Windows Live Messenger + Windows SideShow = Coolness!

We've just uploaded a brand new gadget to the gallery, [drum roll] Live Messenger! We're really excited about this gadget and really looking forward to people trying it out.

So, what does it do?

• See when your contacts sign on (optional notifications too)
  


• View your current list of active conversations
  


• View your unread email count
  


• View/Change your status
  


• Send preset messages to contacts/conversations
  

Most of all, this gadget allows you to have an online presence even when you're away from your PC. And, to make things even better we're releasing the gadget in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Japanese and Korean!

So, head on over to the Windows Live Gallery to pick it up. We'll be improving the gadget over time and will of course be updating it as more features become available in the Windows Live Messenger API.

Have fun, people!

-james

SideShow Renderer for Bluetooth

Although I'm moving house tomorrow I write this as I avoid packing up!

Congratulations certainly go out to the SideShow team for releasing their Windows Mobile SideShow Renderer. This Bluetooth renderer will allow anybody with a Windows Mobile 5 or 6 device (standard or pro) to interact with Windows SideShow. This means that gadget makers now have an easily accessible device to test their gadgets on (the simulator is great but having a real device is really something).

A Windows Mobile renderer certainly has an interesting history. The first prototype was featured in a Channel 9 interview in 2006. This was later followed by the i-mate demonstration at CES 2007, and then the MEDC demonstration of this renderer followed by our prototype Go Gadgets system at Christmas.

This renderer is certainly superb! I first had a hands-on play with it back in August '07 but to see it released is really good. Although it is only a developer preview I hope that this encourages people to create gadgets (using the new Managed API) to really take advantage of this great platform.

However, what I'd really like to see is some developers taking this renderer and making it even better. Microsoft's Universal Driver supports TCP/IP (SSL also) so anybody feeling like they'd like to get their hands dirty could easily create a Wi-Fi renderer without too much hassle. Also, the universal driver is completely free to use and saves you the hassle of creating your own drivers.

I've been playing with this renderer all day and I definitely recommend it to everybody out there. To have another device to test my gadgets on can only be a good thing!

You can find out more information and download it here.

Cheers,

-james