Previously we have only heard about the new Windows Live Messenger add-in feature through unofficial sources. Today, Ken Levy, product planner for Windows Live, has blogged promoting it to developers and to get some feedback:
In our continued effort to empower developers interested creating components for customizing Windows Live Messenger 8.0 via the extensibility model, we have set up functionality in Windows Live Messenger try out and test the new Add-ins feature. Add-ins are API hooks to customize, extend, and build upon the Windows Live Messenger client application. We plan to release this Add-in SDK as a download for msdn.com in early June, so beta feedback on the Add-ins SDK need to be sent to us by the end of May.
The add-in feature is not active by default and the add-in section in the Options dialog is hidden. To enable the add-ins section in the Options dialog, create a .reg file containing the following text, and then import the file to the registry. Alternately, download the reg file and run it.
REGEDIT4 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MSNMessenger] "AddInFeatureEnabled"=dword:00000001
So this means you can program for Windows Live Messenger 8.0 with Visual Basic? Is it limited just like the MSN Messenger 5.0 till version 7.5 API? And does it already work on the beta?
Personally i dont like downloading beta versions so dont know it myself, a ansewer will be appriciated.
It seems this API is .NET based and as such you can probably only use it within .NET environment languages. VB.NET works, but not VB6.
The API itself is entirely new and has been developed for the sole purpose of add-ins, it does look very limited but I don’t want to speak too soon if the SDK is yet to be released.
It is in the file MessengerClient.dll, which has no traditional type library (which is why it can’t be referenced in VB6), I’m not sure how .NET works in this context so I can’t comment further.
There’s a good topic at the mess forums about it and a good sample here.
are they any downloadable addins available to download. if so can you tell me and everyone were? cheeres.
jamesrdolan_1992@hotmail.co.uk
The WLM community is abuzz, but I don’t see what the hype is about. This adds/will add nothing that hasn’t been available for years now VIA MSN plus.
From the few add-ins I’ve been able to find and try out, I haven’t seen a single one that adds functionality that wasn’t already available with MSN Plus. On top of that the functionality added through MSN plus is a lot more seamless than those added through these add-ins.