Windows Live Messenger Screens Removed
Posted by Steven Parker on 29 November 2007 - 07:25 · 35 comments & 20568 views
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Full name: Steven Parker
Forum name: Neobond
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Full name: Steven Parker
Forum name: Neobond
Contact: via forum PM
Submissions: Normal · Headline
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(2 replies)
#1 Posted by v1be on 29 Nov 2007 - 07:38
- good idea, and a slight word usage error (spelling):
"Microsoft formerly announces" in last sentence of second paragraph should use formally, not formerly.
sorry to nit-pick.. just trying to help out! -
#1.1 Posted by Neobond on 29 Nov 2007 - 07:43
- Thanks, I edited it. It is incredibly early by my standards lol. (submitted 8.25am, I had an early night last night).
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#3 Posted by rev3nant on 29 Nov 2007 - 08:12
- As if it doesn't look almost exactly the same as the current version.
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(1 reply)
#4 Posted by MMaster23 on 29 Nov 2007 - 08:13
- I think it's bad that Neowin doesn't even know wther they broke NDA or not. Either you think you don't, post them. Or you don't post it at all.
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#4.1 Posted by Fred Derf on 29 Nov 2007 - 15:45
- Quote - (MMaster23 said @ #4)I think it's bad that Neowin doesn't even know wther they broke NDA or not. Either you think you don't, post them. Or you don't post it at all.
In order to break a NDA you need to have first signed it. The people who supplied us with the screenshots will have to ask themselves if they broke the NDA or not. Neobond stated that we have removed the screenshots in order to preserve the integrity of the beta program (something that many of our readers find very valuable).
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(3 replies)
#5 Posted by +Digix on 29 Nov 2007 - 08:21
- meh i'd leave it up and let microsoft pack a cry about it. there's nothing to hide surprises with software are getting lame.
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#5.1 Posted by shanok on 29 Nov 2007 - 08:30
- Quote - (Digix said @ #5)meh i'd leave it up and let microsoft pack a cry about it. there's nothing to hide surprises with software are getting lame.
It's not MS so much that gets hurt by it.
It's the testers, and then the public who gets the shaft.
Leaked info off of private builds leads to clamping down on builds given to testers
Clamped down testing leads to lower quality/quantity of feedback which leads to lower quality product. -
#5.2 Posted by Neobond on 29 Nov 2007 - 08:47
- It's my understanding that Live Messenger is a free product for the (Windows) end user/consumer, so in light of that shouldn't more end-users decide what they want and be extremely close to the development? It's not like this is a top secret development by Microsoft, in fact there are other IM clients that can do much more, if anything Microsoft still fails to deliver in that department and a small group of 15,000 testers is not about to change that.
Microsoft worked wonders when they finally decided to open up beta testing to a larger audience and the "average Joe" instead of restricting it to the old boys club of MVP's (aka as the 80's and 90's era). -
#5.3 Posted by shanok on 29 Nov 2007 - 08:59
- Quote - (Neobond said @ #5.2)It's my understanding that Live Messenger is a free product for the (Windows) end user/consumer, so in light of that shouldn't more end-users decide what they want and be extremely close to the development? It's not like this is a top secret development by Microsoft, in fact there are other IM clients that can do much more, if anything Microsoft still fails to deliver in that department and a small group of 15,000 testers is not about to change that.
Microsoft worked wonders when they finally decided to open up beta testing to a larger audience and the "average Joe" instead of restricting it to the old boys club of MVP's (aka as the 80's and 90's era).
MS actually accepts suggestions from anyone who wants to submit them, and always has.
Right now there's only about 1,000 testers (last I was told) on this project.
It's a very very early build, and that's what the upset is about.
Also this version will be opened up for a larger group of testers (both public and managed) at a later date.
So the public will have a good chance to take a look at it and help out.
Also anyone who wants to become involved in the process and help out can always sign up for Microsoft Connect and start testing after receiving invites. How else do you think we become testers?
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#6 Posted by sibot on 29 Nov 2007 - 08:22
- I appreciate the good work of the Neowin Legal Department.
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(1 reply)
#7 Posted by IntelliMoo on 29 Nov 2007 - 08:42
- Don't worry, it looks EXACTLY like 8.5 anyway. Which looked EXACTLY like 8.1. bah
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(1 reply)
#8 Posted by Pc_Madness on 29 Nov 2007 - 09:51
- Since we have all these beta peeps reading this, can someone suggest making the conversation window look like the top of the contact list? I really like making my window the same colour as my Royale Noir theme in XP, but the conversation windows just look like crap
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#8.1 Posted by BreakingBenjamin on 29 Nov 2007 - 21:04
- I think you can do that with mess patch, there's an option to make the top convo window look like the contact list, if i'm not wrong.
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#9 Posted by Magallanes on 29 Nov 2007 - 13:13
- c'mon!!!
A NDA is a two parts agreed contract, in this case betatester and Microsoft Corporation, if a third part decided to publish a screenshot then this third party is free to do cause this third party signed and have not obligation with Microsoft Corporation.
For example, a unscrupulous lawyer can publish a NDA information in this webpage using a alias, and later he can sue Neowin because Neowin published a NDA material. Of course this can happens.
Anyways, MS told you a lot of lies, for example the protection again to publish benchmark of their system, indeed in this case they loss. And, we don't forget that a online contract, CLUF and alikes weight nothing in the real world.
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#10 Posted by seebaran on 29 Nov 2007 - 14:20
- Oh come on! Be glad people care enough to see screens of the new software. IM ain't all that these days. This reminds me of Evil Knievel getting his panties in a bunch over Kayne West imitating his act in one of his videos -- be grateful someone gives a crap!
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(1 reply)
#11 Posted by GEIST on 29 Nov 2007 - 14:49
- What's the big deal with posting screens WLM 9 beta? It can be freely downloaded.
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Chat...ssenger-9.shtml -
#11.1 Posted by Roger MS on 29 Nov 2007 - 21:26
- If you are not downloading from download.microsoft.com (or one of our other software distribution URLs), what you get may not exactly be "free". You might end up paying a price that you didn't expect.
If it's not from us, assume that we didn't pack it. Use at your own risk.
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#12 Posted by EJocys on 29 Nov 2007 - 14:51
- Quote -we have decided to pull the screenshots due to claims that the beta could be comprimised should it not remain low-key.
This is called "the secret of paranoid little girl". If you are hiding something then you are loosing a chance to spot the crap by someone else before it explodes in the face on release day.
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#13 Posted by hotdog963al on 29 Nov 2007 - 15:12
- Quote -"Some members have expressed a deep concern about Neowin showcasing screenshots of Windows Live Messenger 9"
Members who at school were the "I'm TELLING on you" type.
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#14 Posted by sibot on 29 Nov 2007 - 17:02
- People! You should be appreciative that Neowin is keeping other companies policies in mind.
The NDA policy is probably something that is applicable for every beta that has ever been released, from OS's to every program unless it has been released officially. The reason that it has not been released is solely due to the reason that the company does not want to disclose the product or wants to wait sometime to release the beta/final. Releasing and posting the screenies of such a software, would just be another "dirty job", against the companies wishes. Yes others are doing it, Neowin is surely not a sheep in the flock. And I'm really happy that the NeoWin staff respects other companies policies. Continue the good work people! Cheers!
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(2 replies)
#15 Posted by bangbang023 on 29 Nov 2007 - 20:28
- I never knew screenshots could make some people's panties twist so tightly like that. I hope those same people that bitched and moaned are going after every other site that MS has looked at and passed over. Other sites have the full executable, we had screenshots and nothing more. It's kind of sad to see a community that used to thrive on information suddenly shy away from something as harmless as a picture of what's to come.
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#15.1 Posted by RebelSean on 30 Nov 2007 - 00:20
- The only reason why people are "bitching" is because the entire program is now at risk of being closed. There's no need to sit there and complain about the screenshots being removed, because many websites have already removed certain content. There are many folks out there right now that are actively reporting websites that are hosting the information or the exe, and Microsoft is contacting them and getting it removed.
So stop whining. -
#15.2 Posted by bangbang023 on 30 Nov 2007 - 01:43
- I'm far from whining. I just don't see any harm in screenshots and since MS never said anything to us, why should anyone care? If the program gets closed it's because of the leaked executables, not our screenshots. The wording in the warning to testers even made it pretty clear that MS was concerned about the actual files, not screenshots and information about the new features. Don't be silly.
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#16 Posted by hagjohn on 29 Nov 2007 - 21:13
- googled... doesn't look that different, certainly nothing that should have been blown up like it has. It's not liked it showed anything that was close to being a cool new innovation.
What happened to innovation anyway?
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(1 reply)
#17 Posted by azz0r_wugg on 29 Nov 2007 - 21:53
- As a beta tester, the only notable difference is the login sound selector and animated avatars...and it freezes quite abit.
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#17.1 Posted by Solidstinch on 30 Nov 2007 - 14:58
- yup, thats what happens in a beta, thats why its called a "beta"
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#19 Posted by tvf on 30 Nov 2007 - 00:28
- good. you guys shouldnt have even posted them from the start!
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#20 Posted by Helba on 30 Nov 2007 - 01:00
- I'm not surprised by this decision. I agree that it is a good idea to wait.
It was a bit of a surprise to see the shots in the first place.
I can't wait until it comes out.
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#21 Posted by The Cub on 30 Nov 2007 - 01:44
- Well it seems stable enough to me, been using it all day without issue. Then new sounds feature is nice.
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#22 Posted by artnada on 30 Nov 2007 - 11:26
- I thought you said you took them down? I know a site that is using 2 images still linked directly to Neowin images showing messenger 9!
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#23 Posted by Solidstinch on 30 Nov 2007 - 14:55
- Wow, you all are a bunch of little girly men. Stop crying about it. If NEOwin wants to respect other companies policies then I support that. All I hear everyone saying is "why are people crying about NDA" and such. Your the ones that are crying. get over it. rock on NEOwin
While this new version is most definitely not a state secret, and widely known on most if not all tech related websites (even as far as listing the new features), we have decided to pull the screenshots due to claims that the beta could be comprimised should it not remain low-key. I know that new software from Microsoft such as Live Messenger generates a lot of interest for those not lucky enough to be on the beta, but we reckon it's a good idea to wait until Microsoft formally announces the beta of Windows Live Messenger and makes it available to a wider audience.
So for now, good luck Live Messenger team and those who are testing it!
Update: I'd like to point out to avoid confusion that we were not contacted by Microsoft, I consulted an MS contact on this matter myself.