Live Messenger Opens to Public

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1. John S.
   

   May 8th, 2006 at 8:34 pm

   It’s nice to see that the interface is cleaner…but when will they learn that what I want is less features, not more?

2. Sid
   

   May 8th, 2006 at 8:59 pm

   I thought the beta became public a few weeks ago? (My friends and I were able to get it from their site without invites).

   I agree with John S. I don’t use any of the fancy features any more, just text chatting. I wish they released a basic client like Mozilla did with Firefox.

3. zinedine
   

   May 8th, 2006 at 9:09 pm

   Finally, Microsoft is dipping its finger deeper into the Instant Messaging business. I guess it already got tired of playing tag with the Yahoo Messenger, with MSN being always the “it.” No shame in replicating the offline messaging feature of YM. It one-upped Yahoo, though, on its file-sharing function. Yahoo opens a lot of windows in order to facilitate a file transfer, and still requires you type or click on the filename. I’m glad that file sharing in Windows Live Messenger is as simple as dragging it to the names list.

4. Ted
   

   May 8th, 2006 at 9:16 pm

   I use Trillian– I like the multi-service dimension but even more because MSN’s interface is so bulky, because it’s got too many features, and because it doesn’t have tabbed messenger. I’m looking forward to improvements they make because IMO it’s the best standalone IM product.

5. jax_rox
   

   May 8th, 2006 at 9:25 pm

   It’s not public at the moment per se, you still need to sign up but it may not be beta still. It’s been like this for months. I think Live Messenger will succeed because I think their main target is pre-teens and teenagers.

6. Ben
   

   May 8th, 2006 at 9:34 pm

   I tried to download via Firefox, but the Download button on the Windows Live Ideas success page is not clickable. Does anyone experience the same problem?

7. Michael Arrington
   

   May 8th, 2006 at 9:43 pm

   Ben,

   Sorry, I forgot to mention that (amended the post). You have to download the application in IE.

8. Techie
   

   May 8th, 2006 at 9:57 pm

   Offline messaging should have been implemented a LONG time ago. ICQ, first developed 10 years ago, already had this standard feature.

9. Ben
   

   May 8th, 2006 at 9:58 pm

   I figured that was the case. I guess there’s still a need for IE after all.

10. Klian
    

    May 8th, 2006 at 10:18 pm

    Only with IE ?

    One download less…

11. Mark
    

    May 8th, 2006 at 10:24 pm

    I’ve had this beta for a few days now…

12. arjun
    

    May 8th, 2006 at 10:29 pm

    are their folder sharing features really from the foldershare acquisition? i was under the impression that they were working on the sharing features much before foldershare was acquired

13. m
    

    May 8th, 2006 at 10:43 pm

    for everyone..expept macs, and linux, and anyone using a good browser

14. freedom
    

    May 8th, 2006 at 10:47 pm

    for freedom

    welcome to http://zyzg.org

    for freedom

15. Michael P
    

    May 8th, 2006 at 11:54 pm

    It doesn’t even work with Windows 2000…

16. fede req
    

    May 9th, 2006 at 12:13 am

    another great new feature is the “invisible” status that let you talk just with the people you want to and be offline to the rest.

    and its true, icq had all this “new” stuff 10 years ago…

17. Nicolas
    

    May 9th, 2006 at 12:29 am

    Still wondering if MS will include Y! Messenger integration in the final release (as announced by MS and Y! in Q4 2005). Has anybody got some news on this ?

18. Keith
    

    May 9th, 2006 at 12:36 am

    I am already using Windows Live Messenger for a long period of time. This latest release is by far the most stable and best release among the Messenger 8 Beta.

19. Jonathan
    

    May 9th, 2006 at 12:55 am

    Although once I liked ICQ much better, now seems that AOL after buying this israeli based startup have decided in the last few years to kill it slowly.

    One thing I hate about the Live microsoft products is the excessive advertising. If you decide to use the Mess Patch which removes the ads and gives some more improvements.

    Mess Patch for Windows Live Messenger 8.0.0689

    http://9down.com/story.php?sid=6549

20. Andrew
    

    May 9th, 2006 at 12:57 am

    What you need is the “IE Tab” extension for FireFox. It makes FireFox pretend to be Internet Explorer by using its engine, tricks all the Microsoft sites.

    But on a political note, isn’t Microsoft braking that ruling about allowing people to use what ever program they wish for web-browsing by not letting people use there services with anything but IE?

    They should stick Bill Gates in jail instead of threatening with fines.

21. Luke
    

    May 9th, 2006 at 1:06 am

    I’ve also been a long time user of the Windows Live Messenger (or just msn 8.0 as it was called in the beginning).
    Another new feature that wasn’t mentioned but that I really like is the way that it doesn’t display your name with every message when you send multiple messages. Hope you understand what I mean, Google Talk does the same thing.

22. kosmar
    

    May 9th, 2006 at 1:15 am

    i wonder if ms could be sued for forcing you to use ie to access stuff. thats incredible. really

23. itsnotvalid
    

    May 9th, 2006 at 1:36 am

    The site (9down.com) is indeed a crack/warez/0day website, so please check that it’s completely legal to download anything from there (and patching Microsoft’s stuff should render violation of the EULA anyway.)

24. Ming Yeow
    

    May 9th, 2006 at 1:44 am

    A very simple user interface innovation that Microsoft does not seem to get is Tabs. I loved the tabbed feature in Gaim. Any idea/opinin why they do not adopt a similar feature?

25. Ming Yeow
    

    May 9th, 2006 at 1:55 am

    Andrew — I agree. I wonder why there seems to be this discrepancy in Microsoft’s approach to Firefox. For some sites Firefox is supported off the bat, while some others (like this example), they seem to deliberately rejecting it. I wonder if it is a business decision or a technical one. In any case, they need to have some form of consensus and guideline within MS

26. Blaze
    

    May 9th, 2006 at 2:08 am

    Looks the same as MSN?

27. greenphotos
    

    May 9th, 2006 at 2:22 am

    You can use this link to download the app straight from the site without having to agree to any terms and conditions or sign in to MSN Live

    —IT also works in Firefox!!—

    http://g.msn.com/1csbeta/Mess80_EN

    

28. DJGM
    

    May 9th, 2006 at 2:34 am

    I’ve downloaded it, and didn’t need to use IE. I used my primary browser which is SeaMonkey.

    (SeaMonkey is a community based continuation of the Mozilla App-Suite.)

    Meanwhile, here’s a link to download Messenger Beta with any browser:
    http://download.microsoft.com/.....r_Beta.exe

29. David Russell
    

    May 9th, 2006 at 2:51 am

    Blocks Firefox. Violates web standards. Probably illegal in the UK (disability discrimination act, screenreaders etc.). Truly classic Micro$uck website.

30. bah
    

    May 9th, 2006 at 3:33 am

    Just what we needed, more wasted screen space, more ads and more annoying stuff to get your focus out of the people you want to talk to, and into buying stuff.

31. df0notfound
    

    May 9th, 2006 at 4:24 am

    someone teach Microsoft how to design a user interface

32. gridrunner
    

    May 9th, 2006 at 5:16 am

    Slight improvement, by adding features such as grouping consecutive comments from same user.

    But it’s still too cluttered IMO. I *can’t believe* I can’t disable MSN winks! Surely anyone over the age of nine wouldn’t want to use them…

    The installation took quite a long time as well and the PC needed a restart (as ever). Why make a chat programme complex? The core function (instant chat) has been around since Unix!

    And 256 MB recommended? That’s just crazy.

33. didaio
    

    May 9th, 2006 at 5:45 am

    Live Msgr opened as public from March, 14th.
    Look at here and here.

34. Easton Ellsworth
    

    May 9th, 2006 at 6:19 am

    Now if only all the people I want to talk to used MSN for IM purposes … thanks for the scoop, as always!

35. Karthik
    

    May 9th, 2006 at 7:08 am

    I havent tried it yet, downloading right now.

    And guess what ? Not using IE, and not through any special link either. Just followed all the steps on the page.

    How ?

    Because I’m using Opera.

    Firefox isn’t the best browser out there, you know.

36. DAVE
    

    May 9th, 2006 at 7:45 am

    WHERES THE FUCKING DOWNLOAD BUTTON!?

37. silvercool
    

    May 9th, 2006 at 8:52 am

    I think microsoft is running out of Ideas, all their new products and software are like really vague, for example this new messenger has ads, a really weird and stupid interface, it seems too full of it, people want simple things instead of adding all those little buttons they should hide them and if you wanted to use some of them activate them by the right click but Its really weird using msn messenger because of all the little icons I like simple and good looking programs.

38. Frank Cefalu
    

    May 9th, 2006 at 11:57 am

    This is a great messenger with great features and interaction that trillian cant begin to scratch the surface with.

    Play around with it.

39. teddy
    

    May 10th, 2006 at 1:40 am

    You can just get Mess Patch from its official home http://www.mess.be, no need to get it from 9down.

40. fixxxer
    

    May 10th, 2006 at 1:55 am

    What!!

    still no bloody tabbed message windows?

    jesus.

41. Leandro Ardissone
    

    May 10th, 2006 at 8:38 am

    well, ICQ many years ago does something similar to foldershare where you assign directories to share and your frnds can access to these files..

42. ShowMasTa
    

    May 11th, 2006 at 6:07 am

    I could download it with Firefox, too. No Problem.

    I don’t like the layout. Trillian is much better.

43. anon
    

    May 14th, 2006 at 7:49 pm

    Nothing for Mac? I will stay away…Skype works for me just fine..

44. Laure
    

    May 24th, 2006 at 1:26 pm

    hey how do you get the new msn messenger..?

45. Anita
    

    May 28th, 2006 at 8:32 am

    But, what I dont like is that (or at least i havent figured it out yet) that i cant just TALK to people using a microphone. This LIVE call, if I talk to people from other countries would cost me a fortune!

46. 9gods
    

    May 31st, 2006 at 2:11 am

    I just downloaded MSN with Firefox without any problems. Did they change downloading rules recently ?

47. Colin
    

    June 23rd, 2006 at 9:56 pm

    I’ve been having troubles turning on the feature to group multiple messages so it doesn’t display the name with each message

    “Windows Live Messenger onwards gives the ability to turn off pre-pending contact names if same person writes multiple messages. If the same contact writes more than one message, the contact name will be displayed for only the first message”

    It was working the very first time I installed it, now does not work. I’ve tried reinstalling and everything…

48. kikkand
    

    July 6th, 2006 at 4:38 am

    i’ve had the same problem of Colin

    does someone have an idea on how to fix this fucking problem??

    shit, it worked, why souldn’t it work anymore?!?!?!

    if someone’s got an idea let us know

    thanks

49. jdeleuze@hotmail.com
    

    August 7th, 2006 at 3:04 am

    je voudrais windows live messenger en francais

50. karasu
    

    August 28th, 2006 at 9:32 am

    I have the same problem as Colin as well. Someone please explain.

51. Woodsie240589@hotmail.com
    

    September 10th, 2006 at 10:48 am

    Go to Tool > Option > Messages, and unclick ‘ Show ”contact says:” before each message’

    This will enable to multiple messages in one

52. jame
    

    October 6th, 2006 at 12:39 am

    id like to have open more than 2 of windows live massenger

    take my mail plez and any one sond it 2 me

53. allen
    

    January 5th, 2007 at 8:39 am

    i just want to try this MASSENGER.LIVE.COM maybe its better than my YM

54. morgan
    

    February 12th, 2007 at 2:31 pm

    please let me have msn

55. MEmo
    

    February 28th, 2007 at 12:24 pm

    hi guys…
    i am wondring bout how can i open more than msn messanger …. i did that when i had msn 7.5 but when i got the beta version it didnt work any answer please …………. thanks!

56. Terry
    

    March 4th, 2007 at 4:06 pm

    I thought I was upgrading my MSN Messenger 7.5 and now I have Windows Live Messenger. Are they the same or do I have to uninstall this?