MSN Messenger Archives

AppWizard

May 6, 2025

A personal goodbye to Skype; the app that connected worlds

Skype has officially ceased to exist as of today. It was introduced in 2011-2012 as a more robust alternative to MSN Messenger, allowing for group calls and video interactions. Skype served as a platform for social interactions, job interviews, and long-distance communication. Over time, users shifted to alternatives like WhatsApp, Messenger, and Zoom, especially during the pandemic, leading Microsoft to integrate Skype's features into its Teams platform. Despite its decline, Skype remains a symbol of a bygone era, representing significant moments and connections in users' lives.

Winsage

November 11, 2024

Microsoft revives MSN brand with fresh new logo for 2024 — replaces “Microsoft Start” branding in Edge

Microsoft is rebranding its "Microsoft Start" services back to the MSN brand, introducing a refreshed logo that replaces the previous branding within the Edge browser. This transition began last week, with the new MSN logo appearing on the Microsoft Start website and the Edge new tab page. A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the initiative to unify news content services under the MSN name, aligning with the vision of creating an integrated app similar to WeChat in China. MSN originated in 1995 with Windows 95 as a subscription-based service and evolved into the MSN.com web portal by 1998. It has served as the default homepage for Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge and is integrated into Windows 10 and 11. Despite a decline in prominence, MSN continues to attract millions of daily visitors and functions primarily as a news aggregator, alongside services like MSN Weather, MSN Money, and MSN Gaming.

Winsage

October 27, 2024

Download Windows XP 4K wallpaper (Bliss updated) to celebrate 23rd birthday

Microsoft has released an updated version of the Windows XP Bliss wallpaper in 4K quality to celebrate its 23rd anniversary. The new wallpaper features a vibrant green hill under a blue sky with clouds, available in two versions: an official 4K edition with enhanced colors and an unofficial modified version with adjusted saturation. The original Bliss wallpaper was available in 800 x 600 pixels and 1024 x 768 pixels. Windows XP was officially launched on October 25, 2001, and was well-received by users for its performance and user-friendly interface, despite initial hardware concerns. Microsoft ended support for Windows XP in 2014, but some users still use the operating system.

Winsage

July 16, 2024

Will There Be Windows 12? What to Expect

- Windows 12 is expected to be a free upgrade for Windows 11 users. - The hardware requirements for Windows 12 are expected to be similar to those for Windows 11. - Windows 12 may include a new user interface, redesigned lock screen and notification center, built-in messaging client, AI integration, Android app support, animated wallpapers, and merging Teams and Skype. - Windows 12 is expected to be released around September or October 2025.

Winsage

July 2, 2024

Why I’m loving the next generation of PCs

Windows on ARM is now powered by the Snapdragon X platform, featuring the Oryon CPU built by Nuvia, which was acquired by Qualcomm. This new generation of Windows PCs aims to compete with Mac by offering transformative experiences with improved battery life and performance.

AppWizard

June 29, 2024

As ICQ logs off for good, a look back at popular instant messaging apps over the years

ICQ, a popular online messaging platform in the late 1990s and early 2000s, shut down its services after nearly three decades. It was launched in 1996 and at its peak in 2001, had over 100 million registered users.