Tag - Vista
There has been confusion circulating the internet recently over WPF coming to Windows Live Messenger 9. Although this is true, it seems to be heavily misinterpreted. To put it simply, Windows Live Messenger 9 will not have FULL Windows Presentation Foundation by its first official release.
The news that it would do spread quickly, and with good reasons; it was positively received in Yahoo! Messenger for Vista and it would only make sense that Microsoft would mimic their own technology in a piece of software where it appeared natural to do so.
So why won't it be added? Well a source has said that full WPF will only come if it was probably implemented. Adding full WPF would require an entire re-code on the main structure of Messenger, something a piece of software that is so very visually based would take a significant development period to implement. Although full WPF hasn't been ruled out as coming to Windows Live Messenger, in order to make it to a high standard it would require more time and therefore will not come to version 9.
To sum up, full WPF won't be coming to Windows Live Messenger version 9, although some WPF effects will be present. This does not rule out it coming in the future: if anything it seems likely and, although nothing is confirmed, it has been strongly hinted at. If it ever did, it would be implemented well.
The news that it would do spread quickly, and with good reasons; it was positively received in Yahoo! Messenger for Vista and it would only make sense that Microsoft would mimic their own technology in a piece of software where it appeared natural to do so.
So why won't it be added? Well a source has said that full WPF will only come if it was probably implemented. Adding full WPF would require an entire re-code on the main structure of Messenger, something a piece of software that is so very visually based would take a significant development period to implement. Although full WPF hasn't been ruled out as coming to Windows Live Messenger, in order to make it to a high standard it would require more time and therefore will not come to version 9.
To sum up, full WPF won't be coming to Windows Live Messenger version 9, although some WPF effects will be present. This does not rule out it coming in the future: if anything it seems likely and, although nothing is confirmed, it has been strongly hinted at. If it ever did, it would be implemented well.
Some WPF effects will be present but they will not be fully utilised in Messenger, at least not for the next major release.
You may have already heard that, along with the rest of Windows Live wave 3, the next version of Windows Live Messenger (version 9.0) will have a new user interface.
After being tipped off by an unaffiliated yet trustworthy source who – naturally – doesn't want to be identified, Messenger Stuff can now reveal that the new interface will use the graphics effects available through WPF [Windows Presentation Foundation] where supported (i.e. on Vista and with a decent graphics card).
To put it simply, this finally means that we will see transparency effects in the various windows of the program, possibly similar to those already seen in Yahoo! Messenger for Vista. We are led to believe that the actual design has not changed much but the WPF effects have been integrated well in what is bound to be a popular new addition.
In other version 9 news, the Messenger team – as with nearly everyone else inside Microsoft – are still keeping their cards close to their chest. Whilst we do know about the knew interface and that they have moved on from a milestone 1 build to a beta 2 build (seemingly counting this an an alpha build, not beta 1), we do not yet know as much about the new features.
Presumably some, if not all, of the new features will be different to those in the aforementioned alpha version if they are not being publicly disclosed. Also, since all the other Windows Live software and services seem to be getting better integration with one another Messenger might get more integration as well, including with the mysterious "Groups" and "People".
After being tipped off by an unaffiliated yet trustworthy source who – naturally – doesn't want to be identified, Messenger Stuff can now reveal that the new interface will use the graphics effects available through WPF [Windows Presentation Foundation] where supported (i.e. on Vista and with a decent graphics card).
To put it simply, this finally means that we will see transparency effects in the various windows of the program, possibly similar to those already seen in Yahoo! Messenger for Vista. We are led to believe that the actual design has not changed much but the WPF effects have been integrated well in what is bound to be a popular new addition.
In other version 9 news, the Messenger team – as with nearly everyone else inside Microsoft – are still keeping their cards close to their chest. Whilst we do know about the knew interface and that they have moved on from a milestone 1 build to a beta 2 build (seemingly counting this an an alpha build, not beta 1), we do not yet know as much about the new features.
Presumably some, if not all, of the new features will be different to those in the aforementioned alpha version if they are not being publicly disclosed. Also, since all the other Windows Live software and services seem to be getting better integration with one another Messenger might get more integration as well, including with the mysterious "Groups" and "People".
Looks like we missed this one last week so just a quick post to let you known that Yahoo! have released another small update to their new beta Vista-only, user-friendly, GUI-orientated messenger client.
There are lots of bug fixes and general enhancements as well as the main improvements:
>> Source: Yahoo! Messenger blog
>> Download the latest Yahoo! Messenger for Vista beta
>> Official Yahoo! Messenger for Vista site
>> Send feedback about the latest beta version
There are lots of bug fixes and general enhancements as well as the main improvements:
Persistent text formatting
Now when you change your font, text size or color for your IM messages, we’ll save your settings between sessions. So if you like to IM in font size 14 using red letters in Arial Bold, we’ll remember!
Voice improvements
We updated the user interface for the voice feature to make the buttons more clear and added a new voice visualization called “Color Burst”. Plus there’s an updated incoming call notification that appears front and center when a call comes in.
No webcam yet, but we’re making that clear
A lot of our feedback has been from users asking for webcam support or users that look for the webcam feature but can’t find it in the product. Currently, we don’t have webcam support in Yahoo! Messenger for Vista but to shorten our users’ search for it, we added a webcam menu item. Those not in-the-know will get a message telling them that webcam support is coming soon.
Now when you change your font, text size or color for your IM messages, we’ll save your settings between sessions. So if you like to IM in font size 14 using red letters in Arial Bold, we’ll remember!
Voice improvements
We updated the user interface for the voice feature to make the buttons more clear and added a new voice visualization called “Color Burst”. Plus there’s an updated incoming call notification that appears front and center when a call comes in.
No webcam yet, but we’re making that clear
A lot of our feedback has been from users asking for webcam support or users that look for the webcam feature but can’t find it in the product. Currently, we don’t have webcam support in Yahoo! Messenger for Vista but to shorten our users’ search for it, we added a webcam menu item. Those not in-the-know will get a message telling them that webcam support is coming soon.
>> Source: Yahoo! Messenger blog
>> Download the latest Yahoo! Messenger for Vista beta
>> Official Yahoo! Messenger for Vista site
>> Send feedback about the latest beta version
Yahoo! Messenger for Vista, the version of Yahoo! Messenger designed specifically for Windows Vista using its interface technologies, was first released to beta at the end of last year. The first new version since then has now been released.
The main improvement is the addition of much-requested audio chat features. This includes the usual PC to PC calls and PC to phone calls, as well as cool visualisation effects that match you and your contact's voices when you speak.
Along with this there have been general speed and stability improvements, the ability to send "free" SMS messages to mobile phones has been added, and there is a new email alerts feature.
>> Source: Yahoo! Messenger blog
>> Download Yahoo! Messenger for Vista Beta (direct download link)
>> Official Yahoo! Messenger for Vista site
The main improvement is the addition of much-requested audio chat features. This includes the usual PC to PC calls and PC to phone calls, as well as cool visualisation effects that match you and your contact's voices when you speak.
Along with this there have been general speed and stability improvements, the ability to send "free" SMS messages to mobile phones has been added, and there is a new email alerts feature.
>> Source: Yahoo! Messenger blog
>> Download Yahoo! Messenger for Vista Beta (direct download link)
>> Official Yahoo! Messenger for Vista site
Well from one Vista Skin to another, this time by yours truly (Yes I know another wonderfully shameless plug of mine :-p).
I present to the internet: Vistafy Basic 1.0.0
A Skin By Nile "aNILEator" Plumb
Vistafy Basic v1.0.0
A Skin that aims to blend in with the Vista Basic Theme
Vistafy 'Aero' Will be the next progression.
Please don't steal resources from any skin, you will make kittens sad if you steal any skinners resources or code without permission.
Hope you enjoy
>> Msghelp Vistafy Discussion Thread
>> Get Vistafy Basic 1.0.0
>> Get Messenger Plus! Live 4.60
I present to the internet: Vistafy Basic 1.0.0
A Skin By Nile "aNILEator" Plumb
Vistafy Basic v1.0.0
A Skin that aims to blend in with the Vista Basic Theme
- WLM8.5 & WLM9.0 Beta 1 Compatible
- Colorize-able, Customize-able, Usable
Vistafy 'Aero' Will be the next progression.
Please don't steal resources from any skin, you will make kittens sad if you steal any skinners resources or code without permission.
Hope you enjoy
>> Msghelp Vistafy Discussion Thread
>> Get Vistafy Basic 1.0.0
>> Get Messenger Plus! Live 4.60
Yahoo! Messenger for Windows Vista has been in development for way over a year now. It was officially announced last January and today a public beta has been released to the public. Its features include:
Yahoo! Messenger for Vista has its flaws. There are a lot of bugs and everything seems very basic at the moment. However, I can see a lot of potential and the idea totally re-designing the software should be on the table for Windows Live Messenger. I can see the completed product being very popular. You can view a video of Yahoo! Messenger for Windows Vista in action below:
>> Source: Yahoo! Messenger development blog
>> View some screenshots of Yahoo! Messenger for Windows Vista
>> Visit the official website
- Organize your conversations into tabs, or drag and drop a tab out to create a new window
- Keep up with your favorite contacts by dragging them into the Windows Sidebar gadget
- Send enhanced emoticons that have some extra oomph
- Change the color of your IM windows with a built-in skin chooser. Go crazy with a different skin for every IM window!
- Adjust the display size of your contacts with a handy slider
- Arrange your contact list into multiple columns just by resizing your window
- Send instant messages to your Yahoo! and Windows Live Messenger contacts
- Send files to friends as large as 2 GB
- Find contacts quickly with the contact search bar. Type in a few letters of the contact's name or ID and they'll come up in filtered results.
- As-you-type spell checker that's smart enough to know that 'LOL' is not something to correct
- A preferences menu you can access by right-clicking anywhere at the top of the main Messenger window
Yahoo! Messenger for Vista has its flaws. There are a lot of bugs and everything seems very basic at the moment. However, I can see a lot of potential and the idea totally re-designing the software should be on the table for Windows Live Messenger. I can see the completed product being very popular. You can view a video of Yahoo! Messenger for Windows Vista in action below:
>> Source: Yahoo! Messenger development blog
>> View some screenshots of Yahoo! Messenger for Windows Vista
>> Visit the official website
Rejoice skin lovers, a great skin for Windows Live Messenger has been updated and you can finally use it after months of development. One of the most popular skins for Messenger, Windows Aero Messenger has been updated to work with Windows Live Messenger 8.1. The update has 6 themes based on Microsoft's Windows Vista Aero theme, a popular skinning theme for many years now.
Unlike other Vista skins it has some unique qualities. It has a range of interesting colours and some cool features and buttons Windows Live Messenger has failed to use. It has always been an impressive skin.
I don't like talking about skins too much, because you need to look at them yourself. All I can say is this is one of the good skins out there, and you should definitely give it a go.
>> View a screenshot of Windows Aero Messenger
>> Download Windows Aero Messenger
>> View our skins database
Unlike other Vista skins it has some unique qualities. It has a range of interesting colours and some cool features and buttons Windows Live Messenger has failed to use. It has always been an impressive skin.
I don't like talking about skins too much, because you need to look at them yourself. All I can say is this is one of the good skins out there, and you should definitely give it a go.
>> View a screenshot of Windows Aero Messenger
>> Download Windows Aero Messenger
>> View our skins database
Vista Live Messenger is probably the most popular skin for Windows Live Messenger. We have covered a range of news posts on it (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) and I'm happy to announce it has been updated to work with Windows Live Messenger 8.1.
The skin has some small changes to it, and simple things really make it blend in with Microsoft's new operating system, Windows Vista. The skin deserves credit, it is rare we see a skin of such good quality. I highly recommend this using it.
>> Download Vista Live Messenger from Deviantart
>> Download Vista Live Messenger in-house
>> View our skins database
The skin has some small changes to it, and simple things really make it blend in with Microsoft's new operating system, Windows Vista. The skin deserves credit, it is rare we see a skin of such good quality. I highly recommend this using it.
>> Download Vista Live Messenger from Deviantart
>> Download Vista Live Messenger in-house
>> View our skins database