The new Windows Live/MSN Messenger!

I have just installed the latest feature of softwares from the Windows Live team. That includes

• New Messenger… version 14. Last version was 8… so I am a bit confused… ! Also… it is due to be released in 2009
• Outlook plug in to allow hotmail access in outlook.
• Live Writer which actually allows you to blog through it, instead of going online.

Impressions… hmm…

The new messenger definitely has a nice feel to it. Took me ages to discover how to display the dp in the chat window. Emoticons are not working as expected… which is  the one bug I think does exist. The ability to display pictures in messenger window is back.

You can add scenes as the window back ground. A bit like skype I suppose. You can also add a signature sound. Now this is cool… coz this is a sound your contacts will hear whenever you  sign in. Options include alien sound, kiss sound, and the likes.

Another awesome feature is your very own dynamic display picture. Just pose your different moods in front of the webcam and every time you do an emoticon thingie, your picture will match your mood.

In the end I guess it is just a higher heavier version of MSN messenger. It will be interesting to see how the beta smoothes out to the proper version.

The outlook plug in allows me to read hotmail in my outlook. This is useful when I am using outlook at work, and would not neccessarily like to bother mr internet explorer to check my emails. It has managed to download more or less all of my email but I think it struggles a bit with actually downloading new emails. Not the best thing in the package at least.

The Writer is one feature I am using right now. Has a built in spell checker like MSWord etc so that is handy. You can insert pictures, tables, tags, videos, hyperlinks straight into the blog, and let the publish button do the rest. It actually downloads all of your blog configurations, including the background, themes, and even your labels/tags. Quite cool actually, though I have to use it a bit more before I give it my blessing.

A friend of mine who uses Vista has actually told me that it is not downloading/installing on her machine. I will try it out later at home and see if that is indeed the case.

To download it, just go to http://home.live.com and should be something from there on to guide you through.

Enjoy !!!

PS… now am gonna  dare to press the Publish button. Let us see eh!!!