MSNMessenger
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MSN Messenger will finally, definitely be dead in October
Microsoft's 15-year-old MSN Messaging service will soon be a part of computer lore. It has been shut down in most places for over a year, but Microsoft kept it running in China where it was still quite popular. However, with the advent of Tencent's QQ, Line and other services, Redmond recently emailed Chinese users (on their Hotmail accounts, naturally) that the service would ride into the sunset on October 31st. To give you an idea of how old it is, the service was created in 1999 by Microsoft to compete against AOL's AIM chat service (disclaimer: AOL is Engadget's parent company). However, we doubt too many users will get misty-eyed about its demise -- the only nostalgia we have is how difficult it was to get rid of.
Here's how Microsoft tried to win the early instant messaging wars
The battle between modern chat services like LINE and WhatsApp is fierce, but it has nothing on the war between Microsoft and AOL (Engadget's parent company) at the turn of the century. Former Microsoft developer David Auerbach has revealed that his MSN Messenger team fought hard for compatibility with AOL Instant Messenger in the summer of 1999, all in the hopes of attracting some converts. At one point, Auerbach was in a daily struggle -- AOL would break MSN support by the morning, and he'd have a fix in place by the evening.
Warpia to show ConnectHD device at CES, let you couch-Skype on your HDTV
Warpia will be showcasing its latest media multitasker, the ConnectHD, at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show. The ConnectHD comes with a wide-angle wireless HD video camera and a multi-directional microphone, allowing users to make 720p video calls au naturel or otherwise from the living room via apps like Skype or MSN Messenger. It can also be used for playing PC webcam games and streaming media from your PC to an HDTV in 1080p. Although the ConnectHD won't come with extra appendages to help you do all that stuff at once, it does come with a wireless USB PC adapter, a wireless USB TV adapter, a HDMI cable and, naturally, the requisite software for the device. Pricing is pegged at a piggy bank-busting $199.99, placing it right alongside Biscotti's TV Phone.
Windows Live Messenger for iPhone previewed
Neowin.net has posted screen shots of the upcoming Windows Live Messenger for iPhone. According to Neowin's sources, Windows Live Messenger for iPhone will officially be previewed by Microsoft later today, but will not ship its public beta until June, with a limited private beta expected in May. Features gleaned from the screen shots include photo sharing, chat and a social stream for users. Of course, MSN Messenger has been supported on the iPhone since the unveiling of the app store via thrid party apps. Some of the popular ones include Nimbuzz (free), IM+ ($9.99), and Trillian ($4.99). Stay tuned for the official announcement later today and click on over to Neowin to see all the screen shots.
Microsoft's Windows Live Messenger phone for France is hardly Pink
Microsoft's a pretty big company, and while we've been focused on its Windows Phone 7 Series and Pink mobile projects over here in the Land of the Free, its Live Messenger arm has apparently teamed up with French mobile carrier SFR for a branded phone. The Messenger Edition 251 handset looks to be based on Windows Mobile 6.5 (or something older), with no word on who the hardware partner is, and is taking on the youth market just like Pink will presumably be doing Stateside sometime this year. Of course, Messenger is much more popular in Europe than it is in the States, so it makes sense to brand a phone around it, but underneath that candy QWERTY shell we're sure those hapless Europeans can find plenty of legacy Windows Mobile to be desperately disappointed in. [Thanks, Bibo]
Microsoft Messenger for Mac 6.0.3
Thanks to Microsoft Office Live Communications Server I send a lot of time logged into Microsoft Messenger for Mac. Overall I have fairly positive feelings towards Messenger, but there was one thing that really burnt my biscuits. though to be fair it wasn't really Messenger's fault. Ever since installing Safari Beta 3 on my Mac closing any Messenger window would result in the program freezing, requiring a Force Quit to make it usable once more (I assume some change in WebKit was throwing Messenger for a loop) . Luckily, Microsoft Messenger for Mac 6.0.3, released today, fixes this issue. 6.0.3 also "includes improved performance during file transfers and improvements to Kerberos authentication. It also introduces support for the Danish, Finnish, and Norwegian languages."Sadly, my two major gripes with Messenger: No ability to set a note while using a corporate account The long winded 'don't give your credit card numbers to people on chat' Still aren't fixed, as least the second one is easy enough to clear up.
APIOTeK's VP-0002 Skype phone could be so much more
Why, oh why can't this be a wireless Skype phone? Just look at the hotness which is the APIOTeK VP-0002. Unfortunately, it's just another USB Skype handset which also manages support for MSN and Yahoo Messenger. But at just 7.5-mm thin, you betcha we'd rub up against it if only they could have cut the cord and uh, add a display and dual-mode landline support. Wait, we've seen that. See ya APIOTeK. [Via Akihabara News]
Nimbuzz lets you call your IM buddies
We've all been there -- you need to get in contact with your friends; they're not answering their phones. You know they're online, but you need to have an actual voice conversation. Well, rejoice, our frustrated friends -- for Nimbuzz plans to bridge the gap between instant messaging and cellphones. Its currently-in-beta (no surprise there), free-to-download app supports "more than 500 [Java-enabled] mobile devices" and allows you to call and initiate voice chats with your buddies on Google Talk and MSN / Windows Live Messenger. In addition to keeping you on top of your online friends, it lets you make international calls to other cellphones at local rates, so long as whomever you are calling also has Nimbuzz installed on their device. Besides that, you also get free text messaging and the ability to have Group Calls with up to five buddies on your contact list regardless of how they are connected, and Nimbuzz says it is currently working on getting your AIM, ICQ, Yahoo! and Skype friends into the mix. Now that you know, we hope you don't mind as we run and make a few overdue calls to our pals across the pond and in the far East.
"Record Grey's Anatomy, HAL." "I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that."
While various solutions do exist for setting up recording times with your WMCE box remotely, we're not sure many of them could match Casey's new mobileRecord MSN chat bot for sheer geekery. Basically, it allows you to ping your WMCE unit via MSN Messenger with a last minute reminder to record those primetime soap opera episodes you forgot to program -- which sounds great as long as it doesn't get some sort of attitude. After a couple of questions to make sure it's on the right track, the bot takes over and schedules the recording for Media Center. The general idea is for use with a smartphone, but you can message from another desktop just as well. Apparently, the software also supports voice recognition using the Speech Server 2007 beta, which would allow you to just phone in your recording requests, but since Speech Server has been delayed until next year, it looks like it'll be all text requests for now.[Via MAKE]
Xbox Live addicts able to get quick fix again
If you've become hopelessly addicted to checking your Xbox Live friends list, Major Nelson sends word that the joint functionality with MSN Messenger is back up and running after months of a whole lotta nada. For those who have yet to test this out, apparently gamers are able to check on a friend to see what he or she is playing and also easily link to said friend's gamer profile. Does anyone have a clue as to why there was a 14-month layoff to begin with?[Thanks, Steve]
Proteus is now free
Proteus, the chat client for the Mac by Defaultware, is now free! With Proteus, you can simultaneously connect to AIM, Yahoo!, MSN , ICQ, Jabber (including Gtalk), Bonjour, Gadu Gadu and Sametime chat services. Plus, it sports a customizable, Mac-like UI and plays well with Address Book.When you download the current version 4.12, you will have to go through the registration process, but there will be no charge. Defaultware has stated that a new version that does not require any sort of registration will be made available soon, as well as a universal binary.
