The beta of Windows Live Messenger 8.1, which was first released to a select group of testers in August, has just been made available to anyone who wants it. This release is build 106.
Nicole at the Windows Live Messenger blog gives a great overview of what’s new in this version, some of the main changes are:
- Roaming identities allow you to keep the same PSM and display picture regardless of where you sign in.
- Contact cards have been revamped with a new look.
- Emoticons, winks, backgrounds DP menus also have a new look.
The Windows Live Ideas page also lists better server performance, automatic updates and improved sign-in performance. Although just about each version has claimed better sign-in performance, each version seems to create more sign-in problems for users. It might be worth a shot if you have been having trouble signing in, download it and see how it goes.
There have been many users having problems signing in for the last few days. Reports claim that Windows Live Messenger doesn’t complete the sign in process, instead just sitting there with the messenger sign in buddies continuing to spin until you cancel. One of the most likely causes is this month’s round of security updates for Windows.
Among all the posts for help in the newsgroups, Jimmymac posted (6th post down) explaining he fixed it by deleting messenger’s registry settings. Jonathan Kay created a .reg file that will automatically delete the settings for you, remove_msgrsettings.reg.
Before running the .reg file, completely exit Windows Live Messenger by right clicking the buddy icon near the clock and clicking Exit. Once you have run the file and clicked Yes, try signing in again.
One of the side effects of this solution is you will lose some customised settings, but hopefully you’ll find it’s worth it!
Leave a comment if this does or doesn’t work for you.
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3 years, 5 months ago in
Software.
ElectroSoft, the creator of the Web based polygamy patcher and MSN Agent Detector, has released a new Java applet called DPMagnifier.
DPMagnifier is a tool that lets you add effects to display pictures. Simply choose an existing display picture and select some effects. Once you’re happy with the preview image, you can save the new “magnified” image and set it as your display picture in messenger.
The effects you can currently apply are:
- Black n White
- Sepia
- Invert Colors
- Light Focus
- Strikes Tool
- Smooth Border
- Glass Screen Effect
- Text Effect
The project is still fairly new, so I’m sure we will see some other effect capabilities on the future! Give it a try at the MAD project site or see the forum post.
Microsoft today announced its acquisition of Colloquis, the conversational online business solution provider, formerly known as Conversagent.
Colloquis is best known in the messenger community for its bots such as SmarterChild, Encarta Instant Answers and ESP Billy, and more recently the free availability of the BuddyScript SDK which was able to be used in the Invasion of the Robots contest.
Microsoft plans to use Colloquis bot technology in a new service called Windows Live Agents, a conversational application that users can interact with via Windows Live Messenger. These agents are used to entertain, encourage engagement with products or services, provide new advertising opportunities, and for search and information retrieval.
Additionally, Microsoft is set to offer the Colloquis Automated Service Agent technology in a new Windows Live service called Service Agents. Windows Live Service Agents will provide a Web-based customer service application that interacts with users in conversational language. US based ISP Comcast currently use a Colloquis Service Agent which you can try out by going to Comcast help and launching Ask Comcast.
The newest Live related tab has launched, this time for Office Live, bringing the total number of Live tabs for Windows Live Messenger to 5. It joins Expo, Favorites, Messenger and the original Alerts tabs.
I’m not a user of Office Live, so I’m not sure what the tab does exactly for those who do use it. You can give the tab a try out by directly opening it in your browser. The tab should already be in your tab list if your account settings include United States as your country. You can also add the tab to your custom list of tabs if you are using TabServe, just login and run the importer, choose United States and add it.
