Tag - Windows-Live-Messenger-9
You may have already heard that, along with the rest of Windows Live wave 3, the next version of Windows Live Messenger (version 9.0) will have a new user interface.
After being tipped off by an unaffiliated yet trustworthy source who – naturally – doesn't want to be identified, Messenger Stuff can now reveal that the new interface will use the graphics effects available through WPF [Windows Presentation Foundation] where supported (i.e. on Vista and with a decent graphics card).
To put it simply, this finally means that we will see transparency effects in the various windows of the program, possibly similar to those already seen in Yahoo! Messenger for Vista. We are led to believe that the actual design has not changed much but the WPF effects have been integrated well in what is bound to be a popular new addition.
In other version 9 news, the Messenger team – as with nearly everyone else inside Microsoft – are still keeping their cards close to their chest. Whilst we do know about the knew interface and that they have moved on from a milestone 1 build to a beta 2 build (seemingly counting this an an alpha build, not beta 1), we do not yet know as much about the new features.
Presumably some, if not all, of the new features will be different to those in the aforementioned alpha version if they are not being publicly disclosed. Also, since all the other Windows Live software and services seem to be getting better integration with one another Messenger might get more integration as well, including with the mysterious "Groups" and "People".
After being tipped off by an unaffiliated yet trustworthy source who – naturally – doesn't want to be identified, Messenger Stuff can now reveal that the new interface will use the graphics effects available through WPF [Windows Presentation Foundation] where supported (i.e. on Vista and with a decent graphics card).
To put it simply, this finally means that we will see transparency effects in the various windows of the program, possibly similar to those already seen in Yahoo! Messenger for Vista. We are led to believe that the actual design has not changed much but the WPF effects have been integrated well in what is bound to be a popular new addition.
In other version 9 news, the Messenger team – as with nearly everyone else inside Microsoft – are still keeping their cards close to their chest. Whilst we do know about the knew interface and that they have moved on from a milestone 1 build to a beta 2 build (seemingly counting this an an alpha build, not beta 1), we do not yet know as much about the new features.
Presumably some, if not all, of the new features will be different to those in the aforementioned alpha version if they are not being publicly disclosed. Also, since all the other Windows Live software and services seem to be getting better integration with one another Messenger might get more integration as well, including with the mysterious "Groups" and "People".
The Windows Live Messenger 9 beta program closed this week and looking back over the whole experience brought this question back to my mind: was this beta program public dogfood? All signs point to a big "yes" ... [long post alert!]
The actual beta program was designed to gather feedback on the totally new features (animated display pictures, signature sounds, multiple points of presence, etc) and suggestions about what people want from the new version. Releasing a build like they did at the early stage they were at in the development cycle meant that they could get good user input and feedback and actually have time to implement changes and improvements to the software.
This is unlike most of the betas we have been seeing recently (e.g. Windows Live wave 2 beta) where the changes to the software are already mapped out and beta testing only appears to be to check that it doesn't crash on "real-world" PCs and that there are no major bugs. This beta seemed to show a real shift in the way Messenger is developed, which could be attributed to the Sinofsky effect.
Microsoft need to improve their Messenger client to stay on top of the game and what better way of attracting new users (and persuading current ones to keep using it) that including new features that people actually want and not just their own ideas. Despite lots of criticism of the way this Messenger beta was handled, we are being led to believe that big changes have been happening to the software behind the scenes during all this time of unusual inactivity and silence from the development team.
They don't want these major changes and additions to the software leaked to the public and hence weren't too bothered when the things that the public knew about anyway were leaked through news and the leaking of the beta software itself. The leaking of the beta (which could easily have been prevented by Microsoft but surprisingly wasn't) also meant that they could see how the servers coped with the new features - all of which are fairly server intensive - which is one of the purposes of dogfood releases.
The closure of the beta program seems like a logical step at the moment as, with no new version since late November last year, there is nothing really left to test. Not much is known about the next beta version so, as always, everything is left to be seen in the next few months when it is released into the wild, readying itself for a final release with the rest of the Windows Live wave 3 suite in late 2008 (or early 2009).
Want some wildly guessed tips for the new version anyway? Look out for a possible new UI, changes to audio and video chats (including multi-person functionality), Windows Live Groups integration, "Echoes" integration, and Office/Office Live (Workspace) integration (and/or even Live Mesh integration).
Please note: the usual standard blogging disclaimer applies; the views expressed here are the views of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of any of their associated employers, companies or organisations.
Thanks to LiveSide for the image and plethora of links.
The actual beta program was designed to gather feedback on the totally new features (animated display pictures, signature sounds, multiple points of presence, etc) and suggestions about what people want from the new version. Releasing a build like they did at the early stage they were at in the development cycle meant that they could get good user input and feedback and actually have time to implement changes and improvements to the software.
This is unlike most of the betas we have been seeing recently (e.g. Windows Live wave 2 beta) where the changes to the software are already mapped out and beta testing only appears to be to check that it doesn't crash on "real-world" PCs and that there are no major bugs. This beta seemed to show a real shift in the way Messenger is developed, which could be attributed to the Sinofsky effect.
Microsoft need to improve their Messenger client to stay on top of the game and what better way of attracting new users (and persuading current ones to keep using it) that including new features that people actually want and not just their own ideas. Despite lots of criticism of the way this Messenger beta was handled, we are being led to believe that big changes have been happening to the software behind the scenes during all this time of unusual inactivity and silence from the development team.
They don't want these major changes and additions to the software leaked to the public and hence weren't too bothered when the things that the public knew about anyway were leaked through news and the leaking of the beta software itself. The leaking of the beta (which could easily have been prevented by Microsoft but surprisingly wasn't) also meant that they could see how the servers coped with the new features - all of which are fairly server intensive - which is one of the purposes of dogfood releases.
The closure of the beta program seems like a logical step at the moment as, with no new version since late November last year, there is nothing really left to test. Not much is known about the next beta version so, as always, everything is left to be seen in the next few months when it is released into the wild, readying itself for a final release with the rest of the Windows Live wave 3 suite in late 2008 (or early 2009).
Want some wildly guessed tips for the new version anyway? Look out for a possible new UI, changes to audio and video chats (including multi-person functionality), Windows Live Groups integration, "Echoes" integration, and Office/Office Live (Workspace) integration (and/or even Live Mesh integration).
Please note: the usual standard blogging disclaimer applies; the views expressed here are the views of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of any of their associated employers, companies or organisations.
Thanks to LiveSide for the image and plethora of links.
So the first Windows Live Messenger 9.0 beta has finally expanded past just butterflies and MVPs to some specially selected testers of previous versions.
There are apparently about 5000 people officially (on Microsoft Connect) testing version 9.0.1407.1107, described by Microsoft as an alpha version and dubbed in the About window as 'Version 2009'. In the welcoming email to testers the Messenger team said:
Here at Messenger Stuff we are 100% against leaks and don't want to jeopardize the beta in any way. For this reason we will not be hosting or linking to any of the leaked setup files. However, we understand that many of you will like to know the changes, so I'm quoting a small changelog from mess.be:
The current version of Messenger Plus! Live (4.23) is "incompatible" with the new beta but Patchou has already said that the latest version of Messenger Plus! Live (version 4.50), due for release in the first week of December, will be compatible. A version of A-Patch has already been made for the new beta.
>> View screenshots in our gallery
There are apparently about 5000 people officially (on Microsoft Connect) testing version 9.0.1407.1107, described by Microsoft as an alpha version and dubbed in the About window as 'Version 2009'. In the welcoming email to testers the Messenger team said:
Please note that this is a private beta for a very small audience only - Windows Live Messenger 9.0 isn't ready for wide distribution yet. By entering the beta, you're agreeing to use the client and send us feedback, and to not share it with anyone else. Doing so is against the Terms of Use. If the build gets out too widely and starts causing problems on the service we may have to shut it down. We don't want to do that and we know you don't want that to happen, so please keep it to yourself.
Here at Messenger Stuff we are 100% against leaks and don't want to jeopardize the beta in any way. For this reason we will not be hosting or linking to any of the leaked setup files. However, we understand that many of you will like to know the changes, so I'm quoting a small changelog from mess.be:
- Sign-in and messaging in multiple locations - You asked for it, now you have it! You can now sign into Messenger from more than one computer at a time, up to four at once. Simply sign into Messenger from one computer, install Messenger on another computer and sign in using the same account. (Only works if all computers are running Messenger 9.0 Beta. Currently enabled only for users whose Windows Live ID country is US or Canada.)
- Signature sounds – Pick your own personal sound that your contacts will hear when you sign into Messenger (only works if you and your contacts have Messenger 9.0 Beta).
- Per contact sounds - Pick unique sounds for each of your contacts. You will be able to tell from across the room who is sending you a message.
- SPIM Reporting - If users send you unsolicited messages or invitations that you consider spam, you can block them and report them as spammers. If you report a user as a spammer, the messenger service will collect this data and put appropriate restrictions on the spammer accounts. All reports of spammers are kept confidential.
- Animated Display Pictures – Show your moves! Messenger now supports animated .gif files as display pictures.
- Link in Personal Status Message – URLs in Personal Status Messages are hot and clickable in the Messenger contact list.
- Behind the Scenes Changes – Architectural changes that modified how things work but shouldn't have changed how things look
- Changes to sign-in, connectivity, presence, sending text IM’s, voice & video featuresWindows Live Contacts Server – wlcomm.exe runs in the background to keep your contacts’ information up-to-date and helps Messenger sign you in faster
The current version of Messenger Plus! Live (4.23) is "incompatible" with the new beta but Patchou has already said that the latest version of Messenger Plus! Live (version 4.50), due for release in the first week of December, will be compatible. A version of A-Patch has already been made for the new beta.
>> View screenshots in our gallery
For everyone who is celebrating Thanksgiving, we at Messenger Stuff would like to wish you a safe and tummy filled holiday!
A few days ago invitations to the Windows Live Messenger 9.0 BETA were sent to ~1000 testers. At this point we're all under NDA, so no information or screenshots can be made available. The public beta should be starting soon so keep your eyes on your inbox because it's first come first serve. As soon as the word is given, we're going to feature a full review of the beta as well as some possible invites for our readers! So, keep checking back for updates!
A few days ago invitations to the Windows Live Messenger 9.0 BETA were sent to ~1000 testers. At this point we're all under NDA, so no information or screenshots can be made available. The public beta should be starting soon so keep your eyes on your inbox because it's first come first serve. As soon as the word is given, we're going to feature a full review of the beta as well as some possible invites for our readers! So, keep checking back for updates!
There has been a lot of activity around the Messenger world in the past week regarding Windows Live Messenger 9.0. Internal builds are ready and are indeed being passed around to the internal beta team. Included in this alpha version of WLM 9.0, are new API components. We've been told that there is a new UI that millions of users requested when Windows Live Messenger 8.0 was released worldwide.
This new API includes some very neat Vista sidebar gadgets, such as a contact and their status. Clicking on the docked contact would allow you to open a chat, drag text, drag-and-drop files, images, and music automatically. A Messenger Lite version with no more than 600 lines of code but includes many features that Windows Live Messenger 8.0 has.
A release date has not been announced, but thanks to Paul we've been told that Windows Live Messenger 9.0 should reach managed beta phase by early December to late December.
Check back for updates and more exclusive information!
This new API includes some very neat Vista sidebar gadgets, such as a contact and their status. Clicking on the docked contact would allow you to open a chat, drag text, drag-and-drop files, images, and music automatically. A Messenger Lite version with no more than 600 lines of code but includes many features that Windows Live Messenger 8.0 has.
A release date has not been announced, but thanks to Paul we've been told that Windows Live Messenger 9.0 should reach managed beta phase by early December to late December.
Check back for updates and more exclusive information!