chat

Slash your long-distance bills

In some ways, Skype's latest offering takes a step back, but in many, it's a jump forward. In version 4.0, Skype's VoIP app for text, audio, and video calls refocuses on Skype's core competency (and most formidable challenge) of delivering high-quality audio and video calls over the Internet. A new sound engine and bandwidth manager helps keep calls clearer and more stable as talkers reach out across the world, using the spectrum of high- and low-end equipment. The improved sound and video quality were notable in our tests.

Many of Skype's secondary features remain … Read more

Meebo IM goes native on Google Android--poorly

Meebo for Google Android is not a terrible instant-messaging application. But it isn't a very good representation of what IM clients for the Android platform can do, or even a good representation of what Meebo itself can do.

In this first release, the free Meebo mobile application lets you chat with friends on the major IM networks--Yahoo, Windows Live Messenger, AOL, ICQ, Jabber, and Google Talk. It also runs in the background while you work on other applications and scrolls message notifications across the status tray. So far, so good.

However, that about plays out Meebo's feature set … Read more

SMS in Gmail gets two-week delay

If you were raring to play around with the new send-to-SMS chat feature in Gmail Labs, you'll have to wait a little longer.

On Friday, one of Gmail's product managers, Leo Dirac, posted on the official Gmail blog that a last-minute glitch has resulted in the feature being pulled back for further testing. The glitch, which Dirac says should take about two weeks to fix, would keep the two-way communication feature from turning on all the way, keeping replies from making it back to you.

When the process is working properly you're able to send SMS contacts … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 843: Nine legal uses for BitTorrent

We asked. You answered. Our listeners provided not seven, not eight, but nine real legal legitimate uses for BitTorrent. Plus Apple's getting into an old-fashioned spat with IBM. Just like 1979 all over again. Plus Rafe says stop whining about Windows 7. Listen now: Download today's podcast Episode 843

National Novel Writing Month starts tomorrow http://www.nanowrimo.org/

Trojan virus steals bank info http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7701227.stm http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10079593-83.html

Apple hires top IBM chip designer and blade server guru http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10079494-37.html

Logitech acquires SightSpeed

Logitech announced Tuesday that it has paid about $30 million in cash to acquire SightSpeed, a maker of cross-platform video chat and calling software. It's a logical acquisition for Logitech, which includes video cameras among its large portfolio of peripherals for PCs.

Berkeley, Calif.-based SightSpeed was founded in 2001 and has 25 employees. SightSpeed's video communications solution is based on the session initiation protocol (SIP) and offers 30 frame-per-second video and an integrated instant messaging service. SightSpeed supports 640 x 480 video windows at any speeds above 1.5 Mbps, multiparty conference calls and in-call file sharing. … Read more

New AIM 6.8 for Windows gets a mobile slant

Updated at 11:30 am PT.

On Tuesday, AOL released AIM 6.8 for Windows. The version update of the chat client, which AOL is calling a "refresh," adds a mobile slant. One of the new features lets you share photos with buddies on the T-Mobile network (U.S. only) when you drag or import a photo into the instant messaging window. Friends can save the image or respond with a photo of their own, which will pop up in your IM window.

Two integrated plug-ins for AIM Chat and AOL Mail are also new additions. Clicking on … Read more

Gmail gets emoticons :-)

The Gmail team, which recently announced Gmail for Mobile 2.0 and autoreplies, is at it again on Friday with the introduction of Gmail emoticons.

"The black-and-white days of text-based e-mails have had their day," Darren Lewis, Gmail engineer, said in a blog post. "Following the evolutionary path blazed by colored labels, we present, in all their technicolor glory, emoticons in your mail."

Emoticons have been available on Google Chat for quite some time, but this is the first time they've made an appearance on Gmail. Besides obvious gestures like smiling or winking, the new … Read more

Face-off: All-in-one mobile messengers

Article updated 10/17/08 at 8:45 am PT to include more services.

Like most of you, I prefer to instant message with friends on all my networks for free. However, in a time when the instant-messaging applications preloaded on mobile phones are more about dividing and conquering than coming together, three IM-only add-on programs make a strong case for shelling out a few dollars. Stick around to read up on totally free chatting with two apps primarily targeted to VoIP users--Fring and EQO. In the meantime, we'll check out Mundu IM, BeejiveIM, and IM+ All-in-One-Messenger, all … Read more

New Gadu-Gadu chat beta gets VoIP

Popular Polish chat client Gadu-Gadu announced on Wednesday a new beta version of its instant messenger. The beta version boasts the same VoIP protocol that hosts Yahoo and AOL's free voice chats over the Internet. While Windows Live Messenger and Skype have also long enjoyed Internet telephony integrated with chat, these VoIP services will be a welcome addition for Gadu-Gadu's 6 million users.

This latest beta release also adds new skins, including two throwbacks to Gadu-Gadu's classic messenger, and lets you hide your avatar. In addition, the build improves stability and reduces program memory.

Be forewarned, the … Read more

Meebo's 'Community IM' announces new partners

Web-based chat and IM company Meebo has announced a few updates to its "Community IM" chat project, which it announced this summer as a means to power live chat features on partner sites. More specifically, there are more partners on board to add to the original eight.

According to CEO and co-founder Seth Sternberg, putting Meebo on partner sites will mean that it has a reach of more than 70 million people worldwide. Eventually, there will be ads placed on the chat app, and revenue will be split between Meebo and the partner in question.

As was the … Read more