[Matt]

Microsoft have released a public beta version of Windows Live Messenger 9. New features include:

+ Redesigned interface
One cool feature of the new interface is the frame around the display picture, which changes colour to suit your status - green for available, red for busy, orange for away, faded for offline.

+ Favourites

+ Improved groups function

+ "What's New" Feed
Every time one of your contacts changes their personal message, display picture etc. you'll get a notification in the "What's New" area in the main window.

+ Clickable URLs in personal messages

+ Animated display pictures

+ More personalisation options
You can now define your own unique sound which your contacts will hear every time you sign in. In addition, you can now change the look of WLM with 'Scenes'. Your contacts will see whatever Scene or window colour you have selected whenever they chat with you.

+ Sign in from more than one computer at once

+ Photo sharing



Screenshots:


(Click to enlarge)



If you want to download it (bear in mind it's a beta version), you can here:
http://download.live.com/messenger

What do you think?