Simplify your contact list window
January 15, 2009 on 10:31 am | In 9.0 version | 24 Comments
I’m the first to admit that Yahoo! Messenger has a lot of features and for some, it can feel like too many. In a previous post I outlined ways to simplify the IM conversation window. This time let’s take a look at the contact list window which you probably keep open on your desktop most of the day.
If you like things clean and simple, click on the Messenger menu at the top and select “Show/Hide”. In that menu, you’ll find the option to show or hide the top part of your contact list window that shows your name, display image and status message bar (My Information). You can also show or hide the contact action bar at the top, along with the plug-ins at the bottom. You can also hide the Yahoo! Search box at the bottom of your contact list. If you change your mind, just go back to the menu to show one or more items again.
With the release of 9.0, we also introduced a new look for the list of contacts that includes an enlarged display image for each friend and two lines for each to display their name and status updates. If you prefer a simpler look, go to the Contacts menu up top and select “Compact List”. This will reduce the size of the display images and put each friend on just one line, allowing you to see more contacts.
If you’d like to change the font or font size of your contact list, go to the Messenger menu, select “Preferences”, then click on “Appearance” on the left side. Then go down to the third section entitled “Messenger List” to adjust the font. Compact vs. detailed view of your list can also be changed in this area.
And lastly, someone left a comment here on the blog that they could no longer make the contact list window go to full screen size in 9.0. This is partially true in that clicking the “Maximize” button in the upper right corner no longer expands the window completely. However, you can click and drag on the edge or corner of the Messenger list window to make it as big as you want.
Sarah Bacon
Product Manager
…or we can start by removing the ad….
Comment by GuillaumeB — January 15, 2009 #
if you din’t now that its because the ad they can develop the messenger
Comment by johannes — January 15, 2009 #
How does an AD about their own service give them revenue?
Comment by Dermot — January 15, 2009 #
How can we get the cute yellow round smiley faces back on the Messenger and the black lettering like the version 8.1? I like the simple look and it is easier on the eyes to read the black lettering and the uniform yellow smiley faces. Thanks! Is it possible to go back to the version 8.1? I really do not need all the extra whistles and bells. Simple is better for me. Thanks! The more graphics you have the SLOWER my DIAL UP internet service will be. Simple is better. Thanks! There are places on the internet that provides the old messengers but it is not through a yahoo company and I am afraid it may contain spyware or adware or viruses. Can you let the customers choose which version meets their needs? Provide 8.1 again or make the new one look identical to the old. Allow us to downgrade the added features we do not want. Thanks!
Comment by Sparkling — January 15, 2009 #
I have a question. I downloaded the latest version of Yahoo Messenger and accidentally closed the Launchcast plugin. When I opened the plug-ins manager, I couldn’t find Launchcast there. I couldn’t find it in the Plug-ins Gallery either. How do I get Launchcast player back in Messenger? Thanks!
Comment by M — January 15, 2009 #
I had the simple messenger displayed on this page but I had to delete it because I couldn’t sign into it anymore. I downloaded another messesnger and I don’t like it. I think it’s called beta 9.0, how do I get the old one back?
Comment by bdasher — January 16, 2009 #
bdasher – the image shown in this article is a screenshot of Yahoo! Messenger 9.0 (latest version available here: http://messenger.yahoo.com/download/win). Follow the steps in this blog post and you can make your main window look like the one pictured above.
Sarah Bacon
Comment by Administrator — January 16, 2009 #
Hi
I would like to bring this importanr issu in yahoo’s knowledge that in the last few days some new booter programs have been released and they boot every one from chat rooms. These programs can see your main id even if you are using alias. Please yahoo take notice of it and fix this problem.
Regards
Comment by Nadee — January 16, 2009 #
I would just like to ask if there is a way to minimize or delay the contact’s info box from popping up when I mouse over the contact list? The default display timeout for the box is a little too long IMHO and havig to manually close the box when I switch between windows is a bit cumbersome.
Oh, and a little O.T. question. Is there a way to have more than 1000 contacts in a list?
Comment by Gilbert — January 16, 2009 #
I have the contact list minimized all the time because I cannot stand any of the skins. The option to use the operating systems native user interface was removed. Windows Vista and Windows 7 offer a nice to look at Aero Glass user interface and Yahoo stucks out like a themed application from the late 90’s.
Comment by ives — January 16, 2009 #
I want to download the newest Messinger. But, I”m afraid I’ll lose my voice in Yahoo chat. I have Vista and I downloaded Messinger Beta 9 and it did fix my problem. I have had voice now for just a year. If I download the newest version …will it cause voice to go away in chat again?
Comment by linlu — January 17, 2009 #
If you would like to improve the Contact List greatly, please add support for “Two column list display”:
most people I know have a very long Contact list that would like to keep it visible on the screen.
- On most laptops the height of the screen is pretty small so only a few from the list will be displayed all the time.
- Most new screens these days don’t have a 3/4 ratio, but are wider (practically all consumer laptops have a wide screen ratio)
By allowing two (or more) columns in the Contact List display, this problem would be solved. Even if this would be one more feature, I think this would simplify the UI of YM and would make it more user friendly.
I tried to suggest this feature directly on the Yahoo Messanger site, but there seems to be no “suggest a feature” link there
.
Thanks in advance,
Adrian.
Comment by A. Adrian — January 19, 2009 #
When are we going to get tabbed chats? Webcam in the same window?
I’m tired of opening up Messenger and have 8 different windows open all over the place within 2 minutes. This program severely needs some consolidation, the UI is a mess.
Also, using webcam over the network is crappy – it constantly freezes and this is a common complaint in chat rooms. I usually end up asking my friends to move over to skype where there are no problems – smooth and error free.
Comment by Thomas — January 20, 2009 #
I am trying to down load Yahoo Messanger, I have a new lap top. When the down load is just about complete I get an error message: “The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect. Please see the application event log for more detail.”
I have looked and looked for what it is telling me, No luck, I have downloaded the messanger many times b4 on other computers, Never have had a problem. Your quick response will be appreciated.
Comment by samantha — January 22, 2009 #
yahoo massenger not installed after 99% & also not this removed (massege displayed install.log not opened
Comment by butani — January 22, 2009 #
please help me about my problem..im having hard time installing yahoo messenger in my pc..i did it for almost many times since then..just like u said it never download or install correctly/completely! it hangs up on 99% & then screwed up..please help me asap cause i really need it so bad..i have a windows vista anyway..thank you & i will wait for your help…
Comment by aphex — January 25, 2009 #
i downloaded the latest version…but why does it look different then that one ? wheres the crown/lightbulb/trophy? or whatever those things are…:-/:-/ …
Comment by Tom — January 26, 2009 #
im always trying to open my email in this version,but until now is not working.hope u can help us.thankx
Comment by lea — January 26, 2009 #
When I log into IM it shows my email address I would like to change it to show just my name. How do I change it? please help.
Comment by Mikki — January 31, 2009 #
i just need the old messenger back
Comment by ediri — February 4, 2009 #
Can you get the aero glass to work around the new yahoo messenger?
Comment by Kurt — February 8, 2009 #
ei guys.. why did all of my contacts are not displayed?when i signed there is no contacts..? why is that can you all help me…please
Comment by kelly — February 13, 2009 #
Where is the default skin? It cant even get close to even match Vistas transparent borders like the v8 did.. This sucks
Comment by emjayel206 — June 29, 2009 #
hello,
Is any way to add more than 1000 contacts in yahoo messenger?
Comment by fetebaieti.com — October 3, 2009 #