Microsoft is gearing up to serve a mandatory update to users running Windows Live Messenger as well as additional Windows Live Essentials components, but the company is not talking about the latest iteration of the instant messaging client or the Essentials suite.
Instead, the software giant will refresh only what it calls the pre-2011 releases of Windows Live Essentials, including Messenger.
This update is focused on customers still running Windows XP instead of one of the two platform versions that succeeded it, Windows Vista or Windows 7.
Piero Sierra, Group Program Manager, Windows Live explains that the pre-2011 Windows Live Essentials and Messenger update will be mandatory to all Windows XP users.
Messenger is singled out in this regard, because, although the refresh is considered of minor impact, the IM client is still the most affected.
“This minor update to Windows Live Messenger and the other Windows Live Essentials programs includes a set of important security updates, performance improvements, targeted bug fixes, and some other, minor changes,” Sierra noted.
Fact is that by this point in time, the vast majority of users are bound to have already upgraded, since while the update is only now becoming mandatory, it
was released in the first half of 2010.
“The update began rolling out last May, but because of the security improvements included, it will become mandatory over the next week or so,” Sierra added.
The refresh will come on a total of 48 languages to localized version of Essentials and Messenger all over the world, and since it’s designed for Windows XP, it of course doesn’t involve anything related to
Windows Live Messenger 2011.
Windows Live Essentials 2011 supports only Windows 7 and Windows Vista due to the graphics advancements which require DirectX 11.
“As we mentioned in a previous post on Windows Live Messenger video and photo sharing functionality, this Messenger update simplifies how you start a video call from within Messenger pre-2011.
“Rather than individually managing your and your friend’s webcam feeds and audio, you can now start a video call just by clicking the “Video” button in the conversation window or by clicking the webcam icon.
“Also, you can more easily make video calls to your friends who do not have webcams, controlling the audio for both you and your friend by clicking the speaker and microphone icons,” Sierra concluded.
Windows Live Messenger 2011 Build 15.4.3508.1109 is available for download here. Windows Live Mesh 2011 is available for download here.
Windows Live Photo Gallery 2011 is available for download here.
Windows Live Movie Maker 2011 is available for download here.
Windows Live Mail 2011 is available for download here.
Windows Live Writer 2011 is available for download here.
The Bing Bar is available for download here.
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