Facebook Chat Coming to Windows Live Web Messenger

Microsoft released a beta refresh for Windows Live Essentials which saw a new feature in Messenger allowing people to chat with their Facebook friends just like talking to their Messenger friends. However, this ability was not made available on the Web version of Messenger and people could only chat to their Messenger friends. But this looks set to change.

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On the Windows Live Phone service (which Microsoft has recently tweaked), that we wrote about last week, it can be seen that a refined header is being used with a few new options and it features Facebook Chat integration. When hovering over the Messenger link in the header a Facebook category appears on this site. The status of contacts is shown just like within Messenger, if a friend is available to chat to they have a green icon and an orange one for away; if you are also friends with them in Messenger then they can also be set to busy which is a red icon.

The chat box has also been tweaked to reflect the Facebook Chat addition as it is now possible to select which chat protocol is being used for the conversation. This feature also allows people to select SMS as a chat option. This feature has also leaked in upcoming Windows Live Messenger 2011 Screenshots.

One final feature that was spotted by Liveside is that when a user is signed in to Messenger on a PC it�s not possible to have a conversation via Web Messenger as Messenger windows will now force themselves to be used. However if a user is not signed in to Messenger then it is possible to chat to people in the browser. Before this refinement it was possible to chat to people via both Messenger and Web Messenger at the same time. (Signing into Messenger when conversations in Windows Live Phone were open sees them closed, however when navigating to a different Windows Live site the conversation reopens. Microsoft have yet to update the Web Messenger across most of the Windows Live sites.)

It has been rumoured that Microsoft will make available a release candidate of Windows Live Essentials 2011 soon and it�s likely that at a similar time they will also update the Windows Live sites.

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2:05 AM | 0 comments

Windows Live Essentials 2011 Beta 2 Available Now

Microsoft has just released the next major version of the Windows Live Essentials 2011 beta suite. The package comes with a number of improvements, bug fixes and added features.

Microsoft originally released a Windows Live Essentials beta on June 24. Essentials includes the popular programs Windows Live Movie Maker, Mail, Writer, Sync, and Family Safety. The Windows Live team has aimed to ensure that the next version of Windows Live Essentials takes advantage of Windows 7 fully. All applications now use the new ribbon UI and integrate further into Windows 7 by using Jumplists. Windows Live Sync is also included which keeps your files synchronized on the web and across multiple PCs.

Microsoft also introduced several new features for Windows Live Photo Gallery, including photo fusing to blend photos together and improved facial recognition.

Download Windows Live Essentials 2011 beta refresh (English full installer)

Build number: 15.4.3001.809.

Some applications carry a different build number, so here is a master list of the versions:

• Movie Maker � 15.4.3002.0810
• Messenger � 15.4.3002.0810
• Mail � 15.4.3002.0810
• Photo Gallery -15.4.3002.0810
• Sync � 15.4.3001.0809
• Family Safety � 15.4.3001.0809
• Writer � 15.4.3001.0809

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4:07 AM | 0 comments

Microsoft Messenger for Mac 8 beta Released

Microsoft has released the Microsoft Messenger for Mac 8 platform. The latest Microsoft Messenger provides several new features and update. The latest Microsoft Messenger beta, Build 08.00.00.100305 for Mac 8 Beta offers a audio/video feature for Windows Live users. Mac users will be able to share webcam and audio conversations with each other and their Windows counterparts through latest Microsoft Messenger.

The latest messenger software is still in beta process and has several known issues such as emoticons visibility, some video/audio calls do not work on certain configurations and display pictures do not display in the conversation window. Microsoft has not confirmed when a final version will be available. But you can try this latest version by your self to check more features and upgrade functions.


Download: Messenger for Mac Beta

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8:27 AM | 0 comments

Windows Live Messenger 2010 Screenshots Leaked

Windows Live Messenger 2010 Pictures has been leaked on internet. Microsoft is completely going to change the way and look of Messenger and its features. Let�s have a closer look at new Windows Live Messenger Wave 4 Milestone 3 screenshots and pictures.

You can see WLM 2010 is completely changed from its previous released of Windows Live Messenger 2009. In WLM 2010 you can see "Social Panel" separately showing the updates of your all social networks (Facebook, Twitter etc) and on right panel you can see Windows Live Contacts list. Windows Live Messenger 2010 also appears to have support for more popular social networks than just Facebook, Twitter and Windows Live, similarly like Windows Phone 7 Series is receiving.

Facebook is not only showing your friends status update and latest feeds but also it will show you photos, profiles, news and more updates. Microsoft is also going to integrate SkyDrive support in Windows Live Messenger 2010 so that users can access their online data quite easily from Messenger It self. Microsoft is also adding some new Emotions and Winks in new messenger. So just wait for the final build.

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1:45 AM | 0 comments