BlogMunch

Online messenger roundup

As you all know, I have been using Meebo as my IM as installing MS Live Messenger on my desktop takes up quite a bit of RAM. Today I want to see how the other online messengers keep up with the leader of all Online Messenger, Meebo.

Meebo

First, lets see how have meebo improve since I last review it with "Online Instant Messenger - Meebo". The most important improvement is the addition of file transfer protocol. Previously, this is the only feature I missed when switching from MSN to an online messenger. With this improvement, Meebo, All The Way!!!

The other feature is the games and videos applications. A nice touch but don’t really trigger my interest. Maybe I can’t find friends to play games with on Meebo is one of the reasons.

MSN Web Messenger

Absolutely basic online messenger. Needs to use pop up window (add the Web Messenger url to your popup exception in FireFox). Opens a new tab every time you message a new friend. I won’t even recommend this if you hate all the other online messeager. Just go and install the desktop version.

eBuddy

The closest competitor to Meebo. Overall, other than meebo rooms, they both provide the same features. Instead of little windows, eBuddy uses the tab system to organize conversations with your friends. I personally prefer the little windows of meebo, as you can keep track of different conversations at the same time.

File transfer in eBuddy is called Swapper. And to play games, click on a football tab on the sidebar.

Its greatest advantage as a online messenger is its mobile version. It runs on mobile phones like IPhone, PDA, PSP and Nintendo DS.

Kool IM

This online messenger has a very similar interface as Meebo. When I first use it, It seems to me like a older version of Meebo. Kool IM also uses small embedded windows for conversations. The more I explore it, the more it handle like Meebo ver. 0.9. It does support more IM like Jabbar or xFire. So if you need to use these services, Kool IM is for you.

ILoveIM

The first thing that greet me after I log in is the bright, blinking advert. After that I am prepared to hate this online messenger. The ads assault continues on the main interface too. Looks like another Meebo clone. BUT there are two things I like about it. The first is the tab bar below. This can be useful if you have a lot of conversations going on and your windows are overlapping. Helps to find the right window immediately.

ILoveIM is also the first online messenger other than Meebo that shows the display photo form MSN correctly. That I am surprised. So if you have train your Ad blindness to a higher level to tolerate the ads, this could be a good basic online messenger to use.

I am sure I missed out on a couple more online messengers. But they can’t be too different from these above. If you are using a good alternative online messenger that I did not mention, feel free to send me a comment below.

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Online Instant Messenger - Meebo

Meebo is a online instant messaging service that can support different messenger protocol like MSN, Google Talk, Yahoo Messenger and AIM. I like to use this as I can access my MSN anywhere as long as there is internet access. You only need to log in to one meebo account to sign in all the messaging services you are subscribed to. I have switch back and forth between this and desktop multiple messenger like Pidgin (formerly Gaim) and Miranda, but I finally settled on this for the easy setup and continuous improvements meebo has provided.

Meebo Me Widget
As you can see from my main page, I am using their meebo me widget which allows you to chat with me directly from my blog. I will be online most of the day, so feel free to meebo me. Another good thing about meebo me service is that any visitors coming into the blog will show up on Meebo as a contact. Effectively, this will allow me to see how many visitors I have at any given time.

Meebo Rooms
Their newest addition to their list is the meebo room. This is similar to a chat room , but now has become a chat lounge. You see, you can embed a media link to the room and all visitors to the room will be able to watch, hear and chat at the same time. Its like IRC 2.0. Although, now it is limited to 80 people per room, there are plans by meebo to extend that limit. I don’t use this much but it seems like the next big thing as major companies like Capitol Records, Columbia Records are supporting it heavily.

What I feel needs improvement

The login cannot be captured by my Opera or Firefox. So I am not able to auto-fill password to enter meebo. This is even worse for Opera as the “remember me” function fails too. Most web users now employ password manager either standalone or in-browser to remember their password, so this can become irritating very fast.

There are also infrequent auto logout or connection problems. You would have to close your tab and open a new tab to log back in, as the “Do you want to reconnect” button doesn’t work for me. Though infrequent, troublesome too.

Meebo in constantly improving and I think in the near future, these problems can be solved. Also apparently, someone is so hooked on meebo, he even built a desktop version. Not updated for sometime, but still usable.

meebo me with me

Playing with the meebo me widget….talking to myself…

[13:08] meeboguest673934: testing
[13:08] meeboguest673934: hello, nice to meet you..
[13:09] reko10: hey there, how do you like my blog?
[13:10] meeboguest673934: well, its ok…not much content…
[13:10] reko10: please be patient, will try to add more content later…
[13:11] meeboguest673934: gotto go now…going for lunch
[13:11] reko10: me too…bye…

Weird, but fun….for a while…