Windows Live Hotmail Wave 3 Screenshots Surface

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Microsoft has gradually started rolling out the Windows Live Hotmail Wave 3 update but at some point in October every Hotmail user will have access to the new version. Part of the update are a new, clean look with themes support (not unlike the Windows Live Messenger Scenes in 9.0), a more convenient contact picker and overall faster performance.

Back in August there was some talk of bringing back WebMessenger to Hotmail, but from what we've seen there's currently only the presence of Messenger Display Pictures at (see screenshot). The new About page promises more advanced Messenger integration starting early 2009:

"IM through Hotmail. See if your Messenger contacts are online and say "Hi!"

Community member Arkon was lucky enough to be one of the relatively few to have his Inbox updated to the new and much anticipated Windows Live Hotmail Wave 3 public beta, and he has much to share. Many notable changes include the integration of that spiffy ?Scenes? picture that we?ve seen in messenger, the link ?Manage Newsletters? that currently doesn?t work, and a new interface when selecting a contact to send an email to.

Explore the screenshots to see those features along with several others.

Sources:

http://www.mess.be/

http://www.geeksmack.net/?p=125

[Tamilboy86 15]

Nice :)

[da00 115]

Looks very nice

[sundayx 127]

Why do they have to shove that huge ad banner up top. Whatever though, won't bring me back to hotmail.

[Soldiers33 139]

i want new email aswell.

[Lee G. 234]

Looks good (Y)

[splicer707 0]

I like! *checks live mail* Still the old one here.

[MrChuang 7]

Looking really good but at the same time really weird. Wish they could push the update out to all bays at one time.

[intrinity1 7]

very nice! still got the old one though too :(

[ScorpioRGc1 46]

Looks pretty good. I don't usually check my Hotmail account online anymore (I've fallen in love with Windows Live Mail :D), but I do go online to check a couple of secondary mail accounts I have on Hotmail. I'm liking the changes.

[magik 25]

It looks very nice, but you can't polish a turd.

I find that my Hotmail inbox is now all but worthless due to the ridiculous amount of SPAM that doesn't get filtered out. :(

[darkmanx21 0]

Man..my dad's account got "upgraded" to this..and I must say, it's fast as hell, nice and clean looking..it doesn't have that old Hotmail style look anymore...

It was fast and nice enough to catch my eye...I commented about 3 or 4 times on how fast it was. Impressive, but can we get a threaded messaging option or is that just a blatant rip from Gmail? Phones do it, so why not email?

[stephen_0002 1]

wife has the new update as well ... :( she still hates the current layout.. i'm the one that wants wave 3 .. ohh well, guess I will just have to wait.

[Andrew Lyle 336]

anyone know what bay they upgraded?

mine is still the old one

[MMaster23 0]

haha love the "store planets" remark at the bottom ... awesome stuff

[gazebee_ 3]

It looks great. I want IMAP.

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More screens:

[Rahul 0]

looks very nice & goes very well with google chrome

[+Mystic 10]

I really like the look of it but of course it isn't coming until February so I will hold my hype for now. :p

[DigitalE 10]

That looks really nice and clean.

Even though I do have an MSN Subscriber account, I think I'll still be sticking to Gmail, however.

[Ambroos 801]

Bah... I'm not any bay, i'm on blu... Makes me the last to receive the update (again)..

[andrew_f 26]

I really like the look of it but of course it isn't coming until February so I will hold my hype for now. :p

Has this February release date been confirmed?

[kb1 0]

1 of my 3 accounts has been switched so far...

co102w.col102.mail.live.com <- Updated

co107w.col107.mail.live.com <- Not updated

by121w.bay121.mail.live.com <- Not updated

[darren89 0]

one of my two accounts have been updated till today.

nothing really special, but it feels to be a bit faster loading to me. :)

[MMaster23 0]

still no updates on by117w.bay117.mail.live.com