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Freeware Files: Five Instant Messaging Apps (that are better than AIM)

David Murphy — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:30:00 -0500

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!

How to Hack Your Dropbox: Five Amazing Mashups

Alex Castle — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:30:00 -0500

As any PC power-user knows, getting files from one place to another is one of the oldest tasks in the book. Since way back when people have used floppies, ZIP disks, CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, thumb drives, email and more to get the files you need from point A to point B. But now there’s DropBox, which has—in the half year or so since it came out of beta—become our very favorite way of making sure that we always have our most important files at hand.

If you’re not familiar with how DropBox works, it’s simple: You create a free account with DropBox, and install a small app on your computer. This app creates a folder on your computer (wherever you choose) and monitors that folder at all times. Whenever you change the contents of this folder, by adding, modifying or deleting files, DropBox automatically syncs these changes to your account’s folder on their servers. Additionally, any other computer logged into that same account will have their DropBox folder synced as well. There’s nothing earthshaking about this capability, but the whole process is amazingly simple and makes collaboration an absolute breeze.

Still, with a little creativity, DropBox can be a lot more than just a way to move files from one computer to another. We’ve compiled a list of five of the coolest DropBox tricks we’ve heard of so far, so read on to find out how you can use DropBox and other free software to recover a stolen laptop, organize your Torrents, keep your passwords safe, and more.

1. Keep all your passwords safe

Everyone knows that good password security requires that you use passwords that are A) long, B) complicated, and C) different for every website and service you use. Of course, these three requirements also make it a total pain to memorize all the passwords you need, meaning that most people don’t follow the rules, either using one password across many services (a security risk) or writing their passwords down near the computer (also a security risk).

That’s where KeePass comes in. KeePass is a free, open source password safe. It allows you to generate a unique, totally random password for every site or service you use, while only requiring you to remember a single master passphrase. Whenever you attempt to log into a service, KeePass asks for your master passphrase, then automatically enters the appropriate password from your safe.

That’s all well and good, but what do you do if you frequently use two different computers (say, a desktop and a laptop)? You could use a USB drive to keep your KeePass password archive with you at all times, but that’s one more little bit of hardware you have to keep track of. Instead, use DropBox to keep an up-to-date copy of your password file on both computers, at all times. Just tell KeePass to save your password archive somewhere in your DropBox synced folder.

Worried about security? Fuhgeddaboutit. KeePass saves your password in an archive encrypted with nigh-unbreakable AES 256-hit encryption. That means that as long as you pick a strong, long password, getting a hold of your KeePass file won’t do a hacker a bit of good.

2. Catch Laptop Thieves

As PC enthusiasts, nothing gets our blood boiling like tales of stolen laptop computers. With DropBox, though, there’s a chance for sweet, sweet revenge. The trick is to set up a keylogger on your own machine, and set it to save its log files into the Dropbox shared folder. If anyone ever steals your laptop, your Dropbox folder will give you a detailed look at what the thief is doing with it. If the cretin connects to a service such as MySpace (and our personal research indicates that cretins just love MySpace) then you’ll know exactly who stole your notebook.

By letting Dropbox handle the syncing, you don’t have to let an internet-enabled keylogger through your firewall (because who knows who it could be sending data too). Of course, keyloggers are pretty sketchy business, so if you want to try this trick out you’ll have to track one down on your own.

3. Access an Encrypted Drive, Anywhere

We like Dropbox. We like TrueCrypt. So what if… What if, we were to use the two together? Crazy, we know, but by combining the top-notch encryption of TrueCrypt with the easy syncing of Dropbox, you can create an encrypted drive accessible from any computer.

To do this, just download the TrueCrypt executable, run it, and choose to Extract it (rather than install it) to your Dropbox folder. From there, make an encrypted volume, as described in this article. This will allow you to run TrueCrypt and mount your encrypted volume straight off of the Dropbox folder, on any machine.

There’s one thing you should note about this method: First, Whenever Dropbox updates a file, it first compares the old file and the new, then only uploads or download only the bits that have changed. On the one hand, this is good because it means that you don’t have to re-upload your entire 500MB encrypted volume every time you add something to it. On the other hand, a hacker could (theoretically) see how the encrypted data is changing as you add or change files in the volume; an encryption no-no. Still, this definitely not something you have to worry about if you’re just looking for a little extra security for your Dropbox files.

Read on to find out how you can use Dropbox to control a BitTorrent and sync up all your instant messaging logs!

4. Control a BitTorrent Client Remotely

How often have you found yourself sitting at work, only to find out that a file you’re interested (a demo for a game you’re excited about, for instance) has just become available online. Sure, you could sit there patiently, and wait until you get home to download it; but why bother waiting when you could have it ready for you as soon as you get there. Most of the big BitTorrent clients have some sort of web-based control, but those can be tricky to set up, and require that you have a static IP (or set up a DynDNS account). Using DropBox, it’s much easier.

Here’s what you’ll need to do: First, make sure you have a BitTorrent client capable of automatically loading .torrent files from a folder. All the big ones are capable of this, including uTorrent, Vuze, and the standard BitTorrent client. Next, set it up to monitor your DropBox, or a folder in your DropBox (My Documents/My Dropbox/Torrents for instance) and automatically open any .torrent file added to that folder.

Now, if you see a file you want to grab, just download the .torrent file to your Dropbox/Torrents folder, and your home PC will start the download as soon as DropBox syncs. It’s as simple as that.

Of course, this method requires that you leave you computer on all day long, a decidedly environmentally-unfriendly practice that we don't recommend. But If you're anticipating the need to download something (a beta test for a new MMO, maybe?) we won't fault you for making a one-day exception.

5. Access your IM logs from any computer

A lot of people use instant messaging to keep in touch with their coworkers during the day. We certainly do here at the Maximum PC office, but we’re sure the same can be said for many less-technically-forward offices as well. Because of that, there are times when, while you’re at home, you want to remember something from a conversation you had while you were at work, but you can’t, because your IM logs are stored on your work computer.

That doesn’t have to be the case, though. If you use Pidgin, a free, open source multi-protocol IM client, you can tell it to save its logs in a folder in your Dropbox. As long as Pidgin is set up that way on all of your computers, they will all share access to the same logs.

Actually setting it up so that Pidgin saves your logs somewhere other than the default location is a little trickier than you might imagine, though. You’ll need to change the PURPLEHOME environment variable on your system, which defines where Pidgin will save its configuration files and logs. To do this, open the control panel and select System. Then select the Advanced tab, and click on Environment Variables. Now, click New under the System Variables box. In the Variable Name field, enter PURPLEHOME and in the Variable Value field, enter the location of your Dropbox folder. Now Pidgin will use a folder inside your Dropbox called .purple to save its data.

If you’re ok working from a fresh install of Pidgin, that's all you’ll need to do. If you have existing settings and logs that you want to keep using, just copy the .purple folder from its default directory (Application Data) to your Dropbox directory.

What did we miss?

So that's five of the coolest Dropbox trick's we've found, but we're sure there's a whole lot more out there. Do you know any clever ways to use file syncing? Let us know in the comments!

Instant Messaging Roundup - All-In-One Desktop & Browser Alternatives

Justin Kerr — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:57:57 -0500

Instant messaging is a great way to stay in touch, but anybody who uses it extensively knows the pain of having friends spread out over different services. Ever install a bulky and bloated IM client for just one friend? Or wished you could instant message all your groupies without running 5 different chat clients in the system tray? Well IM providers and a handful of crafty open source programmers have listened to our cries. Free browser-based alternatives exist for all the major platforms, and all in one desktop clients are finally able to bring the competing services together.

All In One Desktop Clients

Browser-based messaging clients make perfect sense if you are on the road, or plan to use a service temporarily. But what if you need full time access to the big 5? Several great solutions exist which can merge all your accounts into one easy interface, below we list a few of our favorites. These all in one clients tend to lose some of the specific functionality that make each IM service unique. But if all you want is an easy way to manage chat, they might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.

Digsby

Digsby is far more then a simple all in one IM client. It features integration with all the usual IM services as well as Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace. Custom skins applied to the user interface can be enabled to sync across multiple installations, maintaining a consistent look and feel between computers. Additionally, the ability to manage multiple file transfers from a single window is a definite plus for file sharing. Digsby is available for OSX, Windows, and Linux.

Pidgin

This open source desktop client runs on both Windows and Linux. It also includes support for every instant messaging service you’ve ever heard of, and plenty you haven’t. Support is limited to the forums, but I think you’ll find the open source community quite friendly, unless you’re a n00b that is.

Trillian

While Trillian Pro remains a commercial product; the basic version should be more then enough for most people. To demonstrate the differences Cerulean Studios has created a handy comparison chart to showcase the differences between the two versions. Trillian is for Windows only, but its and continuous updates and commercial support have made it a popular choice.

Miranda

Miranda fancies itself to be the Nod32 of all in one IM solutions. It was designed from the ground-up to be resource efficient while still providing a rich feature set. Miranda includes support for all the major messaging services but is a Windows only release. The website features a download option for every major version of Windows dating as far back as Window 95. Combined with being light on resources, it is a great option if your looking for IM on an old machine. Miranda also includes support for plugins to further customize your experience.

No-Download Web Clients

Web Clients come with a few limitations, but if you can live with the trade off’s, you will be rewarded with a much leaner experience with no overhead or commitment.

Web Client Limitations:

- No File Transfer
- No Audio Chat
- No Video Conferencing

Meebo

Meebo is the ultimate IM browser portal, allowing users to manage all their messaging accounts from any internet enabled computer. It also represents the leanest way to make use of all the most popular messaging services without having to install a single file on your PC. Just enter your user name and passwords and your ready to go. Since it is accessed through a web browser, Meebo is a great choice that is platform agnostic.

MSN Web Messenger

MSN Messenger was first released in 1999 and has seen eight major software revisions over the years. The latest implementation is called Windows Live Messenger and is part of the Live for Windows initiative. Your login for MSN Messenger is part of your .NET Windows Live ID which was designed to identify you across computers, simplifying your login process. MSN’s web client is well out of beta and seems to be quite stable, just make sure you disable any popup blockers.

AIM Express

AOL Instant Messenger, or “AIM” as it is known to its users was able to build up a large user base during the years in which it dominated as an internet service provider. AOL’s fortunes may have faded as an ISP over the years, but its services remain some of the most popular on the internet. AIM is currently the market leader for instant messaging in the US. AOL’s web client is still in beta, but is nearing completion and is open to all users.

Google Talk Gadget

Google Talk is the newest kid on the block, but this isn’t your standard boy band instant messenger. Google has famously embraced Jabber, the open source standard for instant messaging and actively promotes the use of third party applications. This gives developers full access to the established platform and the freedom to expand it further. Google Talk’s potential is limited only by its user base. The browser based “gadget” is fully developed and seems to be fairly full featured. The title may say beta, but that is just Google speak for continuous development.

Yahoo Messenger For the Web

Yahoo Messenger has come a long way since its initial release as Pager in 1998. Today your Yahoo Messenger ID is used to tie together all other Yahoo services including email, flickr, etc. The desktop client features full VOIP capabilities, both PC to PC and even calls to traditional land lines. Yahoo’s web client is listed as an early beta but also allows access to your MSN contacts. A great solution if you only need the two services.

ICQ2Go

ICQ was the first IM client on the market launched by Mirabilis in 1996. Although ICQ is credited as the pioneer of instant messaging, deeper pocketed rivals eventually out foxed the company and today it is owned by a subsidiary of Tim Warner AOL. Need access to ICQ without the hassle of an install? ICQ2GO is in full beta, and is a great way to lookup old friends who may still use the service.

Know of another great all in one client? Had a bad experience with one of the betas? Share your tips and help us, help you, help us all.

Trillian Astra: First Hands On!

Will Smith — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 00:24:27 -0500

I have four or five different IM accounts, on as many different types of services (AIM, MSN Messenger, Yahoo IM, ICQ, and Google Talk), but for many years, I only used one application to chat with my friends and coworkers on all the different platforms--Trillian. That all changed a few weeks ago, when the open source wizards behind the Pidgin client (you might remember it as Gaim) released version 2.0. Pidgin fixed most of the problems I had with Gaim--it loads fast, looks reasonably good, and works flawlessly, even supporting file transfers and more advanced features. Without a glance back at the aging Trillian client, I moved to Pidgin full time on all my machines.

As a disclaimer, Trillian was one of the first apps to receive our Softy award, and is a long-time favorite of mine. I was pretty bummed that the last version went untouched and virtually unupdated for as long as it has.

This evening, I got an invite to the alpha test for Trillian's new client: Astra. I've only been using it for about 45 minutes so far, and much of the nifty online profile stuff isn't active right now. I took a bunch of screens, so that you guys can see what's changed. This isn't a review, just a first look. But, a bunch of stuff has changed.

On the next page, we've got a few more screens, and a list of the stuff that's changed...

Tile view. It's the big giant screenshots below. Check it out.
Astra picked up the aliases and groups for all of my contacts on first load, on a machine that's never had Trillian before. That's a first, and definitely welcome.
Astra seems to load much faster than the old version did. Before, it was somewhere between Photoshop and Acrobat Reader speed, now it's more like IE (but in a good way).
There are options built-in for Google Talk and Myspace IM. I've never used Myspace IM, but I'll muck around with it as soon as I get some Myspace Friends. Google Talk support works really well.
There are tons of color schemes for the default skin, and you can change between them without rebooting. You can even change between skins without rebooting. Very nice!
There's some sort of news item in each message window. Not sure exactly what it's showing, sometimes it seems kind of like an ad, sometimes it's a news clip, sometimes it's random and funny. Also, you can browse back and forth; and it seems to change based on your conversation. Not sure if I like that, but I guess I don't mind Gmail doing the same thing.
Widgets for weather, Flickr photos, and stuff like Twitter. Not sure why I need more widgets, but they're here. Apparently they'll communicate with other people on my contact list at some point, but not quite yet.

OK, now on to the screenshots and to bed with me!