AOL releases AIM 6.0

Filed under: Internet, Windows, Freeware

AOL releases AIM 6.0

by Jordan Running Nov 17th 2006

On Wednesday AOL (this blog's parent company) released AIM 6.0 for Windows. The first major update to the popular instant messaging program since AIM Triton a year ago, AIM 6.0 comes with another visual update and a few new features.Some of the features are ones we've been enjoying a long time in our other IM clients, like IM logging, but I'm finding them pretty well-executed. AIM now supports up to 1,000 buddies and does offline messages, too. There's also a new picture-sharing feature that takes the form of a slideshow window you can drag and drop photos onto, integration with AIM Pages and AIM Phoneline, the latter of which will be especially welcome to VoIP lovers. I'm a fan of AIM 6.0's new look, which is cleaner and less clunky than AIM Triton, which wasn't bad itself. The client also seems to have gotten some much-needed performance improvements--it runs a bit faster, but still uses about six times as much memory as Trillian.

Like AIM Triton, AIM 6.0 was built with AOL's GUI toolkit Boxely, which is based on XML and JavaScript, and which allows for some very interesting customization opportunities. For example, it took me about 30 seconds to figure out how to remove the ad box from the top of my buddy list, and all I needed was Notepad (shhh, don't tell anyone I told you that). A more dedicated hacker could take the opportunity to completely re-theme the interface or even add new functionality. And I really hope they do.

All in all, AIM 6.0 still isn't a program I'm going to use every day. However, I am impressed with the direction AIM seems to be headed, and its VoIP and file-sharing capabilities mean I'll probably break it out once in awhile. If you're already happily using AIM Triton or an older version of AIM, I highly recommend AIM 6.0. If you're a power-user, you're not really AIM 6.0's target market, and should stick with Trillian or GAIM--unless you're intrigued by Boxely's hackability.

You can find a couple screenshots of AIM 6.0 in action after the jump.

Message window. Dragging and dropping images directly from Firefox doesn't work, apparently. Also, I'm kind of a jerk when I IM myself.
AIM 6.0 message window

Buddy List. Yes, I have myself on my own buddy list. Three times. That box on the left pops up when you hover over someone's name, showing their status and away message. That one was clever three months ago.
AIM 6.0 buddy list

I think I wore out my Gaussian blur tool.

Tags: aim, aim 6, aim 6.0, Aim6, aol, boxely, free, freeware, im, windows

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

resource said 1:11PM on 11-17-2006

Care to share the ad hack?

I like this version.
Trillian is obselete in the sense that they haven't updated in years and GAIM doesn't do VOIP or videos.

I hope the plug-ins people make are quality.

Tim Trimble said 1:42PM on 11-17-2006

Ditto on the ad hack!

I was a licensed user of Trillian but I'm highly disappointed in the lack of updates during the past few years as well.

Now if we could get AIM and gTalk to work together.

Jordan Running said 1:55PM on 11-17-2006

Sorry, guys, but I'd like to keep my job. :) I'm sure you can figure it out yourselves or find the info elsewhere.

Slash said 2:09PM on 11-17-2006

Oh please
just google "aim ad hack"
its the first one :P

ryan said 2:55PM on 11-17-2006

Isn't AIM 6 the same as Triton? (Triton being the beta version of 6)

Jordan Running said 3:05PM on 11-17-2006

No, Ryan, Triton was not a beta, though the version numbers do get a bit convoluted.

rasbill said 3:13PM on 11-17-2006

i have got to say, ive been using it in triton, but the aim phone line is very nice, free incoming calls, everyones always calling me so its perfect, also might be nice for drug dealers

Bryan Price said 4:11PM on 11-17-2006

I'm running Windows 2003 Server as a workstation. Refuses to install, since it's neither 2000 or XP. Go in and tell the .exe that it's running as XP, it downloads whatever it is that it downloads, and then fails at some point talking about a component.

I give up.

Jamie Crider said 9:00PM on 11-30-2006

Can anyone tell me how I can "dock" my buddy list on the AIM 6.0? My older version had that feature, but Its not in the new one. Any hacks, or plugins? Please Help...I hate having web pages in front of my Buddy list...I like to see both of them side by side. Thanks. E-mail me if you can

jamiecrider2006@yahoo.com

--Jamie

macdude said 2:12AM on 12-01-2006

why dont they release this for mac?

Henry Moreno said 10:47AM on 12-14-2006

I was a AIM Triton user, but now I have downloaded AIM 6.0. I'm running Windows XP and when I log in to my account AIM automatically loads up with no problem, however, when I log on as a guest it tells me that I have ERROR 10, which says to me that I have to reinstall or restart my computer. If it works fine on my account and loads up automatically, how come on my guest account it tells me this error and AIM doesn't load up. With Triton I never had this problem?? Can someone help me please!! Thank you E-mail me to HMoren1680@hotmail.com

dan said 8:32PM on 12-21-2006

Is there a way to Dock the new AIM 6?

Nate Garcia said 12:16PM on 1-02-2007

Ok been searching the net for 2 hours and nothing on how to dock the AIM 6.0 Buddy list. Is there a way to hack the exe and change a setting from there that was not added to the GUI? Or any other way to do it for that matter?

Kiana said 12:41PM on 2-18-2007

The only feature I saw in docking was that it was on the top of what you were viewing more or less. In order to do that in AIM 6.0 go to view and select buddy list always on top. Hope this helps for all those who asked!

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