The new Windows Live Messenger 2011 is now available for download. With the introduction of our 'social dashboard', Facebook Chat, full-screen HD video calling and messaging capabilities and the ability to share and watch photos and videos with your friends, Messenger 2011 is guaranteed to improve the way you connect with those you care about. So here it is, the best IM we've ever created.
*Please note that to use Messenger 2011, you'll need Windows 7 or Windows Vista with system updates. For more information, please view the system operating requirements.
To get started, we want to focus on the primary reason we choose Messenger: instant messaging. Sending a text-only message to family, friends or colleagues may have been the backbone of why you've used Messenger in the past, but these days, you want it to do more.
Messenger 2011 allows you to watch high-res videos from sites such as YouTube, bring together updates from the social networks you already use (such as Facebook) and HD video call your friends or family with just a few clicks. Messenger 2011 is now your one-stop shop for all your most-important connections. Here's a bit more detail of what's now possible with the new Messenger.
Social dash
We've created something we like to call a "social dashboard". Messenger 2011 brings your social updates from more than 80 online partners (including Facebook and MySpace) from across the web, and delivers them to your Messenger interface. What's better is you can choose whose updates you see, so you can quickly see what your favourite people are doing, wherever they're doing it. You no longer need to log in to different social networks because you can see all your social feeds from within Messenger.
Oh, and did we mention you can post stuff back to the social networks your feeds came from? Trust us, this is a seriously cool feature.
Facebook Chat integration
Messenger 2011's integration with Facebook Chat is another feature that contributes to our ‘ultimate social dashboard’ claim. With users from both Messenger and Facebook interacting directly for the first time, you can now broaden the scope of IM capabilities. Simply connect Facebook to your Messenger 2011 and you'll be notified when your Facebook friends are online, you can then chat to them directly from Messenger.
HD video call
The ultimate representation of an actual conversation is to see and hear the person on the other end. Around the world, Messenger users engage in the voice and video features 230 million times a month — for everything from socialising to staying in touch with relatives and friends abroad.
With that in mind, Messenger 2011 comes with full-screen, HD video-calling capabilities. Not only can you see and hear your chat partner from anywhere in the world but you can share your photos and videos with them in real time. There's only one way to catch a friends facial expression when they see photos of you at last weekend's dress up party — and that's with Messenger 2011.
HD video messaging
Getting home, racing to the telephone and checking the machine for a little flashing red light is so '90s. We now live in the world of mobile internet, free online chat and, best of all, HD video calling. So quit living in the past, voicemail is dead and it's time to take the next step by video messaging your friends and family instead. Even if your recipient doesn't use Hotmail, they can still watch your video message — it's just another cool feature of Messenger 2011.
Watch videos or photo slideshows together
Got some new holiday snaps? Share and chat about them with your mum. Found a cool YouTube video? Watch it with a mate while you chat.
Messenger 2011 allows you to download an entire photo album and share it all at once, while you chat. Just add your shots into your chat windows and you're on your way. Your friend can not only view the photos but can also access the original photos, in case they want to save the high-res images.
But it doesn't end with photo sharing. You can now watch your favourite online videos (from YouTube and heaps of other sites) without leaving your IM conversation. Simply by pasting in a link to a web video, Messenger will recognise it and by clicking the 'View together' option both parties are able to watch the video.
Share anything
Messenger 2011 allows you to share pretty much anything via your personal status message. You can now update your Messenger status with a short description of what you're up to and spice it up a bit by adding a photo or a link as well. Your message, complete with a preview image is then posted to all the networks you've connected to Messenger 2011 (such as Facebook and MySpace). That way, next time you sign in, you'll see all your friends' comments!
With an increased emphasis on you, your friends, your connections and your online world, Messenger 2011 brings it all together and makes it accessible from the one place.
If you’re on a MAC and want to download the new Messenger 2011 click here.
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