Earlierthisweek, a Homer Simpson impersonator began instant messaging fans with a link to an "internet-only exclusive Simpsons episode." This -- like many things spawned in the dark corners of 'net -- turned out to be a PC virus. But how did this impostor gain Homer's identity?
It turns out Mr. Simpson has a legitimate, real-world e-mail address: chunkylover53@aol.com, which appeared in the episode, "The Dad Who Knew Too Little." Before airing the episode back in 2002 for the first time, Simpsons writer-producer Matt Selman registered the address with AOL. As soon as the episode finished airing, Selman's inbox filled-up instantly. Selman began replying to emails under the guise of Homer, and fans got to enjoy a short conversation with the cartoon star
Six years later, the email account is no longer active, but fans begin receiving AIM messages from Chunkylover53. Fans forgot that an AIM screen-name can be tied to an email other than its AOL email counterpart, and Selman never registered it or abandoned it at a later time -- leaving it open for hijack.
It may seem illogical to tie Meebo to a desktop app, but that's exactly what's going on here. Meebone uses Adobe AIR to bring Meebo's services to your desktop through a dedicated app, but it's still in beta. So if you're down to try it, keep in mind that you'll probably encounter some problems... just like we did.
When attempting to login to AIM, Meebone was confused by a space in one of our user names. Other IM clients and services -- even Meebo itself -- aren't usually bothered by spaces. But that was our only major issue with the AIR-based app. And we're hoping it will be fixed before Meebone graduates from beta.
We tested the app with Google Talk and AIM accounts. Each logged-in successfully, brought up buddy lists, etc, etc. In other words, it introduced a basic Meebo set-up to our desktop, and we liked it. Just barely, but we did like it even though it sort of defeats the purpose of Meebo itself.
Pidgin doesn't officially support Facebook Chat (yet?), but it can be customized with useful add-ons like the new Facebook Chat plug-in. Once installed, the plug-in allows Pidgin to log-in to a Facebook account, pull the buddy-list, and send/receive messages.
Adium, arguably Pidgin's counterpart on Mac, also received support for Facebook Chat in the recent 1.3 beta release, though, the feature is absent from the most recent official update. If you're a risk-taker who enjoys putting his/her computer in jeopardy for the sake of testing new software, give it a shot.
We've also covered a couple of other methods of taking Facebook Chat outside the site:
There's a Firefox plug-in that adds the social-network's IM service to a sidebar.
There's a new feature in town for Gmail Chat, but it's actually not all that new. It's been possible for some time now to go into "invisible" mode via AIM and other chat protocols, but Gmail Chat is finally joining the invisible party.
Going invisible through chat software enables IMers to log into their IM accounts without showing that they've logged on. It's still possible for others to IM you, though it's unlikely since you wouldn't be listed as "online", and you can also IM others.
Invisible mode in Gmail Chat doesn't yet work with Google Talk, the gadget and desktop app. Currently, it's only supported via the online Gmail interface, but we're sure that'll change soon.
A Skype client made especially for Apple's new iPhone has just been released. Om Malik has the news on this much anticipated release from SHAPEServices.
SHAPEServices makes Instant Messaging applications for mobile devices, and now has built a Skype for iPhone website that allows iPhone users to visit and use Skype through Safari. The service is free for a limited time, upon which time users will have a one time fee to run the application. The iPhone application works the same way in which the PC software works. Users can IM and talk with other Skype users, as well as make and receive SkypeOut calls. Users also have access to see who is logged in and available.
Om has said that the application took a few minutes to set up and run, and is easy to use. If there are any DLSers that have tried this application out, please let us know your impressions.
The instant messaging application isn't even available to the public yet, and it's being integrated into social networks.
It didn't take someone long to wrap up Pownce and integrate it into Facebook using the developers API, but its here and ready to use. Jake Jarvis didn't sweat it out too much when developing this add on, and now those Facebook users that have been lucky enough to score a Pownce invite can post and display their updates on their Facebook page, publish stories in their News Feed and Mini Feeds and place a Pownce box in their user profiles.
Pownce for Facebook can be installed here. To sign up for a Pownce invite you can enter your email here, or hit up all your friends and ask who is already in the network.
If you're finding it way too difficult to use Twitter's online service to enter your updates to your contact list, and prefer something maybe a little easier, think about TwitterMail.
Twittering is possible through IM, numerous desktop applications, and even SMS. But if you have the strong desire to be able to send updates to friends using another method, Boris has it, and it's TwitterMail. His service supplies users with a special TwitterMail email address that can then be used to send updates to via email. This will in turn get pushed to your Twitter.com account. Only drawback, you have to supply your Twitter Username and Password to get things hooked up, and there are no security statements on the website so tread carefully with this one.
You can also check out a list of some additional Twitter tools here and here.
Google has been tooling around with the Talk Gadget lately, and has added in the ability to have multi user chats through a Group Chat feature.
The process of chatting is simple. Select a user that you want to chat with, then click on the Group Chat button, this will allow you to connect to another user. Keep in mind, this option is only available in the Google Talk Gadget. So if the user is currently using the standalone player for Mac or Windows, or is offline, a message will get sent to them and open up in a Talk Gadget when clicked.
Google seems to be forgetting about the standalone player with the last few updates. Could they be focusing on the integrated online Google Talk Gadget for a reason? I realize offline applications are shifting towards online, but IM is something we sure could use as a standalone. Google has recently added in the support for Flickr slideshows, and emoticons in the Gadget.
Feed reading might be a little time intensive for some busy bodies. Open an application or web location, read, and repeat. How about making it a little easier? Anothr is trying its best to speed feed reading up. We covered them back in October with the release of their RSS aggregator for Skype, and now they enter the market with a reader for users of Google Talk and Jabber clients.
To get Anothr up and running, add the contact name "anothr@gmail.com" to your friends list in Google Talk. The Anothr RSS alert bot will send you back an IM with links to manage and share subscriptions. You can enter website links, or upload OPML files to import sites and get the news ball rolling. However, this solution might only be good for a few important news feeds. I couldn't imagine getting bombarded with a feed update every 2 seconds.
If you are looking for a simple way to read your news feeds, this could be for you. It could be an annoying way to receive updates to your favorite news, but if you want to be notified immediately of updates, this is a great way.
Twitter, built by Obvious Corp., is a great way to constantly update people on what you are doing, think simplified blog. Short messages (under 140 characters) are posted by IM or web interface.
One cool thing about Twitter, is that you can update your Twitter feed using your Google Talk account. Simply add twitter@twitter.com to your contact list in Google Talk, and send it a short message. Using Google Talk to feed your Twitter opens doors to Twittering on your Blackberry device through the Blackberry Google Talk Client.
If you feel the need to constantly let friends know what doing, this is one easy app to try out.
IMified has a lot of things that can help you stay productive. The IM service launched this week and does to-dos, reminders, and lets you use web applications without launching a browser. The IMified application works with AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, and Google Talk/Jabber. It not only runs on your desktop, but it will also run on supporting mobile devices. The tool lets you schedule appointments, reminders and make notes right in your IM window. To start using IMified, send a message from the network you normally use for instant messaging, and create an account. When you do, you will get a message back that gives you four main menu choices: IMified Notes, IMified Reminders, IMified Todos and a link to your My Account page where you set up all your shortcuts to use through your IM.
You basically navigate, add and edit services, and create shortcuts all through the use of IM by sending IMified codes. Its takes a lot of getting used to, but once your shortcuts are all set up through a link that is provided it really is pretty easy to use. It's also built so you can add in notes and update Basecamp, Google Calendar, and 30 boxes. Seriously, as nice and unique as it is, I would much rather use stikkit or another note and to-do application and log into the application itself to protect my data, even though IMified ensures data that is sent to and from their service is encrypted and protected.
With the recent release of Vista comes new versions of Microsoft's programs, one of those being Windows Live Messenger. There are a few handy changes introduced in this new version, which might get your download finger itching to click the "Get it free" button. The changes include new looks for emoticons, contact and display images. Add a mobile number of a buddy by clicking on a cell phone icon beside a contact, and then send an SMS to that phone number. There is also a new feature called roaming identity. This feature allows for a persons display name and personal image to stay with them no matter what computer they log into from. There are also language updates that add eight new language capabilities to the IM. Other updates include the ability to instantly sync contacts information in your Windows Live mail address book the minute contacts have updated their information. Yahoo has also updated their instant messaging application to work with Microsoft's new OS.
Nimbuzz has officially launched their Nimbuzz Talk beta. We originally covered the news of this back in August. Nimbuzz is a utility for your mobile phone that lets you send free text messages to contacts. The new beta brings users the ability to call their IM buddies from their mobile phone and be charged for a local rate call, no matter where they are located and as long as both parties have the client application. You simply load the application and click on the contact to start the call or chat. Nimbuzz can either be downloaded as a Java application on supported devices, or used through a mobile browser. The Nimbuzz IM client is only available for Windows 2000 and XP users.
Oliver at MobileCrunch has a full review of the beta application.
I was shocked when I first read this article from Matt Hines that spoke of the rising attacks of malware through instant messaging. I knew that there had been a number of articles lately about attacks, but I never realized that there were so many. Apparently there were 41 attacks in December 2006 over instant messaging systems, with over 400 IM initiated threats in the past 12 months. That's an increase in over 150 new threats in 2005. Compare that to 50 discovered threats in 2004, and it seems like IM attacks are on the rise, but only slightly. Interesting new research has also shown that these attacks mainly hit in the last quarter of the year, and are few and far between in the summer months. A security software company called Akonix Systems has been tracking these threats, and believes that there will be more complex and dangerous threats emerging for the 2007 year, that could see identity fraud on the rise. How does Akonix know this? They recently tracked a virus that had been delivered over IM that was aimed at stealing passwords when users logged into banking websites. Scary situation indeed. But if you have the proper up-to-date antivirus, and spyware solutions, you should be able to IM away and sleep tight knowing your information is secure.
It's been in the rumor mill for a little time now, and now it's ready to go in beta form: the new Skype 3.0. It's only currently available for Windows at this stage, but will surely be released for Mac lovers shortly. Hopefully. So what's new in this release? Tons of little bugs have been fixed and interface improvements have been made, and there also some major additions as well.
There's a new feature in town for Gmail Chat, but it's actually not all that new. It's been possible for some time now to go into "invisible" mode via AIM and other chat protocols, but Gmail Chat is finally joining the invisible party.
IMified 
