Yahoo Messenger previews a new Vista-centric version

Last night, Yahoo opened the pre-beta preview version of Yahoo Messenger for Vista, with graphic features that appear to be more at home in the Vista environment than with XP.

Yahoo's newest version of its Messenger client has been designed from the ground up for Vista, with an interface different from all prior incarnations, built upon the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF).

Since this is only a preview version intended to gather reactions from the public, it is missing many of the features familiar to previous Yahoo releases. Among these are: voice, webcam support, chat rooms, IM to SMS, IMVironments, Audibles, plug-ins, conferencing and photo sharing. Drag-and-drop sharing of files up to 2 GB is one of the features available, so photos technically can be sent.

Josh Jacobson, Senior Product Manager of Yahoo Messenger for Vista, has made it abundantly clear that this preview version needs to be discussed in public, noting several times in press releases and the preview video the myriad ways in which testers can let Yahoo know their opinions. If the "feedback" button built into the messenger is not enough, you may fill out a feedback form.

A direct download of the preview is available on messenger.yahoo.com/download_vista.php. Users looking for an open source application also utilizing WPF may wish to check out Jabber client Xeus Messenger, currently in beta.