Vortez - Computer Hardware News & Reviews » News » November 2010 » Windows Live Messenger 2009 URLs not working in chat windows?

MSN may just be intentionally affecting your IM experience forcing users to move to Live Messenger 2011
For over 3 weeks now, we have heard of reports saying that users have been having trouble sending URLs to friends when using MSN Windows Live Messenger. Hyperlinks are not parsing and users are having to copy and paste URLs in an effort to visit a website that they have been linked. If you do a Google search for this issue, the internet is riddled with forum posts highlighting this very issue and it seems that the problems arose only a few weeks preceding the launch of 2011.

Windows Live Messenger 2011 was released at the very beginning of October and MSN have been pushing users to move to the new release of their IM with update reminders and of course all the marketing that goes along with it.

Windows Live Messenger 2011 is a drastic move away from its predecessor Live Messenger 2009. The GUI for a start has many new features, characteristics and reacts in a totally different manner to previous Messenger versions. Many users are finding these new changes too much to grasp. Many of the contacts that I have in my list have complained and down-graded to the 2009 version. I have tried Windows Live Messenger 2011 myself and I do agree with the concerns that have been expressed. 2011 is a big step away from the traditional messenger experience.

If you pause and think about these issues (Not being able to post URLs to contacts properly) and that they have suddenly struck a vast majority of MSN Windows Live Messenger 2009 users you begin to wonder, are MSN pushing people into installing Windows Live Messenger 2011. It certainly seems that this is this case. It almost feels as though 2009 has been deliberately broken in an attempt to move people in 2011 direction. Effectively breaking the previous version of an application to force users to the latest version is not uncommon amongst developers.

So what options are there? There are none. Move to Live Messenger 2011 or an alternative IM client.

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VampyrByte Posts: 256 Joined: 2010-07-20

#9284 Posted on: 20.11.2010 13:46:58 I was going to say I'm wondering why people are still using Microsoft MSN clients. Personally I use Digsby. Its got a minimal UI and chat interface, and signs into Facebook chat as well.

han Posts: 341 Joined: 2009-05-16

#9373 Posted on: 23.11.2010 13:01:17 So whats best? Digsby or Pidgin! Also, are there any apps/downloadable im programs for phone? I dont have a smart phone, iphone or android, so i just need an im program that uses wap or phone internet? Any ideas? HELP!

Mishima Administrator Posts: 4328 Joined: 2009-07-28

#9396 Posted on: 24.11.2010 08:44:53 I've been using Pidgin for the past couple of days and I really like it. Its simple and easy to use. For some reason I have to keep adding the certificate but I think that might be because I have MSN installed still - which reminds me I should remove that now. The thing that put me off Digsby was seeing this article here: http://lifehacker.com/5336382/digsby...-to-make-money it really annoys me when companies resort to this kinda thing. Pidgin seems to be very light, has no advertising whatsoever and just works as an IM. Simple and effective. Screenie: [IMG]http://www.download.hr/modules/screenshots/windows/pidgin-1.png[/IMG]

han Administrator Posts: 341 Joined: 2009-05-16

#9437 Posted on: 25.11.2010 23:25:50 hahah, why do you have 'the gimp' in your toolbar? Babe, you need to keep those type of things behind closed doors :P

alexhull24 Administrator Posts: 1027 Joined: 2010-03-31

#9441 Posted on: 25.11.2010 23:29:05 Haha, it's an open source image editing program. Mish, check the latest version of Pidgin - they should have fixed that certificate issue now. If the website link is still down I can send it to you.

Mishima Administrator Posts: 4328 Joined: 2009-07-28

#9444 Posted on: 25.11.2010 23:31:16 LOL that aint even my screenie!! I got it off google. Proof - Date.... ! I'll take a look now mate. Lovely program this, thanks for recommending it.

Seraph82 Administrator Posts: 254 Joined: 2010-11-25

#9452 Posted on: 25.11.2010 23:43:10 lol theres no maybe, i downloaded the old msn messenger last week after a fresh install and it refused to let me sign in without updating to the current version, curse microsoft for this, the new one i find is annoying, i run fraps for my gaming and recording things occasionally and my fraps loads up with both the messenger window and windows live email. they shouldn't be allowed to do this, it's what drove me from windows in the first place, ( the 2008 msn update, that didnt work but couldn't use the old one that did work ) urgh.

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Vortez - Computer Hardware News & Reviews » News » November 2010 » Windows Live Messenger 2009 URLs not working in chat windows?