Updates are available for immediate download for both Windows Live Messenger 8.1 and Windows Live Mail desktop. Windows Live Messenger 8.1.0168.00 is, in fact, more of a refresh than an update. "We have collected your fabulous feedback on Messenger 8.1 Beta and have made improvements to Messenger based on it. Your experience should be improved," revealed the Windows Live Messenger team.

And in fact, build 8.1.0168.00 brings no new features to the table. This refresh has kept all the capabilities of the old version. However, the Windows Live Messenger team has focused on improving stability and performance. One of the aspects that have seen a lot of work is the integration of Windows Live Messenger 8.1 with Windows Vista. Following this refresh, users will notice an improvement in usability.

Windows Live Messenger 8.1.0168.00 can be downloaded manually via this link, but users will also be prompted to upgrade.

Joining the Windows Live Messenger 8.1 refresh, Microsoft has additionally made available a update to Windows Live Mail desktop. Windows Live Mail Desktop 8.0.1223 Beta is also a refresh build. At a first glance, this build also focused on improving the existing capabilities. This is of course all speculation since the product team has failed to produce a changelog until the time of this article.

But one of the modifications that are indeed immediately evident is the login screen which is completely revamped. Although the product has been made available for download, the Windows Live Mail desktop Team has not announced it and has not provided a single detail regarding the release.

Windows Live Mail Desktop 8.0.1223 Beta is available for download here.