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Posts with tag WebMessenger

Filed under: Web services, Yahoo!

Yahoo! launches web-based Yahoo! Messenger

Yahoo! Web MessengerThe folks over at Yahoo! don't want you to download the latest version of Yahoo! Messenger. That's not a typo. They've launched a web-based version of the instant messaging client.

The new client opens in a web browser window and is available to anyone with a Yahoo! account.

What are the benefits of a web-based messenger?
  • You can access your account from any computer without installing software or changing account settings.
  • Your company's IT department probably won't be able to block you from spending all day messaging your friends instead of working.
The web client supports Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, Safari, and Netscape web browsers.

The new interface seems to work great, but if your friends are scattered across multiple platforms (Yahoo!, AOL, MSN messenger), you might be better off trying out Meebo or Trillian's upcoming web client.

Filed under: Business, Internet, Utilities, Web services, P2P, Social Software

Userplane is now part of AOL

userplane bought by aolAOL has announced that they have acquired Userplane, a company that builds communication software for online communities. Userplane applications are primarily developed in Flash, using the Flash Communication server. This makes it extremely easy for developers to plug it into their websites.

The Userplane suite of software includes:
  • Webchat - a multi-user Flash-based chat interface, that can be easily plugged into any website
  • Webmessenger - a Flash text, voice, and video instant messaging application
  • Webrecorder - a Flash-based audio and video recording app for recording and playing audio and video messages
  • Sitesearch - a user search engine
  • Presence - live user tracking, enabling you to see who is on your site right now.
The best part about Userplane's software is that there is no installation needed. It fits extremely easy into existing websites. It should be really interesting to see how AOL plans to align and integrate these tools into community sites, and how they will get these products in the market more. Userplane is currently used on Friendster, Date.com, and MySpace, and many others.

Update: Read Download Squad's exclusive interview with Userplane CEO Michael Jones.

Featured Time Waster

Forumwarz - a potentially offensive time waster

I pwn UAfter spending the better part of an hour on Forumwarz I still can't decide if it's just sick or if it's kind of fun. It's a bit like a car wreck on the highway. I know I shouldn't be looking but I can't quite turn away.

It's sick, it's twisted, it's the internet on it's worst level and darn it, it's kind of fun. At least for a little while.

Forumwarz is a parody role-playing game that takes place on the internet - or at least the Forumwarz version of it. Your goal is to complete missions that are given to you through a mock up of GoogleTalk called Sentrillion.

Your first "friend" is ShallowEsophagus who begins giving you missions to pwn various forums by being a troll. Depending on the character type you are assigned at start up, you have tools like drooling on the keyboard or bashing your head on the keyboard that you can use to destroy forum threads and eventually, pwn a forum.

Future missions involve buying illegal software from the Russians, pwning more difficult forums and other internet oddness.

Completing missions gives you cash, called Flezz in game, and items that you can pawn or use in other missions. The game is NOT for those easily offended. It's crass, coarse and there are frequent f-bombs in the fake chat sessions.

This is also a game for a more mature audience as it requires you to shop at the Drugs R Fun store to get various concoctions to improve your playing, engage in certain cyber activities to get more Flezz and just generally use a more adult perspective.

If you can get past that, here are the more enjoyable and time-wasting aspects.

View more Time Wasters

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