on Sun 18 Apr 2010 (22:20 GMT) (18638 views)
This brings the number of Messenger emoticons to 106.
on Tue 23 Mar 2010 (19:30 GMT) (45580 views)
The initial flow of reactions came from the Messenger Plus! forums, where users started to discuss the leak and post screenshots. Unfortunately most feedback was on the negative side. Commenting on the new social networking features, one regular member said:
It's OK. Not liking the social mode much yet, although maybe once it'll allow me to connect to Facebook and Twitter properly it may be better ...
I liked the look of the emoticons from the preview screenshot, but after using them I dislike them.
Another user enjoyed how Windows 7 compatiablity was complete:
Only thing I remotely like is the Win 7 integration which it all finally seems to be working right ... It's no great improvement to WLM 2009 I reckon. If they want Windows Live Messenger to become a "social networking hub" then they need to implement different steps. The social stream has the potential to work but the split screen contact list alongside the stream does not work well, the text is bulky and large, doesn't work well without images.
MenthiX, scripts and skins database manager for Messenger Plus! had a more positive view:
I don't think the leaked build is a good version to base our opinion of Live Messenger 2010 on. The leaked build is still a very early version with a lot of missing features and bugs. I don't recommend people install it other than on virtual machines. We already saw screenshots of newer builds over a month ago which are more polished, these just aren't available to the public yet.
As far as the new features go: I think they are heading in the right direction by making Messenger more social. While I'm not a huge fan of the social networks, it is the global trend and Messenger is currently loosing users to Facebook and Twitter. People are already creating scripts to sync their personal messages with their social networks, what Microsoft is trying to do in Messenger 2010 seems like a natural step. And for those who don't like it there is a single option which will turn the contactlist back to what we are used to from Messenger 2009 and you'll never have to see the social stream again. Both type of users can be happy. But the interface needs more polishing, especially the social mode looks bloated. Fonts are oversized and there is just too much going on. A giant square ad isn't helping either ...
All together, when the polish up the interface and make it look cleaner I think Messenger 2010 can be a nice new version. Hopefully we'll get to see improved builds soon."
Our admin Chris seemed to think the application needed a face lift:
The idea behind it is good, connecting everyone to their social networks they are apart of, but they need to rethink the design, its 2010 - which in my opinion is all about clean, simple user interfaces.
When asked about the leak, Jonathan Kay, a Microsoft Most Valued Professional and Messenger enthusiast told Messenger Stuff:
Well I don't think it's really a big deal, we'd all seen the leaked screenshots anyway so any "damage" was already done. As most of the new social functionality doesn't seem to be working, we can't even really see what that's completely all about. I don't think there's much incentive for anyone to actually use it right now either.
Perhaps more interesting is how one of the exclusive testers of the leaked build, Nigel Ansell, detailed on his Facebook profile an estimated timeline for Wave 4 product releases:
- 28 April VIP testers will get access to latest builds
- 18 May WL2010 M3 RTW
- 3 June Complete Public disclosure
- 7 June Public Beta Day
- 7 June iPhone main languages Messenger
- 25 August iPhone additional languages Messenger + PUBLIC RTW
I can agree with most of the reactions within the community. I'm not a a fan of the new social panel, nor do I believe Microsoft has revolutionised its IM client enough to compete with new social networking challenges. Overall, considering this build was never meant to see the light of day, Microsoft are making features that users have been asking for, even if they may not yet be fully ready.
on Sun 21 Mar 2010 (20:40 GMT) (18337 views)
The build number, 15.2.2583.119 has been floating around the Internet since yesterday, after reports from LiveSide confirmed the leak had occurred earlier in the week. We at Messenger Stuff have installed the beta and had a close look at what Windows Live Messenger 2010 has to offer.
Below are some important notes concerning the leaked build:
- The build is perhaps many months old. Believed to be milestone 2, website cnBeta has posted screenshots of milestone 3 from over a month ago. We can only assume much more has happened since.
- Only certain Live IDs are able to sign into the beta as is the case with most internal releases. Wikikou has posted a protocol down-grader to allow users to sign into the leak, however conservations are highly unstable.
- The leaked version is extremely buggy, despite its initial polished appearance.
- There appears to be signs of Facebook Chat integration.
- Tabbed chats are confirmed.
- You can revert to the classic style contact list.
We at Messenger Stuff don't provide links to leaked beta builds, particularly ones that are unstable. Even with the workaround to sign in the leaked beta is too unpractical to use in its current state.
With the bugs aside, Windows Live Messenger 2010 looks almost ready for a public release, and I think we can expect a public beta soon.
View our gallery of screenshots of the leaked beta
on Mon 22 Feb 2010 (12:35 GMT) (23875 views)
So what can we reveal today? Well new leaked screenshots uncover a further merging of Messenger with social networking. LiveSide have analysed the images in detail and discovered five key changes:
Classic "Contact List" view is still available – as we've told you earlier, the expanded "social" pane on the left is collapsible by simply clicking on the icon on the top-right corner. The screenshot on the right shows the collapsed view, with the advertisement in its original size.
Twitter and WordPress connection – one of the screenshots showed us that besides Facebook, you can also "connect" to Twitter and WordPress
Possible Video Messages integration – Windows Live Video Messages has been in beta since its introduction back in 2008, and while it is branded with the Wave 3 theme, it didn’t really have much integration with the rest of Windows Live. From one of the newly leaked screenshots, one of the social updates seems to show that Video Messages is now integrated right into Messenger:
Geo-tagging support in Windows Live Photos – One of the social update tiles also hinted at possible geo-tagging support in Windows Live Photos (and perhaps even Photo Gallery!):
New "Friends" view – which allows you to view all your contacts and sort them into categories based on their interests, details, Messenger status, and more:
Once again we've seen some interesting details on what we can expect to be using within the next couple of months. Windows Live Messenger 2010 has great focus on social networking integration, perhaps in an attempt to thwart the competition it faces from such websites.
Source: CNBetaon Sat 20 Feb 2010 (22:18 GMT) (16102 views)
Are these emoticons replacing the current set?
LiveSide described the change as "minor" yet "noteworthy". I couldn't agree more, as Microsoft's IM client has used the set for so many years now it seems odd that they would change. A glossy effect and the addition of eyebrows appears to be the real differences within the new emoticons, adding a more modern feel to the classic designs.
What do you think about the change (if it is indeed true)? I for one am indifferent, yet I think the current emoticons are some of the best in any available set.
Update
New screenshots have revealed the emoticon panel in full, showing that indeed the entire range has received a facelift. You can see the changes in the images below:
New features include what appears to be full compatibility with the new Windows 7 taskbar, some enchanted photo sharing options and the introduction of a banner advertisement within the conversation window (which may prove controversial).
Piecemeal obstructiveness of the Messenger ads may now have
reached a controversial tipping point
Winks and emoticons appear to have been merged
Browse the rest of the screenshots over at LiveSideon Tue 15 Dec 2009 (21:41 GMT) (22438 views)
Previously we have reported on the content of some advertisments but the worry now is on the obstructive nature of some of these within the contact list and the size of those present in leaked screenshots of Windows Live Messenger 2010 last week. Take the example of the advertisement below (this is the rollover effect):
If the screenshots leaked last week of Windows Live Messenger 10 are indeed real then the situation could get worse:
So what's your opinion of advertising within Windows Live Messenger? Do you patch them out or use skins to mask them up? Do you ever find an advert relevant to your interests? As ever I'm always interested in opinions of users and this post is a response to the concerns I've been hearing the past week.
on Fri 11 Dec 2009 (16:47 GMT) (26346 views)
Firstly the main Messenger window that contains your contacts has changed somewhat. Included on the left hand side is a "social stream" of updates provided by Windows Live. These are updates from your Messenger contacts and the data is provided by Windows Live. In current public Messenger builds some of this integration is present at the top of a conversation window. Windows Live Messenger aims to add to this by using the "social stream" as a showcase for your contacts updates. Providing your friends have including their Facebook, Twitter and Blog posts into Windows Live then you will see this in the stream.
The screenshots only shed a little light on what may be coming next Spring, but its the first news we've had on new Messenger features for a while.
It is interesting to note user reactions to the screenshots as most opinions have been on the negative side. Most seem to be concerned with the larger advertisements, the "social stream" being obstructive and significantly larger fonts. Nevertheless, this will probably change by the first beta.
View the contact list showing the new "social stream" feature Source: Neowin - Windows Live Messenger 2010 revealedBoth applications are likely to be released alongside the upcoming Windows Live Wave 4 updates due in approximately March 2010. Neowin understands that Windows Live is working aggressively to move its applications onto the iPhone. Last week Microsoft principal group program manager David Raissipour confirmed to Cnet news that "We are actively working on it" when questioned over the Bing iPhone plans.
In what may seem a bold move by Microsoft to release products for a strong competitor's device, there is a strong sense of growing support for Apple's products in Microsoft's software applications. This of course should be celebrated as it gives more to the end user. Nevertheless, with the vast array of IM apps for the iPhone that already do a fantastic job one could question whether Microsoft is too late to join this game?
Neowin also teased at knowing the future UI for Windows Live Messenger 2010, which it claimed would be revealed later this week.
Source: Neowin - Microsoft planning Bing and Messenger iPhone apps Tabbed conversation windows. I don't know when we'll do it, but it's on the list.
Shortly after, popular add-on Messenger Plus! provided an effective third party solution, although StuffPlug did provide a basic tabbed conversation feature since MSN Messenger 6.2. Since then with every new major build of MSN/ Windows Live Messenger the development team have hinted at introducing such a feature. Now LiveSino are reporting the feature to be confirmed (originally translated from Chinese):
I've used M1 version, there is already a tab chat feature.
Of course the source in question is neither public or reliable, but rumor and speculation aside I cannot see a reason to why Windows Live Messenger 2010 would leave this feature out.
Source: arstechnica via LiveSide
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