Facebook Messenger for Windows 2.1.4590.0
| License: | Freeware |
|---|---|
| Operating Systems: | Windows 7 (32 bit), Windows 7 (64 bit), Windows Vista (32 bit), Windows Vista (64 bit), Windows XP |
| Requirements: | |
| Languages: | English |
| Software Cost: | Free |
Keeping on top of all of the activity that goes on on Facebook can be time consuming. The need to visit the site to check to see if you have any messages, respond to messages you have received, catch up with what your friends have been up to and chatting with your online friends means that you are usually unable to do anything else at the same time. Loading the Facebook site occupies your entire screen so there is unlikely to be the opportunity to multitask and get on with other things whilst chatting or using the social network for other things.
Facebook Messenger for Windows may just be the app you have been looking for. It is a dedicate Facebook app that can be used in a number of ways as an alternative to visiting the web site. The app will immediately inform you whenever you receive a message, a friend request or there is a notification generated - when a friend comments on one of your photos, for example. The news ticker that is found to the upper right of the Facebook page is visible in the app so you can see at a glance what your friends are up to.
The program can be used in one of two ways. The first option is to treat Facebook Messenger like any other Windows app and only bring it to the foreground when you want to use it – sounds are played when chat messages are received so you will know when the app needs attention. The other option is to switch to docked mode and pin the application as a bar to the right hand edge of your screen. In this mode the news ticker and your list of online friends is always visible.
Click most of the elements that are visible in the app window or dock will take you to the Facebook site to the relevant page. However, as you would expect from an app with the word ‘messenger’ in its name, the program can also be used to conduct chat with your Facebook contacts, just click the name of anyone in your friends list and you can start a chat in a new window. If you are chatting with more than one person at the same time, the chat window becomes tabbed to save space and enabling you to switch between conversations with ease.
Verdict:
A great tool for the dedicated social networker, this saves having to visit the Facebook site and keep you informed about what is going on.
