Well the Windows Live Messenger 9 public beta was released overnight and there as been an outcry of emails asking for updates for skins. Firstly I will say that there will be no skin updates for any beta build of Windows Live Messenger.

Secondly even if there was, Messenger Plus Live! does not work with the beta version and Patchou has already said that he will be updating Plus but that will most likely come out until its close to final. This means it is totally pointless to even ask if skins are being updated to the new beta because no plus = no skins.

But one of the more serious reasons as to why there will be no skin updates to this beta is because of what Windows Live Messenger 9 brings to the table. Although I have known about this for a while now, I did not want to bring it up since beta versions of Windows Live Messenger tend to change a lot in their life span. I did not want to jump to conclusions early, but since its a public beta now it seems like its going to go down this path.

Windows Live Messenger 9 has the potential to destroy skins altogether for Vista users and as a Vista user if this does come to pass it would mean that there would be no point in me skinning anymore since I won't be able to enjoy my own creations. A lot of you might be confused at this moment but I will explain it the best I can.

If vista users haven't noticed yet you will see that Windows Live Messenger uses the Windows Vista window frame instead of the old style that we have been used to for years now. Whilst everyone might think this a good thing and saying that they are finally bringing Aero to the table for skinners it is far from it.

Basicly instead of using Messengers own resources like always, the new Aero frame that Messenger uses relies on Windows Vista's own theme which means skinners can no longer edit this part of Messenger under Windows Vista unless Aero is disabled at all times. So what does that mean exactly? It means that you will not be able to have a truly complete Messenger skin under vista whilst Aero is enabled. There are a few other things that 9 brings that also kill a few skinning techniques that people use at the moment. One of the new things the 9 brings to the table is the fact that resources are now 90% MSNRLE, which means there will be a lot of resources that will not be able to be replaced without being able to replicate the layers that MSNRLE images use. One of these is the emoticons, normally skinners edit one png image, but with the new beta they are now an MSNRLE image which means they are impossible to replace because there is no emoticon code anywhere and in order to replace a MSNRLE with a png you must have access to its code. The only solution is to somehow replicate the layered MSNRLE (which isn't possible at the moment).

If in future versions of Messenger they decide to expand on Aero, well then it would mean that there will be a lot more things that skinners won't be able to edit if they do choose to use the same method. While you still can skin the other parts of Messenger like normal, because you have no control over the window frame it will mean skins are really limited now and you will only be able to do so much with them. The shaped skins like Batman, Ironman and so on will not be possible with Aero so it essentially kills what was a pretty good start to some unique skins.

So that is how things are looking for the future of skinning, it is not looking good at the moment (going by the current beta). I know that Messenger is not final yet, but Microsoft generally does not change much from a public beta to a final version.

Anyway just to reiterate the point of this post:

Do not post or email me asking for updates for Windows Live Messenger 9 beta. It will not be happening and also do not go bugging Patchou for a working version of Plus! either. Give the guy a break

Until next time.

Willz.

how many emails did you get??? just for records

warmth Wrote:how many emails did you get??? just for records

Get at least 2 every 3 days with the contact form on the forums, though last night that jumped to 10

I get the feeling they're migrating to layered MSRLE just to annoy us

I do know that Willz and certain others have the tool to create MSRLEs (not publicly available, unfortunately), and I'm sure that you can make layers with it, right?

This could be the beginning of the end of skinning At least for Vista users so far, but...

where is my mind

ryxdp Wrote:I get the feeling they're migrating to layered MSRLE just to annoy us

I do know that Willz and certain others have the tool to create MSRLEs (not publicly available, unfortunately), and I'm sure that you can make layers with it, right?

This could be the beginning of the end of skinning At least for Vista users so far, but...

Actually after mucking around a bit more I think I might have found something that will make skinning a lot worse for both xp and vista. Not jumping to conclusions yet, I am still testing. But yeah at the moment its not looking too good.

Hello!!!

Its very very bad

i hope that you can help about this...


Seelater!