Windows Live Messenger Preview
MSN Messenger is ranked as the number one messenging program by PC World, and by many more of the instant messaging community. When a new version is brewing, there is always a bit of excitement around it. Windows Live Messenger, sporting a new name, is no diffferent, especially when looking at the other "Live" products that are in development.
The inital release of Windows Live Messenger (WLM) was mid-December, and is still the latest release of WLM. The current version heavily resembles the current version of MSN (though a bit more rough around the edges). There are, however, a few distinct differences.
The most easily seen difference is in the main messenger window. The area which holds your current display name and personal message has the ability to change colors. You can select any color you wish, but there is a bit of a filter over the top of the color that distorts it, so it takes a little bit of playing around with to get the exact color you want.
The contact menus also show change. It is a bit cleaner, in my opinion, and it's easier to see your contacts information. When highlighting contacts, you are given several options for that contact, such as sending an email, sending a mobile message, viewing the contacts profile, and more.
Additional contact features include the ability to edit the contacts information. You can now add general information, personal info, work info, and notes for that contact (all of which is available to a search feature).
The search feature is my favorite feature in the new windows live messenger. The search results update immediately, and search all fields associated with contacts (such as notes, first name, etc). This will be great for people who have very large contact lists and would rather just sort by online and offline rather than using many groups.
Nothing really special changed with the messaging window or how you chat with people. The one addition that was long overdue is the option for offline messages. With offline messages, you can open a chat session with a contact, and type a message that will be delivered to the recipient the next time they log in. This feature is backwards compatable with all versions of messenger, but only WLM has the ability to send these messages.
A new feature is also the addition of "Sharing Folders." Sharing folders are folders for contacts that allow you to add files, which are stored on Microsoft's servers, that are available to contacts. It's sort of a shotgun file sharing approach. The files that you choose to share, at any time, are available whenever to both clients.
With sharing files there is always the chance of people getting infected with a messenger worm, and sharing files is a great way to spread the worm. To combat this, there is now an option to use the Microsoft Virus Scanner (msvs.exe) that will automatically scan files that are shared or received via standard file sharing through messenger. It is the same virus scanner that is used on the new Windows Live Safety Center.
Another way to chat with people is through the improved VoIP features in WLM. Now, thanks to MCI, you can use WLM to call anyone; phone or computer, you can call them. PC-to-PC phone calls are the same with all other versions of messenger, but the ability to to call contacts phones is new. You must pre-pay for the minutes to be able to call (like with Yahoo!), but you can make the calls for as low as 2.3 cents per minute.
Overall, for the first release of the beta, Windows Live Messenger shows a lot of promise. WLM is keeping pace with Google's and Yahoo's messenging program. It has retained all features that you love about the current version of MSN Messenger, but with a few more enhancements. Only time will tell of all the new features.
Check out some screenshots on my Flickr account.
Technorati Tags: Microsoft · Messaging · windows live messenger ·
The inital release of Windows Live Messenger (WLM) was mid-December, and is still the latest release of WLM. The current version heavily resembles the current version of MSN (though a bit more rough around the edges). There are, however, a few distinct differences.
The most easily seen difference is in the main messenger window. The area which holds your current display name and personal message has the ability to change colors. You can select any color you wish, but there is a bit of a filter over the top of the color that distorts it, so it takes a little bit of playing around with to get the exact color you want.
Contact Management
The contact menus also show change. It is a bit cleaner, in my opinion, and it's easier to see your contacts information. When highlighting contacts, you are given several options for that contact, such as sending an email, sending a mobile message, viewing the contacts profile, and more.
Additional contact features include the ability to edit the contacts information. You can now add general information, personal info, work info, and notes for that contact (all of which is available to a search feature).
The search feature is my favorite feature in the new windows live messenger. The search results update immediately, and search all fields associated with contacts (such as notes, first name, etc). This will be great for people who have very large contact lists and would rather just sort by online and offline rather than using many groups.
Messages
Nothing really special changed with the messaging window or how you chat with people. The one addition that was long overdue is the option for offline messages. With offline messages, you can open a chat session with a contact, and type a message that will be delivered to the recipient the next time they log in. This feature is backwards compatable with all versions of messenger, but only WLM has the ability to send these messages.
A new feature is also the addition of "Sharing Folders." Sharing folders are folders for contacts that allow you to add files, which are stored on Microsoft's servers, that are available to contacts. It's sort of a shotgun file sharing approach. The files that you choose to share, at any time, are available whenever to both clients.
With sharing files there is always the chance of people getting infected with a messenger worm, and sharing files is a great way to spread the worm. To combat this, there is now an option to use the Microsoft Virus Scanner (msvs.exe) that will automatically scan files that are shared or received via standard file sharing through messenger. It is the same virus scanner that is used on the new Windows Live Safety Center.
Phone Calls
Another way to chat with people is through the improved VoIP features in WLM. Now, thanks to MCI, you can use WLM to call anyone; phone or computer, you can call them. PC-to-PC phone calls are the same with all other versions of messenger, but the ability to to call contacts phones is new. You must pre-pay for the minutes to be able to call (like with Yahoo!), but you can make the calls for as low as 2.3 cents per minute.
Conclusion
Overall, for the first release of the beta, Windows Live Messenger shows a lot of promise. WLM is keeping pace with Google's and Yahoo's messenging program. It has retained all features that you love about the current version of MSN Messenger, but with a few more enhancements. Only time will tell of all the new features.
Check out some screenshots on my Flickr account.
Technorati Tags: Microsoft · Messaging · windows live messenger ·
posted by Darren Kopp at
10:16 PM
3 Comments:
How's the memory usage? Be honest! Oh, by the way, you should be a Microsoft MVP and have your blog on their site since many of your posts deal with describing MS products.
By
Anonymous, at 1/18/2006 10:48:00 PM
Currently (with 1 conversation going) I am at 28,896K. The memory jumps up about 3,000K with the video carousel, and about 5,000K more with sharing folders enabled. With all 3 I am still only at around 40,000K.
I have about 14 invites available to whoever is interested.
By
Darren Kopp, at 1/18/2006 10:56:00 PM
if you want an invite email me at darrenkopp [at] gmail.com
By
Darren Kopp, at 1/18/2006 10:56:00 PM
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