Tag - Web-messenger
It has been a while since we last seen an update to the main eBuddy client, which in the competitiveness of the web messenger market has forced the development team to respond. The result in a newer, fresher and more polished eBuddy application, containing several notable improvements. Vincent G at the eBuddy blog states:
Yet more positive news hits Messenger Stuff. Web messengers are really pushing innovation in terms of user friendliness and more recently, integration into a variety of new and interesting products. Good work eBuddy team.
>> eBuddy blog: Yes! We are still here! New Stability Improvements!
- Loading of your contact list is now twice as fast as before! This means no more waiting, especially when you have a lot of friends in your contact list
- Many stability fixes, no longer your eBuddy gets disconnected for no reason or you can see users online who left the computer hours ago!
- Adding a network to your account has never been easier! We completely redesigned the way you add another account to your eBuddy, so it is less likely you make a mistake
- Redesign of all popup windows! They were soooo 2007
- New way of changing your name and custom status. Our user research showed that this actually annoyed you the most, so we changed it! Your name is most important, so it is displayed above your personal shout
- New Help pages. We are not there yet, but we completely redid the Frequently Asked Questions page. It should now answer your most urgent and common questions (surprisingly)
Yet more positive news hits Messenger Stuff. Web messengers are really pushing innovation in terms of user friendliness and more recently, integration into a variety of new and interesting products. Good work eBuddy team.
>> eBuddy blog: Yes! We are still here! New Stability Improvements!
Android is a software platform developed by Google which is designed for mobile phones. The first phone to use it was the T-Mobile G1, which has been dubbed the first so called "Google phone". The platform uses many open source technologies and thus paves the way for many applications to be created for it.
Meebo for Android allows you to connect to all your IM accounts from your mobile phone in one easy to use application. It is good to see in just less than a month the Meebo development team have already got an application out to the public:
>> Meebo for Android
>> Meebo blog: meebo for android (what I did on my summer hackation)
Meebo for Android allows you to connect to all your IM accounts from your mobile phone in one easy to use application. It is good to see in just less than a month the Meebo development team have already got an application out to the public:
We really want to stress that this is just the first version. It doesn't have every feature that you would look for in a full blown desktop IM application, but we thought it would be best to release it as soon
as possible, and let your suggestions guide future development.
as possible, and let your suggestions guide future development.
>> Meebo for Android
>> Meebo blog: meebo for android (what I did on my summer hackation)
It's been a feature packed week for eBuddy, with the development team adding two major services to their popular mobile and web messenger clients:
It's great to see how all our IM clients coming together in one easy to use service. Moreover, the Facebook messenger client support is a sign of its fast increasing popularity. Maybe the predictions we made a few months ago are coming true?
>> eBuddy blog: ICQ support added
>> eBuddy blog: Facebook chat on eBuddy
And now we have added this network to eBuddy, so you can also chat with your friends on eBuddy via ICQ! Besides the addition of the ICQ network we have also improved our Yahoo! connectivity and fixed a lot of minor issues.
To chat with your Facebook friends download the latest version of the eBuddy Mobile Messenger to your phone at get.ebuddy.com, or just browse to m.ebuddy.com on your phone for the eBuddy Lite Messenger.
It's great to see how all our IM clients coming together in one easy to use service. Moreover, the Facebook messenger client support is a sign of its fast increasing popularity. Maybe the predictions we made a few months ago are coming true?
>> eBuddy blog: ICQ support added
>> eBuddy blog: Facebook chat on eBuddy
As Wave 3 news starts to trickle out, we are learning more and more about updates to Windows Live products. LiveSide have the scoop on the new Wave 3 version of Windows Live Hotmail, with new details about the (finally) included built in web messenger:
So some interesting news there, but could this be the time that we finally see an official Windows Live Messenger online client and that Windows Live beats Google's mail service?
>> Source: LiveSide - Windows Live Hotmail Wave 3: What's New
>> Windows Live Hotmail 'coming soon' promotional page
- Speed: The coming soon page says that for broadband users, the new Hotmail will be up to 70% faster on sign in (50% for non-broadband users). That's a pretty big claim, and one which should provide for some interesting testing once the beta is open to the public.
- Ever-increasing storage: Microsoft have carefully avoided using the phrase "unlimited storage", as Yahoo has done, but in a sense this is what is being offered. The figures we last heard for this were the the existing 5GB free accounts would be getting growth of 250MB per month, but this is pre-beta and could have changed and so our usual disclaimer applies. Obviously the PR definitely looks better leaving the figures out, but a free inbox of 8GB by the end of year 1 gives us a warm feeling. (For comparison, Gmail is currently on 7GB and still growing.)
- New UI: Along with the new Wave 3 UI, in particular the new header and themes available shown below, the new promotion site suggests that the classic and full versions of Hotmail will be combined together. This potentially means that full functionality could be available across all browsers. Also worth mentioning here are improvements around dealing with spam.
- WebIM built-in: This feature doesn't really need much explaining and should be a popular addition. From what we've heard it'll support most of the basic needs such as presence, notifications and chat via the WebMessenger dogfood. Yes its been a while since we've spoken about that!
- Integrated Calendar: No surprise if you're on the new Windows Live Calendar beta to hear there will be integration between the two services.
- Easier to send group emails: Thanks to the new Windows Live Groups service (go ABCH!) it'll be easier to email all those contacts in one go.
So some interesting news there, but could this be the time that we finally see an official Windows Live Messenger online client and that Windows Live beats Google's mail service?
>> Source: LiveSide - Windows Live Hotmail Wave 3: What's New
>> Windows Live Hotmail 'coming soon' promotional page
Some good news for developers here, the web API for Windows Live Messenger has received a significant new build number, building on a healthy and well used set of tools, that have been taken advantage of in many first, and third party programs. Below is a short list of the changes within the update:
This update should give web messengers the option to customise their MSN/ Windows Live Messenger features, or polish and perfect current ones. The new library may also result in some interesting new applications that use Microsoft's popular IM client. However, it is just good to hear some development news about Messenger, as we have hit a bit of a dry spell recently.
Source: Windows Live Messenger development blog via ars technica via Fanatic Live
- Sorted contact collections: New OnlineContacts and OfflineContacts collections list contacts in sorted order to make it easier for applications to show sorted contact lists.
- Contact display picture links: Contact display picture links are now returned but with respect user privacy, there is some special handling required to use them in applications.
- Customization for the Sign-In Control: color schemes can now be defined for the Sign-In Control.
- A new URL for loading the library: Library files are now content distributed globally; applications should see improved library load time.
- Hosted static images for status icons and Messenger logos: GIF and PNG static images for applications to use for displaying user status are now being hosted.
- URL strings for Messenger resources: The library returns a set of market-specific URLs for applications to display links to required Microsoft pages such as the privacy statement. This is to enable applications to move the Sign-In Control out of view when it is not needed.
- Sign-In Control returns extended authentication results: The Sign-in Control has been updated to return more detailed information about user authentication results.
This update should give web messengers the option to customise their MSN/ Windows Live Messenger features, or polish and perfect current ones. The new library may also result in some interesting new applications that use Microsoft's popular IM client. However, it is just good to hear some development news about Messenger, as we have hit a bit of a dry spell recently.
Source: Windows Live Messenger development blog via ars technica via Fanatic Live
Just a quick post here, the popular web messenger eBuddy has been updated for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The new interface is sleeker and easier to use than ever, with the ability to add eBuddy to your home screen if you're an iPhone 3G user.
>> View the announcement at the eBuddy blog
>> View the announcement at the eBuddy blog
Meebo have announced they will provide "instant messaging in a box" to various community websites. Think of it as a kind of shoutbox, where users can chat to other users on a website with an established community. The application will be similar to Facebook chat, in the sense a small box will pop-out once clicked, showing users online, with whom you can talk to.
This is yet another great idea from the Meebo ideas factory, but I'm not currently sure who will have access to it. I believe it is open to a selected few websites, with large communities, hoping to profit from ads within the application. If the service becomes publicly available, then expect to see one here.
>> Source: TechCrunch
This is yet another great idea from the Meebo ideas factory, but I'm not currently sure who will have access to it. I believe it is open to a selected few websites, with large communities, hoping to profit from ads within the application. If the service becomes publicly available, then expect to see one here.
>> Source: TechCrunch
eBuddy have just started a new limited beta test of the latest version of their Mobile Messenger application.
An update to the previous versions that we have featured (and tutorial-ised) in the past, the new beta - version 0.99 - has a cool new interface and some great new features, including:
We'll be posting more screenshots soon and will keep you updated with information about when you can get your hands on the latest version.
An update to the previous versions that we have featured (and tutorial-ised) in the past, the new beta - version 0.99 - has a cool new interface and some great new features, including:
- Login using your eBuddy ID so you can sign into all your accounts (Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, AIM, Google Talk and MySpace IM) at once
- Take a picture using your phone and use it as your display picture
- More ways to sort your contact list
- Support for Blackberry phones
We'll be posting more screenshots soon and will keep you updated with information about when you can get your hands on the latest version.
I've been busy labelling a new screenshot of Windows Live Web Messenger to show you all the features that will be available when the service launches into public beta, which should be quite soon. The features include:
The feedback page is up, the dogfood entrance site has been updated, and it's actually being recognised by Microsoft, so how much longer until we get to play with the only Windows Live wave 2 product not to have been properly revealed yet?
>> New screenshot of Windows Live Web Messenger
- Ability to change your display name, display picture, personal message and status
- Similar look to Windows Live Messenger PC client
- Send emoticons and nudges
- Contact options including groups and word-wheel searching
- No more multiple windows! Multi-chat view to show mini stacked conversations or full window view to show one conversation and then choose others from a list on the right
The feedback page is up, the dogfood entrance site has been updated, and it's actually being recognised by Microsoft, so how much longer until we get to play with the only Windows Live wave 2 product not to have been properly revealed yet?
>> New screenshot of Windows Live Web Messenger
Joost, the online TV service which has been a hit since the word go has announced it will integrate its product with the popular web messenger Meebo.
Joost is a service programmed from the creators of Skype and has been hinted to start a new kind of media. Integration with Meebo will make both services better and who wouldn't want to IM friends across multiple IM networks whilst watching television?
>> View a screenshot of this in action
>> Source: Techcrunch
Joost is a service programmed from the creators of Skype and has been hinted to start a new kind of media. Integration with Meebo will make both services better and who wouldn't want to IM friends across multiple IM networks whilst watching television?
>> View a screenshot of this in action
>> Source: Techcrunch
Have you ever noticed that the popular web messengers never have webcam functionality? Well we received an email from imo.im informing us of a large update to their web messenger.
After exploring IMO's features I can tell you it is very basic but the potential it has is huge. It is the only web messenger I know of that has webcam support. Its interface has potential, I think it just needs a designer to spice it up. The simple, compact design makes it a great portable web messenger fully implemented with JavaScript and a secure connection.
Before you login you have the opportunity to use other IM systems such as Google Talk, Yahoo! Messenger and AIM. On login it will put the contact list to one side and on the other side there is an input box allowing you to log into a second account.
Currently the main features are:
This is only the alpha version so be sure to keep checking back because new features will be springing up soon (I, myself have suggested a few).
>> Visit the IMO homepage
After exploring IMO's features I can tell you it is very basic but the potential it has is huge. It is the only web messenger I know of that has webcam support. Its interface has potential, I think it just needs a designer to spice it up. The simple, compact design makes it a great portable web messenger fully implemented with JavaScript and a secure connection.
Before you login you have the opportunity to use other IM systems such as Google Talk, Yahoo! Messenger and AIM. On login it will put the contact list to one side and on the other side there is an input box allowing you to log into a second account.
Currently the main features are:
- The ability to use webcam
- Add a custom status
- Search Buddies
- Add Buddies
- Delete Buddies
- Use more than one account
- Use different IM's
- And the ability to link your accounts
This is only the alpha version so be sure to keep checking back because new features will be springing up soon (I, myself have suggested a few).
>> Visit the IMO homepage
I've already shown you how to use Meebo within your web browser and I thought it was a good idea as it made using web messengers just that little more practical. Now you can use Meebo specifically for Firefox with a new official addon.
Meebo for Firefox integrates the web messenger well, you can show/ hide your contact list whenever you like, receive toast messages and things are a little more organised.
Although I am a Windows Live Messenger user I think it's tempting to combine my web browser and Messenger within one program. The only use I had for web messengers before was when the server went down, now Meebo has integrated its service into Firefox I believe it opens the door to the everyday user.
Nevertheless, after logging in a tab opens which will keep the main Meebo website open which is necessary to keep you logged onto the service. This means you still log into Meebo via the website and not through the addon. However the addon helps make it simpler and much easier to use.
>> View a screenshot of the addon in action
>> Download Meebo for Firefox
Meebo for Firefox integrates the web messenger well, you can show/ hide your contact list whenever you like, receive toast messages and things are a little more organised.
Although I am a Windows Live Messenger user I think it's tempting to combine my web browser and Messenger within one program. The only use I had for web messengers before was when the server went down, now Meebo has integrated its service into Firefox I believe it opens the door to the everyday user.
Nevertheless, after logging in a tab opens which will keep the main Meebo website open which is necessary to keep you logged onto the service. This means you still log into Meebo via the website and not through the addon. However the addon helps make it simpler and much easier to use.
>> View a screenshot of the addon in action
>> Download Meebo for Firefox
Web messengers are becoming more popular and more complex. All the time we report on interesting new features added to web messengers that have caught up with the main stream market. You can now have conference calls and group chats with eBuddy, opening a space for business users to keep updated with no programs installed.
>> Source: eBuddy blog
>> Visit the eBuddy website
>> View our web messenger page
The actual feature is pretty straightforward, you can now start group chats with all your buddies that are on the MSN, Yahoo or AIM networks. This means you can start a MSN groupchat, a Yahoo groupchat or an AIM groupchat, not one with mixed contacts.
We have added some other nifty features like being able to give a group chat a name, so that you can find it easily, and being able to filter contacts when you invite them.
We have added some other nifty features like being able to give a group chat a name, so that you can find it easily, and being able to filter contacts when you invite them.
>> Source: eBuddy blog
>> Visit the eBuddy website
>> View our web messenger page
OK so you're at a cafe in London and you have picked up a few unsecured wireless networks on your laptop, so you connect and then talk to some of your mates/business employees on MSN, Yahoo, GTalk etc. And you're talking about something really important:
And your laptop battery dies! So what do you do? You pull out your PSP and go to m.ebuddy.com. It then loads up a special eBuddy website that is dedicated for the PSP that the real nice guys from eBuddy have created just for you.
Why did they do this? Well according to their blog they are getting more and more people using the normal eBuddy on the PSP:
So what does it consist of? It has a simple interface that doesn't take long to load and has all the features you need. Sure it doesn't have everything, just the essentials to make instant messaging portable.
>> Source: eBuddy blog
>> eBuddy for the PSP
Nathan says (13:00): What am I getting for my Birthday?
Emily says (13:01): Well I am thinking of buying you...
Emily says (13:01): Well I am thinking of buying you...
And your laptop battery dies! So what do you do? You pull out your PSP and go to m.ebuddy.com. It then loads up a special eBuddy website that is dedicated for the PSP that the real nice guys from eBuddy have created just for you.
Why did they do this? Well according to their blog they are getting more and more people using the normal eBuddy on the PSP:
Every month we are seeing more and more users chatting with our Mobile Internet version on a Playstation Portable. Therefore, we decided to develop a brand new version, specially designed for the PSP ... and we just released it!
So what does it consist of? It has a simple interface that doesn't take long to load and has all the features you need. Sure it doesn't have everything, just the essentials to make instant messaging portable.
>> Source: eBuddy blog
>> eBuddy for the PSP
I despise Windows Live Messenger's file transfer, it sure has aged from when it first was released and became a massive success all those years ago. So I thought it was very impressive when a new worker called Matt coded up a full file transfer protocol for the hit web messenger Meebo.
I think this takes Meebo up a level, making it more practical for business users, and despite some restrictions can be very helpful for those in need of sending a quick IM along with a report or spreadsheet:
>> Source: Meebo blog
I think this takes Meebo up a level, making it more practical for business users, and despite some restrictions can be very helpful for those in need of sending a quick IM along with a report or spreadsheet:
You'll notice that there's a new bright and shiny button on the IM window toolbar (the white square with the swanky green arrow). We've tried to make the whole transfer process as easy as we could, so all you have to do is click a button and upload a file. The receiver on the other end will get a link to click on (similar to a meebo rooms invite) and all they have to do is click and accept. We're only allowing meebo account holders to send files, but anyone can receive... even your friends who are not on meebo (but should be =p). We're not quite supporting this feature in Safari yet, but hopefully soon!
>> Source: Meebo blog
Technology has been changing in recent years, we are moving away from using applications on our desktops and we are trying to use services when they are convenient to us. RSS updates on our mobile phones, social networking websites working on our palm tops, using the Internet on my gaming console; you get the idea.
All this may seem good but I'm not really into it. I don't check my email on my Nintendo Wii, I don't use Facebook/ MySpace on my mobile phone, nor do I use web messengers designed to be more portable. Well the iPhone has changed this. The screen is large enough to provide a good user experience, just look at the video made by Vincent Manuhuwa using eBuddy below:
You can clearly see using eBuddy is quick, clean and easy to use. Although Trillian Astra for the iPhone may have the charm of a flashy design, I could see myself using eBuddy wherever I am.
>> Visit eBuddy
>> View the andyman's thread on eBuddy for mobile
>> Source: eBuddy blog
All this may seem good but I'm not really into it. I don't check my email on my Nintendo Wii, I don't use Facebook/ MySpace on my mobile phone, nor do I use web messengers designed to be more portable. Well the iPhone has changed this. The screen is large enough to provide a good user experience, just look at the video made by Vincent Manuhuwa using eBuddy below:
You can clearly see using eBuddy is quick, clean and easy to use. Although Trillian Astra for the iPhone may have the charm of a flashy design, I could see myself using eBuddy wherever I am.
>> Visit eBuddy
>> View the andyman's thread on eBuddy for mobile
>> Source: eBuddy blog
The Apple iPhone has dominated the media over the past couple of weeks, and it even seems to have wormed its way into the world of Messenger (despite it being a Microsoft product designed for Windows). The device is sure to change how those bulky, bloated palmtops are designed but that doesn't stop people getting into the inner working of the phone.
Although web messengers such as Meebo have added temporary support for the iPhone (by adding a submit button, rather than relying on a key press), there is one web messenger that is providing full support and is designed specifically for the iPhone.
Trillian Astra, the highly awaited new IM client, will provide an iPhone web messenger. It has been designed to look like other applications on the iPhone. Unfortunately you cannot get your hands on it yet, but it is suspected that alpha testers will receive a build this week.
It just shows how web messengers are evolving, and becoming much more portable. Just a couple of years ago they were rare, difficult to use and lacked in features. Now they have been seriously popular and huge money making scripts.
>> View screenshots of Trillian Astra for the iPhone in action
>> Learn more about Trillian Astra
>> Source: Cerulean Studios' Blog
Although web messengers such as Meebo have added temporary support for the iPhone (by adding a submit button, rather than relying on a key press), there is one web messenger that is providing full support and is designed specifically for the iPhone.
Trillian Astra, the highly awaited new IM client, will provide an iPhone web messenger. It has been designed to look like other applications on the iPhone. Unfortunately you cannot get your hands on it yet, but it is suspected that alpha testers will receive a build this week.
It just shows how web messengers are evolving, and becoming much more portable. Just a couple of years ago they were rare, difficult to use and lacked in features. Now they have been seriously popular and huge money making scripts.
>> View screenshots of Trillian Astra for the iPhone in action
>> Learn more about Trillian Astra
>> Source: Cerulean Studios' Blog
Ever since Windows Live was announced in November 2005 a new version of Microsoft's official web messenger for MSN/Windows Live Messenger has been expected.
The first release of Windows Live Messenger came around in June 2006 but Windows Live Web Messenger was nowhere to be seen. Now, nearly a year later, there has still been no sign of it and people continue to struggle with the outdated, slow and featureless MSN Web Messenger.
Rival instant messaging networks such as Yahoo! Messenger and Google Talk have released their own fresh web messengers fairly recently and even third-parties such as eBuddy have taken advantage of the lack of progress from Microsoft and released very good web messengers that support Windows Live Messenger.
It is known that Windows Live Web Messenger is in development, but how much longer will it be?
Well, earlier this year LiveSide said that Microsoft's "next generation web messenger" will be around "this summer" (whether it will be in the form of a private or public beta or even the final release has yet to be discovered), and earlier this week Microsoft commented that "Changes are coming in a future release" in response to a suggestion to improve MSN Web Messenger on the private Windows Live beta Connect site.
So will Windows Live Web Messenger finally make an appearance this summer? It seems increasingly likely but all we can do is wait and see.
>> View our list of existing web messengers
The first release of Windows Live Messenger came around in June 2006 but Windows Live Web Messenger was nowhere to be seen. Now, nearly a year later, there has still been no sign of it and people continue to struggle with the outdated, slow and featureless MSN Web Messenger.
Rival instant messaging networks such as Yahoo! Messenger and Google Talk have released their own fresh web messengers fairly recently and even third-parties such as eBuddy have taken advantage of the lack of progress from Microsoft and released very good web messengers that support Windows Live Messenger.
It is known that Windows Live Web Messenger is in development, but how much longer will it be?
Well, earlier this year LiveSide said that Microsoft's "next generation web messenger" will be around "this summer" (whether it will be in the form of a private or public beta or even the final release has yet to be discovered), and earlier this week Microsoft commented that "Changes are coming in a future release" in response to a suggestion to improve MSN Web Messenger on the private Windows Live beta Connect site.
So will Windows Live Web Messenger finally make an appearance this summer? It seems increasingly likely but all we can do is wait and see.
>> View our list of existing web messengers