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. RE: Microsoft aims to tap 'Net generation' | CNET News.com |