Pidgin tips and enhancements

After the rename and the new version Pidgin became more popular than ever. Some people started calling it "The Firefox of the instant messengers". However I think that Pidgin needs a lot of time and hard work to deserve such words. I've been using it for the last few days and here are some useful or not that useful but interesting tips I've found on the web:

How to configure Pidgin to work with Google Talk

Manast.com offers a working (at least for the most people) solution. Pidgin doesn't have all of the features of Google Talk client. However I feel much better using one application for most of the instant messaging protocols.

How to install Pidgin 2.0.0 on Ubuntu Feisty Fawn (7.04)

There are a lot of different solutions around the web but I prefer the Debuntu solution. Just add the Debuntu repository and then download and install Pidgin.

Visual enhancements

Here are some Pidgin themes, icons and emoticons:

• Original Yahoo and MSN emoticons for Pidgin - preview and download
  
• Human Theme - great for Ubuntu fans - preview and download
• Windows Vista style icons - preview and download
• OSX style icons - preview and download

Using Amarok? Show your friends what you are listening to

Get this Amarok script - it updates your Pidgin status message with what you are
currently listening to.


That is the list for now. I'll keep looking for other interesting tips and news related to Pidgin and I'll post them here.

ooVoo - Video Messenger

ooVoo is a free application which you can use to talk face-to-face with your friends with high quality video and audio. Using ooVoo you are able to:

• Include up to five people in your conversation.
• Send video messages to a specific person or a group of them.
• Of course, text messages and file transfers are possible.

The application has a nice 3d video interface which is convenient and intuitive and nicely compliments the Vista style. All you need is a webcam and a headset (or separate microphone and speakers, of course). The installation takes up to 20 MB.

It seems that ooVoo is trying to be a competitor of Skype. Unfortunately, with ooVoo you cannot call out to standard phones. However there is click-to-call, and the ability to send video messages to non-ooVoo users. The quality of the video and the sound is definitely noticeable.

The ooVoo instant messenger is definitely a very interesting and useful application. One of the biggest problems would be to convince your contacts to switch to ooVoo.

I've found here an interesting story of two people who married using the ooVoo messenger. I don't know if it's real but it sounds like a funny and exciting story.

More Web-Based Instant Messengers

About an year and a half ago I've posted a list of some of the most popular web-based instant messengers. Meanwhile many new versions and new messengers appeared. Here is a list of those of the messengers I've found most impressive and interesting:

• Ninja IM - Instant messaging for office ninjas
  http://www.ninjaim.com/
  Now you can IM with your friends and co-workers in the office! For all you who work in an office where IM clients like MSN messenger, Yahoo! messenger and Google Talk are prohibited, you'll love this.
  
• KoolIM
  http://www.koolim.com/
  KoolIM.com is a web messenger application that allows you to stay connected with your favorite Instant Messenger almost anywhere. You need a computer with just a browser only. You can sign in to AIM, MSN, Yahoo, Google Talk and ICQ.
  
• Meetro
  http://www.meetro.com/
  Meetro is the world's first location-aware IM client and real-time social network - which means Meetro allows you to meet real people in your neighborhood. It works with MSN, Yahoo, Google Talk and AIM.
  
• RadiusIM
  http://www.radiusim.com/
  You can use your MSN, Yahoo and AIM accounts here. The most interesting thing here is that the users are placed on a map and you can see where your friends are and find more people in a region specified by you. You should definitely try it.
  
• Plugoo
  http://www.plugoo.com/
  You can use Plugoo to chat directly from your favorite instant messenger with any visitor of your blog or any website you own. When you’re logged into your instant messenger (Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, AIM, Google Talk, Jabber, ICQ), you can receive in real time all the comments of your visitors or any question they might ask, and answer instantly!
  

And these are the messengers I've already written about but they are worth mentioning again:

• Meebo
  http://www.meebo.com/
  In my opinion, this is best web-based messenger I've seen.
  
• Goowy
  http://www.goowy.com/
  Goowy is a service that offers you simple, intuitive tools for communicating and sharing on the web.
  
• Google Talk inside Gmail
  https://mail.google.com/
  Of course, everyone knows about the chat integrated into Gmail. One of the best additions to the Gmail interface.
  

Cool IM Websites (Part 1)

All the emoticons and national flags available in Skype are listed here.

Wondering if your friends at Yahoo Messenger are trying to be invisible? Check here - Buddy Spy will also tell you whether your friend is in a Chat Room or even if their Web Cam is online.

If you don't like to minimize Skype/Google Talk/MSN to look at your RSS reader, you can get your favorite feeds directly in your favorite messenger with Anothr.

Web Based Instant Messengers

Sometimes the web based messengers can be very useful - especially in work, school or somewhere else where installation of new software is forbidden (for example, look at that comment).
Many of them are not as comfortable as the regular instant messaging applications but they are working.

Here are some messengers for the most popular instant messaging protocols:

ICQ - ICQ2Go
http://www.icq.com/icq2go/
There are both Flash-based and Java-based versions.
Here are some screenshots from the Flash-based ICQ2Go. With Mozilla Firefox it looks strange sometimes but it works.
Screenshots: 1 | 2

AOL IM - AIM Express
http://www.aim.com/get_aim/express/aim_expr.adp
AIM Express lets you send instant messages directly from a Web browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer, to anyone who has registered for AIM or who uses the America Online service. AIM Express respects your privacy and, best of all, its FREE. To use AIM Express, you must be a registered AIM user or subscribe to America Online.
I tried to use it but I always see this error. Maybe the problem is with my browser or its extensions. Here is a screenshot from the official website.

Jabber - JWChat.org
http://jwchat.org
It uses only HTML and Javascript. Looks interesting. Unfortunatelly, when I tried to login with my Google Talk account, Mozilla Firefox became "Non-responding". I'll try with another browser later.

MSN - MSN Web messenger
http://webmessenger.msn.com
MSN Web Messenger lets you talk online and in real-time with friends and family using just a web browser! Use it on any shared computer - at school, at work, at a friend's house or anywhere you can't install the MSN Messenger software.
Don't forget to allow the site in you popup blocker if you have one.
Screenshots: 1 | 2

MSN - Clientless Conversations
http://www.clientless.net/
This service allows you to use the popular MSN Messenger service with only a browser. No downloads required!
Do you need to chat at work, at home, at university, behind a firewall, or on a kiosk? Clientless Conversations is a free simplistic Web Based MSN Messenger Client which allows you to chat anywhere!

MSN - MSN2Go
http://msn2go.com
MSN2Go is a web-based MSN client or web-based MSN Messenger client that enables you to access the MSN Messenger network at work, school, or anywhere else.

I couldn't find a web-based messenger made by Yahoo. But e-Messenger supports YIM.

All-In-One - E-Messenger
http://e-messenger.net
e-Messenger is a web application that enables you to chat with your MSN, AOL and Yahoo buddies without having to install any program or Java applet. All you need is a JavaScript enabled browser and you're set to go and use e-Messenger. Even if you're behind a firewall.

All-In-One - Instant-Messenger.info
http://www.instant-messenger.info/
Here you can use MSN, AOL and Yahoo. It also doesn't use Java or Flash.

All-In-One - Meebo
http://www.meebo.com
Meebo is a really interesting all-in-one instant messaging client. It is based on Ajax and the interface is very comfortable. It doesn't have some special functions but it works great as a web-based messenger. Supported protocols are: AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, Jabber, Google Talk, MSN.
Thanks to that visitor for the link about Meebo :-)

Goowy
http://www.goowy.com
Goowy is a web-based application offering Free Web Email service that enables you instant messaging, chat, file sharing and much more with your buddies from AOL, MSN, Yahoo and ICQ.