digitalreporter wrote:
] ] Microsoft next week plans to begin testing a radically
] ] new instant messaging and communications product aimed at
] ] teenagers and young adults who grew up using the
] ] Internet.
] ]
] ] The new software, called Threedegrees, creates a
] ] peer-to-peer social group in which people can chat, share
] ] photos, listen to music and meet friends. Concurrently
] ] with the test, or beta, program, Microsoft also plans to
] ] release the Windows Peer-to-Peer Update for Windows XP.
] ]
] ] To use Threedegrees, prospective testers must be running
] ] Windows XP with Service Pack 1, the peer-to-peer update
] ] and MSN Messenger 5 installed on their computers. The
] ] software allows people to create groups, in which up to
] ] 10 people can participate in the same instant messaging
] ] session. Group members also can share animation and
] ] photos or listen to music.

I have mixed feelings about this. One of the worst feelings in the world was being a teenager and being isolated. Of course, that was also the biggest motivation for the tons of great art and culture we've had over the last 50+ years.