Discover Windows Live Messenger 2011 in Screenshots

We will continue our series about the Windows Live Essentials 2011 suite with an article about Windows Live Messenger, one of the most popular programs included in it. The 2011 version brings a bunch of goodies like Facebook, My Space or LinkedIn integration. It also permits you to watch and share online videos and images, discuss with your friends using HD video chat and much, much more. This article is a feature tour with lots of screenshots in which I will give you a peek at Windows Live Messenger and its capabilities.

Where to Find Windows Live Messenger

Windows Live Messenger will start after you have finished installing Windows Live Essentials 2011 and, automatically, each time you start your computer. If you need to start it manually, there are several ways to find it. One option is to type 'messenger' in Start Menu's search bar and, under Programs, choose Windows Live Messenger.

Another option is to go to Start -> All Programs -> Windows Live Messenger.

Integrate Social Networks With Windows Live Messenger

Windows Live Messenger 2011 offers connectivity with 3 social networks: Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn. This means that you can see your friends, their updates, chat with them, share photos and other links, tag your friends, share your status, add comments to posts and much more. After you log in to Windows Live Messenger with your Windows Live account, choose the social network that you want to connect to and provide the needed credentials.

Your friends' updates are divided into different categories. You can see the social highlights - the most relevant updates, the most recent ones, just your activities, only photo updates, videos, status messages or links.

To add a comment, all you have to do is press the '+' button of the appropriate post, write your thoughts and press Enter.

You can view videos directly in Windows Live Messenger without needing to open a browser window. If your friends shared multiple pictures they are shown as a slide show.

Set a status message that can be posted on both Messenger and any social network you want.

Notifications In Windows Live Messenger

You can choose to be notified on different occasions: when your friends log in, when someone sends you an IM, when you receive a new e-mail, etc.

If you are connected to different social networks, you will be notified each time your friends post something new. You can choose what updates you don't want to see by hiding all the posts from a specific person.

Choose your favorite friends, so you can see their updates first and contact them easier.

Interact with Friends in Windows Live Messenger

If you have friends that use Yahoo or Hotmail accounts, you can add them in Windows Live Messenger and chat with them.

When you're adding friends, mark the ones that matter most as favorites.

Right click a friend to send him/her an IM, an e-mail, see their photos or their social updates.

Your contacts from social networks are also visible. Select them to chat.
Choose the friends you want to see: all, just the favorites, the online contacts, those from Facebook, LinkedIn or MySpace, etc.

Chat to your friends using video chat. Use a high-definition web-cam and go full screen to truly enjoy your conversation. If your friends are not around to chat, you can leave them a video message.

You can also share photos with your contacts.

Or watch an online video together while you chat.

Share a file by dragging it to your conversation window and the friend you are chatting with can download it.

Conclusion

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