[GUIDE] Messenger Status Integrations

[dotcomboom]

Here's my guide to integrations for Messenger. I wrote it a little while back but thought it'd be helpful to post here. Reply if you would like to add something or correct a mistake!

I had to link to some of the screenshots due to the forum's 10 image limit; sorry for any inconvenience.

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In MSN 7.0, a feature was added that allows other programs, primarily Windows Media Player and other music-playing applications, to show information as your personal message. In essence, this is the MSN equivalent to Discord's rich presence feature.

Messenger Setup
The following screenshots are for Windows Live Messenger 8.5, although the process is similar in earlier versions. These steps must be followed in order for any integrations to work!

This can be enabled in two ways: either click on the dropdown besides your personal message and click on Show what I'm listening to, or go into Tools > Options... and check the box "Show song information from Windows Media Player as a personal message.



Once that is checked, other programs will now be allowed to show as your status!

Live Messenger 2009 Behavior
In Messenger 2009, activity messages are displayed alongside instead of replacing your personal message.
This guide will be updated with 2009 instructions come release, although it's very similar to that of 8.5.

Integrations for Music Players

Windows Media Player
The Windows Media Player integration should work immediately in most cases. If not, likely after a player crash, you must make sure the Messenger Music Plugin is enabled. To do that, open your version of Windows Media Player, show the Menu Bar by tapping the Alt key if necessary, go to Tools > Plug-ins, and then check to make sure that the Windows Live (or MSN) Messenger Music Plugin is turned on.


Make sure Windows Live Messenger Music Plugin is checked.

This should resolve most issues with the integration. If not, try playing another track or restarting either program.

Zune Software
Zune 4.8 has been tested as working. The Messenger Music Plugin must be enabled in Windows Media Player as above-- this is likely because the Zune software uses a lot of Windows Media Player's backend.



Winamp
Winamp can be integrated with Messenger through this plugin. Download and put in C:\Program Files (x86)\Winamp\Plugins or equivalent, and then start Winamp. (Messenger screenshot)


The plugin is also configurable so you can display additional information. Note that this is only one of the many options for Winamp.

foobar2000
foobar2000 can be integrated with Messenger through an added component, downloadable here. Place foo_msnalt.dll into C:\Program Files (x86)\foobar2000\components. (Messenger screenshot)



(Thanks to Snow344 for posting.)

MusicBee
MusicBee can be integrated with Messenger through this installable plugin from Jonathan Kay. (screenshot)

Spotify

There have been two options made by Escargot community members for Spotify integration.

• Spotinger by manuelex20
  I have not been able to test this one; when I try to launch it, it closes.
  

• NowPlayingSpotify by gabipanda
  I've had more luck with this one, although it requires a login. (screenshot)
  

Games and Other Programs
While the primary focus of this feature was for Windows Media Player and other music-playing applications, it can also be used for others. Messenger has three activity types:

• Music, type 0. (screenshot)
  
• Games, type 1. (screenshot)
  
• Office, type 2. (screenshot)
  

The Music type links to a search results page. On the original Messenger service, this would've been through MSN or Live Search; on Escargot, it is currently through DuckDuckGo.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Tea%20House%20...ion&ia=web

Fusion SEGA Emulator
The Fusion multi-system emulator supports Messenger integration out of the box. (screenshot)
In the screenshot, I have loaded a port of Cave Story to the Mega Drive/Genesis.


Contact list view.

Messenger Activity Monitor
You may wish to update your status for programs that do not natively have Messenger integrations, Messenger Activity Monitor is a tool made by Craftplacer for this purpose. It is part of the Messenger Suite.

You may need to exit Messenger Activity Monitor when using other integrations.



Adding a process can be done through the Add icon.


A list of running processes is shown in the drop-down.


Any personal message and icon above can be used.

(Messenger screenshot)

Multi Messenger Presence
If you use an application that was not listed but has track information in its window title, I put together a simple application in Visual Basic that you might find helpful.



Download here (7/4/2020 build). Like Messenger Activity Monitor it uses Craftplacer's MessengerDotNet, but don't have both open at once or it might get weird.

[RebMillenn]

Nice post. This is definitely getting pinned.  

Only turn off IMO is the links from MessengerGeek for some downloads. Not exactly because I despise the place and the person who runs it. It's more that since it's getting more obvious the primary audience they target isn't people who care about Messenger and preserving the experiences it brought people, along with the fact the admin is very rogue and can turn against something at any time, most of the Messenger stuff or even the entire forum can go down and all that stuff you can say bye to. I don't want to come off as demanding, but if it were me I'd mirror that stuff and link to it from there instead so it has a better chance of surviving. Still a very informative post though.

[dotcomboom]

Nice post. This is definitely getting pinned.  

Only turn off IMO is the links from MessengerGeek for some downloads. Not exactly because I despise the place and the person who runs it. It's more that since it's getting more obvious the primary audience they target isn't people who care about Messenger and preserving the experiences it brought people, along with the fact the admin is very rogue and can turn against something at any time, most of the Messenger stuff or even the entire forum can go down and all that stuff you can say bye to. I don't want to come off as demanding, but if it were me I'd mirror that stuff and link to it from there instead so it has a better chance of surviving. Still a very informative post though.

It appears Tony has taken the liberty of mirroring and updating the links. Sweet!

[RebMillenn]

Nice post. This is definitely getting pinned.  

Only turn off IMO is the links from MessengerGeek for some downloads. Not exactly because I despise the place and the person who runs it. It's more that since it's getting more obvious the primary audience they target isn't people who care about Messenger and preserving the experiences it brought people, along with the fact the admin is very rogue and can turn against something at any time, most of the Messenger stuff or even the entire forum can go down and all that stuff you can say bye to. I don't want to come off as demanding, but if it were me I'd mirror that stuff and link to it from there instead so it has a better chance of surviving. Still a very informative post though.

It appears Tony has taken the liberty of mirroring and updating the links. Sweet!

Yeah, just saw his DM about it this morning. Took about half an hour to back everything up lol. He also improved the Winamp and MusicBee articles so that they could carry more accurate information, which is always nice. He has my thanks, which is saying a lot since I always thank him for everything he's done so far.

[HybridCartoon]

Great post, i was confused about Winamp plugin but this thread helped me lot.

Thx dude!