Dear Microsoft [video]

Dan Bull posted a music video this week for a rap song he wrote about some of the Hotmail and Messenger.

It is slightly “not safe for work” just because of some of the lyric choices, but it’s pretty tame and won’t be a problem if you have headphones.

Some of the Hotmail complaints noted are totally legitimate.  On more than one occasion my mother has called me wondering why something in Hotmail wasn’t working, for example, why she’s clicking an e-mail in Hotmail and the site says “Loading” in the corner indefinitely (which is the result of a javascript error/something not loading).

Messenger is mentioned twice (beginning at 1:20).  Firstly for how you can’t send an image directly without Photo Sharing popping up.  This feature, as known to good majority of those reading this, you can’t turn off directly (although previously I made up a tool to “fix” this but nowadays you should use another tool).  Note that Photo Sharing takes an even more annoying approach in 2011 as it automatically opens up not only file transfers, but image links posted in the conversation as well.  Dan still uses XP so he hasn’t discovered that particular fun yet 😉

Here’s a quick transcription of the Photo Sharing part:

and what’s with the file transfers on MSN?
I tried to send a picture to my best friend
dragged the link into the window but it got all compressed then
I’m not impressed, 640 x 480?
I thought these days s**t was all HD?
I don’t need a “paste this to Facebook” facility – just a faithful communication utility.

He then moves on to fact that Messenger doesn’t let him click on links anymore, since he’s using the 2009 version.  Which of course, Messenger Link Reviver could fix for him.

Here’s what he says about the links:

Silly me for thinking the ability to link is pretty obligatory in this day and age,
but that’s yet another thing you dic*s have disabled

I have to admit I’m pleased that the result of these decisions in Messenger are being aired in public.  These problems have a real affect on real people, which seems to be forgotten.