Windows Live Messenger Beta First Impressions

My first impression on WLM Beta is fairly positive still I would like to give
one quick suggestion.

There is too much blank space.
In the contact list window:
Around the Display Picture and all around the header there is too much
wasted space. Heck! There is too much space around everything. The pub on
the bottoms is a nice example as is the size minimum size of each entry in
the contact list. Think of small notebooks with that not much of space in the
vertical axis.

In the conversation window:
There is too much space in the Display Picture area. I use a small screen
and most of my window is just blank!
I suggest to move the arrow down icon next to the display picture and merge
it functionalities to the menu obtained when the display picture is clicked.
The webcam icon could then be relocated to somewhere that does not occupy 1
cm-wide stripe from top to bottom in the window.

Now a couple of suggestions
Add pption to remove groups like the one with favorites
Move the progress bar of transfer files to outside the conversation log. A
possible place is the obvious sea of white space between display pictures.
Its a pain to have to scroll the message log to see how the transfer is going.
A long asked feature... resume file sending.
Option to automatically place the received files in folders with the email
address of the sender.

I'll investigate/test further and then post it here again.

Keep up the great work.

It seems like everyone is agreeing that the UI poorly uses the screen space
that the windows take up. Its especially frustrating when using a small
laptop screen. Everything is so spaced out that I have to make windows bigger
for things to look right. I have to scroll vertically on the user list window
a lot more becuase everything is more spread out and uses bigger fonts.

"ups" wrote:

> My first impression on WLM Beta is fairly positive still I would like to give
> one quick suggestion.
>
> There is too much blank space.
> In the contact list window:
> Around the Display Picture and all around the header there is too much
> wasted space. Heck! There is too much space around everything. The pub on
> the bottoms is a nice example as is the size minimum size of each entry in
> the contact list. Think of small notebooks with that not much of space in the
> vertical axis.
>
> In the conversation window:
> There is too much space in the Display Picture area. I use a small screen
> and most of my window is just blank!
> I suggest to move the arrow down icon next to the display picture and merge
> it functionalities to the menu obtained when the display picture is clicked.
> The webcam icon could then be relocated to somewhere that does not occupy 1
> cm-wide stripe from top to bottom in the window.
>
> Now a couple of suggestions
> Add pption to remove groups like the one with favorites
> Move the progress bar of transfer files to outside the conversation log. A
> possible place is the obvious sea of white space between display pictures.
> Its a pain to have to scroll the message log to see how the transfer is going.
> A long asked feature... resume file sending.
> Option to automatically place the received files in folders with the email
> address of the sender.
>
> I'll investigate/test further and then post it here again.
>
> Keep up the great work.

totaly agree on the ui.. the weird thing is that its such an obvous mistake
to make... did the messenger team actually belive that those blank spaces
where appealing? it they seem more like mistakes by a person who doesnt
really understand window layout controls and that makes me worried about
messenger..

"ups" wrote:

> My first impression on WLM Beta is fairly positive still I would like to give
> one quick suggestion.
>
> There is too much blank space.
> In the contact list window:
> Around the Display Picture and all around the header there is too much
> wasted space. Heck! There is too much space around everything. The pub on
> the bottoms is a nice example as is the size minimum size of each entry in
> the contact list. Think of small notebooks with that not much of space in the
> vertical axis.
>
> In the conversation window:
> There is too much space in the Display Picture area. I use a small screen
> and most of my window is just blank!
> I suggest to move the arrow down icon next to the display picture and merge
> it functionalities to the menu obtained when the display picture is clicked.
> The webcam icon could then be relocated to somewhere that does not occupy 1
> cm-wide stripe from top to bottom in the window.
>
> Now a couple of suggestions
> Add pption to remove groups like the one with favorites
> Move the progress bar of transfer files to outside the conversation log. A
> possible place is the obvious sea of white space between display pictures.
> Its a pain to have to scroll the message log to see how the transfer is going.
> A long asked feature... resume file sending.
> Option to automatically place the received files in folders with the email
> address of the sender.
>
> I'll investigate/test further and then post it here again.
>
> Keep up the great work.

I agree. The interface design is poorly done compared to previous versions.

Also I would like to see a tooltip displayed for the contact's display name
block in the conversation window. This will be useful for display names that
are too long to be displayed and also to quickly identify the contact's email
address.

I don't mind if we no longer have "Out to Lunch" and "In a Call", but the
"Be Right Back" status is needed and used very often. Please consider adding
it back.

Thanks and best regards.

"ups" wrote:

> My first impression on WLM Beta is fairly positive still I would like to give
> one quick suggestion.
>
> There is too much blank space.
> In the contact list window:
> Around the Display Picture and all around the header there is too much
> wasted space. Heck! There is too much space around everything. The pub on
> the bottoms is a nice example as is the size minimum size of each entry in
> the contact list. Think of small notebooks with that not much of space in the
> vertical axis.
>
> In the conversation window:
> There is too much space in the Display Picture area. I use a small screen
> and most of my window is just blank!
> I suggest to move the arrow down icon next to the display picture and merge
> it functionalities to the menu obtained when the display picture is clicked.
> The webcam icon could then be relocated to somewhere that does not occupy 1
> cm-wide stripe from top to bottom in the window.
>
> Now a couple of suggestions
> Add pption to remove groups like the one with favorites
> Move the progress bar of transfer files to outside the conversation log. A
> possible place is the obvious sea of white space between display pictures.
> Its a pain to have to scroll the message log to see how the transfer is going.
> A long asked feature... resume file sending.
> Option to automatically place the received files in folders with the email
> address of the sender.
>
> I'll investigate/test further and then post it here again.
>
> Keep up the great work.

The "What's New" list is a nice addition, but the link for the contact's name
should open a new conversation window with the contact instead of showing
his/her profile. It's logical to assume that I would wish to chat with a
person after seeing his/her recent activities in Messenger. The profile has
little or no use in this case.

"ups" wrote:

> My first impression on WLM Beta is fairly positive still I would like to give
> one quick suggestion.
>
> There is too much blank space.
> In the contact list window:
> Around the Display Picture and all around the header there is too much
> wasted space. Heck! There is too much space around everything. The pub on
> the bottoms is a nice example as is the size minimum size of each entry in
> the contact list. Think of small notebooks with that not much of space in the
> vertical axis.
>
> In the conversation window:
> There is too much space in the Display Picture area. I use a small screen
> and most of my window is just blank!
> I suggest to move the arrow down icon next to the display picture and merge
> it functionalities to the menu obtained when the display picture is clicked.
> The webcam icon could then be relocated to somewhere that does not occupy 1
> cm-wide stripe from top to bottom in the window.
>
> Now a couple of suggestions
> Add pption to remove groups like the one with favorites
> Move the progress bar of transfer files to outside the conversation log. A
> possible place is the obvious sea of white space between display pictures.
> Its a pain to have to scroll the message log to see how the transfer is going.
> A long asked feature... resume file sending.
> Option to automatically place the received files in folders with the email
> address of the sender.
>
> I'll investigate/test further and then post it here again.
>
> Keep up the great work.

All alert sounds other than the New Message sound are too soft to be heard.
In any case the Nudge sound should not be softer than the New Message sound.

The PhotoIM photo sharing looks quite cool but it should allow the receiver
to view the picture in an external viewer and provide an option to save the
file.

"ups" wrote:

> My first impression on WLM Beta is fairly positive still I would like to give
> one quick suggestion.
>
> There is too much blank space.
> In the contact list window:
> Around the Display Picture and all around the header there is too much
> wasted space. Heck! There is too much space around everything. The pub on
> the bottoms is a nice example as is the size minimum size of each entry in
> the contact list. Think of small notebooks with that not much of space in the
> vertical axis.
>
> In the conversation window:
> There is too much space in the Display Picture area. I use a small screen
> and most of my window is just blank!
> I suggest to move the arrow down icon next to the display picture and merge
> it functionalities to the menu obtained when the display picture is clicked.
> The webcam icon could then be relocated to somewhere that does not occupy 1
> cm-wide stripe from top to bottom in the window.
>
> Now a couple of suggestions
> Add pption to remove groups like the one with favorites
> Move the progress bar of transfer files to outside the conversation log. A
> possible place is the obvious sea of white space between display pictures.
> Its a pain to have to scroll the message log to see how the transfer is going.
> A long asked feature... resume file sending.
> Option to automatically place the received files in folders with the email
> address of the sender.
>
> I'll investigate/test further and then post it here again.
>
> Keep up the great work.

Bug 1: If a link in the information bar spans multiple lines, hovering the
mouse pointer over a lower part of the link causes the content of the
information bar to be scrolled up automatically. The up and down scroll
buttons at the side do not seem to work at all.

Bug 2: Overlay colour at the top of conversation window should not have a
higher z-order than the contact's display picture (display picture should be
on top).

"ups" wrote:

> My first impression on WLM Beta is fairly positive still I would like to give
> one quick suggestion.
>
> There is too much blank space.
> In the contact list window:
> Around the Display Picture and all around the header there is too much
> wasted space. Heck! There is too much space around everything. The pub on
> the bottoms is a nice example as is the size minimum size of each entry in
> the contact list. Think of small notebooks with that not much of space in the
> vertical axis.
>
> In the conversation window:
> There is too much space in the Display Picture area. I use a small screen
> and most of my window is just blank!
> I suggest to move the arrow down icon next to the display picture and merge
> it functionalities to the menu obtained when the display picture is clicked.
> The webcam icon could then be relocated to somewhere that does not occupy 1
> cm-wide stripe from top to bottom in the window.
>
> Now a couple of suggestions
> Add pption to remove groups like the one with favorites
> Move the progress bar of transfer files to outside the conversation log. A
> possible place is the obvious sea of white space between display pictures.
> Its a pain to have to scroll the message log to see how the transfer is going.
> A long asked feature... resume file sending.
> Option to automatically place the received files in folders with the email
> address of the sender.
>
> I'll investigate/test further and then post it here again.
>
> Keep up the great work.

Blank space is one of those UI tricks that makes things look more "clean". My guess is
they'll pull back a little in the final final look.

--
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
--



"aL3891" <> wrote in message
news:1D717086-124A-4339-A39E-...
> totaly agree on the ui.. the weird thing is that its such an obvous mistake
> to make... did the messenger team actually belive that those blank spaces
> where appealing? it they seem more like mistakes by a person who doesnt
> really understand window layout controls and that makes me worried about
> messenger..
>
> "ups" wrote:
>
>> My first impression on WLM Beta is fairly positive still I would like to give
>> one quick suggestion.
>>
>> There is too much blank space.
>> In the contact list window:
>> Around the Display Picture and all around the header there is too much
>> wasted space. Heck! There is too much space around everything. The pub on
>> the bottoms is a nice example as is the size minimum size of each entry in
>> the contact list. Think of small notebooks with that not much of space in the
>> vertical axis.
>>
>> In the conversation window:
>> There is too much space in the Display Picture area. I use a small screen
>> and most of my window is just blank!
>> I suggest to move the arrow down icon next to the display picture and merge
>> it functionalities to the menu obtained when the display picture is clicked.
>> The webcam icon could then be relocated to somewhere that does not occupy 1
>> cm-wide stripe from top to bottom in the window.
>>
>> Now a couple of suggestions
>> Add pption to remove groups like the one with favorites
>> Move the progress bar of transfer files to outside the conversation log. A
>> possible place is the obvious sea of white space between display pictures.
>> Its a pain to have to scroll the message log to see how the transfer is going.
>> A long asked feature... resume file sending.
>> Option to automatically place the received files in folders with the email
>> address of the sender.
>>
>> I'll investigate/test further and then post it here again.
>>
>> Keep up the great work.

I definitely agree with the blank space in the contact window and that it
should be used for transfers or information or maybe an option to pick any of
the 2 that is also a good place just under the contacts display picture and
for multiple transfers it then lists underneath each other, theres nothing
wrse than having to scroll up and long convo jus to check how the transfer is
doing. Apart from that i love everthing else about the new messenger so far
well apart from the obvious bugs but great work messenger team!

"ups" wrote:

> My first impression on WLM Beta is fairly positive still I would like to give
> one quick suggestion.
>
> There is too much blank space.
> In the contact list window:
> Around the Display Picture and all around the header there is too much
> wasted space. Heck! There is too much space around everything. The pub on
> the bottoms is a nice example as is the size minimum size of each entry in
> the contact list. Think of small notebooks with that not much of space in the
> vertical axis.
>
> In the conversation window:
> There is too much space in the Display Picture area. I use a small screen
> and most of my window is just blank!
> I suggest to move the arrow down icon next to the display picture and merge
> it functionalities to the menu obtained when the display picture is clicked.
> The webcam icon could then be relocated to somewhere that does not occupy 1
> cm-wide stripe from top to bottom in the window.
>
> Now a couple of suggestions
> Add pption to remove groups like the one with favorites
> Move the progress bar of transfer files to outside the conversation log. A
> possible place is the obvious sea of white space between display pictures.
> Its a pain to have to scroll the message log to see how the transfer is going.
> A long asked feature... resume file sending.
> Option to automatically place the received files in folders with the email
> address of the sender.
>
> I'll investigate/test further and then post it here again.
>
> Keep up the great work.

yep too much white space

"ups" wrote:

> My first impression on WLM Beta is fairly positive still I would like to give
> one quick suggestion.
>
> There is too much blank space.
> In the contact list window:
> Around the Display Picture and all around the header there is too much
> wasted space. Heck! There is too much space around everything. The pub on
> the bottoms is a nice example as is the size minimum size of each entry in
> the contact list. Think of small notebooks with that not much of space in the
> vertical axis.
>
> In the conversation window:
> There is too much space in the Display Picture area. I use a small screen
> and most of my window is just blank!
> I suggest to move the arrow down icon next to the display picture and merge
> it functionalities to the menu obtained when the display picture is clicked.
> The webcam icon could then be relocated to somewhere that does not occupy 1
> cm-wide stripe from top to bottom in the window.
>
> Now a couple of suggestions
> Add pption to remove groups like the one with favorites
> Move the progress bar of transfer files to outside the conversation log. A
> possible place is the obvious sea of white space between display pictures.
> Its a pain to have to scroll the message log to see how the transfer is going.
> A long asked feature... resume file sending.
> Option to automatically place the received files in folders with the email
> address of the sender.
>
> I'll investigate/test further and then post it here again.
>
> Keep up the great work.