RSSMicrosoft Updates Live Messenger Beta
By Nate Mook | Published February 28, 2006, 12:44 PM
Microsoft on Tuesday began rolling out a new Windows Live Messenger build to beta testers, streamlining the client's interface and adding a number of new features such as integration with Windows Live Contacts. The release, numbered 8.0.566, also supports colorization of the entire Messenger window.
For now, Live Messenger remains a private beta test, but Microsoft is encouraging users to invite as many people as possible, and the company is reportedly accepting new applications within 24 hours through ideas.live.com. Developers aren't offering a final release date, but say it will occur later this year.
www.lishuxweb.org is giving away invites.
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|I have a few invites left, if you waould like one, visit my website to details:
http://www.markpiggott.net
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|I too have a number of spare invites for WLM8 Beta. Send email to admin@wolfshead.org.uk
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|For any of those who have the leaked 562 and aren't part of the private beta, there is a bug in auto update that continually asks you to updated, you have to uninstall 562 before you can install 566. After uninstalling it may appear that you still have Messenger installed, if that is the case try signing in and let the automatic update kick in. Proceed with the automatic update and install. After installing, you should now have build 566. Otherwise you have to hunt down a copy of 566.
*EDIT*
I also have a few I can give away...I think I am down to 26 at the moment. If you want one, email me at invites@s92514387.onlinehome.us with an email address that WILL work with msn messenger. Last time I did this, half the people gave me email address that wouldn't work...
oh, and since I am lazy, its the first 26 that will get them.
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|I downloaded 566 from ideas.live.com
I also had the perpetual FORCED update request upon signon. Uninstalling didn't help once I let it do its thing (try to update). I managed to System Restore to a few days ago, immediately uninstalled 562, closed every program running, renamed leftover folder "MSN Messenger" inside Program Files, and run the 566 I manually downloaded from abovementioned. That worked for me.
All in all, nothing too exciting. I can't believe a company with 40 billion dollars flowing around cannot do what a single guy (Messenger Plus programmer) does 50x better. Same story with Maxthon and IE7 BTW... Luckily MS made their sh*t modular enough so those bright guys could come in and fill the void. Obviously it's in their best interests (I'd switch to Firefox and Yahoo Messenger otherwise).
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|Hey, if anyone wants an invite for the beta testing of windows live messenger just send me an email i have 12 beta invites left.
mnemmetz@hotmail.com
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|Its too bad they removed the cool new icon that came with the first beta for the system tray :(
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|This update is a huge improvement It went from useing 10 MB's of ram to 3 MB's!!! The interface is alot clearn, and I love the new look! Best msn messeger by far.
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|I agree!! It´s a great surprise... I loved the new look and the replaced icons!
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|How does the new UI design look?
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|Follow the first link...in the first sentance of the article.
Scroll down about 1 page.
Would ya look at that....screenshots. ;)
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|How the hell do you upgrade, I'm still running build 365.
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|Exit and relaunch it and it will ask you if you want to update.
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|Nope. :(
[Edit: Oh, NOW it does.]
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|The new build is probably going to be 566, since the current one is 562. The latest version really does have clear voip capabilities. Just as good or better than google talk, which I think is better than skype and gizmo. Only complaint is MSN still requires the opening of ports or UPnP, avoiding that works so much better, and is easier on the end user.
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|it's really nice... i been testing it since b4 i got my invitation LOL
*currently using build "562" ;-)
WLMessenger 8 version 0562
New in this version:
New UI design
New contact list design (no more hover behavior)
A return of the old status icons
A Sharing Folders status and progress bar
The Sharing Folders activity log is now in a separate window
New Voice platform
Improved reliability
Improved stability
Improved performance
Improved login performance
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|I'm part of the Windows Live beta, not sure if I like this new release. Seems way different to the previous build, a strange thing is though, I haven't got any invites (and never had any) I am also part of the Windows Live Mail beta, and no invites on that, odd.
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|Tried this latest build out last night and was impressed with the improvements. I didn't like the previous build at all as i though the colour scheme was childish and inapropriate. The new build looks nice, i rly like how you can search for contacts with ease. However one thing i did notice is when contacts are sorted into groups, the number proceeding each group (in brackets) now shows the number of contacts in that group instead of the number of online contacts. Maybe a bug?? Anyway i prefer the new build to 7.5 anyday, just dont have much chance to test the new features as few of my contacts have the BETA version.
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