[News] Microsoft Messenger service to be put to rest

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Originally Posted by Microsoft

We will retire Messenger in all countries worldwide in the first quarter of 2013 (with the exception of mainland China where Messenger will continue to be available).

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Full article here.

As most of you already know Microsoft bought Skype for $8.5 billion in 2011 and now owns two instant messaging services. It only makes sense, that the software giant wants to get rid of one of them and now this time has come. In the first quarter of 2013, Windows Live Messenger (and all clients using the Microsoft Messenger service) will stop working in almost all countries around the world, putting an end to a service, that's been around since Windows 3.1.

To allow users to still use the old Messenger contacts, Microsoft has integrated the Messenger service into Skype, but before this can start working, you will have to link the two accounts together. To learn how, read the full article above.



NOTE: Sometimes Skype says it's up to date even when a new version is available. In case this happens to you, check your Skype's version and make sure it's at least 6.0. If it's not, download Skype from their website, run the setup and the installer will update your old installation.

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Originally Posted by FlashD

NOTE: Sometimes Skype says it's up to date even when a new version is available. In case this happens to you, check your Skype's version and make sure it's at least 6.0. If it's not, download Skype from their website, run the setup and the installer will update your old installation.

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I think the update issues are from where it's only limiting to checking for the version that is installed be it version 5 or whatever instead of checking outside of that.

Those who are using windows 8 with a microsoft account that they've used for MSN/WLM and the metro version of skype will most likely not have to bother with merging accounts since it would do it automatically.

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Originally Posted by demonix

I think the update issues are from where it's only limiting to checking for the version that is installed be it version 5 or whatever instead of checking outside of that.

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That was in the old days, now it works a bit differently. I for one could update from 5.10 to 6.0 by manually running the "Check for updates" function, but another friend of mine several weeks later couldn't. I'm not sure how the update checker works, but it's still quite buggy. o_o;;

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Originally Posted by demonix

Those who are using windows 8 with a microsoft account that they've used for MSN/WLM and the metro version of skype will most likely not have to bother with merging accounts since it would do it automatically.

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Wrong. They will have to do it as well. The Metro version leads you through the merging process the same way as the desktop one.

This is retarded but it doesn't affect me at the same time.

^That, except it does effect me.

I haven't really used MSN/Windows Live Messenger/whateverthecrap they call it now in a while, but this still saddens me a bit. I met and kept in contact with a lot of friends on MSN/AF 5-6 years ago and I'll always miss those carefree days watching my taskbar light up yellow and hearing that persistent "Duh nuh nuh" noise as a kid. Tabbed windows, personalized backgrounds and themes, winks, being able to send voice clips and then obviously the voice/video integration, smilies and animated emoticons (all of these sound so trivial now). Good times.

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Originally Posted by GameGeeks

^That, except it does effect me.

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Well...I got Skype but Skype sucks in customization and smileys and all that.

I mean it that I will still be able to talk to all my friends.

I still use MSN... :c

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Originally Posted by FlashD

That was in the old days, now it works a bit differently. I for one could update from 5.10 to 6.0 by manually running the "Check for updates" function, but another friend of mine several weeks later couldn't. I'm not sure how the update checker works, but it's still quite buggy. o_o;;


Wrong. They will have to do it as well. The Metro version leads you through the merging process the same way as the desktop one.

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I've had to do a manual update going from the version 4 to 5 and from version 5 to 6.

The merging process is just a one click procedure on the metro version if you're using a microsoft account which it probably isn't in the desktop version.

Well I'm tired of having to switch between MSN and Skype all the time, so I for one, welcome this move from Microsoft.

I've always preferred MSN to Skype, but only because I'm more familiar with the former (it's kinda like that comfy, old sweater with holes in, but you wear it indoors anyway! XD). I prefer MSN for the customisations (like Gilgamesh said), but overall I find Skype better at managing group convos. I'm getting more famaliar with Skype over time and if I want to I can also use Skype via my TV while leaving my humble computer free for other stuff.

I have Skype but I honestly almost never use it. Windows Live I use for one of my friends, but I have her other places as well so it's not that big of a deal. I still really like it, though. :( Even though it's mostly like Neukifly said, it's more because it's that worn out old thing that you've got the most memories with that you know the best. It'll be a shame to lose it. :( I'll just have to get used to Skype, I guess.

What a load of crap. I dont use MSN or Skype, my MSN is on through Digsby [a program like Trillian] so now I can only take to people on MSN unless I open ANOTHER program? Screw this

good bye all alternatives .... now M$ totally screwed them :( ... and tnx to skype closed protocol, it won't be implemented in other programs.

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Originally Posted by wizzanator

good bye all alternatives .... now M$ totally screwed them :( ... and tnx to skype closed protocol, it won't be implemented in other programs.

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Is it just me or are Micro$oft heavily going the way of another certain high-profile company that enforces such strict closed-source use of its $oftware? Windows 8 isn't helping my opinion either. I hate that OS' GUI with a passion, workarounds or not (-coughs at Flash- >_>)

I'm starting to understand why there are so many Open-Source Nazis in the Linux community (including a friend of mine who keeps harassing me to start using something called XMPP or something ...). The way that Steam is going with increasing Mac and Linux support of its games, I'm beginning to think that in a few years my hard disk will just consist of copies of Ubuntu... since by that point everything will likely have good OpenGL support on those platforms.


But that's heavily off topic.

I don't particularly mind Skype, per-se. Yes, I used to prefer MSN, but that was pre-MSN 12 (where they entirely changed the thing and removed everything that I used it for, and added everything that I hate.) So in hindsight it's their fault it died because they turned it into a stupid porta-Facebook program. Plus everyone I know uses Skype now, so meh.

Goodbye, 10 years of my life. el oh el.

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Originally Posted by Ranshiin

I don't particularly mind Skype, per-se. Yes, I used to prefer MSN, but that was pre-MSN 12 (where they entirely changed the thing and removed everything that I used it for, and added everything that I hate.) So in hindsight it's their fault it died because they turned it into a stupid porta-Facebook program. Plus everyone I know uses Skype now, so meh.

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I pretty much never used M$ program for MSN, always went with alternatives that were less cliché and had only chatting stuff ... I don't need to play games in it, or draw in it ... or have dunno how many smilies ... just the basic stuff.

And I have a feeling Skype is gonna follow that road too ... sooner or later.

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Originally Posted by FlashD

NOTE: Sometimes Skype says it's up to date even when a new version is available. In case this happens to you, check your Skype's version and make sure it's at least 6.0. If it's not, download Skype from their website, run the setup and the installer will update your old installation.

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Unless you run Linux, in which case the latest you can get is a 4-series release, and the latest one that actually works properly with all features is an old 2-series release.

Shouldn't be surprised, though- poor MS support on a non-Windows system? Easy to anticipate, I admit.

I wonder if Pidgin can hook into a Skype account... I know it used to be possible to some extent, though the details and features available are a bit fuzzy in my memory...

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Originally Posted by Ranshiin

Is it just me or are Micro$oft heavily going the way of another certain high-profile company that enforces such strict closed-source use of its $oftware?

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You're looking for the term "closed ecosystem" rather than "closed source", since MS has been a closed-source company its entire life, with only token exceptions here and there, like some code to help virtualized Windows systems run on top of Linux VM hosts. But, yes, semantics aside, you've got the right idea, more or less.

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Windows 8 isn't helping my opinion either. I hate that OS' GUI with a passion, workarounds or not (-coughs at Flash- >_>)

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Nevermind the GUI, but take a look at UEFI, which in practice will keep you from installing your own OS on hardware sold with Windows 8. Ostensibly for security, but shims have already been found here and there to bypass it, just not very easily.

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I'm starting to understand why there are so many Open-Source Nazis in the Linux community.

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We only look crazy until you begin to glipse the briefest, first hints of understanding. Personally, I'm more of an open-standards guy myself, but my ilk tend to bunch up around open-source and free-software types out of sympathetic philosophies and to achieve common goals.

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(including a friend of mine who keeps harassing me to start using something called XMPP or something ...).

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That's the idea of an open standard (XMPP). The idea is that since the format/method of transmission is free to implement and is well documented, any program can implement it easily, given a little developer interest. The actual act of chatting or sending an IM can (in theory) become platform/OS/application agnostic that way. The next time somebody complains about Adobe Flash versus HTML5 or about MS Office formats versus the ODF standard, remember that this is what they're talking about, albeit on an arguably even greater scale.

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The way that Steam is going with increasing Mac and Linux support of its games, I'm beginning to think that in a few years my hard disk will just consist of copies of Ubuntu... since by that point everything will likely have good OpenGL support on those platforms.

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God, I hope it's not Ubuntu. Ubuntu sucks. Among the Linux systems, Ubuntu is the guy who kept the training wheels on his bike well into high school, and it eventually didn't even make the bike easier for him, but just got in the way and make him look like a dork. Kind of like the old MS Office helpers, like Clippy, the world's most hated paperclip.

That, and they constantly show hints of wishing they also had a closed-ecosystem for developers and an envy for Apple, and all the crying Linux fanboys in the world merely slow down their march towards an interface meant to condescend to users. They even made MS's Metro mistake before MS did, only Canonical (the company that makes Ubuntu) called it Unity instead. Awful damn thing...



Skype has been useful to me as a VOIP program, but mainly because you can cheaply get a number with voicemail, which I deliberately do not setup on my cellphone in order to avoid so very many hassles. Very convenient when you need to give out contact information for a job or an organization or whatever.

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Originally Posted by TheAsterisk!

I wonder if Pidgin can hook into a Skype account... I know it used to be possible to some extent, though the details and features available are a bit fuzzy in my memory...

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They already pointed on their blog that atm that's kinda impossible to do and stay open source :/ ...

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Originally Posted by TheAsterisk!

Nevermind the GUI, but take a look at UEFI, which in practice will keep you from installing your own OS on hardware sold with Windows 8. Ostensibly for security, but shims have already been found here and there to bypass it, just not very easily.

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God, I hope it's not Ubuntu. Ubuntu sucks. Among the Linux systems, Ubuntu is the guy who kept the training wheels on his bike well into high school, and it eventually didn't even make the bike easier for him, but just got in the way and make him look like a dork. Kind of like the old MS Office helpers, like Clippy, the world's most hated paperclip.

That, and they constantly show hints of wishing they also had a closed-ecosystem for developers and an envy for Apple, and all the crying Linux fanboys in the world merely slow down their march towards an interface meant to condescend to users. They even made MS's Metro mistake before MS did, only Canonical (the company that makes Ubuntu) called it Unity instead. Awful damn thing...

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I use Ubuntu.

BUT!! Do not fear, for even from the screenshots I saw of Unity I immediately knew I would hate it (and rightly so). I therefore am stuck waaaaaaaay back on 10.04 LTS (with my laptop for some reason refusing to update the kernel ... it does that randomly, it'll probably work next week.)

I just prefer the GNOME gui (I actually prefer whatever GUI used in xubuntu but I don't have that any more ... I think it was XDE or something ... can't remember. you'll correct me). I'm no *nix genius but I don't particularly mind ctrl+T'ing a terminal and looking stuff up on Google when I need anything done. >_>

Also I learned very early not to buy anything that has OS and computer hardware tied together (primarily OEM-systemed computers), except for laptops (because building a laptop from scratch is pretty much impossible/not worth the effort). I will not ever purchase any hardware/W8 tied deal-things. Because if Micro$oft are going to try to prevent me from dual-booting a second OS (such as ubuntu) if that is my own personal preference .... then two thumbs down.


It's so off-topic it hurts, but I already said my opinion of the whole MSN/Skype thing. Once upon a time I didn't care, but as time's gone by I've kinda come to understand why people have their opinions.

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Originally Posted by wizzanator

They already pointed on their blog that atm that's kinda impossible to do and stay open source :/ ...

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Oh, poppycock! Were such an assertion completely true, then LibreOffice wouldn't handle any of the MS Office formats well. It's possible, just inordinately difficult. To be clear here, I'm not talking full feature implementation, but maybe a piece here, a piece there. It wouldn't replace the proper Skype client, but was more an idle though of mine. The reason it came up in my mind was that Pidgin already works with MSN messenger, so might later work with the newer Skype chat feature. I don't expect it to IM 100% faithfully with Skype clients, and I won't even hope for VOIP compatibility, which is the much more difficult of the two.

Anyway, as I said, it was a passing thought, not a suggestion that everyone migrate over to Pidgin or else. I probably won't move over completely, either, but I might install it as an additional option going forwards.

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Originally Posted by Ranshiin

I use Ubuntu.

BUT!! Do not fear, for even from the screenshots I saw of Unity I immediately knew I would hate it (and rightly so). I therefore am stuck waaaaaaaay back on 10.04 LTS (with my laptop for some reason refusing to update the kernel ... it does that randomly, it'll probably work next week.)

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Lucid will eventually be put out to pasture, though, so I'd recommend a move to Debian or Mint sometime. (I prefer Puppy and Slackware, of course, but Debian isn't bad, and you'd be used to the package management at least.)

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I just prefer the GNOME gui

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[fanboy]Some overachiever made a GNOME/MATE Puppy not too long ago actually...[/fanboy]

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(I actually prefer whatever GUI used in xubuntu but I don't have that any more ... I think it was XDE or something ... can't remember. you'll correct me).

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XFCE. Plain old Debian will let you install that too.
[fanboy]The next version of Puppy coming up ("Saluki", I think) will be built with the XFCE interface, actually.[/fanboy]

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I'm no *nix genius but I don't particularly mind ctrl+T'ing a terminal and looking stuff up on Google when I need anything done. >_>

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The shell script is your friend, once you've been acquainted. :)

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Also I learned very early not to buy anything that has OS and computer hardware tied together (primarily OEM-systemed computers), except for laptops (because building a laptop from scratch is pretty much impossible/not worth the effort). I will not ever purchase any hardware/W8 tied deal-things. Because if Micro$oft are going to try to prevent me from dual-booting a second OS (such as ubuntu) if that is my own personal preference .... then two thumbs down.

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The problem with UEFI is that Intel is also lobbying for it, along with a whole host of other hardware companies and motherboard manufacturers, so buying anything without UEFI going ahead is going to be nigh impossible. Just try to look for one that explicitly state it'll let you disable "Secure Boot".

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Originally Posted by Ranshiin

I use Ubuntu.

BUT!! Do not fear, for even from the screenshots I saw of Unity I immediately knew I would hate it (and rightly so). I therefore am stuck waaaaaaaay back on 10.04 LTS (with my laptop for some reason refusing to update the kernel ... it does that randomly, it'll probably work next week.)

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It's xfce4. You know you can use 12.04 AND use xfce, right? None of that godawful unity nonsense. Takes some effort to root the last bits of it out (the scroll bars are a bit stupid by default), but it's not too hard.

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Originally Posted by Eris

It's xfce4. You know you can use 12.04 AND use xfce, right? None of that godawful unity nonsense. Takes some effort to root the last bits of it out (the scroll bars are a bit stupid by default), but it's not too hard.

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Well, when I last tried any updated version of Ubuntu (this was back on 11.04 and 11.10 or something, actually), I found via Google that it was possible to disable Unity and reinstall Gnome.

... I tried that, and found that it was still broken as fuck. Also some general design changes and other such things since Lucid don't sit well with me which is why I'm still using it (my first experience with Linux was with an old build of Xubuntu so therefore it's understandable that I prefer the older gnome layouts and lack the patience to faff about installing gnome / xfce to newer versions of ubuntu..)

When the LTS for Lucid runs out I'll just have to look at my options there and then. Too lazy otherwise. Yay.

Keep it on topic people. If you want to discuss Linux and desktop environments you can always create a thread for that.