Adium, the multi-protocol, open source, Instant Message client for Mac OS X has today reached version 1.1. Whilst the team behind the project have been releasing regular updates to the client, this particular update is of note due to its much longer development period (according to the Adium blog, version 1.1 has been a year in the making).
So what's new? Firstly there'sa dose of "tastier tabs". Tabs are something Adium has had for a while, however the new tabs, part of the Google Summer of Code project, are indeed far tastier. There's a plethora of other new features too, however one of note is the new ability to import iChat message logs to Adium - Adium has long held its own over iChat's basic transcript handling. In other news, MSN 'nudges' and Yahoo! Buzzes are fully supported too.
Adium is, of course, a free download and supports MSN, AIM, Yahoo!, Jabber / GTalk and more protocols.
Update: Reader Racco notes in the comments that v1.1 requires Mac OS X 10.4.0 Tiger.
Mobile VoIP company fring has added support for phones and PDAs running Windows Mobile 5.0 and 6. Since fring works with any internet connected device, that means you can use the software to make free phone calls from your PDA, even if it doesn't normally have telephone capabilities.
In a nutshell, fring lets you make VoIP calls using your 3G or WiFi connection. You can make calls to anyone on Skype, Google Talk, MSN Mesenger, SIP, or Twitter. You can also call other mobile phone users running the fring software, or you can use services like SkypeOut to make phone calls to any phone number without eating into your phone plan's voice minutes.
Before you download fring software, you'll be asked what type of phone or Windows Mobile devices you're using. For some reason, a number of devices, including the Dell Axim X3 are listed, even though they do not run Windows Mobile 5.0. And we've confirmed, fring will not work on devices running Windows Mobile 2003SE or older.
Chat client Pidgin IM (formerly known as Gaim) version 2.00 beta 7 is out, with a final 2.0 release scheduled for later this week.
The program performs very similarly to GAIM 2.00 beta 6, with some cosmetic changes, including a new Pidgin logo (which unsurprisingly looks like a pigeon). The redesign does include some under the hood changes as well, so the developers caution that this beta is actually less stable than earlier beta releases, and recommend backing up your Gaim directory before running Pidgin.
Some preferences may be lost, or buddy icons may not work, and some plugins may fail to work. In previous versions, you could easily tell whether your contacts were using AOL IM, MSN Messenger, IRC, or other chat protocols at a glance by looking at the color of their icons. Now you're presented with a green circle for each of your contacts. Hopefully this will be one of the items fixed before the final release.
Ed Bott is probably my favorite person to read when it comes to covering Windows and other Microsoft software. Today I noticed a little post he had regarding a way to fix Windows Live Messenger in case you find yourself unable to log in. I didn't think much of it, until my wife asked me why she hadn't been able to log in to her messenger for a few days. I quickly went back and read Ed's tip, then logged in remotely to her machine and deleted the registry key mentioned, and voila - she's back online.
So if you're having problems with your Messenger, the registry key you want to delete is:
Do you have contacts on MSN Messenger, but prefer to use Google Talk? Why not open one IM instead of two? GTalk2VoIP is an application that supposedly allows you to call regular phone numbers from Google Talk, as well as chat with MSN Messenger contacts. There is no software to install, just simple add the contact, service@gtalk2Voip.com, and you're ready to go. GTalk2VoIP is a free service, but there is a fee for outgoing calls to regular phone lines, which is determined by the provider your call is routed through.
The new Yahoo! Messenger version 8 with voice has been brought out of beta to stir the pot with MSN Messenger, and Google Talk.
Besides being able to tie into MSN Messenger contacts, the new Yahoo messenger is loaded with plug-ins and cool new features from both internal developers, and users, by using Yahoo Messengers Plug-in SDK. Top plug-ins for Yahoo Messenger include one for Coupons.com, Newsgator RSS feeds, and one from Jeteye that lets you store and organize your online world. Nothing tops the new Movie Trailer plug-in that allows you to catch the latest movie trailers while IMing though.
It looks like there is a full on IM war out there. And Yahoo!, MSN, and Google are stuffing their messengers with new features like crazy.
Until I read this post on the Unofficial Yahoo Blog, I had totally forgotten about Microsoft's promise way back in October to make Windows Live Messenger (the successor to MSN Messenger, currently in public beta) interoperable with the Yahoo! Messenger network. Somewhat surprisingly, though, they haven't forgotten, and according to Leah (apparently Microsoft developers don't have last names) at the Inside Windows Live Messenger blog, they've got the feature working in test builds and it "can't be much longer" before Windows Live Messenger users will be able to chat with their Y!IM buddies. We're waiting, Leah.
At long last Microsoft has opened beta-testing of Windows Live Messenger, formerly known as MSN Messenger 8, to the public. The biggest new features are Sharing Folders, the fruits of Microsoft's acquistion of FolderShare, which aims to simplify sharing photos and files with your contacts, and Windows Live Call, a pre-paid service that lets you call regular phones, a la SkypeOut, via Verizon. Also new is a simplified interface, integrated MSN Video (I'm still not sure who wants this), and a semi-customizable GUI. To get in on the beta you'll have to have a (free) Passport account, natch.
Heavysheep is running a tutorial that teaches you how to "Mess with MSN Messenger." It shows you how to use
Mess patch to remove all sorts of things from MSN Messenger like the MSN or Passport
logos, the MSN Search box, almost any button, and yes, the ads. You can also do things like move the tabs the the right
side of the window and get rid of useless warning messages. Guaranteed to piss off Microsoft.
Adium, the multi-protocol, open source, Instant Message client for Mac OS X has today reached version 1.1. Whilst the team behind the project have been releasing regular updates to the client, this particular update is of note due to its much longer development period (according to the Adium blog, version 1.1 has been a year in the making).
