New MSN Messenger coming?

[mrjamin]

I've been trying out a beta of MSN Messenger 6 (for *coughs* windows). M$/MSN are supposedly doing a major overhaul to the MSNM network/client this summer, could this mean a new, improved mac version? Could this be why the speculation about the new iChat hasn't suggested MSN support?

This beta has some pretty cool features, like the ability to make your own smilies (plus loads of builtin new ones) and iChat-esq avatars. The over UI is a massive improvement over previous versions, and it is starting look more like the Mac version. New features include:

o Ability to start chats with a contact group
o improved filesharing
o improved webcam/audio support (multiple audience, like Yahoo)
o integrated boardgames (not available yet)

...plus a few more new features. It'd be great to see these features ported to the mac as i'm sure you'll agree, the current client is pretty sucky.

check out http://www.mess.be/.

http://benlancaster.co.uk/msn6-1.jpg
http://benlancaster.co.uk/msn6-2.jpg

[pEZ]

Hopefully it will either be integrated with iChat or Proteus will be updated sometime soon. I hate using Microsoft products in general, including office - as long as a new mac version is compatible with a different program so I don't have to use MSN messenger, I'm happy.

[synthetickittie]

Hopefully it will either be integrated with iChat or Proteus will be updated sometime soon. I hate using Microsoft products in general, including office - as long as a new mac version is compatible with a different program so I don't have to use MSN messenger, I'm happy.

why hate using a prodect JUST because its made by microsft? if msn messanger is a good product then use it. I dont use a lot of micsoft products because the fact not a lot of them are accually good but if they make something I think is good Im gonna use it and happly because I could care less who makes some thing I only care whats good and what isnt

[braindrain]

Didn't we just have a new MSN Messenger not too long ago?

[Eckslusive]

yeah..i dont think we'll see one for quite a while...maybe not until august.

[Nermal]

How can there be a beta of MSN Messenger 6 when the current Windows Messenger beta is only 5? Win Msgr used to be ahead of MSN, now it looks like it's falling behind!

[AppleMatt]

Argh I hate to say it, but it's pretty nice.

Much better than the 5 (which seems to me an in-between of 4 and 6).

Hopefully the MacBU will tear this to pieces and make us an even better one! (improved startup time PLEASE!!!).

AppleMatt

[Chimaera]

meh - I wish *someone* would write a decent client for OSX - Fire is the closest I've seen, but at the moment my IM-ing is handled by running Trillian via RDC on one of my XP boxes at home - less than ideal :)

[Wardofsky]

They have made a whole MSN client for OS X I think, but you have to pay a subscription.

MSN for Mac OS X (http://www.microsoft.com/mac/msn/default.asp)

[richie]

Originally posted by Chimaera
meh - I wish *someone* would write a decent client for OSX - Fire is the closest I've seen, but at the moment my IM-ing is handled by running Trillian via RDC on one of my XP boxes at home - less than ideal :)

Try Proteus (http://www.indigofield.com/) - it's amazing :) And just days away from getting updated to 3.0

[Chimaera]

I'm not about to pay for *another* IM client - it just isn't worth it :)

[Schiffi]

Actually MSN Messenger is free, though it is stuck at 3.5 and doesn't allow voice chat or streaming video.

[rjames]

I have been in touch with Microsoft's Mac Business Unit and did a bit of research into MSN Messenger for Mac and it appears even though Microsoft haven't released any information on their sites as yet about MSN Messenger for Mac, there are plans to develop the Messenger Application further by completely over-hauling the design, adding Voice over IP capabilities and much more, I found this from an article which Microsoft Released earlier this year on it's commitment to the Mac Platform.

Other things to look forward to will be a new version of Office vX later this year, although the damper on things at the moment is that Development for Internet Explorer for Mac has stopped, no new versions will be released and Microsoft are now only offering technical support, let's hope Apple manage to get Safari fixed up soon or we'll have nothing!

[SilvorX]

there's always camino...cept on panther

i would like to see a HUGE overhaul on msn messenger, such as make it out of cocoa possibly, its always buggy for me :(, signs up even when i just start to download a file, always selects safari to open links although camino is default, it needs more features of course, msn webchat integration (using vpc annoys me and most of my friends want me to go chat on stupid msn chat :( although that'dd never happen lol), needs a faster ui as well as faster conversation history plugin..since it takes forever to read conversations of the past due to the smilies

I kinda want to see msn messenger 4 for mac since most of my friends are big fans of msn messenger, but i also dont want to see it since its made by microsoft

[FredAkbar]

Originally posted by SilvorX
there's always camino...cept on panther

What do you mean? Why not on Panther?

--Fred

[Sepulchre]

Originally posted by Nermal
How can there be a beta of MSN Messenger 6 when the current Windows Messenger beta is only 5?

I'm reading this on a PC, I'd downloaded the new MSN Messenger a few nights ago. The version is a preview version of 6 (6.0.0268 to be precise).

http://www.msnmessenger-download.com/preview/

Hope that helps.

Still prefer trilian though on the PC.

Rich

[Lanbrown]

Originally posted by synthetickittie
why hate using a prodect JUST because its made by microsft? if msn messanger is a good product then use it.

How about because it's just another single network IM client. If you have Yahoo, AIM, IRC and MSN, why should you need to have three or four clients? One client is far better, as they already take lots of memory to run, so now you don’t have a lot of wasted resources.

[AppleMatt]

Features for the new MSN that need to be included, IMO:

- Faster startup. How many bounces on my 867MHz G4? Sort it please.
- Everything in the MSN 6 beta brought over to Mac. The Mac BU have already proved they can do what Microsoft PC do, and better (Office v.X)

AppleMatt