There are numerous multi protocol IM clients like Trillian, Pidgin (formerly Gaim), Miranda, Adium (Mac only) and online ones like Meebo, Kool IM, eBuddy. I’ve tried most of them but the ones that I liked were Trillian and Pidgin. I used Trillian for quite a while but uninstalled it because it was a resource hog. I switched to Pidgin which was lighter and faster. Even though it lacked some features like video/audio chatting, I liked it and it worked for me. I even posted an article on how to upgrade Gaim to Pidgin on Ubuntu. I never thought I would stop using Pidgin, or so I thought.

The other day, I came across a new multi protocol IM client called Digsby. It was on private beta testing a couple months back and is now available to the public for free. I wasn’t really interested in trying it out or using it because I already had Pidgin, but eventually I ended up downloading and installing it on my machine. At first, I thought it was just another regular multi protocol IM client but after trying it out and going through its features, I realized that it was much better than the others I’ve previously tried and used.

Features:

• Multi protocol instant messaging – AIM, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, Google Talk, and Jabber Accounts
• Email – Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, AOL/AIM Mail, IMAP, and POP accounts
• Social networks – Twitter, Facebook and Myspace
• Audio/Video Chat – support provided by TokBox
• File transfer manager
• Spell checker
• Block support – block contacts or
• Widgets

Screenshots:

Application skins

Conversation window themes

Email integration

Social network integration

I’ve since uninstalled Pidgin and now use Digsby. So why did I switch? Here are some of the reasons why I switched and the features that I like about Digsby.

• I can view a snapshot of recent emails in each email account registered, or go to the inbox or compose a new email (opens email account in browser).
• I can send emails via the IM/conversation window.
• I can reply to IM’s via pop-up windows. Comes in handy when you’re multi-tasking.
• I can set my Facebook status and get notifications/updates from Facebook or Myspace.
• I can update my Twitter status, view the timeline, archives, favorites and reply to updates.

My most favorite feature is Digsby’s integration with Twitter. Sometimes, I forgot to login to Twitter and I miss some of the good stuff that other folks share/talk about on Twitter. Now, I won’t miss any updates and I don’t have to login each time because I can do all the things I need to do on Twitter via Digsby!

Aside from all these, there are a bunch of other stuff that I can customize to fit my needs and preference making it easier for me to do multi-tasking. Digsby may or may not work for you and the only way to find out is to try it out yourself. If you use IM a lot on different accounts, then you should consider using a cross-platform product like Digsby. Plus if you’re on Facebook or Twitter, with Digsby you won’t have to login to each site just to check for updates. Right now, Digsby is only available for Windows users but don’t fret Mac and Linux users, because the developers of Digsby are working on Mac and Linux versions which will be released soon. You can sign up here so that you’ll be notified once these versions become available.

Do you use a multi protocol IM client? What particular IM clients are you using or have tried using before? For those who are using or have tried Digsby, how do you like it so far? Please share your thoughts.

*images taken from Digsby

Good news to Kool IM users out there. Version 2.0 has just been launched!

Compared to it’s previous version, this new version includes an embedded IM client right on the page. This is to address the problems that users having pop-up blockers have with the original version. In it’s six months of existence, Kool IM already has an average of 40,000 users a day.

The Kool IM staff also plans to add more IM networks and are in the process of negotiating with US carriers about the possibilities of a mobile version of Kool IM.

Kool IM is definitely working hard to keep up and compete with other services like Meebo and eBuddy. Although I rarely use this type of services, I still prefer Meebo over Kool IM and eBuddy because it’s simple and easy to use.

Check out the new Kool IM

Note: When using services like Meebo, Kool IM & eBuddy, make sure you sign off. Closing the window doesn’t sign you out and leaves your account online.

One of the things I usually do when I login to my dashboard is to check on site stats. While I was browsing Shortstat, I found a site that was relatively new. I mean, it was the first time for this site to show up on my stats. Curiosly, I clicked on the url and was brought to this blog.

I found out that it was a tech blog owned by a Malaysian blogger. As I browsed thru the first few entries, there was nothing unusual about it. The regular tech news and stuff. Then when I reached the 3rd and 4th posts, I was surprised to see that both were about two topics that I also blogged about a week ago, Kool IM & Blogmusik.

So what I did, I read the full entry for each post. First was the Kool IM post. I was more surprised to read that the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs were exactly the same with my own post, word-for-word! Then I went to the next post, about Blogmusik. This entry was totally copied from my post. No paraphrases, quotes or anything. Not even a trackback for that post. But at the end of the entry he posted a link to the source, which of course was no other than my blog.

UPDATE: I decided to show you a comparison of my entries and the other guy’s entries.

Kool IM

Me:

Kool IM is the latest thing in web chat services.

What is it you say? Kool IM is an Ajax instant messaging client that works with major instant messaging services that allows logging onto AOL, ICQ, Yahoo! Messenger, MSN Messenger, Google Talk & Jabber, eliminating the need for an instant-messaging client on the user’s computer. The most popular web instant messaging clients are Meebo and eBuddy. While other competitors include ILoveIM and Mabber.

Kool IM integrates features from Meebo and eBuddy. It uses a pop-up window for the buddy list and for chatting like eBuddy. Like Meebo it allows users to create accounts, so you won’t have to login every time for each service.

I tried it out earlier and it was okay. Personally, I still prefer Meebo for one major reason, “pop-ups”. I hate pop-ups. Most browsers try to eliminate pop-up windows. In Meebo you have your buddy list and chat windows integrated inside the same browser window and you can drag them around or resize them.

These things are helpful especially if you’re in the office or the machine you’re using doesn’t allow you to install an instant messenger client. One example is a computer lab where as a simple user, you don’t have access to install programs. Just launch a web browser, type in the url, login to your accounts and you’re good to go!

Blogger guy:

Now, you do no need to open every single messenger if you gonna chat with your friends with different software (instant messaging client). With Kool IM, you can make them into one. Save space, save memory, and save time too. Why not have a try ?!

Kool IM is an Ajax instant messaging client that works with major instant messaging services that allows logging onto AOL, ICQ, Yahoo! Messenger, MSN Messenger, Google Talk & Jabber, eliminating the need for an instant-messaging client on the user’s computer. The most popular web instant messaging clients are Meebo and eBuddy. While other competitors include ILoveIM and Mabber.

Kool IM integrates features from Meebo and eBuddy. It uses a pop-up window for the buddy list and for chatting like eBuddy. Like Meebo it allows users to create accounts, so you won’t have to login every time for each service.

Blogmusik

Me:

Blogmusik is a new site that allows you to listen to on-demand songs online for FREE!

Blogmusik uses a Flash-based virtual player that looks exactly like an iPod and works exactly like one. It includes a Play/Pause button, Skip button (Previous track and Next track), Volume control, a Playlist button to access your saved playlists and an option to share it to a friend. You can also change the player skin to black or white. Regular users can only listen to songs one at a time. While registered users can create/save playlists and save songs into each playlist.

The site can be accessed in two languages, English and French. To register, just provide an email address and password. Once you’ve done that, you’ll see a menu on top. Click on New Playlist and type a name for that playlist. Now that you have a playlist, you can start adding songs to it. To search for songs, type on the space provided right below the virtual iPod. Type in the name of the artist or title of any song, click OK and it will show you the search results on the right side of the player. Look for the song that you like and click on Save and choose which playlist you want to save it to. Repeat the same steps to add other songs. In your playlist, use your mouse wheel to scroll thru the songs. Registered users can also manager their playlists (delete songs, change song order). I was hoping that they’d let the users, edit the file name of the song coz some of the files had very long names and had some extra info that I wanted to edit.

Blogmusik is still in it’s Beta version so expect some bugs and improvements in the near future. Also, be aware that the site opens a pop-up every few minutes or after every song. I have no problem with it coz Firefox blocks it right away. If your browser doesn’t automatically block it, you might have to do it manually coz if you don’t, you’ll have a lot of pop-ups while you’re listening to the songs.

Note: Earphones not included. Hehe

Blogger guy:

Blogmusik is a new site that allows you to listen to on-demand songs online for FREE! Blogmusik uses a Flash-based virtual player that looks exactly like an iPod and works exactly like one. It includes a Play/Pause button, Skip button (Previous track and Next track), Volume control, a Playlist button to access your saved playlists and an option to share it to a friend. You can also change the player skin to black or white. Regular users can only listen to songs one at a time. While registered users can create/save playlists and save songs into each playlist.

The site can be accessed in two languages, English and French. To register, just provide an email address and password. Once you’ve done that, you’ll see a menu on top. Click on New Playlist and type a name for that playlist. Now that you have a playlist, you can start adding songs to it. To search for songs, type on the space provided right below the virtual iPod. Type in the name of the artist or title of any song, click OK and it will show you the search results on the right side of the player. Look for the song that you like and click on Save and choose which playlist you want to save it to. Repeat the same steps to add other songs. In your playlist, use your mouse wheel to scroll thru the songs. Registered users can also manager their playlists (delete songs, change song order). I was hoping that they’d let the users, edit the file name of the song coz some of the files had very long names and had some extra info that I wanted to edit.

Blogmusik is still in it’s Beta version so expect some bugs and improvements in the near future. Also, be aware that the site opens a pop-up every few minutes or after every song. I have no problem with it coz Firefox blocks it right away. If your browser doesn’t automatically block it, you might have to do it manually coz if you don’t you’ll have a lot of pop-ups while you’re listening to the songs.

I didn’t expect that someone would even bother to do this. Now I know how Cathy felt when this happened to her (although hers was a bit different coz the copycat blogger was using her rss feeds). I’m not gonna post his url here coz it’s just gonna drive site traffic to his blog. Hehe. You can send me an email and I’ll give you the url. Btw, I already sent an email to that guy and asked if he could change his entries and make it more like his own work or atleast quote me. We’ll see if he replies and does something about it. I’ll keep you guys posted.

Kool IM is the latest thing in web chat services.

What is it you say? Kool IM is an Ajax instant messaging client that works with major instant messaging services that allows logging onto AOL, ICQ, Yahoo! Messenger, MSN Messenger, Google Talk & Jabber, eliminating the need for an instant-messaging client on the user’s computer. The most popular web instant messaging clients are Meebo and eBuddy. While other competitors include ILoveIM and Mabber.

Kool IM integrates features from Meebo and eBuddy. It uses a pop-up window for the buddy list and for chatting like eBuddy. Like Meebo it allows users to create accounts, so you won’t have to login every time for each service.

I tried it out earlier and it was okay. Personally, I still prefer Meebo for one major reason, “pop-ups”. I hate pop-ups. Most browsers try to eliminate pop-up windows. In Meebo you have your buddy list and chat windows integrated inside the same browser window and you can drag them around or resize them.

These things are helpful especially if you’re in the office or the machine you’re using doesn’t allow you to install an instant messenger client. One example is a computer lab where as a simple user, you don’t have access to install programs. Just launch a web browser, type in the url, login to your accounts and you’re good to go!