Yahoo

Apr 27 2009

Multi-network Chat Apps

Way back when I took a look at free, multi-network chat applications. Now the scenery has changed, and there’s a bunch more including offerings from Apple and Microsoft. Since the big boys have finally caught on, it is time to take another look at the offerings.

What is a multi-network chat client? It is a chat application that supports more than one chat network, usually including AIM, Yahoo and Jabber. Jabber itself is a client side multi-network solution.

Tiger’s iChat

With the update to 10.4, Apple introduced support for Jabber in iChat. With your Jabber account you can reach your buddies on other networks. Panther users, it isn’t all bad news. With a recent iChat update you can enjoy video chat with AIM Windows users.

mu Multi network Chat AppsMicrosoft Messenger

Messenger replaces MSN Messenger with a new brushed-metal look and support for Microsoft’s new enterprise chat network.

messenger Multi network Chat Apps

If you’re using Messenger on said network at work, you can connect to buddies on AIM/iChat, Yahoo and MSN chat networks. For those of you using Messenger at home, you’ll get multi-file transfer and tabbed chat.

mu Multi network Chat AppsFire

This classic has stayed current to the chat networks’ best efforts to lock out third party chat apps, and supports AIM, ICQ, IRC, Jabber, MSN and Yahoo. Updated just last month, this app is packet with features.

mu Multi network Chat AppsAdium

Adium is one of the most feature-rich and stable of the multi-network chat apps out there, and includes a lot of extras.

adium2 Multi network Chat Apps

It, as well as Fire has been featured previously here on Freeloader. It uses some of the same code as the popular multi-network Gaim app for Windows and Linux.

Gaim port for Tiger

If you’re a die-hard Open Sourcer and would rather go straight for Gaim, there’s an OS X port thanks to the darwinports project. Also, Fink user’s will be happy to know that Gaim is available though Fink.

mu Multi network Chat AppsCoccinella

Just to go for total overkill, here’s another chat app that will get you through to your buddies. This app has both Jabber and peer-to-peer chat capabilities including drawing and text formating.

mu Multi network Chat AppsGush

Last one, I swear. This MSN, AOL and Yahoo compliant cat app also features a built-in news aggregator. It is an interesting combination of apps that just might be useful.

Now, no matter your chat network or OS X version, you can all enjoy a good chat with whomever you like.

Brian

mu Multi network Chat AppsDownloads provided by MacUpdate

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Apr 27 2009

Universal Chat Clients

By: Brian Burnham

At last it’s Friday, and time for another featured download of the week.

The Joy of Chat

Back in the early days of the net when chat was born, many of us found ourselves on IRC (internet relay chat). Today the world’s chatters are broken up over several major chat networks.

The problem of interpolarity

Fortunately, there is a solution without having to simultaneously run multiple chat clients. Enter the universal chat clients:

Fire

Fire is perhaps the oldest chat client out there for OS X. It came out in the beta days. Since then it has steadily improved to a veritable bonfire of features. These include support for PGP security, limited file transfer and undocumented “smileys”.

Features and frequent updates make this my at-home chat choice. Fire, like most universal clients, supports ICQ, Yahoo, AIM and MSN

Proteus

Proteus is a newer OS X client, very similar to Fire. Though initial releases lacked Fire’s stability, current releases nearly match Fire in features and stability.

Proteus has two extra features that set it apart from Fire. First, Proteus has a corresponding menu bar icon (and you know how I love those) and its configurable windows make your chatting more subtle. This is useful if you chat at work and don’t want others to notice. Proteus supports the same chat networks as Fire.

Jabbernaut

So, “what do I do,” you ask, “if I’m still running OS 9?” Well there is hope. While I have not found a true universal chat client for the “classic” OS, there is another solution. While the above clients do the translating themselves, the Jabber network is composed of servers that do the “interpolation” of the different chat networks, similar to the way IRC works. Thus all you need is a Jabber client, like Jabbernaut. The down side? The Jabber networks can be unstable, as it is constantly being updated. However it is a solution worth investigating.

Also, if you get hooked on Jabber and upgrade to X you’ll be able to use Fore or Proteus to access your Jabber account.

So, until next week I’ll expect to see you on AIM, MSN, ICQ, Yahoo…

Brian

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