Microsoft have recently done their best to become resurgent to some degree; and one of the new innovations as it were is an update to Windows Live Writer. This new version is installed by a new version of Windows Live Installer, which also offers a new and updated version of Windows Live Messenger as well as Windows Live Sign in Assistant.

Although I’d heard reports that the beta versions “sucked”; I tried a download to one of my comps when I noticed that a final retail version of the new WL Messenger was advertised in my Hotmail account. On clicking the link I wasn’t surprised to see that a new WL Installer loaded.

When this was activated I noticed that the softies had added Parental Controls to the choice of programs. I myself didn’t need any parental controls as my computers are never used by non-adults, so I didn’t bother with them and therefore have no idea how good or otherwise they are.

I did install the new WL messenger, Sign-in Assistant, and Writer though. I haven’t actually properly used the new messenger, although I have had a look at it and I am impressed by the sleeker look and the curviness of it: It appears more feminine as far as style is concerned. It also has a much gentler notification sound: Something softer and noticeable, rather than a harsh “DING!” that makes me jump out of my skin if I’m not expecting it. 

One thing I did notice, on the flipside of that, is that after installation it returns to the default blue. – Which is a lighter blue than before. I didn’t try it out for long; but during the 10 minutes or so I was messing about with it, I didn’t find anything that allowed me to change the colour back to pink, as I usually have it.

Hopefully it’s not operational on the Rubik’s-Cube principle: The longer you play with it, the harder it gets. ( – Yes I am aware of exactly what some of you are thinking about at this juncture. )

Anyway; rather than mess with Messenger at that point, I decided I’d rather write with Writer: -

Once again a nice curvaceously styled GUI; which actually this time did retain its previous pink tone. In fact it enhanced it somewhat. On this module I immediately noticed the colour-settings icon, not that I needed it in this case. The GUI is much the same as the old GUI but with a much sleeker appearance, It also uses the term “blog” rather than “weblog”, which is something that used to annoy me: Like OK it’s called a BLOG. I know that it’s an abbreviated version of the word “weblog”; but please don’t try to sound clever…Plus you’re just confusing people who aren’t aware of that.

What else has changed? Ooh lots; more than I have room or time to tell you all about here. One more main point though; and something quite important, a bug-fix from the previous version: - __________________ <——– I snagged this pic from cybernews.com . I thought it was rather creative to be frank. I don’t know whether it’s a Microsoft original or a creation by the aforementioned. Credit to the creator whichever.

When using the last version I’d alternate views between Web View and Text a lot. – Because I write and edit my articles partly in web-preview and partly in html. That was fine, but with the last version I’d have to ensure everything was finished totally and ready to be posted to blog before I inserted a Google Adwords advertisment in html. The reason for that was that if I inserted a Google Adwords ad in html and then switched back to Web View from Text it appeared initially that nothing was wrong. However if I then uploaded it to blog or returned to Text view the Adwords ad had multiplied. Every time I switched between Text and Web View it multiplied again!

This bug has now been fixed; and I can now change between “Edit” as it is now labelled, (Microsoft love to be as confusing as possible.) and “Source” as it is now known. (Ditto.) Everything else seems to work as before. It’s retained the add-ons from the previous version, and, after a single session getting used to the new look, I must say that I prefer it to the old one.

‘Would love to tell you more, but don’t have all day and night to write. I thought I’d just squeeze this post of a few notes into my blog-writing session, before I get on with other things.

Do try out the new Windows Live apps for yourself. Yesterday (10th January 2009) the latest WL apps weren’t exactly easy to find on Google: Everything led back to the older WL Installer with its previous versions. – But it’s there somewhere.

Do leave a comment and let me know what you think.