Can alert window be kept open longer or repeat

If I am busy or not at the computer, I'm obviously not going to see the
popup alert that I got new e-mail. The alert popup displays for only
around 15 seconds. The tray icon for WL Messenger isn't changed to
indicate to me that there are new e-mails waiting to be read. Once the
alert window disappears, there is nothing to indicate that an alert was
ever presented.

Can the duration of when the alert window is displayed be increased
(preferrably to make it permanent until I close it)? Can it be made to
repeat so it displays again later, like every 5 minutes? Seems the
alert popup is worthless if I don't see it when I'm actually at the
computer.

Greetings,

To directly your answer your question, no, you can't really customize their behavior. If you
turned all the other alerts off, moved your mouse over to where they pop-up before walking
away from your PC, it would actually "stick" there until you move your mouse away. I realize
that's not really a good workaround...

I have an old feature request on my list about Messenger changing its icon when you have new
mail (which I still think would be cool) but if you have Windows Live Mail installed and
running in the notification area, it will do this for you and provide an changed icon.

There is a few places in the Messenger interface where it does show the current count of
mail -- so there's that too.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2008 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
--



"VanguardLH" <> wrote in message news:fv7ert$jjk$...
> If I am busy or not at the computer, I'm obviously not going to see the
> popup alert that I got new e-mail. The alert popup displays for only
> around 15 seconds. The tray icon for WL Messenger isn't changed to
> indicate to me that there are new e-mails waiting to be read. Once the
> alert window disappears, there is nothing to indicate that an alert was
> ever presented.
>
> Can the duration of when the alert window is displayed be increased
> (preferrably to make it permanent until I close it)? Can it be made to
> repeat so it displays again later, like every 5 minutes? Seems the
> alert popup is worthless if I don't see it when I'm actually at the
> computer.

"Jonathan Kay [MVP]" wrote in
<news:1231E21A-00C1-4018-8911->:

> To directly your answer your question, no, you can't really customize
> their behavior. If you turned all the other alerts off, moved your
> mouse over to where they pop-up before walking away from your PC, it
> would actually "stick" there until you move your mouse away. I
> realize that's not really a good workaround...

Well, it's doable if I remember to do it.

> I have an old feature request on my list about Messenger changing its
> icon when you have new mail (which I still think would be cool) but
> if you have Windows Live Mail installed and running in the
> notification area, it will do this for you and provide an changed
> icon.

Alas, the tray icon for Windows Live Mail changes from a white envelope
with blue printing to the same icon with a yellow envelope atop of it.
That contrast is low and the tray icon is non-animated so there really
isn't much to draw my eyeballs over there when there happens to be a
new mail. I like the balloon alert from Windows Live Messenger but it
doesn't stick around.

> There is a few places in the Messenger interface where it does show
> the current count of mail -- so there's that too.

But I'd have to actually have the main window displayed for Windows
Live Messenger to see that. I've never really cared for a prattle
client but figured it might help to alert me to new messages in my
Windows Live Hotmail account; however, that looks to be a bust and I'll
have to suffer with the low-contrast, non-animated tray icon from
Windows Live Mail.