April 7, 2005
@ 02:50 PM

The final version of MSN Messenger 7.0 is out.

You can catch the offical word from the press release Global Availability of MSN Messenger and MSN Spaces Connects People Around the World. Highlights below

 MSN Messenger Makes Instant Messaging More Dynamic Than Ever

Globally, more than 155 million customers rely on the MSN Messenger service each month to connect with their friends and family and, collectively, exchange more than 2.5 billion instant messages (IMs) every day. MSN Messenger 7.0 is available today worldwide in 26 languages and introduces improved video, voice and personalization features that allow people to communicate in more meaningful ways than ever. Available for download at http://messenger.msn.com, MSN Messenger 7.0 has added new features since its December 2004 public beta release, including these:

  • Free PC-to-PC video conversation. The new, free MSN Video Conversation service,1 powered by Logitech technology, connects people with one-click synchronized audio and video, and offers full-screen video viewing - the next best thing to really being there.
  • Ability to talk over the Internet for free. MSN Messenger 7.0 includes higher-quality audio functionality so customers can enjoy free,2 real-time PC-to-PC voice conversations with friends and family around the world.
  • PC-to-mobile communications. Customers will soon be able to stay in touch by sending IMs to friends and family who aren't on their PC. Customers in selected countries will be able to send SMS text messages from MSN Messenger to mobile phones - even if the person they are sending to doesn't have an MSN Messenger account - and the mobile user can reply to the MSN Messenger user.3 This feature will be available in multiple markets this spring.
  • Greater personalization. New personalization options, including Winks, Dynamic Display Pictures and theme packs, help customers show their personality and their mood. Customers can choose from a selection of free content or get premium content from companies such as AG Interactive, the media subsidiary of American Greetings Corp., Wisepost/YNK, 3H Group PTY Ltd., Saw-you.com and Techno Design Internet Programming for a small fee.
  • Instant MSN Search capability. MSN Messenger 7.0 offers a Shared Search button in the conversation window so people can find answers instantly through MSN Search while they continue their conversation.
  • Photo-sharing options. Customers can have more fun with their friends by sharing photos during a conversation and viewing a slide show together. People can save shared photos and add pictures of their own to the photo swap session.
  • Unique presence options. People can now display a personal message alongside their Messenger name and status. The customized message can include a greeting that expresses their mood or show the name of a song the person is listening to on Windows Media® Player or iTunes Player. With one click, customers can go to MSN Music to purchase the song or listen to a snippet.

As cool as this list of features is, it isn't exhaustive since it doesn't mention features that shipped in the beta from last year such as setting your online status on login, gleams or contact cards.

I definitely have been overusing features like showing the name of the song playing in iTunes, Dynamic Display Pictures and Winks. This release is off the hook. Grab it.  


 

Thursday, 07 April 2005 18:37:24 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
How do I know I'm getting v7.0 from messenger.msn.com? It mentions nothing about a new release -- the site still mentions a Beta download!
Ricky Dhatt
Thursday, 07 April 2005 19:20:51 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
Go to the Help->About MSN Messenger menu item. The build number should be 7.0.0777
Thursday, 07 April 2005 21:39:42 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
The MSN Messenger interface is getting noisier and noisier with each release.

I'm glad there's a way to remove the Handwriting tab, but there's still no way to get rid of all the buttons, tabs, the ads and the search bar etc from the main window without having to fiddle with the registery.

I can't believe there's a "Search" button underneath the "Send" button now. That is the most annoying thing. It's almost like Microsoft is trying to drive rup the MSN Search hit count because so many people are going to be accidentally hitting that button instead of send.
Friday, 08 April 2005 00:28:15 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
If you are looking for a way to remove tabs, see http://spaces.msn.com/members/messenger-support/Blog/cns!1pUFzGgzjAV-OT0jri_AqaGw!517.entry
Friday, 08 April 2005 14:17:25 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
That's good to see. MSN Messenger is still the best IM out there but it turning into a visual and ad-pushing assault. Even the new search button "feature" shoves a SPONSERED LINK at you.

If it were possible to turn off all this stuff easily that would be better.

Nemo
Friday, 22 April 2005 09:38:12 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
My MSN Messenger Clock ticks. Does yours ?

I have written a small utility to subclass into the MSN Messenger.

http://www.softwaremaker.net/blog/PermaLink,guid,dfd1f5a6-bb4f-4019-a541-3a317d75fa62.aspx

There are other features I would like to see too that makes this MSN IM much more extensible to the geek in us. Other than that, I am not really a fan of the What I am listening to feature...;)
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