14 DAY TRIAL // A preview Build of Windows Live Messenger 2010/Wave 4 has been leaked and is available for download in the wild together with the entire collection of clients included in the next iteration of Windows Live Essentials suite. According to various third-party sources, Build 15.2.2585.0122 of Windows Live Essentials Wave 4 made its way out of Redmond not only to select testers chosen by Microsoft, but also on warez websites and torrent trackers.
Judging by the build version number (15.2.2585.0122), the leaked copy of Windows Live Essentials belongs to the Milestone 2 stage of development. An unconfirmed report published earlier this week indicates that Microsoft has taken the development process of Windows Live Essentials Wave 3 up to Build 15.3.2659.319, namely Milestone 3, with Messenger up to 15.3.2649.311.
Reports in the wild reveal that the vast majority of the Windows Live Essentials Wave 4 clients should have worked without any problems, with the exception of Messenger. Apparently, Microsoft had restricted access to the next version of Windows Live Messenger, and only select testers got to run the program. However, a patch was also made available alongside the leaked Windows Live Essentials Wave 4 Build 15.2.2585.0122 allowing users to circumvent the company’s limitations.
But now it seems end users that are looking to jump the gun and get access to Windows Live Essentials Wave 4 earlier than the software giant will allow it will also need more than the leaked build and a patch. It appears that the maker has successfully blocked installations of Windows Live Essentials Wave 4 Build 15.2.2585.0122. Failed deployments generate the following error message: “Windows Live Essentials could not be installed. Couldn’t update to the latest version. Couldn’t install these programs: Sync, Messenger, Mail, Companion, Writer, Family Safety, Bing Bar, Photo Gallery and Movie Maker because there was a problem updating one of the programs, none of them were updated. Error 0x80040609.”
A public Beta of Windows Live Essentials Wave 4 is expected by mid-2010, with the final release reportedly planned for the second half of this year.
Windows Live Messenger 9.0 (2009) 14.0.8089.726 is available for download here. Windows Live Mail 2009 14.0.8089.0726 is available for download here.
Windows Live Family Safety is available for download here.
Windows Live Writer 14.0.8089.726 is available for download here.
Windows Live Photo Gallery 2009 14.0.8081.709 is available for download here.
