Windows Live Messenger Screenshots

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After the announcements yesterday about Microsoft's new "live" services the company held a press conference detailing all the products in the Microsoft Live platform.

The company demo'd what is set to be Windows Live Messenger (the next generation of MSN Messenger). Similar to what we exclusively revealed months ago (Wave 11), the screenshots show a simplified interface and a fresh coloured feel. The next generation Messenger is expected to beta within the month and Microsoft's MSN team is aggresively seeking new testers for the upcoming client.

Windows Live Messenger is expected to intergrate better PIM functionality, Skype like calling features, Windows Live Local intergration and better support for MSN Spaces.

Thanks to eagle eyed Niall for taking some photos at the event.

Screenshot: Buddies List

Screenshot: Windows Live Call

Screenshot: Buddy Information

View: Windows Live

What's new:

General

new: Remove old BIOS information compatibility option
new: Keyboard layout and Language group unattended options
update: .NET Framework 2.0 compatibility
update: Redesigned few pages, more readable
update: Smaller final size by compressing more files
update: KB891957-x64, KB906569, KB899589-v2, KB900725 integration
update: RVM Pack 2.0+ support
fix: Missing DATA folder error message
fix: Driver integration from read-only media

Components

new: Keyboard layouts
new: Acm Core Codecs
new: Network Location Awareness (NLA)
update: NetDDE (back)
update: Printer Support (removes spooler service)
update: BlueTooth not dependable on Modem Support
update: WMP connectivity not dependant on ICW
fix: SCSI drivers component detection

#1 hotdog963al on 02 Nov 2005 - 09:38

Looks a million times better than MSN Messenger 7.

#2 azharsdin on 02 Nov 2005 - 09:49

i like it... looks cool!

(4 replies) #3 RaiderOnline on 02 Nov 2005 - 09:54

nice lookin'

also, Microsoft take a nice domain name

#3.1 ObCeeDee on 02 Nov 2005 - 10:27

QUOTE

Yeah, I wonder if they already owned those domains in one way or another, of did they buy them from the original owners for a, probably, very big price?

#3.2 tsutton on 02 Nov 2005 - 10:59

According to web archive, it used to be owned by this person

http://xenon.stanford.edu/~rsf/

#3.3 Hankyone on 02 Nov 2005 - 14:14

i wonder how much he got for that domain

#3.4 parithon on 04 Nov 2005 - 00:30

If he is an individual and not a corporation, I doubt he got much at all

(2 replies) #4 Subfusion on 02 Nov 2005 - 09:56

That's looking really neat, a lot better than MSN. When will it be released?

#4.1 Geo on 02 Nov 2005 - 10:07

Most signs say Jan 2006. Some "sources" say this month

#4.2 dwergs on 19 Dec 2005 - 15:33

I estimate a final release in April or May 2006. Keep an eye on Mess with Windows Live Messenger (

) for further news.

#5 ObCeeDee on 02 Nov 2005 - 10:01

Pff, I already don't like the MSN News thingie at the bottom of the window.. Looks like they'll be flooding us with their newest services in one way or another.

It does look nice/cool/sexy !

(1 reply) #6 pikablu0530 on 02 Nov 2005 - 10:10

h**p://g.msn.com/1**beta/Mess80_**
(Found the OFFICIAL link to download the beta, however not allowed to disclose due to forum rules)

Install_Messenger_Beta.exe (16.7MB)

But useless even if you downloaded it anyways, because only those invited for testing for the beta is allowed to sign in. So yea...umm.....i can't sign in to it yet.

#6.1 Porp on 02 Nov 2005 - 20:25

WRONG.

(1 reply) #7 Colin-uk on 02 Nov 2005 - 10:46

fugly name, fugly interface, at least its consistent

#7.1 Xero on 02 Nov 2005 - 20:31

totally agree, the name is so long and dumb, and the look eh, nice and ****ty as usual

(1 reply) #8 gillmacca on 02 Nov 2005 - 10:50

Anyone know where to sign up for the beta?

#8.1 ClintEastman on 02 Nov 2005 - 10:55

ideas.live.com

That's your best bet, just not yet.

#9 dl0711 on 02 Nov 2005 - 11:20

I wonder if Bill gates is going to address anything about how ISPs will have to have a bandwidth CAP free Internet in order for Microsoft Live to happen.

#10 ninjamunky on 02 Nov 2005 - 11:34

lol they're literally "screen" shots hahaha

(2 replies) #11 pikablu0530 on 02 Nov 2005 - 11:53

http://help.msn.com/(cHJvamVjdD1tZXNzZW5nZXJ3MTEmbWFya2V0PWVuLVVTJmN1PSZ0bXQ9JmtjPSZmb3JtYXQ9JmZpbHRlcj1ESF9GUkVFLERIX0ZSRUU=)/Help.aspx?market=en-US&project=Messengerw11&querytype=topic&query=Messenger_CONC_AboutOtherInstantMessagingNetworks.htm

According to this Help file, "Windows Live Messenger supports different instant messaging networks."

#11.1 BBinder on 02 Nov 2005 - 11:59

most likely referring to the deal they struck a deal with AOL i think it was

#11.2 linsook on 02 Nov 2005 - 12:28

yahoo

#12 b3njo on 02 Nov 2005 - 11:57

is this a working application or just a concept?

#13 darkpuma on 02 Nov 2005 - 12:14

wow, that is very, very ugly! well done!

Offhand (although i havn't used it in years) it reminds me of that trash called AIM.

#14 quick on 02 Nov 2005 - 13:58

LOL @ top of page

Firefox Users
Firefox support is coming soon. Please be patient :-)

Actually this page works with Firefox... nice. my.msn.com doesn't work barely.. you can't move content

Last edited by 23368 on 02 Nov 2005 - 14:05

#15 Fueg0 on 02 Nov 2005 - 14:26

Its a good move By Microsoft. They are pretty much covering every service around. Live Messenger, Live Mail, Live Help Center, Live your mother... lol.. seriously. they are using these very simple words to be much more recognizable. very smart.

#16 b0m8er on 02 Nov 2005 - 16:40

Sweet! Now i want to beta test it!!!

(2 replies) #17 CyBeRiA on 02 Nov 2005 - 17:03

Windows Live Local = Google Local?

Very similar interface style. It's not surprising that yet another company has stooped to copying interface design instead of being innovative, but it is disappointing.

#17.1 dolimite35 on 02 Nov 2005 - 17:56

there are only a few ways to setup up a map site, if MS put the side bar on the other side you can say they still copied google but there is no other way to make the interface . They can try pop-up windows to input a location or move it all to the top (and then someone else will say they copied SomeOtherWebSite.com )

They dont look the same

#17.2 threedaysdwn on 02 Nov 2005 - 19:33

What is Google Local???

There's already "Local Search" on MSN. It's been there for ages.

I believe Windows Live Local is Virtual Earth - or is an extension of it.

(1 reply) #18 EduardValencia on 02 Nov 2005 - 18:27

i have people working around,soon we'll have a workaround

#18.1 Geo on 02 Nov 2005 - 22:42

it was done over 20 hours ago... search

(1 reply) #19 DJ Specs on 02 Nov 2005 - 18:41

Looks ugly as hell...

#19.1 threedaysdwn on 02 Nov 2005 - 19:34

I think it's safe for me to say that the UI shown in those screenshots is not final.

#20 kowcop on 02 Nov 2005 - 21:20

It looks ok now, but they havent added in all the spaces for ads and other msn related crap yet

#21 hjimmy on 03 Nov 2005 - 06:19

gee... they have no sense of color... that orange... and from mess.be that big red send button and ugly green search button...

just shoot me in my head

definitely American style... I really hope they have more artisits from Asia especially Japan...

(1 reply) #22 cr0bar on 03 Nov 2005 - 08:12

yeah it looks quite nice.. but a bit fisherprice if i must say. i prefer a nice simple GUI with non of this colour malarky. =)

#22.1 Jazket on 03 Nov 2005 - 19:31

most likely those colors would be switchable cr0bar.....

#23 parithon on 04 Nov 2005 - 00:33

I always find it amusing that people complain about the UI during an early development stage. Developers don't develop UI from the start, its one of the last pieces to the puzzle...

#24 finalcoolman on 04 Nov 2005 - 00:38

Hold on, does this replace MSN Messenger or Windows Messenger, or does it replace both? Its about time these two needlesly seperated products are merged into one product.

#25 unbalance on 04 Nov 2005 - 02:07

It relpaces both. its the New Messenger Service.

anyway my opinion... i agree that it is somewhat ugly, ugg i thoght we got aawy from the hwole grey thing, im glad its not that blue gradient thing like the wave 11 skin for msn 7.5. I hope they redesign the UI cause no offence, but its not fully colourizeable :p and i was hoping for something more energetic like those "leaked" pics of wave 11 MSN messenger that were floating around, its more appealing. this just looks like capsules...

#26 ShiZZa on 04 Nov 2005 - 10:10

thought these were there new service based services aka you pay per month for this web software. and msn messanger that we have now is free and live you pay for? Could be wrong.

#27 GamblerFEXonlin on 12 Nov 2005 - 10:15

Does www.live.com work with FireFox? With Opera 8.5 I only see the Search bar.

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