I could go further by posting a quote from the NDA, but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to do so. I believe most, if not all, NDA's disallow you from spreading information that has surfaced as a result of someone else violating their NDA (correct me if I'm wrong). About Mess.be posting about there being content in the blank bar at the bottom of the conversation window, they could have gotten the information from VorteX who has been removed for infringing the Beta's ToS and NDA or from another tester who is a member of Mess.be, either way it's a violation of NDA on someones part and I don't beleive we should put ourselves at risk by jumping on the bandwagon.
The news about animated display pictures was confirmed by "trusted sources" and look what happened then? Microsoft, themselves, never announced a new feature that allowed animated display pictures, but because it was confirmed by "trusted sources" people believed it and the rumour grew. It practically became "fact" amongst the community and people were angry at why it wasn't included in later MSN Messenger builds and even MSN Messenger 6.x. I've had to deal with the complaints regarding this for a while now and I for one don't want another "animated display picture" epidemic to surface regarding the blank bar at the bottom of the conversation window.
I'm only taking preventitive measures to stop it from happening again. I'm not saying it won't be used for ads or it will be, I'm merely saying don't believe anything anyone *but* a Microsoft representative says. If it turns out to be ads, that's fine. If not, that's fine too and at least we've avoided a "animated display picture" epidemic from occuring again. (I use epidemic because my mind is blank right now and I can't think of a better word
).
Direct note to Ryan: No offence intended or anything, I'm just really careful about recreating a "animated display picture" epidemic. As I'm part of the team of helpers in the Messenger Plus! IRC channel, and it makes our duty a living hell when people come in there to moan about the "promised" feature that wasn't added or wondering how to enable the "hidden" feature that allows for animated display pictures.
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