Monthly Archive for September, 2007

Windows Live Messenger 8.5 Beta Upgrades

Published on 2 years, 11 months ago in Windows Live Messenger. 10 Comments Tags: , , .

If you haven’t already noticed, The Messenger Team posted about the new updates that users of Windows Live Messenger 8.5 Beta 1 will be prompted to update to Beta 2. While the updates will be optional for Windows XP/XP 64 bit/Server 2003, Windows Vista 32/64 bit will be forced to update to Beta 2, which ironically cannot be installed from the current beta installer that is available.

So for those that want to use the new beta and are using Windows Vista 32/64bit, install the Windows Live Messenger 8.5 Beta 1 and logging in will prompt you to update and accept.

MSN Messenger Forced Upgrade Part 2

Published on 2 years, 11 months ago in Miscellaneous. 1 Comment Tags: , , , .

In what the Messenger Team dubs as the second phase, the forced upgrades for Windows 98, 98SE and ME will be shortly rolled out to the Messenger Network. That means users will be forced to use MSN Messenger 7.0.0820 and more likely, the last version of MSN Messenger for those Windows users unless of course another problem such as this arise. They’ve also commented on the likely third phase which effects clients on which they haven’t said. So for those, expect a forced upgrade soon.

Windows Live Messenger IM Control Soon

Published on 2 years, 11 months ago in Windows Live Messenger. Closed Tags: .

As Liveside reported, Messenger Presence or Windows Live Messenger IM Control as its described in Angus Logan’s Blog will allow people to chat with your without them seeing your email address which is similar to Web2Messenger already provides. So when do you expect to be able to use it? Theres no release date so you’ll just have to wait like the rest of us. Of course, you’ll have to enable the option to allow anyone to chat with you if you don’t have them on your list. There could be the risk of getting spammed using this feature but I’m sure Microsoft will put in some sort of safeguard.

Messenger Webcam Flaw Fixed

Published on 2 years, 11 months ago in Windows Live Messenger. 3 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Regarding the Webcam Flaw , the Messenger Team have posted about the new upgrades and here is the key parts below:

Do users have to upgrade?

Yes, once a user has been given a mandatory upgrade notice, they will have to install Windows Live Messenger 8.1. Most users have been given an optional upgrade notice since January 2007.

I am not seeing a mandatory upgrade right now and I am running a bad version of the client, why?

The Messenger network uses a rolling upgrade mechanism across the network. It will take several days to get a mandatory upgrade and new bits to all users.

What can users do now to protect themselves sooner?

Users running Windows Live Messenger 8.1 do not need to take action. Users running earlier versions of Messenger should visit http://messenger.live.com and install Windows Live Messenger 8.1.

I use Windows 2000. How can I protect myself?

Because Windows 2000 isn’t supported by Windows Live Messenger 8.1, we will provide an updated version of MSN Messenger 7.0. We will upgrade Windows 2000 users to the updated version of MSN Messenger 7.0 after the Windows Live Messenger upgrades.

Till then, as a precautionary measure, don’t accept a webcam or a video call invitation from a contact that you don’t trust.

If I’m running the new Windows Live Messenger 8.5 beta, am I protected?

Yes. Messenger 8.5 beta users are not affected by this vulnerability.

MsgPlus! Live Compatible with latest beta

Published on 2 years, 12 months ago in Software. Closed Tags: , , .

Snippet from Messenger Plus! Live:

Yesterday, Microsoft released a new beta version of Messenger labelled “version 2008″. Despite the lack of beta tags in this version, Microsoft insists that Messenger 8.5 is still in beta stage so no, this is not a final version. In fact, since the release, everything I’ve read about the new beta is criticism and I personally can’t praise their new setup system. But still, a new version is a new version and Messenger Plus! got to be compatible with it.

The good news: you won’t have to upgrade your Plus!, version 4.23 is still entirely compatible with the new Messenger. I’m continuing to work on the next big update which should be released sometime in October. Maybe then I’ll follow the trend and release a brand new install suite for 32bit systems only ;) .