Besides having a funny name, MyGads allows you to remember things that you might not always have the answer to. This web 2.0 service allows you to input information that you want to remember later, then when you need the information, you can either send the service an instant message or text message from your phone with a keyword to retrieve the information.
For instance, if you want to remember "My Birthday," then you could create a statement similar to "My Birthday - 12/06." You could then text or IM MyGads to retrieve the birthday. This service has unlimited uses and might just get you out of a sticky situation, say, remembering your anniversary or wife's birthday.
While Google's GTalk messaging application is currently Windows only, shankri-la points out that similar functionality can be achieved by using Mozilla's beta project, Prism, to create a standalone web application.
After Prism is installed, run the program and enter the following line as the application URL:
https://talkgadget.google.com/talkgadget/client
Next, give your application a name like "GTalk," and choose your shortcut locations. You'll then have a GTalk/Prism web application that runs separately from your regular web browser (which is helpful for keeping conversations on a separate monitor or to prevent accidental quitting of the application during web use).
Signing in to your newly-created gadget will present you with your contact list and basic GTalk instant messaging. You won't be able to do fancy things like send files or use the music status functions, but you will be able to group chat, use emoticons, and save your chat history (if you've enabled that preference in your Gmail settings).
We know you could use the Google Talk within Gmail or use a Jabber client for Mac/Linux to connect, but using Prism to create a web app can create a better workflow for some users. You won't have to keep a Gmail tab open for IM, and you won't mistakenly quit Firefox when you're done browsing on another tab (which would close your IM session as well).
Simkl is a web service that saves your instant message history to its servers so that you can access that searchable history from any computer with Internet access. You'll need a Simkl account and some money (1 month of archiving is $2.99 and one year is $24.99). You'll also have to change a setting in your IM client to use Simkl as a proxy (so that it can save your messages).
If the thought of a third party (besides the actual service provider) archiving your instant messages doesn't bother you, you can try out the service for a week for free. The history viewer is web-based, and you can do full-text searches on your IM history.
Simkl supports most of the popular IM clients including Yahoo, MSN, AIM, Pidgin, iChat, ICQ, Trillian, and Adium. Keep in mind that many of these IM clients like Pidgin and Trillian can log your chats individually, but if you use multiple computers with different IM clients, Simkl can unify your IM logging.
Meebo, the online instant messaging platform with support for multiple protocols, has just released the API for meebo rooms and meebo network.
Meebo rooms are customizable spaces that integrate instant messaging with the sharing of web links and media, including videos and images. The meebo rooms API was created for large-scale implementations of meebo rooms for bigger community sites. The API also automates a large portion of the creation and configuration of meebo rooms.
Examples of implementation include:
embedding a chat room on every "group" page of a social network
live community groups for an artist or show
a chat room in the "comments" section of a blog.
So why do all this? Two words: Muh-knee.
Each meebo room built with the API will run ads, and meebo will share 50% of the ad revenue with its partners (if you dry heave at the idea of an ad-supported meebo room, a yearly licensing fee option is also available).
In January alone, 18 million unique users visited meebo widgets distributed across the Web by partners and users. So if you're looking to monetize your website, meebo rooms and widgets might be the way to go.
Ever wanted to see what your friends are typing to you as they type it? You'll get your chance with latest AIM Beta. Now at version 6.8, the newest version of AIM includes support for real-time IM. Unfortunately, Freudian slips are no longer a vocal problem.
The new feature is incompatible with iChat, Pidgin, and other third party IM clients, but if this catches on, it's likely they'll add support to for real-time IM soon. For now, if you'd like to use this feature, you'll need to use the official AIM client.
Real-time IM requires one of the users to activate a direct connection. The other party may choose to decline, so at least it's optional. Though it may seem "regular" and "bland", the ability to edit instant messages is a blessing. Maybe we're just a bit geekier and a little more old-fashioned than the average person, but we've been caught in way too many awkward, verbal situations because of something as minor as a forgotten name (it's hard to remember everyone from high school, dammit).
Do you use multiple IM programs? Do you wish you could save your chats in one place? IM History may be for you.
This application saves your IM history across multiple computers and heck even multiple operating systems. IM History currently works with AIM, Yahoo, MSN, Skype, Trllian, and a few others. Using their web interface, IM History users can easily pull up their archived messages.
Think about the usefulness of this utility. Remember way back when one of your IM buddies gave you a link you're dying to get access to, weeks later? By using a tool like IM History, you can easily pull it up and be on your way.
The Pew Internet & American Life Project just posted its findings on teens and the web, and it seems to have uncovered much of what we already know about the internet. Here's a bullet point summary of the major findings. With each point, we'll try to name site/service who's users would stereotypically match.
AIM: 93% of American teens (ages 12-17) use the web. Many of them use the web to interact with others.
YouTube: 64% of online teens create online content, up from 57% in 2004.
Livejournal (bad poetry): 39% of online teens share their artistic creations online.
MySpace: 27% of online teens keep a personal web page.
LOLcats?: 26% of online teens "remix" content they find online.
WoW: 49% of online teens play games online.
America: Teens are more likely to own desktop computers over any other type of "gadget." This one was almost surprising.
Facebook: Social network communicators are more "intense" communicators.
Facebook: Girls eclipse boys in photo posting.
Nintendo Wii: 31% of teens spend time time with friends outside of school every day.
High School: 34% of teens spend time with friends outside of school several times a week
To be honest, a lot of this is pretty obvious. We shouldn't need a study to find out chat rooms suck, teens tend to own computers, and girls are more likely than guys to post photos online. Regardless, there's a lot more information where that came from, so if you'd like to learn more about the online habits of today's teenagers, make sure to check out the full study.
Pretty much every major chat client includes a way to transfer files along with instant messages. If you're using AOL, MSN, or Yahoo! instant messenger to catch up with a friend and want to send a photo or MP3, you can. But if you're using web-based IM client meebo, it's been a different story... until now.
Meebo has just rolled out an update that includes a few new emoticons, and oh yeah, support for transferring files. Don't expect to send huge videos over the service though. There's a 10MB size limit on files you transfer, and a 30MB per user limit per month.
Meebo is using Amazon's S3 storage service and EC2 scaling service to facilitate file transfers. So don't expect those file size limits to go away anytime soon. But this is definitely a step in the direction of making Meebo a complete replacement for desktop-based instant messaging clients.
What IM do you use? Google Talk and Meebo have been growing with leaps and bounds, and so has IMVU.
Meebo, the online instant messaging system has experienced growth rates of 354% in the past ten months, and Google Talk, both web based and desktop based, has grown 149%. IMVU is another Instant messaging application that you might use if you are a Second Life of Habbo fan. It lets users create a custom virtual characters complete with clothes and 3D scenes. They have experienced a 154% since last year.
A shocking result came from Skype. The eBay owned company saw only a 20% increase in users since last August.
The Internet is all about communication; getting the information we need, when we need it. What's the best tool to use? IM! Instant gratification....if the person is online that is.
MiniMobs is a newer entry into the messaging world, however, like typical IM tools, they don't have an application or service that they specifically run on. MiniMobs lets users chat online with buddies from social networks such as Facebook or MySpace, by embedding an applet in personal pages. It's just another way to stay in touch, all the time.
The MiniMobs concept and cell phone widget designs are cool, but the ads littered about the "corporate" site can get really distracting. I realize MiniMobs might have to make a little cash for servers and development, but please, lay off the distracting ads, and focus on product development. If you have to, sell some top level banners and don't blend the ads in.
Posted May 23rd 2007 11:00AM by Lisa Hoover Filed under: Fun
Adium is a terrific free instant messaging client for Mac OS X that connects you to AIM, Jabber, GTalk, Yahoo, MSN and more all at once. The application is feature-packed as it is but, like so many other applications these days, users have developed plug-ins to make it even better. The complete list has been conveniently compiled in one place, but here's five cool ones to get you started:
High quality phone calls are what every international caller wants. No pops, cracks or wizzles. VOiP providers have achieved this quite nicely, including Vbuzzer. Upon downloading the Vbuzzer application it closely resembles an instant messaging application, but that's not all it does. The free service allows users to make free phone calls, send text messages and files. Calls can be placed through the application, or to traditional telephones for a small fee.
Vbuzzer is currently only available for PC users. Although Skype is much more user friendly, and at the top of everyone's list, Vbuzzer could still be a small contender. If anyone uses Vbuzzer regularly to make calls to landlines or mobiles, let us all know how it works and your thoughts.
First instant messaging distracted us from our day to day work, now it's set to distract our gaming life too.
Microsoft has announced that they will be integrating Windows Live Messenger on Xbox 360 consoles. This new addition allows users to chat straight from their televisions using Messenger.
How will users type though? Well, Microsoft has developed a virtual keyboard on the Xbox 360 where users scroll through letters, or users can always plug in a USB keyboard to consoles. Microsoft will also be launching a QWERTY text input device that will connect directly into the Xbox 360 controller that supports text and instant messaging as well.
Do DLS readers think Instant Messaging is a good addition to the Xbox? Or is it just another potentially distracting 'feature'?
Microsoft has partnered with 9 charities to donate a portion of ad revenue every time you send an instant message. You have to sign up for the i'm program, but this is the real deal, unlike the countless internet rumors about similar deals that offer cash rewards for sending messages or emails.
The American Red Cross, Boys & Girls Club, National AIDS Fund, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, ninemillion.org, the Sierra Club, StopGlobalWarming.org, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and the US fund for UNICEF are all working with Microsoft on the program. Microsoft says there's no cap on how much money will be donated, but the company has promised to send at least $100 thousand to each charity.
In order to participate you need to use Windows Live Messenger 8.1 (no Trillian or GAIM for you do-gooders), and you need to copy and paste some code into your settings to choose the charity you want to donate your proceeds to. You can change charities later.
Some web sites are reporting that you need to start instant messages with "i'm" in order to generate revenue for the charities. But in fact, it appears that when you add the script to your settings, an "i'm emoticon" will pop up next to your name. Now every message does start with "i'm," and a portion of revenue generated from that emoticon (it looks like you can click on it) will go to charity.
What's in it for Microsoft? Well, when you're a company the size of a small planet, any charitable donations are a good tax write-off. And this is a rather innovative way to get that deduction while giving users an incentive to use your product.
After a year and a half of development Adium 1.0 for Mac was released yesterday.
The instant messaging client for Mac has a variety of new features including iTunes Now Playing Status, privacy management, improved account management, a new default appearance, and a redesigned chat transcript viewer with improved searching, plus tons more and I do mean tons.
I downloaded 1.0 last night and there are literally pages of bug fixes and improvements to this version of Adium (over 600 total) making it a serious upgrade to the last version. Adium 1.0 also supports QQ messaging in addition to the other 13 previously supported messaging systems.
This is a serious upgrade that I know I for one was seriously ready for.
While Google's GTalk messaging application is currently Windows only, shankri-la points out that similar functionality can be achieved by using Mozilla's beta project, Prism, to create a standalone web application. 
Meebo, the online instant messaging platform with support for multiple protocols, has just released the API for meebo rooms and meebo network. 
The Pew Internet & American Life Project just posted its findings on teens and the web, and it seems to have uncovered much of what we already know about the internet. Here's a bullet point summary of the major findings. With each point, we'll try to name site/service who's users would stereotypically match. 
Pretty much every major chat client includes a way to transfer files along with instant messages. If you're using AOL, MSN, or Yahoo! instant messenger to catch up with a friend and want to send a photo or MP3, you can. But if you're using web-based IM client meebo, it's been a different story... until now.
What IM do you use? Google Talk and Meebo have been growing with leaps and bounds, and so has IMVU. 
The Internet is all about communication; getting the information we need, when we need it. What's the best tool to use? IM! Instant gratification....if the person is online that is.
Adium is a terrific free instant messaging client for Mac OS X that connects you to AIM, Jabber, GTalk, Yahoo, MSN and more all at once. The application is feature-packed as it is but, like so many other applications these days, users have developed plug-ins to make it even better. The complete list has been conveniently compiled in one place, but here's five cool ones to get you started:
Bye bye Mr Telephone company, the future is arriving quickly with plenty of VOiP providers in the landscape, including a new buzzing sound. (although your Vonage phone may face a lack of dialtone soon)
First instant messaging distracted us from our day to day work, now it's set to distract our gaming life too.
Microsoft has partnered with 9 charities to donate a portion of ad revenue every time you send an instant message. You have to sign up for the i'm program, but this is the real deal, unlike the countless internet rumors about similar deals that offer cash rewards for sending messages or emails.
The instant messaging client for Mac has a variety of new features including iTunes Now Playing Status, privacy management, improved account management, a new default appearance, and a redesigned chat transcript viewer with improved searching, plus tons more and I do mean tons.
