For those who love MSN/Windows Live Messenger, it has been revived! This site has been around for awhile, but I thought I should mention it for those who don't know about it and also for those who are tired of modern messaging programs which are often inaccessible. Note that you must create a free account with them and cannot use an old hotmail address or whatever you used with Microsoft's version. This is the same software, but modified to work on their servers. For that reason, even if you have the original on your computer, you should install theirs. There is a way to patch an existing one, but why go through all the trouble? Escargot works on Windows, from XP through 11, and it is completely accessible with NVDA, minus the games, which never worked with screen readers anyway. There are IOS and Android versions, but I have no idea how well they work in general, let alone with VoiceOver or Talkback. If you wish to add me, I am [email protected]. The site can be found here.

http://www.escargot.chat

#accessibility #blind #computers #chatting #Escargot #Messenger #MSN #technology #WindowsLiveMessenger #Windows XP #WindowsVista #Windows7 #Windows8 #Windows 10 #Windows11

Just posted a little follow-up on the #Messenger asset format #Microsoft uses!

https://vito.io/articles/2026-02-19-the-specification

Includes a PDF with the whole spec for nerds tagging along! <3

#retrocomputing #reverseengineering #windowslivemessenger #writing #blog #smallweb

Looking for some nostalgia? Just published a new post:
Rebuilding #Windows Live Messenger, Part 2: Messenger on #macOS

https://vito.io/articles/2026-02-17-messenger-on-mac

#retrocomputing #reverseengineering #windowslivemessenger #microsoft #writing #blog #smallweb

*For Reddit users.*
This is a place where users of Escargot and Nina services (MSn/Windows Live Messenger, AIM/AOL, ICQ, etc.) can share usernames and get to know each other. Please join if over eighteen. Note that this is not an official subreddit by Escargot/Nina. I am including the accessibility tag because this works very well with screen readers such as NVDA.

https://old.reddit.com/r/EscargotFamily

#accessibility #AIM #AOL #chat #Escargot #friends #friendship #ICQ #Narrator #Nina #NVDA #MSN #MSNMessenger #Reddit #technology #Windows #WindowsLiveMessenger

the following is a brief description of a subreddit that I created today. I have included the accessibility and blind tags because MSN Messenger is extremely accessible with screen readers and I believe that more blind people should know about this. I believe AIM may work as well, but I haven't tried it. Obviously, it works for the sighted as well.

"Hi, and welcome to Escargot Family! This is a place where users of Escargot and Nina services (MSn/Windows Live Messenger, AIM/AOL, ICQ etc.) can share usernames and get to know each other. Please join if over eighteen. Note that this is not an official subreddit by Escargot/Nina."

https://old.reddit.com/r/EscargotFamily

#accessibility #AIM #AOL #blind #computers #Escargot #friends #ICQ #MSNMessenger #Nina #NVDA #Reddit #technology #Windows #Windows7 #WindowsXP #WindowsLiveMessenger

***Attention! If you miss MSN/Windows Live Messenger, AIM, and/or ICQ, this is for you! If you use a screen reader and want a 100% accessible messenger client, this is also for you.*
This works with Windows XPthrough 11, and I'm logged into it as I write! It's called Escargot, and it revives Windows Live/MSN Messenger. This is the original software, but it has been patched so that it connects to the escargot.chat server and not the Microsoft one. It is 100% free and accessible with NVDA and I'm sure JAWS as well. They also have projects for AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) and ICQ, including for Android and IOS, and are working on a web client for MSN. (I don't know if AIM or ICQ are accessible with screen readers, as I have never tried them). Anyway, if you're over twenty-one (my personal request), have read my profile here, and wish to add me, I am [email protected]. You can find everything here.

http://www.escargot.chat

Note: If you already have Windows Live/MSN Messenger on your system, you will still need to download their version and create an account. Your Microsoft, MSN, or Hotmail one won't work for signing in. Also, remember to click on RUN_AFTER_INSTALL.exe, in order to patch the program to the Escargot server.

#accessibility #AIM #Android #AOL #blind #chat #Escargot #EscargotChat #ICQ #IOS #Messenger #MSN #MsnMessenger #Microsoft #NVDA #Talkback #technology #Voiceover #Windows #WindowsLiveMessenger

https://escargot.chat/

#retrocomputing #msnmessenger #windowslivemessenger

Muistan vieläkin mesen viittoman. :D Ja kyllä, kovassa käytössä olikin kyseinen sovellus.

Itse asiassa juuri tuossa sovelluksessa sisko käytti nimimerkkiä kaurapuuro, josta sainkin idean omaan nimimerkkiin ja siitä tuli mustikkasoppa.

Nyt tiedätte mistä nimimerkkini tulee. ;)

#MSNMessenger #WindowsLiveMessenger #nickname