Live Messenger Refresh Now Available

[aberflasm]

Thanx to everyone who replied the the bug report i submited. It now appears on there main feedback page which means it should get the attention of others not using Neowin. Hopefully Microsoft will act fast to release a more appealling UI.

[dj6ross]

It is different. It came up a Carolina Panthers blue for me.

[el22]

What is this media player button in the top courner of every window? Why can't I click it?

Where are my display pictures when someone signs in? (found them....ish) Why can't I personalize every window now?

What did they do to the top of the main window? Why doesn't these colours merge?

Why is the squares mixed with round things? Why are my eyes bleeding? Microsoft.....why?

Eeeexactly all my thoughts 100%.

[Eli]

WHY DID THEY CHANGE IT SO THAT I CANNOT TELL HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ONLINE IN MY GROUPS?!?!?!?!

Oh My God. Microsoft.....why....what are you doing....you're guys have some good ideas....but now there are more bugs then you claim you have fixed.

I can see this getting released next fall.....

(Caps on puprose....)

[TheWahbinator]

WHY DID THEY CHANGE IT SO THAT I CANNOT TELL HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ONLINE IN MY GROUPS?!?!?!?!

Oh My God. Microsoft.....why....what are you doing....you're guys have some good ideas....but now there are more bugs then you claim you have fixed.

I can see this getting released next fall.....

(Caps on puprose....)

Wipe your eyes, and look harder. You'll see them once you get sober...

[Kussie]

Wasn't there an issue with an 8GB file generated by the previous build...has anyone had any problems with this version so far or did they fix that problem?

The file wasn't actually using 8gb. It was just a corrupted header so windows reads it as using 8gb. But it really isnt

[Hidea]

Holy crap, it's crap.

[Xerxes]

I don't think it looks that bad, considering they are probally working hard for it to blend in seamlessly into Vista not XP which is what I mainly attribute it to looking slightly out of place in XP ;)

Overall I think it looks alot cleaner and it seems a lot more stable then the previous build (that crashed all the time on my computer) my only problems with it are the "toast" that comes up when someone signs in, that looks horrid and the system tray icons are a mixture of Windows Messenger and the new icons (mainly the old ones). Other things I've noticed is all the status icons in the buddy list are the old Windows Messenger ones along with the icon for a conversation window...if they plan to keep this new UI they should update all the icons for the sake of consistancy! (but we all know what MS is like when it comes to that :whistle: ) so I wouldn't be surprised if the old Windows Messenger icons made it to final!

[pikablu0530]

Why is no one posting the url for download. What do you think will happen if you do? Oh no someone might get a download that won't work anyways if there not in the beta. Can someone please post it. There is no link in the programs in connect and the build is the same in ideas.live.com.

You must already be in the MANAGED beta on connect to download this build. As quoted from microsoft

As part of your beta tester agreement with us we ask that you do not leak this build outside of the Managed beta. We would like to continue to give you exclusive build refreshes in the future and our ability to do so is dependent on them not leaking. If you questions about this policy or if you now of someone violating this agreement, please send mail to us.

And btw....it IS ugly.... :no: I've tried hard adapting to the previous WLM UI and it was alright, but what happened to THIS one? :blink: square edges!!! ugly! =P

[morgs]

Erm, well I would say thanks for bringing this update to my attention, but judging by the comments.... I think I'll get back to you lot in a few minutes https://www.neowin.net/forum/style_emoticon...fault/blink.gif

[Eli]

Wipe your eyes, and look harder. You'll see them once you get sober...

Unfortunatly I am :(

[viciv]

looks nicer now... but it's still pretty ugly

[xfodder]

i like the new gui...as someone else said, you can't please everyone.

i have my colour set to sky blue and it looks fine.

only thing i would like to see is the removal of the ads....apple doesnt have ads in ichat

[Darnell 0216]

1) New UI sucks if you had a custom color as someone stated. Not so bad in silver/grey or some other 'bright' colors. Still the removal of the curves hurts it alot.

2) Hiding tabs can be done on the Tabs option now. No need to do it through security

3) For those who didn't frequent the "MessengerSays" Space, the status icons were a big complaint because they only had 2 settings: Online and Away. This is most likely the reason for the return of the old icons. It woulda been easier for them to just add the status symbols to the new Away icon.

For those who aren't Microsoft Connect Members and want more details of what's changed:

In this release you will find many changes that were a result of your feedback! Some of what you will see is:

? 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

Known Issues Page:

The following are issues that the Messenger product team is aware of and has been fixed or approved to be fixed in a later build of Messenger 8.0. If you encounter any of these issues it is not necessary to file a bug. This list will be updated regularly as more bugs get fixed. Please check this list regularly before submittingInstallationlation

(New) Installation requires Windows Installer 3.0. To get it, go to Windows Update and update your computer with the lates patches.

Messenger Beta is only supported on Windows Vista build 5231

Windows Vista does not support Voice Conversations (Computer Call)

Windows Vista only supports a clean install of Messenger Beta

Messenger Beta cannot be installed on Windows 2000 Server

Incorrect file size reported in Add Remove PrParental Controlsntrols

Parental controls are not supported in Messenger Beta, so restricted accounts cannot Sharing Foldersolders

(New) The 8gb Similarity table file will remain if you upgraded from build 365. However, you can now delete it!

(New) Sharing will not work as a non-admin user on Windows Vista.

[morgs]

ok, so I'm not too impressed. nuf said!

EDIT: Ok, so I guess I can see where they are going with it, and potentially I like it... but its not there yet!!!!!

[Rhan]

looks nicer now... but it's still pretty ugly

I feel it look much cleaner.. Anyway, if it free up more memory, I dun care abt the look..

[Amnesia]

so far, what I hate is that you can't have mini DP's in the messenger window, I dont like that Media Center button (I want to click it!), I dont like the fact there is no 'show menu/hide menu' button, I hate the fact that it doesn't show you how many people are online in a group, and I hate the fact that you dont see people's DP's when they sign in. (the sign in toastee is also too wide).

I STILL haven't had my wish for when you click 'hide dp' in a chat window, it stays hidden for that person.

edit: using a white, or very light color does improve the design a bit. I had this ugly orange when I first installed it. I guess it's random for each person.

I'm sure once the A-Patch is out it'll look much better.

[Bitlocker]

I like this version,more clear!! :laugh:

[Leddy]

It's good to see that people are actually listening to Microsoft's NDA requests now.

And yes, I want whatever they were drinking at the time they designed this UI. They were quite obviously smashed.

[sn00pie]

Is it me or does that look pretty nice in bangbang's screenie. :huh:

[Porp]

WOW UGLY.

i loved the other UI but, with take out a bunch of excess 'space'. We need the curve's back. These non curve's remind me of Windows ME & Windows 98

[:No-Frost:]

Ok... A lot of people are talking about this new beta release... But, where can I get it???

I'm a beta tester, but I'm still with the old GUI and Ireally don't like it...

[fishrman]

Christ. I know patience is a virtue, but really...try reading the other posts.

Only those part of the MANAGED (that is, invited specifically by Microsoft; able to see it listed on Microsoft Connect...1st gen..etc) are currently able to download this build, from the Connect website.

The message does appear to say its an early preview of the Beta Refresh, so I guess the rest of us will have to sit tight for a while - but its coming. (officially, anyways.)

[prjkthack]

@:No-Frost:

If you are part of the managed beta, then check your Inbox. Microsoft has sent e-mails to the managed beta participants with information.

---

In any case, I rather like this look. Once you get past the shockingly ugly selection of colors and choose one of the more subtle ones (like white, gray, light blue), it looks a lot better. Its simplified, and reminds me of the direction that Live and MSN seem to have been taking recently. The last look was so bulky and bubbly looking.

Though the display picture on the right is slightly weird. And going back to the older icons... why couldn't they have just added variations on the new icon? It just doesn't match now... and the toolbar in the conversation window! YES! I finally don't have to hide it anymore, its compact and looks great.

[:No-Frost:]

Christ. I know patience is a virtue, but really...try reading the other posts.

Only those part of the MANAGED (that is, invited specifically by Microsoft; able to see it listed on Microsoft Connect...1st gen..etc) are currently able to download this build, from the Connect website.

The message does appear to say its an early preview of the Beta Refresh, so I guess the rest of us will have to sit tight for a while - but its coming. (officially, anyways.)

Oh ok ^^... I readed the other posts but my english is not quite good :p ... I was invited from Microsoft tought... But after I signed to be a beta tester for the live messenger...