eBuddy is a highly popular web messenger formally known as e-messenger. It offers a large variety of features and it is known for being simple and easy to use, working with a variety of IM networks. Fanatic Live recently posted about the new eBuddy beta coming up and how you can test it.
Yesterday I signed up, it was really quick and simple, and now I have been accepted into the first testing stage. I can tell eBuddy has been totally changed; the structure of the web messenger is looking at a wider picture than just adding simple new features.
However using separate windows is highly annoying, I wish they would offer an alternative, which I could manipulate in my browser. That being said, eBuddy looks as if it has a strong future ahead, which is why I respect it as a great web messenger.
Sign up for the beta
View a basic comparison of the current eBuddy and the new beta
The first group of testers for the 'Early Bird' beta will be strictly limited, so if you are interested, get in now!
The popular Web Messenger has been rewritten from the group up to improve ease of use and performance (the current version often gives me browser lag).
Yesterday I signed up, it was really quick and simple, and now I have been accepted into the first testing stage. I can tell eBuddy has been totally changed; the structure of the web messenger is looking at a wider picture than just adding simple new features.
However using separate windows is highly annoying, I wish they would offer an alternative, which I could manipulate in my browser. That being said, eBuddy looks as if it has a strong future ahead, which is why I respect it as a great web messenger.
Sign up for the beta View a basic comparison of the current eBuddy and the new betaTheBlasphemer has released an update to StuffPlug (possibly prompted to do so by the leak of a private beta), which carries build number .387. There are many changes and improvements included in this build, some important changes are listed below:
- The program is now compatible with WLM builds 8.0.0812, 8.1.0168 and 8.1.0178
- New feature: Replace default emoticons with custom emoticons
- New: Installation directory is now customisable
- New: Loader, which should fix Windows Vista x64 problems
- New feature: 'Wordwheel Add', type the email address of someone not yet in your contact list in the word wheel, and it adds them
- New feature: Timezone clock in conversation windows
- Feature removed: AdHider
- Many other bug fixes and tweaks
View TB's news post about it
Download StuffPlug 3.0.387 BETA
- The program is now compatible with WLM builds 8.0.0812, 8.1.0168 and 8.1.0178
- New feature: Replace default emoticons with custom emoticons
- New: Installation directory is now customisable
- New: Loader, which should fix Windows Vista x64 problems
- New feature: 'Wordwheel Add', type the email address of someone not yet in your contact list in the word wheel, and it adds them
- New feature: Timezone clock in conversation windows
- Feature removed: AdHider
- Many other bug fixes and tweaks
View TB's news post about it Download StuffPlug 3.0.387 BETATheBlasphemer has been busy for the last couple of days fixing all of the remaining bugs and the broken features in StuffPlug 3.
He has released another new version (3.0.286) which fixes the talk to a blocked contact, keyboard LED flashing and custom emoticon and display picture stealer features, as well as all the parsing errors and several other bugs. There are also translation and UI improvements.
This is the most stable release of StuffPlug 3 so far, although it is still only compatible with Windows Live Messenger 8.1 and according to TB: "StuffPlug 3 will be compatible with WLM 8.1 and higher. WLM 8.0 will not be supported".
Download StuffPlug 3.0.286 BETA (direct link)
Release announcement at stuffplug.com
He has released another new version (3.0.286) which fixes the talk to a blocked contact, keyboard LED flashing and custom emoticon and display picture stealer features, as well as all the parsing errors and several other bugs. There are also translation and UI improvements.
This is the most stable release of StuffPlug 3 so far, although it is still only compatible with Windows Live Messenger 8.1 and according to TB: "StuffPlug 3 will be compatible with WLM 8.1 and higher. WLM 8.0 will not be supported".
Download StuffPlug 3.0.286 BETA (direct link) Release announcement at stuffplug.comJust a quick post to let you know the new beta of StuffPlug 3 has been updated. According to stuffplug.com the update fixes a few bugs and will check for more system and software requirements, so it will only install if it is compatible with your computer and software. The update also includes 20 additional languages.
StuffPlug 3 only works on the latest version of Windows Live Messenger 8.1 beta, as TB always uses the most recent version of Messenger that he can find to test on before he releases anything. Using the current official release of Messenger (8.0) has some issues which will take time to fix (and you will be warned that you do not have the correct version for it to run on when trying to install).
Download StuffPlug 3.0.264 BETA (direct link)
Info about the bug fixes from the previous beta version (at stuffplug.com)
StuffPlug 3 only works on the latest version of Windows Live Messenger 8.1 beta, as TB always uses the most recent version of Messenger that he can find to test on before he releases anything. Using the current official release of Messenger (8.0) has some issues which will take time to fix (and you will be warned that you do not have the correct version for it to run on when trying to install).
Download StuffPlug 3.0.264 BETA (direct link) Info about the bug fixes from the previous beta version (at stuffplug.com)The first public beta of StuffPlug 3 was released this morning by TheBlasphemer (TB), to signify a good start to a good new year.
As absorbation posted back at the beginning of December TB started working on it again, after having to delay it several times since he started working on it in March.
The features in the new beta include most of the ones we mentioned back in April, May and June - however certain features like flashing the LEDs on your keyboard after/during certain events, talking to contacts who have blocked you and the custom emoticon & display picture stealer do not currently work.
TB has asked people to report any bugs they find in the new bug manager at the StuffPlug website, and any help can be requested at the StuffPlug forums or at our own community forums.
There have been initial reports that the beta does not work on the most recent final build of Windows Live Messenger (8.0.0812) but it does work properly with the most recent 8.1 beta.
Update: It has been confirmed that this beta does not work with Windows Live Messenger 8.0 and you need the latest beta release (version 8.1.0168) for it to work.
We have also been given information by Matti that a new release is expected to be out within 3 days time (according to x2zen). The new version will include the language translation files so you will be able to use StuffPlug in your own language, instead of just the English it comes with by default.
Download StuffPlug 3.0.254 BETA (direct link)
Release announcement by TB
StuffPlug bug manager/reporter
StuffPlug forums
As absorbation posted back at the beginning of December TB started working on it again, after having to delay it several times since he started working on it in March.
The features in the new beta include most of the ones we mentioned back in April, May and June - however certain features like flashing the LEDs on your keyboard after/during certain events, talking to contacts who have blocked you and the custom emoticon & display picture stealer do not currently work.
TB has asked people to report any bugs they find in the new bug manager at the StuffPlug website, and any help can be requested at the StuffPlug forums or at our own community forums.
There have been initial reports that the beta does not work on the most recent final build of Windows Live Messenger (8.0.0812) but it does work properly with the most recent 8.1 beta.
Update: It has been confirmed that this beta does not work with Windows Live Messenger 8.0 and you need the latest beta release (version 8.1.0168) for it to work.
We have also been given information by Matti that a new release is expected to be out within 3 days time (according to x2zen). The new version will include the language translation files so you will be able to use StuffPlug in your own language, instead of just the English it comes with by default.
Download StuffPlug 3.0.254 BETA (direct link) Release announcement by TB StuffPlug bug manager/reporter StuffPlug forumsA new version of Windows Live Messenger 8.1 has been released, build number 8.1.0168 (the last one being 8.1.0106).
Although no official announcement has been made yet, the new version can be downloaded now from the beta's Windows Live Idea's page.
No visible changes have been spotted yet so it is thought that the new version may only fix several bugs which were discovered in previous 8.1 beta versions.
Download Windows Live Messenger 8.1.0168 beta (direct link)
Download A-Patch (already updated for the new version)
Update: Nicole has posted about the beta refresh at MessengerSays (the Windows Live Messenger team blog). The updates have apparently been based on user feedback, and she says that users of the existing 8.1 betas existing will be prompted to update soon.
MessengerSays blog post
Although no official announcement has been made yet, the new version can be downloaded now from the beta's Windows Live Idea's page.
No visible changes have been spotted yet so it is thought that the new version may only fix several bugs which were discovered in previous 8.1 beta versions.
Download Windows Live Messenger 8.1.0168 beta (direct link) Download A-Patch (already updated for the new version)Update: Nicole has posted about the beta refresh at MessengerSays (the Windows Live Messenger team blog). The updates have apparently been based on user feedback, and she says that users of the existing 8.1 betas existing will be prompted to update soon.
MessengerSays blog postWell it's true, the public beta is here in all its glory. Well what can I say, it's an improvement from the other betas. Here is the 8.0 to 8.1 changelog as we currently know it (from the MessengerSays blog:
Download Windows Live Messenger 8.1.0106
Download A-Patch
MessengerSays blog post
- Roaming Identity
- Contact Card
- New Emoticons, Winks, Backgrounds, Display Pictures
- SMS Phone Book
- New Contact Emotion
- Status Menu includes Sign Out
- Report abuse
- Vista Presentation Mode
- Behind the scenes changes
Download Windows Live Messenger 8.1.0106 Download A-Patch MessengerSays blog postIt looks like the info we gave you last week is correct as Mess.be have confirmed that a public beta of Windows Live Messenger 8.1 will be released tonight.
The build is due to be released on ideas.live.com sometime today/tomorrow (depending on you location, this evening if you are in the US).
It is unknown whether more new features will be in this build but it should contain the features that have been in previous 8.1 beta builds:
Improved compatibility for Vista
New/improved winks and emoticons etc menus
New personal status message options (specify your location)
New contact card design
New branding platform
Better re-authentication at sign in
Roaming display pictures (your current DP is used where-ever you sign in)
New platform architecture in important areas such as automatic updates and object store (where your personalised data is kept on your computer)
A sign-out option in the status menu
Appearing offline no longer forces you to close your conversation window
Quicker to sign into Messenger (8-15 seconds, compared to 15-25 seconds before)
New 'Frequently used display pictures' menu
Source: Mess.be (unfortunately we can't link you directly to the news post due to limitation in the Mess.be system/coding)
UPDATE: Will the "release" go ahead? Nobody seems to really know after Lapytsh, one of the first sites to report the release date of the public beta, have been told that it may not go ahead. It seems like another dodgy release date from Microsoft that has not been kept, but all of that can still change, or change again. Whenever it is released (if it is!) then we will be sure to tell you.
Lapytsh news post (via Google translator)
The build is due to be released on ideas.live.com sometime today/tomorrow (depending on you location, this evening if you are in the US).
It is unknown whether more new features will be in this build but it should contain the features that have been in previous 8.1 beta builds:
Improved compatibility for Vista New/improved winks and emoticons etc menus New personal status message options (specify your location) New contact card design New branding platform Better re-authentication at sign in Roaming display pictures (your current DP is used where-ever you sign in) New platform architecture in important areas such as automatic updates and object store (where your personalised data is kept on your computer) A sign-out option in the status menu Appearing offline no longer forces you to close your conversation window Quicker to sign into Messenger (8-15 seconds, compared to 15-25 seconds before) New 'Frequently used display pictures' menu Source: Mess.be (unfortunately we can't link you directly to the news post due to limitation in the Mess.be system/coding)UPDATE: Will the "release" go ahead? Nobody seems to really know after Lapytsh, one of the first sites to report the release date of the public beta, have been told that it may not go ahead. It seems like another dodgy release date from Microsoft that has not been kept, but all of that can still change, or change again. Whenever it is released (if it is!) then we will be sure to tell you.
Lapytsh news post (via Google translator)E-mails sent out to unluckily ones who applied for 8.1 beta
on Thu 21 Sep 2006 (20:10 GMT) (2033 views)
on Thu 21 Sep 2006 (20:10 GMT) (2033 views)
Microsoft have made a change recently (for me anyway), testers who were not chosen to beta test Windows Live Messenger 8.1 were confirmed this week as 1000's of emails were sent out to them.
There has been confusion with this beta, some beta butterflies were not re-accepted and some testers who often reported major bugs with the program were turned down. It also seems like a lot of younger people are getting their hands on this beta this time round with less people who seem to be reporting bugs.
Anyway it looks like there has been major changes to how this beta is being managed, different leak preventing methods, many new testers, they must be preparing for something that needs a lot of debugging and user bug reporting. Looks like we will have to see what ...
Hello from the Windows Live Beta Team,
We regret to inform you that we could not accept your participation in the Windows Live Messenger 8.1 Managed Beta at this time. Space in this beta is limited and we had more applicants than spots available. We encourage you to regularly check available connections on the Microsoft Connect Web site (http://connect.microsoft.com) for any new Windows Live beta programs as the become available. We value your support and look forward to partnering with you in the future.
Sincerely,
The Windows Live Messenger Beta Team
There has been confusion with this beta, some beta butterflies were not re-accepted and some testers who often reported major bugs with the program were turned down. It also seems like a lot of younger people are getting their hands on this beta this time round with less people who seem to be reporting bugs.
Anyway it looks like there has been major changes to how this beta is being managed, different leak preventing methods, many new testers, they must be preparing for something that needs a lot of debugging and user bug reporting. Looks like we will have to see what ...
I have got my hands on the new Windows Live Messenger build and it is looking good. There are limited places you can download it so I have hosted the file myself due to such demand. The changes are great, it seems more focused on improving old features than adding new ones. However, the installer is still the same and that is the thing I hate most about Windows Live Messenger, hopefully it will be changed soon. Enjoy!
Note: This is a beta and was not indented for the public to use. Use at your own risk.
Download Windows Live Messenger 8.1.0064 beta
Note: This is a beta and was not indented for the public to use. Use at your own risk.
Download Windows Live Messenger 8.1.0064 beta
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