Windows Live Messenger 2010 - Wave 4 Update

Windows Live Messenger is by far the most popular instant messaging program but it has never had social capabilities. This week Microsoft unveiled the latest iteration of it's messaging client and to everyone's surprise it had integration with some of the popular social media like Facebook and Twitter.

This new feature will be placed in a separate frame inside the messenger window, reducing the width of the contacts list. This separate frame looks very disjointed because of the separate scroll-bar which is in the default style for Windows. This makes the application less sleek and makes me wonder if Microsoft can ever perfect a product.

Apart from the disjointed look it also sports HD video which is a big plus as it puts the product in an area which perfectly sits between business and consumer products. Business users will use the HD video and consumers will use the social feeds. HD video is not new in IM clients with Skype already supporting this feature but to see it in a Microsoft product makes.

There will also be an iPhone version of teh software which, if accepted to the App Store,will be one app worth downloading. It is somewhat of a surprise that Microsoft is releasing an iPhone version considering that they are trying to pitch their new Phone OS, Windows Phone 7.

All of this is part of the upcoming Live Wave 4 update which is expected to have a final release in the 3rd quarter of this year. This update is looking like a much needed freshening up for the Live platform but if the disjointed nature of clients seen in WLM remains in the other software than this will not be the sleekest update for Microsoft.
To me it seems like Microsoft has learnt from it's UI and functionality mistakes of the past and are genuinely going to release a polished product. When I can get my hands on a build I will tell you more but for now I recommend checking it out at http://windowslivepreview.com/ (Note: This website occasionally redirects to the Live Home site)

Other Articles on This Topic

• Ballmer previews Microsoft's next Messenger (news.cnet.com)
• Windows Live on an iPhone: video demo (liveside.net)
• 25+ Cool Features of the new Windows Live Messenger (teabreak.pk)
• New Windows Live Messenger Coming Very Soon! (crenk.com)
• Windows Live Messenger on iPhone (blogs.msdn.com)
• WindowsLivePreview.com goes live: "What's New in Messenger" (liveside.net)

Former Infinity Ward heads create new studio

Yesterday an interesting but not surprising move happened in the Activision vs Infinity Ward story. "Jason West and Vince Zampella, creators of the multi-billion dollar Call of Duty® franchise, announced the formation of a new development studio -- Respawn Entertainment." and they have "awarded Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS), through the distinguished EA Partners program, exclusive worldwide publishing and distribution rights to future games." This is great news for all Call of Duty fans because it looks like the same people who made Modern Warfare 2 will be making new games which should be just as good and running on some better managed servers.

Despite the fact that this is no real surprise, what really bugs me is that West and Zampella would have the guts to do this in the middle of one of the biggest lawsuits. By defecting to EA and making their own studio they are only going to get Activision madder and make the situation a whole lot worse for themselves and the embattled Infinity Ward. If I were them I would have waited until the situation blew over and the court case resolved before making such a shocking and bold move as this.

If you still aren't sure what has been going on then take a look at the links below and if you want to have a say then use the chat box ion the left column or comment on this post.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Activision Countersues Modern Warfare 2 Execs (games.slashdot.org)
• Ex-Infinity Ward heads create Respawn Entertainment with EA (arstechnica.com)
• 'Modern Warfare' Creators Change Sides (online.wsj.com)
• Former Infinity Ward Heads Form Respawn Entertainment (1up.com)

Why iPhone OS 4.0 should have come sooner

This wwek Apple unveiled iPhone OS 4.0 to teh developer community. This major OS upgrade includes many new features such as multitasking, app folders, iAd (in-app advertising) and even 5x digital zoom. All these features are what iPhone and iPod Touch users have wanted ever since the first generation devices. SO why couldn't Apple have done this sooner, like with OS 3.0? As far as I can see there is no reason.
Yes there were hardware constraints when it came to the iPhone 3G but the 3GS had better hardware and more to the point will be able to run OS 4.0 in all it's awesomeness.

Apple could have released all these features with OS 3.0 because the latest hardware, the iPhone 3GS had the capability to run it but Apple wanted to focus on speed and not on features that would attracts people away from Android and Windows Mobile and give them incentives to make the switch. Instead what Apple chooses to do is announce these features at an awkward time when people aren't really paying attention to the smaller devices and focusing on the iPad. If Apple really cared about their customers they would have released these features with OS 3.0 but instead they want to give customers much needed and wanted features when nobody gives a crap.

If Apple is serious about business then they will forget about advertising and instead focus on what they have always focused on...the customers.

Internet memes - Why the fads need to stop

Everyone has heard of Internet memes. From rickrolling to just about anything that comes out of 4chan these have become a culture phenomenon. However, have these jokes become too much of a good thing?

 Some of these memes like Rickrolling have had their time yet still continue to be seen all over the internet. These memes become old quickly yet resurface in obscure in lame ways. People get greatly annoyed when thgey get rickrolled and people get annoyed when they see another internet meme. Not everyone who uses the internet thinks that a meme is a funny as you think it to be. Some internet users are actually lookign for related items and do not not to be tricked into seeing a meme.

Basically, these memes need to stop or at least they need to stop being so prevalent, so if you see a meme that is just starting off try to put a stop to it. By doing this you will be saving the credibility of the internet

No Youtube Live 2010...but other events possible

Yesterday I emailed Youtube regarding whether they are going to hold a Youtube Live this year and their answer was: " No plans this year for a YouTube Live."

This is unfortunate considering the success of Youtube Live 2008 and certainly could be financially poor for the company considering that they could rake in a decent profit from the event. However I am certain that Google and Youtube are planning something just as good as Youtube Live and I am certain that whatever it is will benefit not only the company but consumers and possibly even charity.

EDIT: Youtube has emailed me regarding whether they will beholding others events and replied as follows: "We'll have a lot of events going on this year in celebration of our 5 year anniversary, but they'll be different from YT Live." This could end up being big but we will have to wait and see. Tagged Blog will keep you updated as more is found out about these mystery events.

Social Networks - Are they really that dangerous?

Social Networks have been around for a while now, staring with Facebook and MySpace and moving into the Twitter era and now you can find a persons life quite clearly on the Internet. Ever since they were created though, people have criticised social media for not doing enough about privacy.

Recently, these social networks have come under increased scrutiny regarding the posting of blatantly illegal material on the walls of tribute groups on Facebook. I believe that some of these criticisms are uncalled for.
Why? Simply because it is not up to Facebook to decide what privacy settings to put on groups, it is up to the person who created the group. If the person who creates a group chooses not to change the privacy settings to make it more closed then that is their choice. The options menu is there and easily accessible but people choose to get the group made quickly and not well.

Then there is the identity fraud issue which is also completely wrong. All Social Networks have privacy settings which you can change. On Facebook you can set it so you have to be a friend to access any information, photos or wall on your profile. Only recently has this come up yet it has been there for years. Just because people choose not to notice or use it doesn't mean that Social Networks are places where identity fraud is rife.

Overall, Social Networks are one of the safest and most privacy conscious places on the web. People who say that this is wrong either are very ignorant or simply want social networks to move in the wrong direction and make everyone private and make social networks very, very anti-social. These sites are already doing a good job and the media and the general public should calm down and stop trying to find problems with something that is already fine. If you want to make yourself less public then change you Privacy Settings, you don't have to abandon the social revolution because you believe that you can't do anything about your own security.

P.S On Facebook the privacy settings are under the account menu in the top right corner of the page...use it!

Apple's innovation machine fails with the iPad

Last week Apple announced their much awaited product... the iPad. The product idea is good but it is just a bloated, oversized iPod Touch. The lack of innovation is surprising from Apple, who are renowned for their constant new ideas, almost as if they have a machine that just churns out innovation.

When Apple released the first GUI machine in the 80s it was an innovation, the same with the iPod and iPhone but the iPad just isn't anything new. The OS is just the iPhone OS, there are no notable features, there isn't a camera, there isn't anything to tell it apart from previous Apple products.

If Apple had played their cards right they could have innovated this product to become a proper ebook reader but the 10hr battery life just doesn't compare to the 20-30hrs offered on ebook reading devices like the Kindle and Nook.
By blowing up the iPod Touch and creating a tablet, what Apple have done is create a product that fits in an useless space between an iPod and an ebook reader.

Looking at Apple's past when it comes to tablet PCs doesn't help either. The Apple Newton for instance was a huge failure and it is looking like the iPad may have a similar reputation. If Apple had created a unique device that could run a scaled down OSX and run programs like Photoshop, the iPad might have looked like a success. If Apple had created a standalone ebook reader then there most certainly would have been success, but the way Apple has designed the iPad just makes it a device that no one will need.

Nonetheless, it is an Apple product so people will buy it just because of the badge and not because it will help them or be useful to them in any way.

Apple's January 27th event...what will be announced?

In about a week Apple is going to hold a mysterious event where they will announce their "latest creation". Rumours speculate that it will be a tablet PC but I'm not so sure. What is Apple's incentive for making a tablet? Based on rumours it will run iPhone OS but that leaves it open to apps on a 10" screen...app makers would have to rebuild existing apps to run on the tablet in full screen. This would be a risky move as there would have to be a separate app store and Apple has no reason to do this.

Apple also recently started talking to publishers and newspapers about content deals. This makes me think that it won't be a tablet that Apple will be announcing but instead a 10" touch screen ebook reader to rival the Amazon Kindle (and Kindle DX) as well as the Barnes and Noble Nook. Such a device would most likely be a colour ebook reader (making use of to the OLED screen) unlike the other devices and would be a game changer like the iPhone and iPod.

Another possibility for what will be announced would be an Apple Netbook with touch screen capabilities. This however seems less likely because neetbooks a declining in popularity.

Nothing will be known until the 27th but the rumour mill will keep on churning until then and whatever is announced it is sure to be popular, not just because it is an Apple product but also because it will innovate technology in a way Apple has been doing for years.