Archive for May, 2007

Leaked: Windows Live Messenger 8.5

Today an internal build of Windows Live Messenger 8.5 was leaked by Messenger Addictos, a site dedicated to Windows Live Messenger and related products.

The new build includes a completely new installer system (though it appears it might need some tweaking). Messenger itself also got a complete overhaul, featuring a new UI that combines the best of Windows Live and Vista. The new build also includes several minor new features, some of which are still unknown. Unfortunately support for Plug-Ins (or “Add-Ins”) has been dropped.

The leaked build is only available in Spanish at the moment, but there is a easy way to patch that to get the English version.

Facts:

– New installer icon
- New setup look
- New Desktop icon (with TM branding)
- New installation path (C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger)
- New GUI
- Windows OneCare integration
- New smile. Just type (‘.’) in a convo window

Grab it here (mirror).

Other Languages

Having trouble with something? Leave us a line in the comments.

Getting a HDR effect using Photoshop

If you have an image where you have a really bright sky and/or a really dark foreground, do this in Photoshop:

1. Duplicate image to a second layer.
2. Image->Adjustments->Desaturate second layer. (Make it black and white.)
3. Image->Adjustments->Invert second layer. (Make it a negative.)
4. Do a 64 pixel gaussian blur on the second layer. (Low pass filter. Prevents loss of high frequncy contrast on surfaces.)
5. Set the second layer to soft light.

This will make the bright portions of the image darker, and dark portions of the image lighter. This also gives the image a lot more realistic look.

Too lazy to do those step’s yourself? Grab the Photoshop Actions File

Thanks to Elliuotatar for the tutorial.

Blank display names in WLM

Most of you have probably tried to make a blank WLM/MSN nickname using the spacebar or alt-0160. Both have resulted in you getting your email address as your name. No doubt some of you more accomplished users have figured out how to do so.

Those people who want one they can do so using the following steps.

1. Download this text file (right click and save-as).
2. Copy the square inside, or if you don’t see a square, select all and then copy.
3. Now paste it as you WLM nickname.

Now you can be the masked avenger of the instant messaging world.

Free vectors for photoshop users

Vectors always come in handy when developing website designs or for print work, every designer should have an arsenal of them to call on. Here is a nice collection of sites that have free vector art for use:

http://www.clipart-design.com/freeclipart.htm

http://www.vectorportal.com/

http://www.braincorp.it/exp/vectorlove/

http://www.vectorvault.com/free_downloads.html

http://www.bittbox.com/freebies/free-vector-web-page-elements-part-3/

http://www.bittbox.com/freebies/free-vector-web-page-elements-part-2/

http://www.bittbox.com/freebies/free-seamless-vector-perforated-metal-pattern/

http://www.bittbox.com/freebies/free-vector-web-page-elements-part-4/

http://www.bittbox.com/freebies/5-free-seamless-vector-patterns/

http://www.bittbox.com/freebies/random-free-vectors-part-5-butterflies/

http://www.bittbox.com/freebies/random-free-vectors-part-1-circles/

http://www.bittbox.com/freebies/free-vector-web-page-elements-part-1

http://www.bittbox.com/freebies/free-vector-swooshes-and-fancy-corner-designs/

http://www.bittbox.com/freebies/free-vector-buttons-and-icons-metal-and-glass/

http://www.bittbox.com/freebies/free-vector-glass-header-designs-fancy/

http://www.bittbox.com/freebies/free-vector-badges-glass/

http://www.bittbox.com/freebies/72-free-vector-glass-buttons-and-bars/

http://clipart.magicpeople.org/

http://www.freevectors.com/vector_graphic/46

http://www.freevectors.com/vector_graphic/31

http://www.gomedia.us/arsenal/freestuff.php

http://komodomedia.com/blog/index.php/2006/02/15/komodo-media-v30/

http://www.nuguerrilla.com/frames/wallpaper.asp?idcategory=1&id=2

http://www.nuguerrilla.com/frames/wallpaper.asp?idcategory=1&id=8

http://www.ndesign-studio.com/resources/vector-cliparts/

http://david.bellot.free.fr/svg-cards/

http://www.all-the-flags-of-the-world.c.la/

http://vektordb.lafkon.net/index.php?page=2

http://www.designerstoolbox.com/print/index.php

Found the list helpful? Do leave us a line.

Google Photos Screensaver – Standalone Edition

Google quietly released a great screensaver along with the release of the Google Pack but not all of us find it practical to install the pack espcially if we are only interested in getting certain parts of it.

We decided to release the Google Photos Screensaver as a standalone file which people can install and use in a few simple steps:

1. Download GPhotos Screensaver

2. Go to the “C:\WINDOWS\system32″ directory

3. Put GPhotos.scr into that folder.

Simple as that, now you can configure your custom photo feeds that you want to display as your screensaver.

More information on Google Photos Screensaver.