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When will Messenger Plus! Live be updated for yesterday's release? Good question. The short answer is "we just don't know", but a little insight might provide some of you with some hope.
Patchou, the creator of Messenger Plus! Live would typically release a beta build when any Microsoft published Windows Live Messenger would hit the web. Well the public beta was back in June and there has been no sign of an update to Messenger Plus! Live, so what's the problem? For a start Patchou originally complained about developing with the pubic beta on his blog, however there has been some significant organizational changes around the application that need to be considered too.
Just to point out, Patchou has told me nothing here, I am merely speculating on the limited evidence available and what the community is saying. I imagine Patchou wishes to protect his interests and not release a build that is not ready for public consumption (the whole application is getting some very big new features) and it could be several months before they are ready for distribution.
There is a walk-around! - At least for previous betas
Phew! Users can activate the software manually, although not all features will work and doing so is entirely supported. The changelog for Messenger Plus! Live 4.85.386 states:
Unfortunately I could not get this to work on the final release of Windows Live Messenger 2011. Hopefully this post will address some of you Googlers wondering what has happened to your favorite Messenger extension.
Patchou, the creator of Messenger Plus! Live would typically release a beta build when any Microsoft published Windows Live Messenger would hit the web. Well the public beta was back in June and there has been no sign of an update to Messenger Plus! Live, so what's the problem? For a start Patchou originally complained about developing with the pubic beta on his blog, however there has been some significant organizational changes around the application that need to be considered too.
Just to point out, Patchou has told me nothing here, I am merely speculating on the limited evidence available and what the community is saying. I imagine Patchou wishes to protect his interests and not release a build that is not ready for public consumption (the whole application is getting some very big new features) and it could be several months before they are ready for distribution.
There is a walk-around! - At least for previous betas
Phew! Users can activate the software manually, although not all features will work and doing so is entirely supported. The changelog for Messenger Plus! Live 4.85.386 states:
When the new Messenger beta is detected, Messenger Plus! adds its usual "Software not loaded" menu in the contact list. From this menu, the compatibility window can be displayed to display some information and, more importantly, to let more advanced users disable "safe mode".
When safe mode is disabled with the beta, Messenger Plus! activates some of its functionalities. Using Messenger Plus! in this mode may cause all sorts of errors to occur, no support will be given for beta versions of Messenger.
If you experience issues after disabling safe mode, use the Maintenance wizard (available from the uninstaller) to revert Messenger Plus! to its normal state.
The Repair Wizard of the uninstaller now resets the "safe mode" setting of Messenger Plus! even if user preferences are not erased.
Unfortunately I could not get this to work on the final release of Windows Live Messenger 2011. Hopefully this post will address some of you Googlers wondering what has happened to your favorite Messenger extension.
Reminder: New Windows Live Messenger gets rid of display names
on Fri 01 Oct 2010 (23:22 GMT) (32049 views)
on Fri 01 Oct 2010 (23:22 GMT) (32049 views)
This is a post to alert anyone who may not have realized that the new Windows Live Messenger 2011 no longer allows users to a display a friendly name. Alternatively Microsoft now display your real name, which is linked to your Windows Live profile and instead allows customization through the personal message feature.
There is no walk around around the change if you use the latest version of Windows Live Messenger. It is also important to note your display name will automatically change to your real name when you sign in, making it visible to all your contacts. There is an element of privacy invasion, so be warned if you don't wish to reveal your real name of Windows Live Messenger - update your Windows Live profile before downloading the new version.
There is no walk around around the change if you use the latest version of Windows Live Messenger. It is also important to note your display name will automatically change to your real name when you sign in, making it visible to all your contacts. There is an element of privacy invasion, so be warned if you don't wish to reveal your real name of Windows Live Messenger - update your Windows Live profile before downloading the new version.
Windows Live Messenger build 15.4.3502.922 has been released as a final non-beta build, the first major update since January 2009. The release was part of the official release of Windows Live Essentials 2011.
Notable changes:
Download Windows Live Essentials 2011
Download offline installer (English)
View the announcement at the Windows team blog
Notable changes:
- LiveSide reports Dell is pre-installing Windows Live Essentials on all new machines.
- A-Patch has been updated for the new build, but is limited to 5 features. There also appears to be problems removing advertisements as the patch can only now remove the advertisement and not the space it holds.
Download Windows Live Essentials 2011 Download offline installer (English) View the announcement at the Windows team blogWindows Live Messenger 2011 second public beta released
on Tue 17 Aug 2010 (22:13 GMT) (34958 views)
on Tue 17 Aug 2010 (22:13 GMT) (34958 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 betaWhat, Windows Live Messenger 2010 has not even been released yet? Yes, Windows Live Essentials 2010 is actually going to hold the year of 2011, suggesting longer gaps between program releases, according to one Microsoft employee:
Although this has not been officially confirmed by Microsoft (I hope the source's first language isn't English), there are several reasons why this could be the case. For now however, we will refer to the upcoming release as Messenger 2010 until we can read an official press release, when we will amend all our previous posts.
I understand that as has been secret until now the name of the Wave 4 (internal name) is they cost more to know these details. And then going to go bragging to post this information in your next post, arguing that "these rumors" or "these sources" for example my WLWave4 roadmap that i posted in exclusive ... Finally, this is not a rumor, is totally true (I confirmed 100%) and I am not the source of anyone, least of those who do not make a single credit to the author of the news.
Although this has not been officially confirmed by Microsoft (I hope the source's first language isn't English), there are several reasons why this could be the case. For now however, we will refer to the upcoming release as Messenger 2010 until we can read an official press release, when we will amend all our previous posts.
Rumor: Windows Live Messenger 2010 public beta due June 21
on Sat 08 May 2010 (19:25 GMT) (38760 views)
on Sat 08 May 2010 (19:25 GMT) (38760 views)
The past week has witnessed Microsoft attempting to push information about its upcoming release of Windows Live Essentials. Wikikou reports that they've received information that will see a public beta of Windows Live Wave 4 next month.
Can this rumor be believed? Well Microsoft never reveal release dates for final products, never mind public betas. The fact that this build is expected at the end of next month is also questionable as typically beta cycles don't work to specific release dates (although as there are several products, this may be planned). Judging from previous Windows Live releases we can expect a public beta during the development cycle and it may well be the case one is due at the end of June. I do not however, believe Microsoft will release a public beta on the 21st, it's just too specific.
Source: Wikikou - Windows Live Messenger 2010 should come out next June 21 in Public BETA.
Can this rumor be believed? Well Microsoft never reveal release dates for final products, never mind public betas. The fact that this build is expected at the end of next month is also questionable as typically beta cycles don't work to specific release dates (although as there are several products, this may be planned). Judging from previous Windows Live releases we can expect a public beta during the development cycle and it may well be the case one is due at the end of June. I do not however, believe Microsoft will release a public beta on the 21st, it's just too specific.
Source: Wikikou - Windows Live Messenger 2010 should come out next June 21 in Public BETA.The weekend has witnessed what Wave 4 has to offer and much of the attention has focused on what's coming for Windows Live Messenger 2010. We've attempted to provide a brief summary of the various related news stories.
Greater social networking integration
The Messenger team have focused on expanding their userbase through the social networking market:
New screenshots have revealed much of the focus is going to be on Facebook Chat integration, with dedicated conversation windows been provided:
Messenger on your iPhone
Perhaps the most exciting news to emerge this weekend is the unveiling of Windows Live Messenger for the iPhone. According to Neowin’s coverage:
Messenger Connect
Microsoft have unveiled new ways for web developers to integrate Windows Live Messenger users into their website, allowing them to use their Windows Live profile, Messenger contacts and personal credentials securely from one account. It works in a similar fashion similar to Facebook Connect. You can read more over at Windows Live Blog.
Hi-def video chat, real-time photo sharing and video voicemail
Microsoft have made live their Windows Live preview website, which gives an overview of what users can expect from Wave 4 Windows Live products. It signals a push to get users talking about Wave 4, perhaps in the mists of releasing a public beta of Windows Live Essentials in the near future.
Video chat quality has been improved, the photo-sharing feature is more interactive and in real-time, while users can how send short video-messages to offline contacts that will play when they next sign in. The upcoming version appears to be significantly enhancing current Messenger features.
The build-up to Windows Live Wave 4 is truly underway. Expect greater coverage to come. For now check out the video below for an overview:
Greater social networking integration
The Messenger team have focused on expanding their userbase through the social networking market:
This begins with bringing together the most complete picture of what your friends are doing across your social networks and other sharing sites, and then helping you see at a glance what your favorite people are doing, wherever they’re doing it. This includes comprehensive integration with Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, and a wide range of other sharing sites.
New screenshots have revealed much of the focus is going to be on Facebook Chat integration, with dedicated conversation windows been provided:
As part of our deeper integration with Facebook, later this year Messenger will support Facebook Chat, so you’ll be able to IM all your Facebook friends from within Messenger.
Messenger on your iPhone
Perhaps the most exciting news to emerge this weekend is the unveiling of Windows Live Messenger for the iPhone. According to Neowin’s coverage:
The Messenger client will offer all the standard features, instant messaging, photo sharing, accept and send friend invitations, emoticons and much more. Users can also browse their connected social networks, allowing users to comment, like, browse and share information with their friends and family.
Messenger Connect
Microsoft have unveiled new ways for web developers to integrate Windows Live Messenger users into their website, allowing them to use their Windows Live profile, Messenger contacts and personal credentials securely from one account. It works in a similar fashion similar to Facebook Connect. You can read more over at Windows Live Blog.
Hi-def video chat, real-time photo sharing and video voicemail
Microsoft have made live their Windows Live preview website, which gives an overview of what users can expect from Wave 4 Windows Live products. It signals a push to get users talking about Wave 4, perhaps in the mists of releasing a public beta of Windows Live Essentials in the near future.
Video chat quality has been improved, the photo-sharing feature is more interactive and in real-time, while users can how send short video-messages to offline contacts that will play when they next sign in. The upcoming version appears to be significantly enhancing current Messenger features.
The build-up to Windows Live Wave 4 is truly underway. Expect greater coverage to come. For now check out the video below for an overview:
New screenshots have surfaced of Windows Live Essentials Milestone 3, which reveal UI changes to Windows Live Messenger. LiveSide have given details on the the latest build, believed to have been compiled a week ago:
We hope to update this post with more screenshots as they arrive.
It appears that the menu bar on the top of Messenger conversation windows has been converged with the menu bar in the conversation box. Here’s a quick screenshot:
We hope to update this post with more screenshots as they arrive.
25 brand new emoticons come to Windows Live Messenger 2010
on Sun 18 Apr 2010 (22:20 GMT) (16740 views)
on Sun 18 Apr 2010 (22:20 GMT) (16740 views)
Back in February news surfaced that the classic Messenger emoticons are to receive a facelift for Windows Live Messenger 2010. Now LiveSide have uncovered the full set, which appears to contain an additional 25 new emoticons on top of the current selection. You can see them all in the screenshot below:
This brings the number of Messenger emoticons to 106.
This brings the number of Messenger emoticons to 106.
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Messenger Stuff
