MSN 9 Beta - Early Look

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Neowin has taken an early look at Microsofts next MSN client, MSN 9. Including with MSN 9 Beta are the following:

MSN Messenger 6.1

MSN Explorer 9

Photo Mail & Photo Show

MSN Encarta Plus!

Enchanced Email

Picture It! Express

Picture It! Library

It seems the beta will be launching very soon. The installer for MSN 9 Beta downloads the components from the web. The UI for MSN 9 Explorer is standard, same as MSN 8/8.5. Changes are mainly to do with Outlook connector and Email settings. MSN Messenger 6.1 has also been added to the client. MSN Messenger 6.1 boosts new customizing features like no menu bar and colour changing. Check out the screenshots below, more screenshots/information to follow.

Download: Download MSN Messenger 6.1

Download: Messenger 6.1 Build 114 Thanks to Monte (Extremexp.net)

Download: Download Mirror #2 Thanks to Dwergs (Mess.be)

Download: Download Ad Remover by pHaez and Vortex

Screenshot: MSN 9 Beta

Screenshot: MSN 9 Email

Screenshot: New Installer

Screenshot: MSN Messenger 6.1 No Menu Bar

Screenshot: MSN Messenger 6.1 Colour Changer

Screenshot: MSN Messenger 6.1 Popup

What's New in This Release:

· The WBZ/WBC support has been removed! (At request of www.webshots.com)
· Support for Adobe 8BF filters: Image->Effects menu (PlugIn)
· Support for JPM format (JPEG2000/Part6, LuraDocument.jpm, PlugIn)
· Support for DDS format (Direct Draw Surface) (Formats PlugIn)
· Support for DXF format. PlugIn from: http://www.cadsofttools.com (Shareware)
· Support for DWG format (AutoCAD 13 or later, preview only)
· Simple saturation option added (Image->Enhance Colors and Batch mode)
· New options for GIF/ICO transparent saving (save dialog options)
· New edit menu: Create custom selection
· New advanced batch option: Add overlay text
· New batch scan option: Skip existing files
· The image selection can be moved using the right mouse button
· Expanded Copy/Move dialog (more folders)
· Option to set JPG Comment/IPTC for multiple files (from Thumbnails window)
· Option to set the cut color (Properties->Misc 3)
· Option to sort files in "Create multipage TIF" dialog
· Option to set the start image index in the slideshow dialog (double click)
· Option to enable/disable dithering for color reduction
· New option: "Properties->Misc. 1->Show TGA alpha color"
· Improved JPG lossless operations: Use as JPG cleaner possible
· New options for HTML export
· Change: PSP, CAM, SFW formats moved to FORMATS PlugIn
· Wallpaper save location changed (Folder: "Application data")
· Slideshow movement in now possible in automatic mode too (space/backspace ...)
· Improved SGI, TIF reading
· Improved command line option: /slideshow; Examples:
i_view32.exe /slideshow=folder
i_view32.exe /slideshow=folder*.jpg
· New command option: /aspectratio; Enable aspect ratio for /resize and /resample
· New command line option: /info=txtfile; Write image infos to text file
Example: i_view32 c:test.jpg /info=test.txt
Example: i_view32 c:*.jpg /info=jpgs.txt
· Most PlugIns are changed/updated, please install the newest versions
· Some minor bugs/features fixed/added (Filter Factory, RAW)

#1 Jish on 04 Sep 2003 - 18:40

"It seems the beta will be launching very soon"

Heh, I can download it just fine. One other note, MSN subscription becomes free for the next four months. For the official beta testers at least.

#2 timbo3 on 04 Sep 2003 - 18:41

oooooo.. shiny! I wonder why that reminds me of something.

/sarcasim

(6 replies) #3 [Dan] on 04 Sep 2003 - 18:46

msn 6.1 colour changer is cool

#3.1 tntomek on 04 Sep 2003 - 18:57

I disagree...why do they have to reinvent the wheel a 100 times. Why the heck should I have to change my Windows Media Player color and Messenger and who knows what else. Isn't that what windows color scheme is for? I hate how they can't unify a look and feel and make it specific to the version of windows you are running rather develop their own custom ui which is bloated and of course buggy.

#3.2 apa1exakis on 04 Sep 2003 - 21:19

hmmm, i think you are the only person in the world that would want microsoft to make software that isnt customizable. Have you been to themexp.org or other sites, do you read any post on this site or others like it with people wanting to customize their desktops and other products. i just have to say wow and end it at that.

#3.3 tntomek on 04 Sep 2003 - 21:29

I dont mean customizable, Windows XP certainly has its share of themes; what I am refereing to is that every piece of MS software has it's own look and feel. How can you expect the rest of the industry to follow if they cannot even decide on an architecture. I realize that there are complications to this issue but why does MSN Messenger have its own custom scroll bar? If I have themes turned off in XP it looks really outt of place from a visual stand point. I suppose it is to make Messenger look really cool and XP like on 98 machines.

#3.4 virtorio on 04 Sep 2003 - 23:35

I like the colour changer. That blue colour MSN Messenger 6.0 has is horrible.

#3.5 Quick Reply on 05 Sep 2003 - 03:05

I agree tntomek, I recall "Consistant Menus and Dialogues" being a feature of Windows 3.0, and they kept that feature through from 3.x to NT to 9X to ME to 2K. Why change now? It makes things harder for everyone expecting a button rather than a picture to click on.

I'm seriously sick of all this bloat, WMP7/8/9 is bloated so some genious decided to make Media Player Classic without the bloat, and now MSN Messenger has been bloating in versions 4(not as much)/5 & 6

I would of stuck with v3.6 if MS wouldn't disconnect the server for clients older than 4.7.2009, and because I have two passports I now already use wmv5.0 and msnv6.0, both of which are a victim of skins

I hope to god that someone makes a Messenger Classic-- with all the features of 6 (games+webcam+display pics)without the bloat (skins+links to premium services+tabs) and like in MPC, add even more features than 6.

I've tried Trillian and GAIM, but they both use skins, and although GAIM has a skin that blends in with Windows, I found it too dodgy(well hey.. it's a win32 build)

DEATH TO SKINS!

#3.6 antareus on 05 Sep 2003 - 14:26

Quick Reply your cries have been heard (not internally at MS but elsewhere).

Skins do suck. If I apply a WinXP theme I expect EVERY program to have that look to it.

There is someone working on a messenger that Doesn't Suck Like Trillian.

(2 replies) #4 AshUK on 04 Sep 2003 - 18:53

Are we going to see another MSN Messenger Neowin exclusive leak again?

#4.1 divertom15 on 04 Sep 2003 - 19:33

yeah my thoughts exactly AshUK I'ed be happy with just the messenger

from the first time i saw 6.0 i was expecting that it should have that no bar feature (it has be in WMP 9 for a while) they could on the other hand make the color changer like WMP were its slider based

#4.2 whistlerxp on 05 Sep 2003 - 20:17

QUOTE (#4.0)

No, Please, Not again!

#5 SidVicious on 04 Sep 2003 - 18:56

Nice screens.

#6 Mav Phoenix on 04 Sep 2003 - 19:00

(4 replies) #7 slapnuts_ox on 04 Sep 2003 - 19:09

congrads MS you are now as gay as AOL

#7.1 newsgeek on 04 Sep 2003 - 23:37

Nope, they don't have enough subscribers to be on AOLs level...

#7.2 Toxikk on 05 Sep 2003 - 00:00

nah. errr. isn't it congraTs?

#7.3 slapnuts_ox on 05 Sep 2003 - 00:38

thanks for the correction......my bad.....had classes early today and was at work when I typed that. Also thanks for the other correction....so MSN isn't as gay as AOL....it now just looks the part.

#7.4 inziga on 06 Sep 2003 - 19:18

Nope, they havn't yet introduced the "rainbow" theme for MSN yet.....that's comming in 10.0

#8 kainashi on 04 Sep 2003 - 19:09

pretty sexy. downloaded and using now.

#9 yudi_lks on 04 Sep 2003 - 19:33

Cool...

#10 evilecho on 04 Sep 2003 - 19:40

i got my copy of premium

#11 evilecho on 04 Sep 2003 - 19:41

http://www.echoserv.netfirms.com/msn9/msn3.gif

#12 Compkid2005 on 04 Sep 2003 - 19:43

very nice, very nice

(1 reply) #13 evilecho on 04 Sep 2003 - 19:48

Editted against our rules

#13.1 rossiknol on 04 Sep 2003 - 19:51

dood...someone's gotta have the space and bandwidth.

#14 Avenger on 04 Sep 2003 - 19:50

I like the new My MSN site. A big improvement over the current one.

(1 reply) #15 whoreman on 04 Sep 2003 - 19:52

i got and invite for this yesterday

#15.1 AshUK on 05 Sep 2003 - 01:15

...I got a invite for the Media Center Update but I didnt get in

(2 replies) #16 ozzyx on 04 Sep 2003 - 20:06

Any chance they finally included the 'custom from field'-feature in MSN Mail?

The only reason why I'm not subscribing (but am currently only on a free trial) is that MSN mail doesn't allow for custom from fields. Thus I can't use MSN mail to handle all my emails like I can do with normal email programs. If I send work-related email I want the from field to show my work address, and if I send private mail I want it to show the msn address.

#16.1 gameguy on 04 Sep 2003 - 20:40

that's what multiple email addresses are for... you have to switch from one email account to the other before you can send email from a different address.

#16.2 Trade Wind on 04 Sep 2003 - 21:24

The MSN Mail Client now supports POP3 mail accounts, so you could send/receive via a separate account if you choose. Or you could use the new MSN Outlook Connector and use Outlook as your primary mail client.

(2 replies) #17 ozzyx on 04 Sep 2003 - 21:12

Not really. My work email for example is merely a forwarding address (small business you know

) which forwards my mail to whatever account I'm currently using. Any other email accounts I might have I've set to forward to the current account I'm using. It would work splendidly if I could just send email by customising the from address depending on whether I'm sending work or home mail.

It is not that hard to implement. Even yahoo does that. Unfortunately Yahoo lacks in other areas compared to MSN (IMHO).

#17.1 gameguy on 04 Sep 2003 - 21:30

QUOTE (#17.0)

My work email for example is merely a forwarding address (small business you know

) which forwards my mail to whatever account I'm currently using.

how did you manage that?

i suggest you just keep using whatever software you're using now, since i know of nothing that will do that

#17.2 Germano on 04 Sep 2003 - 22:40

It's just a .forward file in his company mail server... Nothing to do with his email client.

What he's asking is for an FROM field... Very easy to implement, someone submit a suggestion at BetaPlace.

#18 elliot on 04 Sep 2003 - 21:36

noooo! not another program to fall prey to the 'crappy blue-white gradient background and no title bar' theme

#19 Cryptic_Night on 04 Sep 2003 - 21:42

Can't wait to try it.

#20 Mr magoo on 04 Sep 2003 - 22:03

its not bad....

i like the turn of the tool bars feature- v good.

(1 reply) #21 dwergs on 04 Sep 2003 - 22:05

Mirror #2 MSN Messenger 6.1

#21.1 timothy on 04 Sep 2003 - 23:08

Mirror #3
Mirror #4

#22 ShoeHornOPlenty on 04 Sep 2003 - 22:08

Im still waiting and hoping that I get the email so I can get the MSN 9 client, Any chance the installer for it will be up on Neowin as well?

#23 BrY on 04 Sep 2003 - 22:10

they need to make it so its "auto-hide" so if u hover ur mouse above the toolbar the window appears, like how it is in media player sometimes u need the menu options.

(2 replies) #24 JoaGoa on 04 Sep 2003 - 22:11

_______ Anyone know where I can download it?

#24.1 gameguy on 04 Sep 2003 - 22:20

i thought you said you had it?

#24.2 JaggedFlame on 05 Sep 2003 - 02:32

rofl

(1 reply) #25 tapnet on 04 Sep 2003 - 22:24

Its on the http://messenger.msn-int.com/Download/ site wow weee oh erm microsoft aint updated it though ull see if u download it

#25.1 creamhackered on 04 Sep 2003 - 22:37

That's 6.0

(1 reply) #26 hobsgrg on 04 Sep 2003 - 22:37

msn messenger 6.1 is incompatabile with the current messenger plus!

#26.1 epple on 06 Sep 2003 - 12:07

i have to say it's the other way around.

(4 replies) #27 PT_KiD on 04 Sep 2003 - 22:38

MSN 9 Its free

?
I doubt but

.. im asking.
If it isn't it is any chance of it will be free?

Cya

#27.1 hobsgrg on 04 Sep 2003 - 22:42

you have to pay a monthly subscription to use MSN 9

#27.2 PT_KiD on 04 Sep 2003 - 22:46

I dont think it is a need but it is very cool.
But don't jhope SO if u dont like it do not install it
There are people who think it is a need.

#27.3 gameguy on 04 Sep 2003 - 22:48

please don't do that again...

#27.4 PT_KiD on 04 Sep 2003 - 22:56

what?

(5 replies) #28 PT_KiD on 04 Sep 2003 - 22:39

Now another war for patchou to do another plus! version compatible i hope not but..

#28.1 gameguy on 04 Sep 2003 - 22:43

i hope SO. that thing is stupid and pointless. i'm not bashing the guy's work, but i don't see a need for it.

#28.2 PT_KiD on 04 Sep 2003 - 22:47

#28.3 hobsgrg on 04 Sep 2003 - 22:52

apart from the ad remover my main need for plus! is the fact it increases the maximum message size to be 3 times bigger which i find very useful for copying and pasting news storys and such to friends

#28.4 PT_KiD on 04 Sep 2003 - 22:53

lol

#28.5 gameguy on 04 Sep 2003 - 23:50

hobsgrg: you can just send them a link...

remove msn ads:

http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/windows...3422107,00.html

#29 daveurk on 04 Sep 2003 - 23:01

www.messbase.nl

mirror 5:
http://www.messbase.nl/downloadinfo.php?id=15

Last edited by 34737 on 04 Sep 2003 - 23:20

#30 andrewfee on 04 Sep 2003 - 23:05

I don't suppose anyone has a link for MSN9 ???

(1 reply) #31 LiGhTfast on 04 Sep 2003 - 23:10

ad patch about yet?

#31.1 newsgeek on 04 Sep 2003 - 23:39

never mind

Last edited by 31799 on 05 Sep 2003 - 04:07

#32 bangbang023 on 04 Sep 2003 - 23:55

you can get rid of the windows border. bout time

#33 evilecho on 05 Sep 2003 - 01:00

there is a download link for the installer at nextl3vel.net

(1 reply) #34 Harper on 05 Sep 2003 - 01:58

Anyone have a link/mirror to MSN9/MSN Premium or whatever they're calling it this week? Also, what happened to the new "features" like Photo Plua and Real Time File Sharing that were supposed to be in Messenger 6.1?

#34.1 mikey1001 on 05 Sep 2003 - 02:06

Look at www.nextl3vel.net, someone already mentioned earlier in the posts. There are two mirrors so far to get the actual client via their website.

#35 powerdafuture on 05 Sep 2003 - 02:16

Both MSN 9 and MSN 6.1 are better than ever, like I predicted earlier...Good Job MSN!

(1 reply) #36 kljs on 05 Sep 2003 - 02:20

how enable no menu bar?

#36.1 AquaDex on 05 Sep 2003 - 02:34

see the little arrow at the top corner of conversation windows? (just like the windows media player 9 one)

just click on it

(2 replies) #37 AquaDex on 05 Sep 2003 - 02:32

hehe looks like this build is the official beta... (I mean MSN premium), cause the components are put to Microsoft download servers already, such as:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/8/9...C6E/msnmsgs.msi <-- Microshaft link to MSN Messenger 6.1 Beta

#37.1 Franky601 on 05 Sep 2003 - 03:00

Do you happen to have a link to a french version?

#37.2 carlito on 05 Sep 2003 - 08:41

how did you find that link?

(3 replies) #38 pHaez on 05 Sep 2003 - 02:39

MSN Messenger 6.1.0114 Ad Removal Patch

Thats right, its here, feel free to download it.

#38.1 Franky601 on 05 Sep 2003 - 02:58

Edit: Replied to the wrong post

#38.2 pHaez on 05 Sep 2003 - 03:00

Nah, wasn't aware that there was a french version leaked, besides the language changes are in msgslang.dll, not the main exe. So this should work with french version theoretically.

#38.3 Franky601 on 05 Sep 2003 - 03:51

Thanks for the reply, but I already knew that, I edited my post because I asked the question at the wrong place, I wanted to know if there was a french version of MSN out...

Last edited by 4418 on 05 Sep 2003 - 04:07

(1 reply) #39 bangbang023 on 05 Sep 2003 - 02:39

hmmm why can't I see my buddies' display names anymore?

#39.1 eseiat on 05 Sep 2003 - 07:39

OMG, finally someone else has that problem too! I got so upset with not being able to fix it that I just went back to Windows Messenger 5. If you figure out how to fix it, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

Thanks

(2 replies) #40 Harper on 05 Sep 2003 - 02:46

Would LOVE to download the MSN 9/Premium BETA, but, it's only in an .RAR file that my computer doesn't recognize. Any tips? Would be greatly appreciated!!

#40.1 pHaez on 05 Sep 2003 - 02:50

get WinRAR
WinRAR 3.20

#40.2 DigitalFreedom on 05 Sep 2003 - 03:09

get the exe on my site

http://c3.liquidm3dia.com/ndesk2/index.php?act=home

#41 evilecho on 05 Sep 2003 - 02:58

people need to get this its so sweet

(2 replies) #42 DigitalFreedom on 05 Sep 2003 - 03:08

hey, i have put some more mirrors up at my site at http://c3.liquidm3dia.com/ndesk2/index.php?act=home

have fun (you have my permission to hot link it

)

#42.1 JoaGoa on 05 Sep 2003 - 12:55

Msn 9.0 And Msn Messenger 6.1 Have Leaked To Net? Is *has* leaked to the net. not have.. Ahhhhh *sigh*

#42.2 roadwarrior on 05 Sep 2003 - 13:53

No, since they are two different things, then have is correct. If they were a single item then it would be has. As in "they have" or "it has".

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