Alternative MSN

aMSN is an alternative to the classic MSN Messenger, with more features yet a much weaker interface. The chat client looks very similar to Microsoft's product yet differs on a number of points. aMSN developers have delved into the preferences menu, adding extra little features like event alerts and sounds, conferencing support or autoaway messages. Like with MSN Messenger you'll be able to transfer files and organize all your contacts into groups.
Audio/Video support is the number one function that users look for in IM clients nowadays, yet an area which aMSN doesn't particularly focus on. Webcam support is fairly weak and unstable, and instead of integrating into your chat window will open up in a new Quicktime window.
One of the biggest pet peeves of users with aMSN is the interface. It simply doesn't compare with more sleeker, more recent IM clients. To the developer's defense though you can download all sorts of skins from the program's website. Similarly it offers up a range of plugins, to customize your client to your liking. Chat addicts will also appreciate the animated emoticons on hand.
In terms of performance, you have to keep in mind that aMSN is still a Beta product, so still liable to some crashes and bugs. We did have some trouble when opening up new chat window and noticed that the client tended to use a lot of CPU.
In a few words, aMSN is a good alternative to MSN for users looking to add more plugins, skins and delve into the preferences menu.

Languages:

English

Notes:

This version of aMSN includes the option to install the Softonic Toolbar. If you wish to download the original version without the toolbar click this link. Also, you can access aMSN's original source code via this link.

The Softonic Toolbar included with this version of aMSN is a standalone application and is completely independent from aMSN and does not affect the behavior or performance of the original aMSN program. Any errors you get while running aMSN are by no means related to the Softonic Toolbar.

Recent changes in aMSN

• This version fixes, along with some other bugs, the bug you could have experienced when sending OIMs.

OS requirements for aMSN

• OS: Win95/98/98SE/Me/2000/NT/XP

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Animations for your messenger

Bandoo adds new emotions, more technically ‘emot-icons’, to your Yahoo! and MSN messenger. They are well designed, with a cartoon style and lovely pastel shades. They are also animated, and some are really sweet, like the little angel with shining nimbus that at times flutters its wings, or the shy character with glinting eyes and red cheeks.
The program adds a bar on your messenger, just above where you write your text. There are five menus to choose from, one to add emoticons, the next to add animated text, then Winks, Nudges and User pictures at the end. Each category contains dozens of new animations divided into categories, although, as you might guess, the emoticons selection is far wider.
Unfortunately, each menu takes some time to load all the items it contains and even when you select one, the program has to download it, which again takes few seconds. Although this could mean that you might have new animations every now and again, you will have to pay a price in patience.
Bored with the standard Yahoo! and MSN messenger emoticons? Bring new life to your IM with hundreds of free cartoon style, beautifully coloured animations. The only downside is that the program takes a while to load and then download the emoticons into your chat.

Languages:

English

OS requirements for Bandoo:

• OS: Win98SE/Me/2000/XP/Vista 

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Lyrics Plugin for Windows Media Player 0.3

If you're someone who listens to your music collection in Windows Media Player then now, thanks to Lyrics Plugin for Windows Media Player you can enjoy the words to your songs within the player as you listen to them. As long as you're connected to the Net the program will automatically search for the lyrics and display them in real time.
Unfortunately, probably due to my rather eclectic taste in music, the application failed to provide the words to many of my tracks. However, there is a neat facility for quickly adding lyrics to a particular song so over time more songs will have lyrics attached to them as people continue to upload them. Of course, mistakes may creep in but you can always correct these yourself.

Languages:

English

OS requirements for Lyrics Plugin for Windows Media Player:

• OS: Win2000/XP/Vista

Minimum requirements:

• Windows Media Player 9 and above
• Internet connection

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