It would appear that the Windows Live Messenger team has already started planning new features etc for Windows Live Messenger 9.

Although the list does have some good bits it does, however, include stealing ideas from Messenger Plus! Live.

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Whilst you budding Windows Live Messenger testers are fiddling around with the interim version, 8.1, there’s still another major milestone coming. Once a product has been released, they usually look for how it can be improved for the later version; with Windows XP, before it hit the shelves they realised how it could be improved for the next operating system, being Windows Vista. Even though Messenger 8.1 is to come out before Christmas 2006 (if all goes accordingly), Microsoft are still planning what’s to come in Messenger 9.0 which will be the next major milestone for this core Windows Live service.

So… what do you want to go into it? If you use any version of Windows Live Messenger, what could be improved - what doesn’t need to be there - what could be included? If you’re not a Windows Live Messenger user (maybe you’ve stuck with MSN Messenger 7.5 or use an alternative client), then what would persuade you to jump on the bandwagon for the new version?

Some things to think about include:

• Theme of the client
  
• Adding features that Messenger Plus! Live offers as an addition to the original client
  
• Family Safety features - making sure your children and those younger are safe
  
• Windows Vista and Windows Aero (previously known as Aero Glass) enhancements
  
• Audio/video features
  
• Virus and malware protection
  
• File sharing and modifications to Sharing Folders
  
• Video sharing
  
• Windows Live Spaces within the main window (eg: blog directly from Messenger)
  
• Windows Live Mail within the main window (eg: send mail directly from Messenger)
  
• Added plug-ins and sharing activities
  
• Colour functionality in names by default

If you can think of anything including, or a modification of the above features that you want to see in Messenger, leave a comment and I’ll make sure someone/many of the Messenger team has a browse around for ideas.

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There is no such thing as a ”suggestion database”, and most of the ideas have already been finalised. This was purely a way of getting the public’s ideas on what they would like to see - so then I can pass them on, or it viewed by an employee.

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Originally posted by the andyman
Adding features that Messenger Plus! Live offers as an addition to the original client

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Originally posted by MenthiX

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Originally posted by the andyman
Adding features that Messenger Plus! Live offers as an addition to the original client

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Hehe, that sounds just lame  . I guess Patchou could see it as a giant recognition from Microsoft, and there is not much we can do to stop it anyway. But yes, if they put it like that it's just lame copying.

Things like tabbed chats, colors and away messages are just a matter of time before MS really implements it I guess, they have been talking about such things for years.

Patchou, get patents on some of the cool feature and make MS pay for using it .

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I don't Patchou will be out of a job soon, ms might implement things like tabbed chats and text formatting, but I don't see them adding a scripting system soon.

And the community and Patchou will always think of news things to implement into Plus!

I personally think Windows Live Messenger needs an extension system . Tabbed chatting and coloured names are probably the things that will be taken

I don't believe for one second that all of that in the list is going to be included. Imo this list is only speculations based on suggestions betatesters provided through Connect.

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Originally posted by Sunshine
Imo this list is only speculations based on suggestions betatesters provided through Connect.

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Originally posted by MenthiX

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Originally posted by Sunshine
Imo this list is only speculations based on suggestions betatesters provided through Connect.

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True, it's basically brainstorming what would be cool to add in 9.0, based on the feedback they got in 8.1.

I've seen thing like colored names, themes, tabbed chats and such in 6.x betas too. In every MSN/WLM beta there seem to be a large group of suggestions which are basically existing Plus! features. It just proves that Plus! had good features .

Microsoft has implemented features in the past that Plus! already had. The biggest has been chat logging (which Plus! still does better IMO ). I'm sure they will implement a few more features that Plus! already has now, like colored names, tabbed chats or away messages.
But I don't think Microsoft will massively copy Plus! features. The features the have "copied" from Plus! now are just there because they are good features and people want them. Don't forget that all the features in Plus! were added for that same reason and because MSN/WLM itself was lacking it. Features get added because they are good, not because other apps have it too. I think Zack just picked his line unlucky by saying " Adding features that Messenger Plus! Live offers".

If Microsoft does "take" Plus! features (and they do it good this time, unlike chatlogging), then it's just time for Plus! to move on to new and more exciting features. I think Patchou's idea/todo list is far from empty .

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Originally posted by Salem

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Originally posted by MenthiX

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Originally posted by Sunshine
Imo this list is only speculations based on suggestions betatesters provided through Connect.

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True, it's basically brainstorming what would be cool to add in 9.0, based on the feedback they got in 8.1.

I've seen thing like colored names, themes, tabbed chats and such in 6.x betas too. In every MSN/WLM beta there seem to be a large group of suggestions which are basically existing Plus! features. It just proves that Plus! had good features .

Microsoft has implemented features in the past that Plus! already had. The biggest has been chat logging (which Plus! still does better IMO ). I'm sure they will implement a few more features that Plus! already has now, like colored names, tabbed chats or away messages.
But I don't think Microsoft will massively copy Plus! features. The features the have "copied" from Plus! now are just there because they are good features and people want them. Don't forget that all the features in Plus! were added for that same reason and because MSN/WLM itself was lacking it. Features get added because they are good, not because other apps have it too. I think Zack just picked his line unlucky by saying " Adding features that Messenger Plus! Live offers".

If Microsoft does "take" Plus! features (and they do it good this time, unlike chatlogging), then it's just time for Plus! to move on to new and more exciting features. I think Patchou's idea/todo list is far from empty .

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Yes, chances that Microsoft will "take" all (most) of Plus!'s features seems very unlikely. I personally think the Plus! features most likely to be implemented in officially by Microsoft are text formatting & tabbed chats. But yeh, as was stated before i don't think Microsoft will put Patchou "out-of-business" anytime soon. If MS do implement Plus! features, Patch will most probably just think and create new ones.

~Salem

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It's all about being innovative.  Patchou should be proud that Microsoft is looking at his software for new features. And of course it will happen eventually, as sofware evolves it just has to get better. But as for Patchou, and his work, the new features will bring on new ideas and new possibilities and even more added content for Messenger, through Plus. Who knows...

Just sell them the code for the features you want ... haha... you'll make money, and we'll still have the same great features

lets take Microsoft out of its MVP program, they steal

i find it nice that they suggest Plus! features, but i think messenger would get really crowded and full of things most people don't use...

Hmmm, it's one thing to implement obvious features like tabbed chats, but it looks pretty bad to kick a developer out of the MVP program then openly admit stealing his ideas would be a good development move!

messenger is betting too bloated, msn msgr 6.2 pwns 8 except for sharing folders

personally i think WLM8.1 sucks . till they come out with a new build i might think differently

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Originally posted by alexp2_ad
Hmmm, it's one thing to implement obvious features like tabbed chats, but it looks pretty bad to kick a developer out of the MVP program then openly admit stealing his ideas would be a good development move!

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Originally posted by HSV
personally i think WLM8.1 sucks . till they come out with a new build i might think differently

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Microsoft have been doing stuff like this for years, it's really bad but Patchou can't do anything about it .

Patchou should somehow copyright some features or something, so that when Microsoft release it, he can get some compensation, they've been screwing him around for years.

First they make him MVP, then they take it off him and steal features from his software, it's pathetic.

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Originally posted by traxor

First they make him MVP, then they take it off him and steal features from his software, it's pathetic.

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Originally posted by vaccination
But as a company it seems they are trying to crush anyone that is competing with them(which is normal) but Patchou and MP! arn't realy competing against MS. It sucks if they would try put him out of his job when they needn't do soo.

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Originally posted by the andyman

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Originally posted by vaccination
But as a company it seems they are trying to crush anyone that is competing with them(which is normal) but Patchou and MP! arn't realy competing against MS. It sucks if they would try put him out of his job when they needn't do soo.

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If anything they get more users because of Plus!, if you think about it WLM + MP! = better than any other chat program, so if you take away Plus! then people might use another program - I'm sure some people have switched from other programs that do basically the same as WLM so they can use a great addon like Plus!

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I know this is going to sound rediculous to all of us who have spent a whole lot of time here backing Patchou in all of his work, but maybe it wouldn't be the craziest idea to 'sell out' for some of his work. Yes, I'm suggesting letting Microsoft buy him out (partially or in full).

Obviously as these ideas are just speculation doesn't mean Patchou should just run up to MS begging like a stall operator in Bali trying to sell his stuff, but if WLM continues to include features which are just blatant copies of what Plus! Live has, which is perfectly within their rights perhaps Patch should think of trying to make some money out of it.

Of course, this is no immediate and desperately needed suggestion, but maybe in the future depending on the future of WLM, who knows...

As patchou mentioned in Stuffcast #1 He'll have fun making new exciting features or existing features better whilst removing the old 'copied' feature

It is really good thing if MS implements the features from Plus! Do not have to wait new release of plus! if MS made a new release of WLM