Microsoft Launches 'MSN 8.5,' Preps For 9.0

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Watch for MSN to roll out new subscription services for music, e-mail collaboration, spam-protection and parental controls in its next upgrade.

While it ended up ditching the 8.5 moniker, Microsoft rolled out its interim upgrade to its Internet service on Wednesday. Microsoft is billing the updated bits as "MSN 8 with enhancements." Among the updates: More junk-mail filtering; additional parental controls; and new monitoring tools for tracking email storage size and message size.

Existing MSN 8 subscribers will receive automatically the enhancements "through idle bandwidth while they are online," according to Microsoft. MSN subscribers using older versions will obtain the enhancements on a CD, which Microsoft will mail to them. AOL launched its rival interim update, called AOL 8.0 Plus, at the end of March. Microsoft has been beta testing the so-called MSN 8.5 release for several months. Now that the interim updates are out, both MSN and AOL are on the road to launching their full-fledged platform updates that will be geared more toward broadband users.

News source: microsoft-watch.com

During first stage of V5 beta, we will be concentrating on two major issues:
WU Web Site beta testing - including gross and detailed site functionality, site UI, and site text

WU content Beta testing - all content delivered through the WU site (with the exception of Security Updates, there is another channel for those) will have a specific beta release/test period. This includes driver update content.
After the initial beta period, the WU V5beta program will continue to be involved in Beta update testing of software and driver content prior to their RTW ('going live') on the v5 site.
Platform - current plans for V5 Beta are that all beta testers will require a platform of windows 2000 SP2 and later, for a testing platform.
No one in either WU Beta or Office Beta groups have been enrolled in the V5 beta program, yet.

Neowin Note: This is probably the reason for the previous questionnaire on betaplace asking "Which Operating systems do you want to see on Windows Update" so if you haven't completed the questionnaire yet now might be a good time to do so.

(1 reply) #1 ShoeHornOPlenty on 04 Jun 2003 - 18:12

Will current MSN 8.5 beta testers get the new final version through auto update or do we have to uninstall the beta and find a place to get the full version. By the way, anyone got a link for the full final?

#1.1 spartacus2 on 04 Jun 2003 - 19:32

uninstall, install your msn8 from cd or download and force update of msn8

#2 creamhackered on 04 Jun 2003 - 18:14

We'll get a full link, and I'll post it as soon as we recieve it

#3 omega on 04 Jun 2003 - 18:57

Is it me or did I interpreted wrong, is MSN 9 going to cost more? I mean for example, the software is separate from the other services that MSN is going to roll out.

#4 Trade Wind on 04 Jun 2003 - 19:20

http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/F/8/5F8A4821-EB6B-469E-85EC-6E29A67C4E60/msnsetup_min.exe

There will be other services apart from the subscription that people will have to pay extra for if they want them. Like MSN Personal Domains for example. Not like you can expect to get a domain with your $6.67/mo BYOA account. lol

#5 ironcladlou on 04 Jun 2003 - 19:26

Thanks Trade Wind! You da man!

#6 Crackler on 04 Jun 2003 - 20:00

Is it just me or does that link point to the same build that i already had, except that when i installed it it just removed the "Beta" from it?

(1 reply) #7 ShoeHornOPlenty on 04 Jun 2003 - 20:02

Yup same build as the last released beta build. I find it odd that MS would take the same exact build from the beta, remove all the beta markings from it and release it.

Also, still waiting to see if Canadian MSN users get this update as well....

#7.1 omega on 04 Jun 2003 - 21:02

Actually, the Canadian version is the same as the USA version. This isn't AOL Canada, where there are two distinct version for the countries. The difference comes in the "My MSN" page on the customized content. Just look at the CD, it's from the USA.

#8 Trade Wind on 04 Jun 2003 - 20:04

Yep, ur right. Build 1702 from May 19th.

#9 Crackler on 04 Jun 2003 - 20:15

Just great lol and i was hoping for some fixes

(1 reply) #10 Trade Wind on 04 Jun 2003 - 20:26

Crackler: what fixes were you angling for?

Anyone else get the thank you email? Email coming soon with information on the MSN9 beta.

#10.1 belto on 04 Jun 2003 - 20:59

my downloaded copy:

file version: 5.50.4134.600

this is the exact same thing that I have already - MSN8 not MSN8.5 - is this correct?

(1 reply) #11 omega on 04 Jun 2003 - 21:03

Is there a MSN 9 beta that we can download yet?

#11.1 hobsgrg on 04 Jun 2003 - 21:33

haha i wish, sadly not although it should go into internal testing soonish so u never know when a leak might surface

#12 netstarman on 04 Jun 2003 - 21:40

i would love the up grade, the more the msft people put out the better and i would love to see the beta version of 9.0 . oh and hi guys my first time on the forum here im a new guy , glad to meet ya'll

#13 Trade Wind on 05 Jun 2003 - 03:44

welcome aboard netstarman!!

Personally, v9.0 will be welcome for sure (who likes to stay still in terms of progress for a year!), but the real buzz will be MSN X. In a way, it is too bad AOL/Microsoft signed that agreement, now AOL will see what they can do for Longhorn and start developing now. MSN has been planning for Longhorn for a couple years already (backend services, integrating with proof of concept technologies etc)...so we still got an edge on AOL & Yahoo! Explorer.

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