Windows Live Messenger Build 8.0.0689.00_Branches (Beta) has been publicly released. Although it is *sighs* still a Beta, the official blog (
here) says that not much will change between this version and the final (unless they find any major flaws). What I hope this means is that when it IS released as a final, Messenger Plus! Live 4.0 will be able to be released very shortly afterwards.
The new Beta is a bit different from previous ones, but I don't think WLM 8 is that far removed from MSN Messenger 7.5.
Please reply to let me know what you think, and if it is as buggy as the last version.