SSW Microsoft Live Messenger Suggestions

Help me "Block" by group, not just by contact

We would really appreciate a "Block Group" feature.

Figure: Current pop-up menu in Messenger; should include 'Block Group'

Help me identify additional information about contacts easily

It would be handy to have additional columns beside each contact so I can see more information about that Contact. For example, a City column could show which city a person was in and a Time column could display the current time for that city.

Figure: MSN Messenger; multiple columns would be nice

Size Of Images In MSN Messenger - * Fixed by Microsoft in Windows Live Messenger *

When I am having an MSN Messenger conversation with someone, the two images on the right of the text field appear to be different sizes. The effect is apparently reversed for the other member/s of the conversation.

The images should appear as the same size.

Figure: The images appear to be different sizes

Help me send messages to contacts even when I am offline

When I do not have a connection to the web, I would like to still be able to see my contacts and, and to send them email. Please add an option under the file menu: File Work Offline (just like IE)

Figure: I would like to be able to work offline

Help me tell people I am "Out To Dinner"

There should be the option of having your status set as 'Out To Dinner'

Figure: There should be an 'Out To Dinner' consistent with 'Out To Lunch'

Help me use animated .gif's

The display picture will also be able to support animated GIF's as well as static ones that MSN currently have.

Figure: MSN should allow animated images as well

Paste and send screenshots - * Fixed by Microsoft in Windows Live Messenger *

It would be extremely useful if you could copy and paste images from the clipboard into an MSN message window. Every day we need to send little screen captures to colleagues to show what we're talking about, and currently we have to take the screenshot, save it as an image and send it as a file - very tedious.

Store display pictures on MSN's server

Currently, we have the hassle of storing and uploading display pictures on each different computer we use for MSN Messenger. To eliminate this inconvenience, MSN should offer to have display pictures stored on their server, so that the picture is accessible anywhere and at anytime. This way, rather than getting it from the local machine so that everytime a person logs onto MSN in a different location, their display picture automatically displays.

Figure: Display pictures should be stored on the MSN server so they are accessible from anywhere

Add "Email selected text" option

Currently, we can send an email by choose the user and select the "Send other --> Email".

Figure: Send email by select the "Send other --> Email"

It would be extremely useful if you could just copy the conversation history from an MSN message window and select "Email selected text".

Figure: Send email by select the "Email selected text"

Inform the user when not enough bandwidth to use it

When you try and use Live Messenger over GPRS (a slow mobile phone connection) it signs in, then out, silently.... and continually.

Then you get messages like:

To be clear, it is OK that it doesnt work, it is not OK that it doesnt tell the user something like:

Wish Live Messenger was a smart client

I want to see the chat history for a contact.

Wish Messenger worked offline

PS: Other IM clients eg. Miranda work offline

Figure: MSN should allow work offline

Turn off "Show Windows Live Today" by default please

Suggest turn the "Show Windows Live Today" off by default:

Figure: Turn off "Show Windows Live Today" by default please

Add a "Automatically receive attachments under 1 MB" (so you don't have to click confirm)

Need a "Automatically receive attachments under 1 MB" (so you don't have to click confirm) on below option form:

Figure: Add a "Automatically receive attachments under 1 MB" on this form

Warn when you will lose data

When you close the window with an unsent message, there should be a warning from Live Messenger telling you that you will lose data.

Figure: Skype will warn you if you are going to close a chat window with an unsent message

Add sort right click menu

Need a sort in right click menu:

Figure: Need a sort in this menu

Add column "Categories" when search contacts

Please add a "Categories" column when I search contacts in MSN, because some people have same name.

Figure: Need a "Categories" column when search

Help me simply identify the sender of a group conversation

When I receive an message which has been sent to a group it is impossible to read from the task bar who the message was sent from.

Figure: Properly identify the sender of a group conversation

Help me identify the sender by stating that person first, and then listing all the participants alphabetically.

Show offline contacts by group

Figure: Add right click menu option "Show hidden contacts"

Live Writer 2011

Figure: Right click on image should have a 4th menu called 'Image Alt text'

Figure: Which takes you to this form

Live Messenger - Targetted Ads Please

I would never click on the ads that show on Live Messenger
I am guessing asking for an option to remove the ads is not an option.:)
So help me enjoy the ads, by giving me targeted ads.

Figure: We need targeted ads. I would never click on this ad

Windows Live - Help me avoid moving my mouse to close a dialog

Not sure if everyone will agree with this, but since Facebook is now the standard, please make this dialog (an others go away) after 5 seconds.
Lots of apps need this, so even better would be for the ASP.NET team to give developers a built in control on the toolbox, that does this (using the jQuery timer framework).
PS: I have given up asking the Windows Live team to improve the URL. :)

Figure: This dialog should auto close after 5 seconds, just like the wonderful facebook User Experience.

I would love to be able to respond when I am offline E.g. in the plane

Skype works better in this scenario.

Figure: The window is disabled, so I cannot type a response offline, I cannot search my contacts etc.

PS: Do we bother with suggestions like this... now that we have Microsoft Skype?