RSSWindows Messenger Tweaked for XP Launch
By Nate Mook | Published October 12, 2001, 6:59 AM
UPDATED Still two weeks before Windows XP makes its official debut in New York, Microsoft has begun to prepare updates to the feature rich operating system. Windows Messenger, XP's controversial built-in version of MSN Messenger, will receive the first of such enhancements to be made available for download on October 25. In addition to numerous design changes, Windows Messenger will now allow users to make PC-to-phone calls directly from within the client.
Currently partnered with Callserve, Dialpad, deltathree, Net2Phone, and TELUS, Microsoft aims to further expand service offerings through the company's Voice Services Program. These carriers will allow customers to track call times and account information via Windows Messenger, but remain independent.
"This enhancement to Windows Messenger, which incorporates customer feedback and underscores our commitment to continue to innovate and to ensure that Windows XP enables the best, easiest, most exciting computing experience for consumers. It also underscores our commitment to work with the industry to make Windows XP a great platform for third-party solutions," said John Frederiksen, general manager of Windows, in a statement.
For older versions of Windows, Redmond is readying MSN Messenger 4.5, which will feature an XP-style tabbed interface and enable the new PC-to-phone support.
Already preparing new drivers for the OS, Microsoft has updated Windows XP's Intel PentiumIII driver to version 5.1.2535. Movie Maker 1.2 -- updated to add Windows Media support -- will also make an appearance later this month, with additional updates likely to follow.
The updates will be available at Windows Update shortly after Bill Gates announces the arrival of Windows XP.
This is the stupidest version of an instant messenger I've ever seen. You can't even send offline messages that popup on a users screen when they log in - it has to be through a crappy hotmail account that they'll probably (and rightly) ignore!
How stupid. Yahoo Messenger has all the IM's beat as far as features. Their Voice support is top notch, as well as all the little other extras like basic FTP support, etc.
Until Windows (MSN) Messenger supports offline instant messages, its just a novelty item.
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|Does any one know how to get this release working on Windows ME ???
I'm dieing to get it working on my Win ME or Win 98 ...
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|If you want to see and try out msn messenger 4.5, go to http://www.ibelite.com . I posted screenshots of the current beta and a link so you can all download it. I personally do not know how long will it take till ms will contact me about this, so grab it while its hot :) By the way there are about 10 screenshots and the new msn messenger 4.5 works with your windows xp theme.
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|ibelite, I really like your site, definately found it's way to my favorites. As far as MSN messanger is convcerned, It is lacking a few features I would like to see. 1) Grouping, which by the screen shots on ibelite's site that feature will be implimented in version 4.5. 2) Docking as mentioned by others. 3) I rally like how it will check your hotmail account, but I changed my passport to my email address from the hotmail one and it will not check my email, I really like this feature in ICQ. I to am getting everyone to move over to MSN messanger it's quick, unbloated, and just a nice piece of software. My 2 cents!
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|MSN 4.5 works perfectly on my version of Windows ME. Installation went fine.
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|I'm looking forward to more updates on the Windows Update site. Up until now its been pretty much just security patches. The drivers section will also be a nice thing to see.
I've already gotten an update for my scanner driver off of Windows Update
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|XP-moé une gosse! C'est d'l'estie d'marde Windows XP.
Vous-etes toutes des calisses de caves sacramant!
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|Do you kiss your mother with that mouth? Probably french-kiss her.
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|looks great - i just wish i could get everyone i knowt o switch from ICQ and AIM to MSN.
also, i wish MSN had dockability - like AIM and ICQ have right now. thats something i really enjoy in those products.
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|I'm using the new messenger and I love it! It is so much better than ICQ and I am slowly trying to get people to switch. But what is the dockablity that you are refering to in ICQ? Just a question.
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|you know, where you can take your contact list, drag it to either side of your screen, and it sticks to the edge of the screen.
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|release an MSN client on as many platforms as ICQ and AIM enjoy, and you might just get them to use it. I love the idea of a uniform IM client, but well there's that whole greedy company thing in the way again. Oh, and let me add that yahoo is also multiplatform. Till Microsoft ports the app, I will not switch. With the hundred + users in my ICQ contact list alone that understand that since microsoft won't port it I can't recommend they use it, I don't have much to worry about. ;-)
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|since MS uses a standard protocol, it is not hard to make clients to connect for other systems. for instance, there are clients on linux, plus many clients for windows that can connect to the msn networks as well.
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|my only issue with that is that it is not a vendor (read microsoft) supported client like all of the other IM clients enjoy. I'll take a look for MSN linux clients though.
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|i do agree though - MS needs to make a client for other platforms. unfortunately there isnt much 3rd party support for *nix just yet, but they're coming along now.
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|I use Jabber to connect to all my friends on different networks. There are alot of clients, but most of them suck, but it gets the job done.
multi-platform and free, though GAIM for linux is pretty damn good.
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|trillian will soon be one of the better multi platform IM clients for windows. i usd it a while ago and was pretty impressed. still needs work.. but its gettin there.
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|Trillian would be the best if it supports message history, which means logging all converstations. Other than that, Trillian is the perfect multi-IM. It supports ICQ contact, you can import them straight into Trillian easily. I can't find any Jabba IM that supports ICQ contact imports.
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|because you do not get bombarded with ads or stock tickers or.or .or.the only thing i need it to do, is to display the names in ICQ, not the numbers.that's a drag, also the contacts do not show.there seems to be a lag in transfering messages to ICQ users, otherwise, this is THE tool to use
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|There is an official Mac client for MSN Messenger.
FYI, the only platforms AOL and ICQ officially support are Mac and Windows. Unix versions are not authorised by AOL, except for an ancient beta of AIM.
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|gotcha... I just like the fact that I can log on to any computer running Windows and get my contact list without going through the nightmare of ICQ... and those ICQ "updates" don't even get me started... and why was ICQ always in beta release???
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|Trillian supports complete history of everything that happens from server to chatting, but it's called logging and is cometimes hard to find. It's there.
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|Unless your talking of a different Triallian than I know of, Trillian sucks, as it does not even support any kind of file transfers... and has taken forever to get even minor updates.
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|That's a nice feature, but its a pain that ICQ undocks to the middle of the screen everytime my resolution changes to play a game :/
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|while it's not perfect I tried odigo out a while back, it has a lot of nice features, but more than a few bugs that they need to work out. I used to be a die hard icq fan but the last good release for it in my opinion was icq99B every version since then has been full of bloated and useless features, and god don't even get me started on those darned Ads. I know that it's hackable, i've hacked it, but the hassle of having to just adds to the aggravation. I switched some time back to MSN and if I could just get all my friends who still use icq to switch I'd be a happy camper. the only thing they need is message history and one of two of icq's more basic features and msn would be perfect!
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|Look for a program called, I believe, messenger plus. It creates flat text files with your interactions with each person on a monthly basis. It jas the advantage of not loading them into memory like ICQ does (? I believe, I know it used to) but does get confused if your contacts change their displayed names. It also has some other nice features like alpha blending. I have it on my machine at home but not on my machine at work (from whence I post this), which is why I am a little hazy on the details.
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|ICQ now has contact lists stored on the servers.. so thats not a problem anymore.
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|'Nuff said
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