interface. The design and layout has always been bland and bloated for the user. It seems uncomfortable on my screen. This redesigned build however removes its out-dated system of pop-up windows and instead renders the application in your current browser window. Everything from the login form to sending a message is now unadulterated, simple and maintains a high level of polish. The whole package now feels more modern and in line with the modern web. A spokesperson for eBuddy summarised the changes perfectly:
Basically the new messenger is a lot faster, reliable and sports a brand new and customisable look.
The great thing about eBuddy is its integration with various other IM platforms. All IM clients tend to share the same basic functionality e.g. setting a display name, chatting to a friend, blocking a certain individual. eBuddy however, includes features for each specific client. Need to set your personal message? Nudge a contact? You can! eBuddy, particularly for MSN/ Windows Live Messenger users is simply your desktop client, but available at any computer without having to install anything. You can't claim eBuddy is a stripped down, half-coded version of Messenger (unlike what a lot of web messengers are out there).
The level of customisation in eBuddy is thus its greatest strength. You can sort your contacts however you prefer or use several buddy lists from various platforms in one window.The tabbed interface improves navigation, conservations are easier to follow and the new jQuery functions make using the application nothing short of beautiful.
eBuddy appears to be going from strength to strength, with a wider userbase and a superb iPhone application. A refresh to the main client itself appears to mark the end of a significant step in eBuddy's development strategy.
Honestly I never was a huge fan of eBuddy, preferring Meebo when I was pushed to use a web messenger. Now I have to re-think my use for Meebo as the new eBuddy provides a vast array of features presented in a clean and creative way. If any of you have any similar allegiances to a certain web messenger I would recommend, come April 6 to give the new eBuddy a try. You may just make the switch.
View a screenshot of the new buddy list View a screenshot of the chat windowBuddyFuse is an add-on that integrates Twitter, Google Talk and the social networking website, Hyves into Windows Live Messenger. We've been talking about it over the past couple of months, giving previews of its development cycle and today its creator Juzzi has released a build for public download.
BuddyFuse has been in private testing for some months now and with new features on the horizon the program should shape to be one of the most popular and useful add-ons for Microsoft's hit IM client.
Download BuddyFuse for Windows Live Messenger
BuddyFuse blog: BuddyFuse now available
In the current version, you can add your accounts from Google, Twitter and Hyves (a popular Dutch social network). Once you have added your Google account, all your Google Talk chat contacts will be loaded into Messenger. When your friends are online on Google Talk you can chat with them just like with regular Messenger buddies. Our Twitter support currently means BuddyFuse can automatically Tweet your Messenger personal message status updates. In the video below you see how everything works
BuddyFuse has been in private testing for some months now and with new features on the horizon the program should shape to be one of the most popular and useful add-ons for Microsoft's hit IM client.
Download BuddyFuse for Windows Live Messenger BuddyFuse blog: BuddyFuse now availableBeta test MessengerDiscovery with Facebook Chat integration
on Wed 23 Sep 2009 (19:12 GMT) (7607 views)
on Wed 23 Sep 2009 (19:12 GMT) (7607 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 betaQFE patch updates Windows Live Messenger to build 14.0.8089.726
on Fri 21 Aug 2009 (14:56 GMT) (14638 views)
on Fri 21 Aug 2009 (14:56 GMT) (14638 views)
With the release of Windows Live Movie Maker this week, the second QFE (Quick Fix Engineering) patch has been released for the Windows Live Wave 3 cycle, updating the entire range of Windows Live desktop applications, including Windows Live Messenger.
Microsoft have not confirmed what the update provides, but one can assume it is security or integration with Windows Live Movie Maker related. The release does not fix the large personal message bug we talked about earlier in the week. Jonathan-Kay has provided a msi file for each installer over at his blog.
This release does not appear to conflict with add-ons such as Messenger Plus! Live and Willz has confirmed skins are unaffected.
Download Windows Live Messenger
Microsoft have not confirmed what the update provides, but one can assume it is security or integration with Windows Live Movie Maker related. The release does not fix the large personal message bug we talked about earlier in the week. Jonathan-Kay has provided a msi file for each installer over at his blog.
This release does not appear to conflict with add-ons such as Messenger Plus! Live and Willz has confirmed skins are unaffected.
Download Windows Live MessengerMessenger Plus! 4.82: Windows 7 compatible and new contest announced
on Wed 01 Jul 2009 (12:44 GMT) (1383 views)
on Wed 01 Jul 2009 (12:44 GMT) (1383 views)
Over the past few weeks beta testers have been reporting bugs on this small, yet significant update of Messenger Plus! Live in order for today's release. The update specifically targets three main areas: making the program fully compatible with Windows 7; allowing settings of skins and scripts to be imported and exported and adding the features for an upcoming contest similar to the one held in Summer 2007. Overall this minor build number has many major updates within it.
Windows 7 has presented issues for Messenger in general
The contest is the same click an individual pixel to win a prize, a highly popular and successful idea where some fantastic prizes including high resolution monitors and top end consoles were up for grabs. There will also be a twist this year in order to draw more users into using Messenger Plus!. More information will be posted when Patchou officially announces the start of the contest sometime next week.
The contest proved to be very popular two years ago with 2,242,758 players
This will be the last major update before Messenger Plus! Live 5.0 is released, which is now under development. Patchou has been very secretive on its upcoming features, but a flood of suggestions has gone his way and some interesting hints have been noted by testers. Much of this will depend however, on what Windows Live Messenger 2010 has up its sleeve.
Download Messenger Plus! Live 4.82.368
See the announcement Patchou made to the Messenger Plus! forums
Read the entire changelog for Messenger Plus! Live 4.82.368
Windows 7 has presented issues for Messenger in general
The contest is the same click an individual pixel to win a prize, a highly popular and successful idea where some fantastic prizes including high resolution monitors and top end consoles were up for grabs. There will also be a twist this year in order to draw more users into using Messenger Plus!. More information will be posted when Patchou officially announces the start of the contest sometime next week.
The contest proved to be very popular two years ago with 2,242,758 players
This will be the last major update before Messenger Plus! Live 5.0 is released, which is now under development. Patchou has been very secretive on its upcoming features, but a flood of suggestions has gone his way and some interesting hints have been noted by testers. Much of this will depend however, on what Windows Live Messenger 2010 has up its sleeve.
Download Messenger Plus! Live 4.82.368 See the announcement Patchou made to the Messenger Plus! forums Read the entire changelog for Messenger Plus! Live 4.82.368Willz's skins have always been well received and generate great popular support around them. Now the top Messenger skinner has released another new skin called Fuse. Here is the announcement from his website, Design Evolved:
Fuse is a simple, chrome effect skin using lots of gradients rather than textures. The colour schemes complement each other well and on the whole is generally pleasant to use. There is nothing too extreme, the the clear spaces make the task of typing less distracting. Overall Fuse is a wonderfully designed project by Willz and like all his skins I would highly recommend using it.
Download Fuse from the Messenger Plus! skins database
Fuse is something I have been working on and off for the past few months. Messenger 9's layout is difficult to manipulate when it comes to taking down the extra space Microsoft added in.
With every skin I made, I learnt a bit more on how to get around some of these sizing restrictions to condense the space down. So after a lot of coding I was able to construct a skin which significantly brings down the minimum window size you can have when using Messenger.
Fuse features a highly compressed chat window and contact list design. It took a lot of experimentation and a mixture of code from different skins to be able to come to the final product (kinda how it got it's name, it's a fusion of all the layout compression I have done.)
Fuse features the standard options you guys have been used to in my skins recently and also uses some of the extra registry entries you see in Phunk'n as a little bonus. But yeah I recommend people check out this skin because it really does grow on you (like how it colorizes and if you combine it with the right scene it looks really nice).
Fuse is a simple, chrome effect skin using lots of gradients rather than textures. The colour schemes complement each other well and on the whole is generally pleasant to use. There is nothing too extreme, the the clear spaces make the task of typing less distracting. Overall Fuse is a wonderfully designed project by Willz and like all his skins I would highly recommend using it.
Download Fuse from the Messenger Plus! skins databaseGreat 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!.
Multimedia designer and star skinner Will Ingles has released the Messenger 2009 version of his popular skin set Phunk’n.
Download: Phunk’n - Infusco 2.0.1 (for Messenger 2009 only)
Download: Phunk’n - Niveus 2.0.1 (for Messenger 2009 only)
Note: You must have installed Messenger Plus! to install skins.
What do you think about this skin set?
I had to completely recode the entire skin and re-think certain parts of the skin to suit Messenger 2009. While most of the skin retains the layout from the previous version you will notice some differences in version 2.
The most major one is that fade animations had to be scrapped. Sad to say that they have changed in Messenger 2009 and are extremely restricted. I couldn’t really find a balance between making it work, look right and not lag the skin up.
The custom Messenger Plus! UI has also been scrapped due to the fact that Messenger Plus! Live 5 will be entering development soon and I would rather wait to see what is going to happen with the UI before diving in too deep.
The registry entries that I added in the previous version return in version 2. There are a few new ones such as choosing the size of the extra display picture in the chat window and also the one in the contact list. Toolbar alignment options are also in these entries.
Phunk’n - Infusco
Download: Phunk’n - Infusco 2.0.1 (for Messenger 2009 only)Phunk’n - Niveus
Download: Phunk’n - Niveus 2.0.1 (for Messenger 2009 only)Note: You must have installed Messenger Plus! to install skins.
What do you think about this skin set?
Messenger Stuff
