Main/News >> News Archives > The week of November 12 (2006) (you
are here)
Kiwee adds Moods with Sound to free content
 dwergs says ( 17 Nov 2006 ):
|
When I went to check Kiwee (former BlueMountain) if the freeloading that started many weeks ago was still going on or not, I found the answer to be positive and also noticed 15 free Moods with Sound characters.
As you can guess, these Dynamic Display Pictures also come with sounds that can be heard at both ends of the conversation window. Ninja vs Pirate (see screenshot) is my favorite, hands down.
>> Download Moods with Sound for free here (but other content is also FREE!).
|
Windows Live Mobile domain goes live in France
 dwergs says ( 16 Nov 2006 ):
|
Bruno just tipped me that the French mobile.live.* domain is in the air. Information at http://mobile.live.fr tells how Bouygues Telecom, Universal Music Mobile and Ten customers can access Windows Live Messenger, MSN Hotmail and Search via their mobiles. Pocket PC owners are pointed to Pocket MSN, so no word on the G2 suite there yet. |
Don't worry, @live.* addresses remain yours!
 dwergs says ( 16 Nov 2006 ):
|
Maybe thanks to all emotional, sometimes threatening comments on Mail Support's news on Tuesday, Kevin Briody from the Windows Live team decided to step in and leave a comment over at LiveSide, assuring everyone that "(Microsoft) will NOT be revoking @live.com email addresses recently obtained by many of you. We love all the enthusiasm for Windows Live, and certainly don’t want to stamp down on it in any way. We will however keep an eye out to make sure that accounts are not abused (for instance, if obtained by obvious spammers)."
A happy ending for all of us then, including Microsoft's own employees! May I mention that we received a thank you note from one of them, informing us that he/she wouldn't have a @live addy yet if it wasn't for Mess.be. You're welcome! |
X-Series from 3 announced, includes Windows Live Messenger
 dwergs says ( 16 Nov 2006 ):
|
Hutchison Whampoa Limited today announced the global launch of the X-Series from 3 with a webcast presentation live from London which featured leaders and managers from their major partners Skype, Sling Media, Yahoo!, Nokia, Google, eBay, Microsoft, Orb and Sony Ericsson.
"The X-Series from 3 marks the beginning of the internet via mobile broadband, and heralds a new way of doing business for mobile network operators [...] Customers will be able to make unlimited calls from their mobile using Skype, watch their home television via their mobile using Sling, access their home PC remotely using Orb and have access to the best of internet and messaging services from Yahoo!, Windows Live Messenger and Google."
Sharon Baylay, General Manager, Microsoft Online Services Group UK, said: "Already, in the UK alone, 3 users are having one million Windows Live Messenger conversations every day. These are exciting numbers and mobile broadband will bring a rapid shift in the delivery of internet services, and consumers' usage of them. This announcement shows Microsoft at the forefront of the mobile broadband revolution and we will continue to roll out 'anywhere access' to our leading web services."
>> Windows Live Messenger with X-Series from 3: Overview. >> Windows Live Messenger with X-Series from 3: Demo.
The X-Series from 3 will arrive in early December in the UK, with other countries (probably Australia, Denmark, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Austria and Sweden) following hot on their heels during December and early 2007.
[Source: Yahoo! Finance and 3]
|
Messenger acting up worldwide
 dwergs says ( 15 Nov 2006 ):
|
Apart from my own experience, I'm receiving many reports from Messers around the globe that they're having problems sending instant messages to each other over Windows Live/MSN Messenger. Most of the IMs bounce back with the message that they "could not be delivered to all recipients". No idea what's going on but for now we'll have to be patient until the issue resolves.
UPDATE: Everything seems to be normal again. |
Proximus Instant Messaging goes Live today
 dwergs says ( 15 Nov 2006 ):
|
As of this morning, customers of Belgian mobile operator Proximus are able to download the Windows Live Messenger-based Proximus IM client to their phones. That is, if they own a Nokia 2610, 3220, 5140i, 6020, 6021, 6030, 6060 or 6101.
Being a SonyEricsson user, I can't show you any action shots yet but feel free to send me yours. I've heard that many other handsets -including my k800i- are going to be added to the compatibility list soon so stay tuned.
To celebrate the launch of Proximus IM, they're offering it for free until December 31st 2006 (as long as you stay in Belgium). From the first day of the new year, you can "either opt for a one-month package and pay €6.99, or opt for a open-ended subscription, and pay €5.99 per month." Data traffic generated via the IM client will not be charged extra.
>> Download Proximus IM by texting the word "IM" to to 2468 from your mobile phone (free).
>> More information over at these pages.
|
Will Microsoft take back our hacked @live.* addresses?
 dwergs says ( 15 Nov 2006 ):
|
The official Windows Live Mail Space has commented on the @live.com/co.uk/.be/etc. accounts created using the registration form hack our own Timothy discovered last Thursday. They write that "if you created an @live.com account using the instructions below, it's quite likely the account will get blown away."
I'm convinced that it would be a stupid choice to close down the tens of thousands of accounts that were created due to a security hole on their sign-up page. Ok, every single person who used our simple technique was very aware that he (or she) was "messing with" Microsoft, but would they really want to punish their biggest Live fans for the company's own mistake? And then there are people who don't give a damn about owning a @live.com address unless it looked really good (like mess@live.com, which I wasn't able to score by the way). I don't think they'll settle for less afterwards, knowing that they once owned a much cooler address. To be continued...
UPDATE: @live.nl address owners need not to fear, as David and xkalionx reminded me. Holland's big daddy Microsoft's favorite and got the Windows Live Mail launch exclusive. |
French Windows Live Messenger street team in action!
 dwergs says ( 14 Nov 2006 ):
|
If you're between 11 and 14 and living in France, chances are high you encountered the Windows Live Messenger street marketing team last September. About 275.000 pupils of 551 junior high schools in eight major cities like Paris, Marseille and Bordeux, were handed a flyer that had a scratch & win area. Prizes included 4.000 Messenger buddy t-shirts, 10.000 head phones, 100.000 free Messenger Winks and 360.000 sticker sheets featuring the Messenger buddy plus some smileys in detail.
If you want to see the French street team wearing their "body screens" and causing mass hysteria outside the schoolgates, then check out this video I just found. |
Beyoncé and Snoop "LIVE" on MSN
 dwergs says ( 14 Nov 2006 ):
|
The very "bootylicious" Beyoncé Knowles will be performing a short set of six new tracks and favorite hits tomorrow (15/11) around noon on MSN International. I doubt it's going to be as "LIVE" as they claim it to be, because I've seen exactly the same description for a Japan-based concert in September on AOL. Still, direct broadcast or not, who wouldn't want to spend lunchtime with Bee?
>> MSN Music presents: Beyoncé in Concert. UPDATE: Ok, so it was exactly the same concert. "LIVE" my (beyoncelicious) ass.
>> Browse 80 Beyoncé MSN Display Pictures.
And next Monday it's Snoop Dogg's turn to sizzle (browse Snoop Dogg Display Pics, followed by Noel Gallagher on the 28th of November. More info here. Past concerts include John Mayer (browse John Mayer Display Pics), John Legend and, ehm, Rod Stewart. (I've linked to regional sites because they instantly show the entire concert).
|
Windows Live Messenger Mobile connectivity problem
 dwergs says ( 13 Nov 2006 ):
|
Those who tried to sign in using Windows Live Messenger for Windows Mobile 5.0 today will have seen a message similar to "There's a connectivity problem. Make sure you're in an area with good phone reception and try again." Both official testers as those who downloaded the recently leaked version (scroll down a bit) will see the error.
We're aware of a planned database upgrade planned on November 11th in order to increase platform capacity 8-fold, so our guess is it got delayed until today.
UPDATE: Logging in with WLM for PPC and Smartphones seems to work again. |
No more live mailbox registration
 timothy says ( 12 Nov 2006 ):
|
It "only" took 3 days to be fixed. But unfortunately you can not register any live.com or other live mailboxes anymore.
The buzz it generated was quite worth it, as it was even noticed by C|Net's news.com site.
For all those who have missed the opportunity to register one of these new mail accounts; some research on other Microsoft pages keeps our hope up you will be able to register accounts again in the near feature. |
Messenger Plus! 4.10.250 released!
 Zero1 says ( 12 Nov 2006 ):
|
The popular Windows Live Messenger plugin, Messenger Plus! has just been updated!
New major changes in this version are:
- WLM 8.1 beta support.
- Supported Internal registry settings are now documented on the msgpluslive.net site.
- Commands are now recognized even when some characters are automatically replaced by custom emoticons.
- The search feature in the sound panel can now display multiple pages and does not display "get random sound" entries.
- Added an internal message to help skinning applications interact with Messenger Plus!
- Quick texts now always properly parse emoticon codes.
- Arabic language support added with full right-to-left support.
- If messenger crashes when started, all loaded plugins are disabled (a feature similar to Windows Media Player's).
- Floating contact windows can now be hidden for a couple of seconds when clicking with the middle mouse button on them. Useful when you want to temporarily access something that's behind the windows.
- Enabled scripts are now displayed first in the preferences panel.
Along with these additions there are also many fixes (see the full list here).
>> Download Messenger Plus Live! here. |
 Back to the News Archives
|