Main/News >> News Archives > The week of December 10 (2006) (you are here)

 Creative's driver-less Live! Cam Optia

dwergs says ( 15 Dec 2006 ):

We do not report about every single new webcam on the market, but Creative's latest 1.3 Megapixel Live! Cam Optia is really packed with fun features and it comes in a stylisch, compact and glossy-white (almost Mac-like) design. First of all this USB 2.0 webcam is truly plug-n-play as in "no drivers required". Just hook it up to your computer, fire up Windows Live Messenger and you're ready for a video conversation (stereo headset is included). You can rotate the multi-axis swivel lens that rotates to almost any viewing angle up to 270 degree and when you're finished, you simply rotate it downward to shut down. Supervisors will be pleased to hear about the parental-control feature that sets a password to video IM. If you decide to install the supplied software suite, you get access to Advanced Video FX (similar to the the Logitech insanity), Live! Cam Doodling (doodle, draw or write messages right on your image during a video chat), and more. Available in the U.S. (and probably the rest of the world soon) for $80. >> Full details on the Creative Live! Cam Optia here.

 Updated: Mess Patch for Windows Live Messenger Beta 8.1.0168

dwergs says ( 15 Dec 2006 ):

No Beta refresh without an updated Mess Patch, right? Here's each Messer's must-have Mess Patch 8.1.0168 Generation 5 and these are the changes: - The Sign-Out button can now also be added to the conversation's top toolbar (as requested by BrendanL). - Rest in peace, Mess.be custom games... - And for some bad ass bug fixing: the CustoMess button will now appear correctly if the software is installed (reported by salus), the search bar on the contact list gets removed properly and the "Get accessories" link now gets removed completely (both reported by Mad_Griffith). UPDATE: We seem to have released just in time for the forced build 106-to-168 to update! >> Download Mess Patch for Windows Live Messenger 8.1.0168 Beta.

 How's the Plus! contest for developers going?

dwergs says ( 14 Dec 2006 ):

With less than a week left to go in the Messenger Plus! Scripting Contest, it's time for one last call to action. You have until midnight December 19th (Patchou time) to add your script to the list of 56 entries until now. About 37 new scripts have already been developed especially for this contest and 19 existing ones have been updated (15 were unfortunately denied). Each entry can already be found in the official Plus! Scripts Database. The list of winning scripts will be announced somewhere in January 2007 and, as previously reported, added to a special Messenger Plus! installer. >> Download Messenger Plus! Live (compatible with the yesterday released 8.1 beta). >> More about the Messenger Plus! Scripting Contest.

 Added: The, umm... Orbs Display Pictures

dwergs says ( 14 Dec 2006 ):

It's been so long since I first posted a teaser of (let's call them) The Orbs that I can't remember where I got them from. All I know is that Huuf pointed me to the set and that they are simply ravishing! So here they (all?) are, a set of Display Pictures temporarily dubbed The Orbs and by a yet unknown artist. >> Browse 38 The Orbs Display Pictures. NOTE: We're having some server issues at the moment, causing the Display Pictures and Emoticons gallery to be unavailable at times. Please accept our apologies.

 Public Windows Live Messenger 8.1 Beta updated

dwergs says ( 13 Dec 2006 ):

The Messenger team has just updated the beta-version of Windows Live Messenger 8.1 from build 106 to 168. We still have to spot the changes in this second public beta, but you just go ahead and download from one of the links below: >> Download Windows Live Messenger 8.1.0168 Public Beta in the following languages: English, Spanish, Dutch, French, German, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Italian, Russian, Polish, Finnish, Hungarian, Turkish, Slovak, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Japanese, Hebrew, Greek, Korean, Arabic, Chinese (Simplified) or Chinese (Traditional). Note: Some languages might not have been updated yet, or the first beta could still be cached somewhere. But you should be able to get the new build in the next few hours. UPDATE: Fixed the Portuguese download links thanks to Gonçalo F. [Reported by: DeWoert]

 Free Video Winks. We like! (Oh, and Christmas stuff)

dwergs says ( 12 Dec 2006 ):

Kiwee, one of the few authorized and built-in Windows Live Messenger content providers, has launched a new product called Video Winks. The new type of Winks contain both audio and video and are mainly targeted at the older teenage crowd, with stuff like elf pick up lines, creepy Santas and, yes, Playboy cover models. Finally, our cup of spiked tea! ;) We all know Kiwee Canada (and Canada only) has already been in "Christmas mode" since October" and -let me check... yes, sir!- they're still offering their entire collection, including Video Winks, for free! As a bonus (no need to thank me) I've added all the links you need to go Christmassy in Messenger all the way. Happy freeloading! >> Get free Christmas Video Winks. >> Get free Brooke Burke Video Winks (yup, that's the model I was talking about). >> Get more free Video Winks. >> Kiwee's all-free Christmas Special (regular, video and custom Winks, animated emoticons, Characters with Moods, regular and Dynamic Backgrounds, Muggins, etc.). >> And look who we have here: Spleak Theme Pack (free Dynamic Display Picture with five moods, a conversation window background, five animated emoticons and two Winks).

 You want a cheap t-shirt to go with your Display Picture?

dwergs says ( 12 Dec 2006 ):

I'm still convinced that most Threadless t-shirts make excellent Display Pictures. Here's another small selection of "Tee-Designs turned Display Pictures" that I like: T-shirt-aholics among you will be glad to hear Threadless is currently holding a crazy $10 Holiday Sale (that's each tee at $10 or €7.50 or £5.10). Hurry up though, the sale will only last two more days. Even if you're not in a t-shirt buying mood check them out anyway... you can win one year of free t-shirts (a whopping 550 tees to be precise) by just registering for one of their contests.

 Wind presents Windows Live Messenger to Italian i-Mode users

dwergs says ( 12 Dec 2006 ):

Outmarching 3's X-Series launch in Italy, fourth Italian mobile provider Wind in collaboration with NTT Docomo erected a fully fledged i-Mode portal for its customers. Through the portal, called Discovery Mobile, users can download and gain access to Windows Live Messenger. The first two months of use are free of charge, afterwards the service costs €2,5 per month. >> Windows Live Messenger on Wind's Discovery Mobile: here.

 Add Windows Live Messenger to your Nokia N73

dwergs says ( 11 Dec 2006 ):

For the lucky few of you who own the rather pricey Nokia N73, there's a a nice hack from The Nokia Blog which allows you to update the phone's firmware to Internet Edition (3.0638.0.0.43) normally only available in Taiwan and Hong Kong (don't worry, an English version is available). What makes Internet Edition interesting to us is that it includes a mobile version of Windows Live Messenger. "The Nokia N73 Internet Edition contains all of the features of the Music Edition, but the multimedia key in the Music Edition goes straight to the music player. The Internet Edition retains the function of the original multimedia key where you can configure your own shortcuts to applications. They also included Windows Live Messenger and a few shortcuts to popular websites in the Internet folder. Otherwise, same as the Music Edition." >> Find the instructions here. UPDATE: As mltz2plz pointed out to me, I forgot to mention an important detail: updating your firmware with this (or any other) hack voids your N73's warranty, so be cautious.

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