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 New URL for the MSN Messenger skinning forum
New URL for the MSN Messenger skinning forum

dwergs says ( 12 Jun 2004 ):

 

The MSN Messenger skinning forum has moved to a new URL and has adapted a new look. From now on, all MSN Messenger skinners should head here!



 Added: Over 100 Wrestling Display Pictures
Added: Over 100 Wrestling Display Pictures

dwergs says ( 12 Jun 2004 ):

 

Messer kamahlitude added over 100 Wrestling display pictures, all tagged with the mess.be URL which gives him a big advantage in our display pictures competition. Start contributing your own display pics for mess.be today, thousands of messers will appreciate it!



 Microsoft confirms 15 for Xbox Live
Microsoft confirms 15 for Xbox Live

dwergs says ( 12 Jun 2004 ):

 

xbox logoAt its E3 press briefing last month, Microsoft announced that it would be launching an Xbox Live Arcade service this fall, and that Electronic Arts had finally agreed to support Xbox Live with a number of its major franchises. Further to those announcements, Microsoft's European office has released a list of 15 titles, most of which are scheduled for release this year, that will support Xbox Live and the recently launched Xbox Live Alerts service.

The list of games (with European launch dates) released today, most of which will come as no surprise, is as follows:

Full Spectrum Warrior (June 2004), Driver 3 (June 2004), Rainbow Six: Black Arrow (August 2004), Star Wars: Battlefront (September 2004), Burnout 3 (September 2004), Mortal Kombat: Deception (October 2004), FIFA Football 2005 (October 2004), OutRun2 (October 2004), Halo 2 (November 2004), Need for Speed Underground 2 (November 2004), Forza Motorsport (December 2004),
Call of Duty: Finest Hour (Q4 2004), Unreal Championship 2 (Q4 2004), MechAssault 2 (January 2005), Doom 3 (When it's done).

Xbox Live Alerts, for anyone that is unfamiliar with the service, allows Xbox Live subscribers to link their Gamertag to their .NET Passport and then receive game invites, information from Microsoft, and so forth, via e-mail, MSN Messenger, Windows Messenger, or even a mobile device. Anyone wishing to sign up for Xbox Live Alerts can do so at Xbox.com (meanwhile available almost worldwide, as reported by saralk & grock).

Microsoft believes that over 150 Live-enabled Xbox games will be available before the end of 2004, and it hopes that the "nearly one million members" will soon become a round million.

[Source: Gamespot]



 Webchat updates
Webchat updates

Sean says ( 11 Jun 2004 ):

 

Some of you may have noticed that the chatroom is currently inaccessible. This is due to the IRC server moving home. It should be back online shortly, but as there is no estimated time on the move, we have put up a temporary chatroom on #mess.be @ irc.ikcs.net for all you die hard messers ;)

Unfortunately, the webchat page will not function at the moment, so you must use an IRC client such as mIRC to connect.



 New WBMSN in Beta stages
New WBMSN in Beta stages

dwergs says ( 11 Jun 2004 ):

 

WBMSN is a service by Jared that brings the popular MSN Messenger to your browser, a blessing for those with low-end systems and employees or students computing where chat software is blocked. The new version of WBMSN is now in beta stages and brings you these extra features:

- The entire client is LIVE (No more refreshing!)
- Viewing custom font support
- Emoticon support (not the new 6.0 ones yet)
- Online/Offline buddies displayed
- Dynamic interface
- 'User is typing' message
- User joined/left conversation

This version -which can be accessed by login in using the link right below the usual login area- is still in beta stages so be aware that there may still be bugs.

>> Sign into MSN Messenger on WBMSN.



 Desktop Sidebar updated
Desktop Sidebar updated

dwergs says ( 10 Jun 2004 ):

 

Desktop Sidebar displays e-mails, appointments, task, notes, Messenger contacts, stock quotes, weather forecasts and constantly updated news from blogs, RSS newsfeeds and web pages. "Information at your fingertips", the website states. And it has just been updated to v1.04 Build 68. Get it here.



 Updated: Jnrzloader for MSN Messenger 6.2.0137
Updated: Jnrzloader for MSN Messenger 6.2.0137

dwergs says ( 10 Jun 2004 ):

 

Jnrzloader is a special MSN Messenger launcher created by Jnrz. It signs you in appearing offline (change your nickname before popping it up in the "just signed in" toast, block annoying people before they see you, etc...) and loads as much instances of the client as you want (polygamy), so you can login with different accounts simultaneously.

>> Download Jnrzloader v6.2.0137.



 Nike's 3-D OLE added to Fun & Games
Nike's 3-D OLE added to Fun & Games

dwergs says ( 10 Jun 2004 ):

 

nike soccer msn messengerNike's 3-D OLE soccer game is added gradually to the Fun & Games menus in 11 European countries. MSN Messenger users from the UK, The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium (French speaking), Spain & France (and probably more... but surprisingly not Portugal itself yet) are already among the lucky ones who can challenge their friends for a game of street soccer. Pleased to beat you!

UPDATE: The game is now fully available in the following countries as "NIKE OLE on BASTION" in the Fun & Games menu: Belgium (French/Dutch); The Netherlands; Denmark; Germany; Finland; France; UK; Italy; Norway; Spain & Sweden (thanks Timothy!).

Screenshot:
msn messenger soccer



 Updated: Custom Games Patch for 0137
Updated: Custom Games Patch for 0137

dwergs says ( 10 Jun 2004 ):

 

msn messenger chessOnline gamers, pay attention. The custom games patch has been updated for MSN Messenger 6.2.0137. This patch is a must for those who would love more games in MSN Messenger, like Backgammon, Battleships, Chess, Connect4, Hangman, Memory, Mine mess, Nine Men's Morris, Reversi, Tetris, Yahtzee, Pegball, etc.

>> Download the Custom MSN Games Patch v1.02

>> Visit games.mess.be (new are the public Mine Mess highscores!)

Talking about games, Nike's 3-D OLE soccer game is supposed to get activated in the Fun & Games menu in 11 European countries. Until now, we've seen no sign of it yet. Keeping our fingers crossed.



 Fair Trade Commission to probe Microsoft
Fair Trade Commission to probe Microsoft

dwergs says ( 10 Jun 2004 ):

 

The Fair Trade Commission said yesterday that it has begun a probe at the headquarters of Microsoft Korea. In April, Internet portal company Daum Communications Corp. filed a lawsuit against the U.S. software giant and its Korean subsidiary, saying that Microsoft had violated the Fair Trade Act by including the MSN Messenger program in the Windows XP operating system in personal computers. Daum, which has an instant messaging program of its own, claimed that Microsoft caused it financial losses. The agency said that it will continue its investigation until Wednesday.

[Source: JoongAng Daily]



 Added: Zemanova and Povkapova
Added: Zemanova and Povkapova

dwergs says ( 09 Jun 2004 ):

 

zdenka povkapova"Babe connaisseur" KeyStorm did another mass upload, adding about 20 Veronica Zemanova display pictures and no less than 72 Zdenka Povkapova display pictures. An effort I'm sure many male messers will appreciate! Due to the x-ratedness of these display pictures they're available to members only!

If you submit display pictures marked with the mess.be URL during the next two months and you can win one of the many prizes, including an Amazon gift certificate of $150 US, one of $50 US, a designer t-shirt, an exclusive mess.be button, etc. Prizes will go to loyal submitters but QUALITY remains more important than quantity! Follow these instructions.



 Released: MSN Messenger 6.2.0137
Released: MSN Messenger 6.2.0137

dwergs says ( 09 Jun 2004 ):

 

A new build 0137 of MSN Messenger 6.2 has been released. I've not discovered any apparent changes, but will let you know if I do.

>> Download MSN Messenger 6.2.0137 here (untick the 3 boxes during the installation to install just MSN Messenger)

>> Download the Universal Polygamy Patch for launching multiple MSN Messengers at once.

Please note that the skins, the custom games patch, jnrzloader, etc. still have to be updated for this version. Of course, you will find them on Mess.be first!

Note to all patchers, skinners & developers: submit your 6.2.0137 updates to dwergstemporarygmail.com (the usual submit address is having issues).

UPDATE: Not everybody seems to be able to download the latest build 0137 yet, and get stuck with the previous 0133 (you'll notice if the setup asks you to 'fix' the software). Just wait a couple of hours (maybe clear your cache) and retry because it *is* there.

[Reported by: M@ttNot]



 MSN Messenger for Mac surprise update
MSN Messenger for Mac surprise update

dwergs says ( 08 Jun 2004 ):

 

msn messenger for macAfter the disappointing release of MSN Messenger 4.0 for Mac a month or so back, Mac users felt left out. Around 10,000 people have either signed a petition or contacted Microsoft through feedback regarding MSN Messenger for Mac's lack of features.

Whilst the Mac BU initially released MSN Messenger 4.0 for Mac with no big updates or features apart from a standard set of emoticons (from MSN Messenger 6) and integration with Office:Mac 2004, they were secretly working on a newer version of MSN Messenger for Mac. This version yet to be identified with a number, has been handed out to Mac BU beta testers and is currently going through beta testing.

There has been mention of webcam functionality from MSN support reps who have been informed to pass this information on to people who contact them regarding features in MSN Messenger for Mac and the lack thereof.

[Submitted by & Source: RJT (BEWARE for the download dialogues: keep pressing NO or Cancel]



 Bejeweled gets a make over
Bejeweled gets a make over

timothy says ( 07 Jun 2004 ):

 

Some plastic surgery has been performed on the MSN Messenger version of Bejeweled, now featuring MSN Messenger for Mac and non-existing tiles.

Bejeweled 2.0


UPDATE: stevonw informed us that Checkers has also been redesigned. Or "re-branded" would be a better word with ads for Army National Guard all over the game.



 TrIM Troy: Homer epic trimmed down to 363 words
TrIM Troy: Homer epic trimmed down to 363 words

dwergs says ( 06 Jun 2004 ):

 

troy display picture by onandonWith millions of people flocking to cinemas across the world to see the big screen version of Troy, MSN UK has brought the first five books of the classic Homer epic into the 21st century with a trimmed down 363 word version, translated into Messenger speak for the IM generation. So while classics students dust off their copies of the Iliad counting 15,693 lines of achingly beautiful hexameter, those wanting to shortcut Homer homework before a trip to the cinema, can log on to www.msn.co.uk/troy to brush up on characters, motives and plotline in 92 seconds flat!

TrIM Troy, the compressed interpretation by Microsoft, has been criticised for trivialising one of the greatest works of European literature. Fraser Lovatt from Digital Lifestyles says: "The upshot of this shallow and purely marketing-led butchery is best seen in its effect on the chilling opening verse..."

Original:

Rage --
Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus' son Achilles,
murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses,
hurling down to the House of Death so many sturdy souls,
great fighters' souls, but made their bodies carrion,
feasts for the dogs and birds,
and the will of Zeus was moving towards its end.
Begin, Muse, when the two first broke and clashed,
Agamemnon lord of mean and brilliant Achilles.


Somehow, this now becomes:

Ur right to still be ngry, Anchilles has m'ssed things up 4 da Grks wiv his rage

Bernard Lamb, a lecturer at Imperial College London said: "Children already have difficulty spelling simple words, so to have a huge international organisation promoting 'wot', 'woz' and 'wiv' is extremely unhelpful for spelling - and clear diction."

Some teachers argue, however, that text message language is a fact of life and makes The Iliad, thought to have been composed in the eighth century BC, more accessible to young people.

A spokesman for Microsoft said: "We hope that no one has taken offence and apologise if anyone has. We would encourage people to read the full book as it represents a true classic, but if they want to have a quick bit of fun, we would also encourage them to check out our version."



 Added: 97 Extra Avril Lavigne Display Pictures
Added: 97 Extra Avril Lavigne Display Pictures

dwergs says ( 06 Jun 2004 ):

 

Kudos to messer avril_obsessed who has obviously chosen that nickname for a reason and uploaded 97 Avril Lavigne display pictures in one go.

>> Browse Avril Lavigne display pictures



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