Freeware Files: Five Instant Messaging Apps (that are better than AIM)
Freeware Files: Five Instant Messaging Apps (that are better than AIM)
Posted 07/20/2009 at 9:30am
| by David Murphy
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Ding! If you're still using AOL's default instant messenger (or Google Talk, or Yahoo! Messenger, or...), then you're missing out on a wide range of alternative features--more than you perhaps though possible in a common messaging application. Or, worse, you're trying to converse with your friends across the various networks by using three or more individual applications at once. While this might have been the only way to bridge the gap between these services before, you can plead ignorance no longer. Start the uninstaller--and this article--and by the time you're finished with both, you'll never go back to the antiquated world of official messaging applications. Third-party is where the real party's at.
What can you expect to find in these open-source and freeware apps? For starters, an interface that combines a number of common messaging networks into a single program. In some cases, you can even lump your friends' various online names across the separate chat networks into a single, unifying alias--click a drop-down box to specify which network you want to reach them on. Beyond that, these programs can bring a number of plugins and external connections to the table. Combine your Facebook and Twitter feeds into your friends list, find out when people are about to message you before they do so, and call your buddies through your messenger interface akin to Skype. And that's just the tip of the IM iceberg.
Pidgin
What it does: I don't often play favorites in the freeware roundup, but I've been a steadfast Pidgin user for the past few years and can find little wrong with this lightweight, plugin-packed app. Out of the, er, box, Pidgin supports a comprehensive list of chat networks: AIM, ICQ, Google Talk, Jabber/XMPP, MSN Messenger, Yahoo!, Bonjour, Gadu-Gadu, IRC, Novell GroupWise Messenger, QQ, Lotus Sametime, SILC, SIMPLE, MySpaceIM, and Zephyr. You can add more by downloading plugins for Pidgin, although you'll find a wealth of usefulness in the customizable add-ons that the application already builds into its default installation. My favorite? Check out, "psychic mode," which pops up a blank IM window whenever someone is about to send you a message.
Download it here!
Digsby
What it does: Were Pidgin to have a full-fledged rival, I would put Digsby at the top of the list. What it lacks in cleanliness and unobtrusive installation mechanisms, it makes up for in total network comprehensiveness. Not only can you message your friends across a range of the most popular chat networks, you can also integrate your Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and MySpace accounts into the app. Get your friends' latest status updates, messages, photos--the whole kitchen sink--the second they post them. Heck, you can even use Digsby to check and send email. If you really, really hate the idea of having to fire up a few programs for multiple social interactions, switch to Digsby. It's the ultimate aggregator.
Download it here!
Trillian Astra
What it does: This one's still in beta, but it's every bit worth mentioning and/or playing around with. Aside from the common IM features that one would expect to find in a program like this, unique additions include: the ability to specify on a user-by-user basis who sees you as "online" or "invisible," a unique "Trillian profile" URL that you can share with friends instead of having to go through a list of your online handles, RSS integration and automated file transfer improvements, and integrated IRC support. The downside? A number of the super-cool features are locked away to the "premium" version of this application. And by premium, I (and Cerulean Studios) mean "paid-for." Still, if the Digsby interface turns you off, then you might find more happiness in the comprehensive, free offerings of Trillian Astra.
Download it here!
Miranda IM
What it does: Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity. If you don't have the time or desire to fiddle with a number of configurations, features, and plugins, then you might want to check out Miranda IM. This no-fuss, no-installation IM application is a great program to stash onto a USB key. Plug it in, fire it up, and you'll be ready to connect to AIM, ICQ, IRC, MSN, and Yahoo! chat networks, to name a few. But don't think that you're always going to be restrained to basic IM functionality. You can build additional features into your Miranda IM client by installing any of the 350+ addons currently listed in the main site's database.
Download it here!
VoxOx
What it does: Like Trillian Astra, the lesser-known VoxOx is still in beta as well. And while it offers similar functionality to Diggsby, one of the stand-out features of VoxOx is its integration of a Skype-like calling functionality into the main program. Your account comes with its own phone number for others to reach you at, and the application will even forward incoming calls to an external number of your choosing a la Google Voice. A robust personal assistant allows you to customize your responses to incoming calls, including personalized responses for different contacts, call screening, and--my favorite--personalized waiting music. If you want to share files with fellow contacts in VoxOx, your upload (up to 100MB) is converted into a download link rather than a direct connection transfer like other clients. Although the software is free, calls cost $0.01 a minute for U.S. numbers.
Download it here!
David Murphy (@ Acererak) is a technology journalist and former Maximum PC editor. He writes weekly columns about the wide world of open-source and roundups of awesome, freebie software. Shoot him a message via Twitter, especially if you have an awesome app or game you're dying to recommend!
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Rider660r
November 12, 2009 at 8:12am
I'm liking the Digsby alot.Just installed it 10 min ago and already works great....gonna tweak it and can't wait to see it then.
If you have a FB account you know about the BS FB pulled with the news feed etc. Well this fixes that when you clcik the lil FB icon in your toolbar,their all now back in order by time added and looks to be everything posted is there.
Xylogeist
November 06, 2009 at 11:08am
DUUUUDE.... Why the HELL was MSN Instant Messenger not mentioned? HELLO? MSN (Windows Live Messenger) Is THE BEST IM service imaginable...
Oh it was mentioned... its just not a main choice >_> Wow
scholarwarrior
July 27, 2009 at 11:37pm
My wife has lots of QQ contacts from China. Can install the QQ software here, but it is atrocious. As Mr. Murphy points out, Pidgin has QQ support, but they do not support it, in that it does not actually work. you can add contacts, and they can send messages to you, but it comes across as junk. Last time we tried anyway.
Anyone know if any of the other chat software supports QQ accounts (in a way that works)?
gregbishop
August 03, 2009 at 8:41am
Never heard of QQ before. Doesn't look like you'll find much support:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_instant_messaging_clients
gregbishop
July 21, 2009 at 11:04am
I've tried all of these minux voxox, and I have to say Digsby best meets my needs currently. I was a very loyal Trillian fan for many years, but in this day and age, you can't afford to have an app (Astra) in beta for 5 years. As an admin, real-estate on my desktop is a high-ranking priority for an IM client. Pidgin, Miranda, and even Astra (not Trillian 3.x), if nothing else, have contact lists and/or chat windows that are just too large. When you have a combination of friends and coworkers topping 200 folks, that's unacceptable to scroll through. It might seem insignificant to many, but the ability to set my buddy list to 7 pt font, and not have to see buddy icons is huge to me. Yeah, I'm app-snobby :)
Neutronbeam
July 21, 2009 at 6:57am
Been trying out Digsby and it's okay; I'll keep it for now. Good article, glad to see your name again Mr. Murphy.
Neutronbeam
AntiHero
July 20, 2009 at 4:58pm
Thanks for another fine entry of the Freeware Roundup. I love Pidgin, i use it when i am on my liux distro (right now) it has an Xfire plugin on the linux version. Trillian Astra is a close tie though, I got the betaand was blown away with its ability. I could use Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites, along with all main messenging clients.
I don't like Microsoft, I associate with it.
FrancesTheMute
July 20, 2009 at 3:08pm
we've got everyone in the IT department at my work using Pidgin, works great, since not everyone has the same one, and the encryption plugin is nice for discussing work related issues
pizzaguy
July 20, 2009 at 2:46pm
I have been using Palringo. even though it doesnt have too many features, its light weight and handles a lot of services.
I'm going to try out trillian now, but they have already gotten on my bad side. I signed up for their private alpha a while ago, only now do I find out they have released it publicly...
winmaster
July 20, 2009 at 1:40pm
Everyone I know is on Windows Live Messenger/MSN Messenger/Whatever Microsoft calls it these days, so I'm rockin Windows Live Messenger with no real reason to change. Although Digsby's Twitter support interests me. Maybe if I actually every get Twitter followers, I'll switch to that.
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The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
eday_2010
July 20, 2009 at 11:30am
I didn't know that a lot of people still used AIM. I thought it disappeared a long time ago with ICQ. I guess I haven't been keeping up with social aspect of the internet like I used to.
ez223
July 20, 2009 at 11:01pm
Is ICQ dead? Nobody told me. Neither did anyone tell the 100s of active contacts I have all around the world using ICQ. I've tried Trillian. I started using IM years ago when Yahoo Messenger was all the rage. I swiched to ICQ because many of the Ultima Online players I met used it. ICQ does what I need it to do. There are a few different versions available and they are all still free AFAIK.
EZ
ZayLay
July 20, 2009 at 11:23am
I've been using trillain for years, and now they just converted to this Astra. I love the new interface. After using the 30day trial, I am going to miss the paid for history view that is so neat compared to the free version's history.txt file that's used instead. Other then that trillian rocks for using my 3 different IM's in one client. I might try digsby soon now after switching to a new comp next time. Thanks for the tips.
farlo
July 20, 2009 at 10:48am
i still use aim with dead aim, using an old version of aim because frankly it became even worse bloated crap after version 5 ended its run.
ETNPNYS
July 20, 2009 at 9:20am
My vote goes to Digsby. Just pay attention through the install process, and you'll be very happy once it's installed. You can even customize the structure of your im windows - to be like the iPhone or more traditional views. Downside? No working Linux client yet - so I have to use Pidgin when at home.
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sk8nrck2
July 20, 2009 at 9:05am
I personally don't use IM too much, but I loves me some free apps to make life easier! Plus intergration of Google Voice sounds cool on VoxOx...
Chris
geekspotnow.blogspot.com
Comic Book Guy
July 20, 2009 at 7:59am
I've never heard about VoxOx till now, I've known all the other ones, but this one is new to me!
What do calls cost for Canadian numbers?
Comic Book Guy
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