Farewell to Android
Klout is FarmVille for grown-ups
Does Flash matter on mobile?
What is Twitter?
If there's one thing Microsoft Messenger for Mac users have been waiting far too long for, it's video and audio support. Until now, Microsoft only allowed corporate users of Messenger for Mac to use audio and video. Finally, with the recent release of Microsoft Messenger 8 for Mac, they've opened it up to all users but the question is, does anyone really care anymore? In the many years that Microsoft have neglected Mac users, they've found alternatives that will allow them to chat with video in particular aMSN and Skype.
Those that have converted to Skype, I can't see Microsoft winning back. Skype provides an excellent video and audio chat platform that usually works for most people without problems and by now, most users will have convinced their essential buddies to open a Skype account. However in the case of aMSN (an unofficial modified version of Microsoft Messenger that has supported video for years), Microsoft might have more chance of winning back users.
The first advantage for Microsoft is that all aMSN users already have Windows Live accounts. The second, as this post proved, is that many users have struggled to get their webcam functioning with aMSN. The third, and perhaps most important, is that Microsoft have been very clever in changing the Audio/Video protocols for Microsoft Messenger in version 8.0. The result is that aMSN no longer supports Video or Audio clips at the moment and it's now in the balance whether they will ever be able to get it working again.
Therefore, if Microsoft Messenger for Mac can simply offer reliable webcam support with high quality audio then there is a good chance Mac users may give Microsoft Messenger a second chance. This is especially true for Mac users who still use Window Live Mail and still have lots of Windows Live contacts.
In the meantime, let's hope that the team behind Adium will follow suit and add video and audio support in the near future. That's something for Mac users to get really excited about.
saeed
saeed hanafy mohammad
Helo
"Those that have converted to Skype, I can't see Microsoft winning back..." Then Microsoft acquires skype... lol
Haha, yes. I never saw that one coming but that's one way to beat the competition I guess - if you can't beat 'em, join 'em! (or buy 'em in Microsoft's case).
goood
Yes, but this neglects the fact that MSN and other Microsoft applications make your computer run slowly and freeze periodically so you either a) have to force quit them (prompting Microsoft's force quit interface to open and freeze, prompting Mac's force quit interface to open so that you can report both MSN and Microsoft's force quit interface for needing force quit) or b) have to force power off because they have frozen your entire computer. Considering all the countermeasures Apple puts in to avoid it, freezing the entire Mac is quite a feat, and I have never seen any application outside of Microsoft's Office Suite manage it. If this didn't happen multiple times in an hour, this would be comical.
On the other hand, aMSN does not periodically freeze my computer OR slow it down. Long story short: I'm sticking with aMSN.
lovvvvv
i can't have windows messenger back. I downloaded mac. messenger, But like to have my old messenger back. Both have the same email and password. How can i change that? I have ` new apple mac, but like to have windows messenger ! not messenger mac : sorry lol
@gini, If I understand you correctly, if you want the equivalent of Windows Live Messenger for Windows on Mac, then just download Microsoft Messenger for Mac.