Microsoft Messenger for Mac
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Microsoft Messenger for Mac | |
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 Contact lists and chat window, v6.0.2, on Mac OS X v10.4.8 "Tiger" |
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| Developer: | Macintosh Business Unit |
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| Latest release: | 6.0.2 / January 30, 2007 |
| OS: | Mac OS X, Mac OS |
| Use: | Instant messenger |
| License: | Proprietary |
| Website: | www.microsoft.com |
Microsoft Messenger for Mac (previously MSN Messenger for Mac) is the official Mac OS client for the Windows Live Messaging protocol and is produced by the Macintosh Business Unit, a division of Microsoft. However, the feature list is limited in comparison to that of its Windows counterpart. The client is still maintained and updated but still lacks features like audio and video chat. In response to the lack of features, unofficial clients like Adium, aMSN, Mercury Messenger, and Proteus have been released for Mac OS.
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[edit] Versions
The versions 3.x and later of Microsoft Messenger for Mac feature new Aqua graphics, whereas version 2.x and below have graphics similar to Windows Messenger 4.0. Versions 5.x use the brushed metal theme.
- Version 2.5.1 is an update to version 2.5, which is a mandatory update to version 2.1 that is available for users running Mac OS 9.2.2.
- Version 3.5 is available for Mac OS X revisions older to 10.2.8
- Version 4.0.1 is available for Mac OS X revisions newer than 10.2.8
- Version 5.1.1 is available for Mac OS X revisions 10.3 and newer
- The latest version of Microsoft Messenger for Mac is 6.0.2 for Mac OS X v10.3.9 or newer.
[edit] Current features
- Chat with Yahoo! Messenger contacts
- Status messages that personal contacts can see (can be set to show current song in iTunes)
- Full custom emoticon support, usable with personal contacts
- Send and receive custom animated emoticons with personal contacts
- Conversation history searchable with Spotlight
- Spellchecking in instant messages
- Personal and corporate (Microsoft Exchange) accounts
[edit] Criticisms
- Microsoft Messenger for Mac is U.S.-centric. Microsoft Messenger for Mac translates o + / into ø, giving all Norwegian .no addresses a weird appearance: http://www.microsoft.nøDefault.mspx as opposed to http://www.microsoft.no/Default.mspx.
- Microsoft Messenger for Mac is not as fully featured as Windows Live Messenger for Windows, which is an issue for many Mac users and Windows users considering "switching" to a Mac. In particular, the lack of audio/video functionality for Microsoft Messenger users is a disadvantage.
[edit] See also
