A few months ago MSN Messenger started censoring and blocking messages including links to .info domains because "They're potentially unsafe". A few days after it happened Microsoft has removed this limit. There are many .info domains which are completely safe, such as clickteam.info and google.info.
However, today they've introduced this censorship system again with .ath.cx domains for the very same reason. As with .info domains, there are many safe .ath.cx domains such as my own websites, neatwares.ath.cx and its subdomains, and many (safe) home-servers using the free .ath.cx domains to have a static address. Since the MSN file transfer system is quite horrible, it's quite common for users to transfer files with the http protocol on their .ath.cx domains.
Now that we see Microsoft have no problem censoring complete TLDs, nothing can stop them from blocking messages including words such as "Linux", "Mac", "Apple", "Firefox", "Opera" and "Open Source".
Don't let Microsoft control what you want to say. Trash the MSN protocol and get AIM or Google Talk.
Note to Adam and his friends: Do not start your daily MS fan-topic here. Find somewhere else to do it.
I've had no problems with msn filtering out messages or file transfers when using a different client.
I've never really liked MSN messenger, but all my friends use it, so I decided to get rid of "windows live messenger" as they now call it, and got an alternative that uses the msn protocol.
I confirmed it with other people, they have the same problem. For the record, I use Pidgin.
Note that you have to include either http:// or www. for Microsoft's Censorship system to consider it as a URL.
So bah.ath.cx is working yet www.bah.ath.cx and http://bah.ath.cx will never arrive their destinations. (Some clients may not report at error when the message transfer fails)
The Mac messenger version seems to display the links just fine. And without adverts, yey.
Seriously it's mega weak that they should force you into updating. All I want is MSN without adverts, nudges, animated doowackys and all that.
Microsoft aren't bad, but their bullying of the rest of the market is.
They insist on charging £50 + for the basic operating system, which is then forced upon you whenever you buy a PC. And then they charge about the same for programs.
Not to mention the fact that their software is very suceptable to viruses, spyware and adware.
They don't necessarily have to go open source (although I believe they have been forced recently into releasing source code for some things) but they need to dramatically lower their prices.
I don't like the way they shove adverts at cha. That irritating MSN Live window popped up with an article that interested me. So I clicked it and was taken to a poorly designed page that forces you to sit through a flash video advert and *then* lets you click on the article. FFS. You'd think Microsoft were poor little news sites trying to scrape together moneys. Also adverts on Xbox Live? A service you pay for too!
Maybe us Brits are spoiled with the BBC (pay=don't get ads) and phone networks (Blyk).
I never used MSN, it was too clunky and requires a buncha hoop-jumpin'. I use Skype, AIM, and Miranda. Aim has recently gotten bloated and annoying though... I alway hate it when people rag on Microsoft. I'm not an overlarge fan or anything, but people just go overboard with it. The main reason that their software is so susceptible is because it's what hackers target because of its numbers. If Mozilla suddenly became the most used browser, it would have the same problems. @joe H.: That's like saying it's ridiculous that furniture salesman charge you money to buy new furniture if yours looks 60's or your house burns down.
But then, it doesn't really matter does it? I've got my microsoft complaints too.
Originally Posted by -Slink- I like Microsoft. I like Apple.
Edit: I've never tried Linux.
Edited by the Author.
Edited by the Author.
It's quite a bit overrated. It may be efficient, but it's a tad useless. Professionalism is achieved through windows virtualization and API emulation, very slowly.
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Edited by the Author.
@joe H.: That's like saying it's ridiculous that furniture salesman charge you money to buy new furniture if yours looks 60's or your house burns down. 
I've got my microsoft complaints too.
