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 MSN Cards Fabric: Do-It-Yourself
MSN Cards Fabric: Do-It-Yourself

dwergs says ( 06 Nov 2004 ):

 

The free MSN Cards are still available until December to everybody who lives in France, but the rest of the world was kinda left outside in the cold. Good news is MSN subsidiaries around the world are considering offering the same service to MSN Messenger users living in their country. Even better news is you don't have to wait for that to happen, because MSN France has added a do-it-yourself workshop where you can personalize and then print your own (thousands of...) MSN Cards in just 3 clicks and with no delay or geographical restriction! Give it a try :)

>> MSN Cards Fabric: print your own personalized MSN Cards (click "Fabrique toi-même tes MSN Cards").

>> Order 20 free personalized MSN Cards (delivery to France only).



 Dwergs in Wonderland: Private MSN Messenger 7 Preview
Dwergs in Wonderland: Private MSN Messenger 7 Preview

dwergs says ( 05 Nov 2004 ):

 

As you might know from an earlier news post, I was invited to Paris today by the generous people of MSN France. Together with Patchou ("it's optional!"), Underdoc ("fanatic launches soon!"), Tom ("get rid of the frames, dwergs"), ViTCH ("vive la mess france!") and other MSN Messenger, Microsoft or general technology enthusiasts, I was given a sneak peek at future MSN products and services.

Of course, we all had to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement to prevent information leaks, so I can't get into details any further, at least not today. All I can say for now is -even if you're using the MSN Messenger 7 BETA already- YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET! ;)

Keep a close eye on Mess.be if you want to be among the first to know...

dwergs visits msn france


PS: Patchou is still held captive in Paris. I've heard he's being tickle-tortured until he agrees to replace the optional sponsor program in Plus! with MSN Toolbar.



 Get rid of Message History errors with ScanXMLLogs 1.0
Get rid of Message History errors with ScanXMLLogs 1.0

dwergs says ( 04 Nov 2004 ):

 

Getting tired of receiving error messages when closing an MSN Messenger conversation window? Errors telling you that "An error occurred loading the message history" and "An invalid character was found in text content on line x and position y".

An error occurred loading the message history. An invalid character was found in text content on line x and position y. Do you want to try again?

These are generated by special characters, usually inserted during conversations with Messenger Plus! users or certain emoticons, and can block the succesful logging of your chats into the Message History.

ScanXMLLogs, which works with both MSN Messenger 6.2 and 7, will automatically scan and correct your Messenger XML logs in the background and save you from these dreadful errors. ScanXMLLogs can automatically start scanning and start in the notification area when you start the application complete with a full log and statistics so you can see exactly what it is and isn't modifying.

>> Download ScanXMLLogs 1.0 by Jonathan Kay.

[Reported by: Huuf]



 Next-generation Logitech diNovo Media Desktop
Next-generation Logitech diNovo Media Desktop

dwergs says ( 04 Nov 2004 ):

 

Logitech announced that the next generation of its award-winning diNovo Media Desktop product is now available and loaded with new features and capabilities.

The ultra-stylish diNovo Media Desktop product has won accolades and popularity for its design, use as a control center for digital media, and innovative implementation of Bluetooth wireless technology, which includes a hub for connecting Bluetooth devices to a desktop PC. The new version of the diNovo Media Desktop solution offers a significantly enhanced MediaPad product, provides improved performance by leveraging the latest Bluetooth technology (1.2) and increases Bluetooth interoperability and compatibility with other devices.

The MediaPad now supports Yahoo! Messenger 6.0, in addition to supporting MSN Messenger 6. The MediaPad also supports Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail.

Logitech diNovo Cordless Desktop shows MSN Messenger sign in and e-mail alerts


>> Read more at BusinessWire

>> Buy diNovo Media Desktop at Amazon.com (model: 967312-0403).

>> Buy diNovo Media Desktop at Amazon.com (model: 967428-0403).

>> Free Logitech QuickCam Sweepstakes Click Here (US only).



 Bush remains seated behind his Oval Office desk
Bush remains seated behind his Oval Office desk

dwergs says ( 03 Nov 2004 ):

 

george bush emoticons and john kerry emoticonsWhile young voters split among Bush and Democrat Al Gore four years ago, 56 percent of voters aged 18-29 preferred Kerry Tuesday, according the CNN's exit polls. But as we all know by now, Bush remains in office.

Our final update to the Presidential Elections Special are two new TShirtHell designs you can use as your MSN Display Picture and wear at the same time.

Because of the low response to our call for President Emoticons last month (and no single Kerry emoticon submitted), the results of that competition are still on-hold. But the George W. Bush emoticons will arrive at Mess.be in the next few days...



 What's that weird white bar? Conversation windows show a change.
What's that weird white bar? Conversation windows show a change.

dwergs says ( 03 Nov 2004 ):

 

This morning forum member nekki reported a blank bar started to appear at the bottom of the MSN Messenger 7 BETA conversation windows (screenshot).

blank bar a new banner region in conversation window?

At first we considered it a software glitch, but further investigation showed us that it's probably a new advertisement region in MSN Messenger. A first ad has yet to show up but we think (con?)textual ads, some sort of ticker tape or maybe paid MSN Search results may all lie within the line of possibilities. For the esthetic purists there's already a removal patch available from MastaLine.

>> Download AntiAdBar Patch for all MSN Messenger 7 BETA versions.



 Public BETA of Messenger Plus! 3.40 for MSN Messenger 7
Public BETA of Messenger Plus! 3.40 for MSN Messenger 7

dwergs says ( 03 Nov 2004 ):

 

Patchou made an exception to his usual no-public-beta policy and released a beta version of the forthcoming Messenger Plus! 3.40, which is the first release of the addon compatible with the MSN Messenger 7 BETA.

"What can you expect in this beta? Almost nothing except good ol' Plus!", says its developer. To spice things up a little, a nice improvement which we previewed before was added: contact names are displayed with their colors and formatting attributes almost everywhere in Messenger, including the contact list and in toast popups. The feature is not complete yet but it seems to work pretty well already so it was left it in the beta.

Apart from that, an enlarge button on the sponsor agreement window was added for people who want to take a closer look (Patchou has nothing to hide!), you can set auto-messages while being online, the creation of new contacts on the desktop is more friendly and richedit controls all have a nice themed border when you run Windows XP.

>> Download and read more here.

(NOTE: It's stricly forbidden to redistribute this beta-version directly)

[Reported by: XxRebelSeanxX, Xerocool, Aamir Mansoor & breaker]



 Show your vote: Kerry or Bush MSN Display Pictures
Show your vote: Kerry or Bush MSN Display Pictures

dwergs says ( 02 Nov 2004 ):

 

away display pictures oval officeWho will (or would) you vote for (or NOT)? Pick one of our George W. Bush or John Kerry MSN Display Pictures (updated today) and express your virtual vote through MSN Messenger.

Vote Kerry and Vote Bush MSN Display Pictures are also included in our Freemoticons Display Pictures - Events (for MSN Messenger 6.2).



 Added: SpeedyMSN 2 BETA
Added: SpeedyMSN 2 BETA

dwergs says ( 02 Nov 2004 ):

 

SpeedyMSN is a modified version of MSN Messenger, stripped from rarely used options like telephone conversations and redesigned for easier navigation. MSN Messenger will not only look cleaner, it will be loading faster than before. And SpeedyMSN 2.0 BETA is the updated version for (and which requires) MSN Messenger 7.0.0332 BETA.

>> Download SpeedyMSN 2 BETA for 7.0.0332.

[Reported by: Speedy_Kevin & XeroCool] [Source: Mess.be Forums]



 Messenger Plus! 3.40 Public BETA a matter of days
Messenger Plus! 3.40 Public BETA a matter of days

dwergs says ( 31 Oct 2004 ):

 

As you can read on the Plus! forums, Patchou and I were both invited by MSN France to attend an MSN Messenger 7 preview event. The event will take place in Paris on Friday and Patchou -a little suspicious of the whole thing- has decided to release a public BETA of the MSN Messenger 7 compatible version of Plus! before he takes the plane to Europe. So, unless some important bugs can not be fixed in time, you will see Messenger Plus! 3.40b by next Wednesday.

Oh, and on Friday you can of course expect a full report (with pictures) of how MSN takes Patchou captive and demands the full Messenger Plus! source code from Fraisie back home as ransom.

[Alex P & R-Style]



 Halloween Special: MSN Display Pictures and Emoticons
Halloween Special: MSN Display Pictures and Emoticons

dwergs says ( 31 Oct 2004 ):

 

Click here if you dare halloween emoticons (not for the faint of heart).

UPDATE: If you're suffering from the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde syndrome on this Halloween day and having a major identity crisis, you can always rely on our Encyclopedia of Name Meanings...



 Added: a Display Picture bonanza part 3
Added: a Display Picture bonanza part 3

dwergs says ( 31 Oct 2004 ):

 

We have over 200 new MSN Display Pictures in the entertainment category alone today:

paris hilton witch project>> Browse 89 Jude Law MSN Display Pictures

>> Browse 62 Paris Hilton MSN Display Pictures.

>> Browse 36 Three Days Grace MSN Display Pictures.

>> Browse 69 Johnny Depp MSN Display Pictures.

>> Browse extra Traci Bingham MSN Display Pictures.



 MSN Messenger connectivity whimsical for some
MSN Messenger connectivity whimsical for some

dwergs says ( 31 Oct 2004 ):

 

Several users of MSN Messenger 7 have expressed displeasure about repeatedly being signed off since after the scheduled downtime on Friday night/Saturday morning. One of my personal contacts was only able to send me short messages like "S.O.S" and "Aaargh" before getting cut off again and again. Mada claims to have received the following error message a tedious numerous of times: "Your connection with the .NET Messenger Service has been lost. Reconnecting in... *countdown*".

Mess.be forum members are suggesting to either upgrade to the latest MSN Messenger 7 BETA (Help > About should say 0332) if you're a tester or else downgrade to 6.2. Hope this helps!



 Nickname filter active again
Nickname filter active again

dwergs says ( 31 Oct 2004 ):

 

msn nickname censorshipThough officially called "routine maintenance", I must admit that I was expecting more of the widely announced four-hour .NET Messenger Service outage earlier this weekend (scroll down for more info).

Like what? MSN Display Picture thumbnails in the contact list area, for instance, instead of the little buddy icons. And why not? Despite what non-believers commented, everything I predicted in the beginning of August about MSN Messenger 7 has come true, all just based on two blurry screenshots (remember #1 and #2?). But apart from the other forecasts, the contact list display picture thumbnails are yet to be confirmed and I was hoping to see them after the maintenance. I guess not...

But there has been a change today. Once again, we're catapulted back to the "good" old days of nickname filtering. Just like at the beginning of this month, .NET Messenger Service (case sensitive) is blocked from being used in your MSN name again and for no clever reason whatsoever. We are unaware of any other blocked words or sentences, but if you know any don't be afraid to let us know. MSN Fanatic's Daniel, of Triople and Tabserve fame, thinks "they did some rollback of server software... perhaps some problems originally with the one they just put up." We might never know. And the nickname filter might be lifted again before the clock strikes twelve on this Halloween night...

UPDATE: I just received a major heads up from Bot2K3's Inky which the unlearned me is very thankful for. Thumbnail Display Pictures would NOT be protocol/server specific. The client has to support the little thumbnails and right now it doesn't. Inky underlines that putting thumbnail pictures on the contact list will cause considerable bandwidth usage: "Try downloading 150 DP's on a 56k modem upon signing in." And he adds: "A nicklinei is maybe only 20 pixels in height. A thumbnail of that size is too malformed to even be able to see something." He's got two good points there and I guess I was a bit over-enthusiastic when I saw all the other estimated features included.



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