• can hide the Windows title bar for a fully “skinned” window
• contacts in list “squeezed” closer together to save space
• ability to add a personal message to your status rather than continually changing your name
• can use the above feature to display the currently playing track in Windows Media Player or iTunes

Unfortunately, while Messenger Plus! still works on this version, the developer has decided to disable the ad bar removal functionality. All is not lost, though, because there is now Mess Patch. Here are just a few of its features:

• remove advertisement banner (my favourite feature)
• remove MSN search bar (my second favourite feature)
• enable polygamy – can run multiple instances of Messenger as different users
• enables Winamp support for the “Now Playing” feature
• disable Nudges (prevent window shaking)

It will also allow you to remove other random bits of bloat from the Messenger user interface, which is always welcome.

You can download Mess Patch from mess.be, but be warned that the site is difficult to navigate, full of ads and doesn’t work fully in Firefox. Which is unfortunate really as it makes it difficult for me to recommend, although it does have some useful content. If you’d prefer to download the installation file directly, it is mirrored here.

Apologies for the lack of updates recently – I have my dissertation to complete and exams to revise for. Happily it will all be over by 19th May, so I’ll be able to devote more time to my blog. Thank you for your patience :)