Microsoft says that users can now connect their Messenger and Windows Live profiles with LinkedIn. They’ve  made connecting with different social networks possible in Windows Live Messenger Beta 2010. Now users are able to share photos, videos and links through it and other networks like Facebook and LinkedIn will update synchronously. LinkedIn connection will allow users of both services to easily keep tabs on their activities.  Read more...

Permalink: Microsoft Connecting LinkedIn and Facebook Chat to Hotmail and Windows Live Messenger

As expected, Microsoft has released Windows Live Messenger v 1.01 for iPhone and it is now available for download from iTunes (US store only so far). It is available for both iPhone and iPod Touch and it provides a lot of Windows Live Messenger and social functionalities which let you see your Windows Live Home stream and interact with your friends.

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Permalink: Download Windows Live Messenger for iPhone

It was expected that Windowslivepreview will go live today. Now that the website has finally gone live, we all can get a taste of what the next generation Windows Live Messenger will be like. This website is not just for Messenger but will also be carrying details for other Wave 4 apps and services soon.  Read more...

Permalink: Windowslivepreview.com is live now

Microsoft has been planning to launch a Windows Live Messenger app for iPhone since last year. It was expected to launch in June and today Neowin revealed the screenshots of Live Messenger app. Windows Live Messenger app is expected to launch with rest of the Windows Live Wave 4 desktop apps. It is also expected that Microsoft will announce some news about it later today but it will not be public till June.  Read more...

Permalink: Windows Live Messenger app for iPhone revealed

Microsoft is moving onwards with the development of Windows Live Messenger Wave 4. The Messenger team is currently working on it and it is expected to be released soon.  Read more...

Permalink: New Exciting Features Coming up in Windows Live Messenger 2010

Microsoft OneApp is a new application that will allow feature phones ( phones which are not classified as smart phones ) to access web services and applications such as Windows Live Messenger, Twitter, Facebook and the likes. It is being launched by Microsoft Unlimited Potential program for developing countries where not everyone can buy an iPhone or a Blackberry. To start with, it’ll launch in South Africa for users of Blue Label Telecoms as part of their service called ‘mibli’.  Read more...

Permalink: Microsoft OneApp – hands on demo video

Starting 25th August, Windows Live Messenger has begun an upgrade process, prompting users with version 8.1, 8.5 and 14.0 to upgrade to the newest version of Windows Live Messenger. This process will take several weeks to complete.  Read more...

Permalink: Windows Live Messenger Upgrade

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Permalink: Use XP’s theme for Windows Live Messenger in Vista/7

I know I’m going to hurt a lot of people with this post, specially those wanting Windows 7 to be released ASAP. I’ve been using Windows 7 Beta daily, and couldn’t help but notice how Microsoft seem to have made critical mistakes in putting thoughts behind some simple issues. While I praise them for going with a very consistent UI through out the operating system as well as Windows Live applications, which also shows somewhat in the Office 14 alpha screenshots leaked so far, some of the little things just annoy me a lot. Because, lets face it, it’s the little things that count, and make a great impression on the user, things like Aero Snap and Jump Lists. But let me list the little things that could have been done more properly.

Explorer Title Bar

In the above screenshot, there’s a very small but obvious change from Vista to Windows 7. The title bar has no text in Windows Explorer in 7, but it is present through out all other applications. Windows Explorer doesn’t even have the little icon in the top right corner to show what it’s about. In Vista and before, it used to show the correct icon for the Pictures, Videos or whatever folder you were browsing. Why this change Microsoft? I’m sure there went a lot of thought behind this change, but sorry to say, it seems ridiculous. How’ll you feel if developers stopped putting title bar in Windows applications? I mark this change as a fail.  Read more...

Permalink: Weird Design Issues in Windows 7

So, finally there’s a new gadget published by Microsoft for Windows Live ‘What’s New’ feed, and it’s not the best of efforts I have to say.

The Windows Live What’s New Sidebar Gadget (Beta) is a Vista gadget that displays your Windows Live “What’s New” feed on your desktop. You can receive real-time updates on what your friends are doing across multiple social networks right from your desktop. Be the first to know when your friends upload photos, add new friends to their networks, change their status messages and post comments. It’s quick and easy to add the Windows Live What’s New Sidebar Gadget (Beta).

The gadget is plain, and looks like it’s from the 90’s. Unlike the what’s new feed in Windows Live, the gadget doesn’t show user thumbnails or web page images. It also seems very rough around the edges. It doesn’t even look it’s part of Windows Live! And when you undock the gadget, it enlarges exponentially. I’m all up for having access to information at the tips of your fingers, but this is the least innovative way to bring it close. If you use Windows Live Messenger, you won’t need this gadget at all, as messenger provides a much better ‘What’s New’ feed at the bottom of the main window.  Read more...

Permalink: New Windows Live sidebar gadget, and it’s not that good