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AOL Bridges AIM and ICQ
Checkmate3 writes "Looks like AOL has finally made good on plans to integrate ICQ and AIM... eWeek talks about a new version of ICQ which will allow for users to message across the two networks." I have to agree with the sentiments expressed in the article. I can't remember the last time I used ICQ, or even what my number was.
so it might as well be me.
Use Trillian , it rocks.
The only IM you need is a Jabber client and you can get on AIM, ICQ, MSN and Yahoo Messenger networks.
My personal favourite is Psi
I like Miranda better. Miranda just gets everything right. Light-weight by default, and plugins for everything else.
I couldn't even find the source-code for trillan. Is it available? If not, Miranda wins _hands_ down since it's GPLed.
Too bad it's Windows only though.
Belief is the currency of delusion.
I have given up on ICQ/AIM a long time ago. I now use Jabber for all IM needs. Seriously, I recommend it to everyone who is currently using ICQ or AIM. There are transports which can connect you to your previous network so that you don't loose connectivity to your friends.
Homepage
... and use Gaim, for Linux and Windows. Has capability to connect to AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, MSN, Jabber, Gadu-Gadu(?) and IRC networks.
Cheers,
Yet Socrates himself is particularly missed.
A lovely little thinker but a bugger when he's pissed.
They brought ads to ICQ Lite now as well... Which makes this build of ICQ Lite useless. Back to build #1150 which serves no ads amd is a real Lite version of ICQ.
Personally, I can't stand AIM. I haven't used it in a while, but when I did, It had no automatic logging feature, messages popped up automatically screwing with what I was doing, the Away feature didn't allow you to speak to people and remain in Away mode, the idle detector was an invasion of privacy and personally, I feel the program was bloated.
Since the ads came, ICQ hasn't been any better.
The answer? Miranda IM (http://www.miranda-im.org/)
Comes default with ICQ support, and plugins are available for AIM, Yahoo, Jabber and other such protocols. You can also get plugins to manipulate many of the behaviors of the program. Everything from new message interface windows to ALICE chatbots.
I don't mean to sound like an advertisement, but I feel Miranda is far superiour to ICQ or AIM's clients, and Trillian for that matter. Trillian != free, thus I cannot afford it. =P
Nice troll. Well not really, and it got marked up to insightful for some reason. Way to go, moderators. Now if you'll all put down the crack pipe and read the following:
Hey, guess what? You don't have to install ICQ to talk to ICQ users. You could use one of the many Jabber clients available to you, though I don't prefer them myself. Programs such as Trillian and the free, open-source GAIM allow you to simultaneously connect to various different IM networks with relative ease now, and despite not supporting the entire feature set of these networks in the case of GAIM, is certainly preferable to having a client installed per each network.
There's also the web pager and web chat room (http://wwp.icq.com/#######, where the # signs are for the number of the user you want to contact). Send them a pager message letting them know you want to talk in their web chat, and away you go.
There's -also- a Java client on the ICQ page (over here), which you can use from just about anywhere if all you want to do is get through to people on ICQ, but the above alternatives are preferable in most cases.
There's also..oh, hey. You're probably not even reading this anyway, are you troll? You got your cute little jab in, and you've probably moved off to harass some other group. Sorry to have wasted your time with reasonable discussion.
ICQ had more features (able to msg people offline) and AIM was and is relatively featureless. Maybe that's what people like. Just the basics.
In any case, I use Trillian to log on to all the different services at once. (Jabber is another option).
For those of you complaining about ICQ bloat, there's ICQ Lite (link is to the alpha version that can communicate with AIM)
Thoughts on stocks, markets and trading
The only reason I still use ICQ is because it's one of the few clients that lets you keep messages in the tray and have non-conversation mode messaging. I don't know why anybody would want an instant message popping up and taking the focus from whatever you're doing, or even wasting space on the taskbar. Miranda can do it too but it keeps crashing on me.
You've been "Bridged" for ages.
ICQ uses the AOL network.
Type your ICQ # and Password into ANY AIM Client, for example the sidekick which I know works, and connect.
AIM loads you in, loads all of your buddies, etc.
If you use GAIM, there is no AIM plugin or ICQ - there's one called AIM/ICQ.
Same protocol...happend ages ago =)
Their servers have been able to do this for some time. As a result, Gaim has been able to do this for a long time (a couple releases now, at least).
I would just like to point out that Gaim has supported messaging between ICQ and AIM for a few months now.
Windows AIM has supported receiving messages from ICQ users since maybe March, but Gaim has been the only ICQ client (I know of) that is able to receive messages from AIM people.
With some 2 million registered users (400.000 of them active on daily basis) it's of course not a rival for AOL or ICQ, but people in Poland love it - it's simple, light, and in polish :-)
--
there is no copyright for words
This is ludicrous. ICQ continues to dominate the field in every way (still the most downloaded program ever?..maybe Kazaa has that now). The ONLY feature it lacks is proper dual monitor support (i.e it locks to the outer border of the primary monitor(i would prefer this oversight versus the floating non-dockable aim/msn clients(there is a bug workaround with Ultramon) It has not decreased in functionality since being purchased, seeing as to my knowledge it was the FIRST IM service to make a Java client of its service publicly available(icq2go (can select the use of the http protocol or user selectable port)as well as toned down a version(icqlite) to appeal to all of the clientele it was using because of its complexity. The advanced mode does not really boast all that many functions that arent because of their frivolous nature, once it is configured settings never need to be touched again, wow 3 minutes. Armed with a registry patch or a cracked/icqplus enabled client i am able to enjoy an add free, VERY stable(bet my windows based pc has more uptime than yours) program with more functionality than all of the others put together. The only advancements that are being made that i wish icq would incorporate is the user definable backgrounds/avatars with thumbnail preview option for picture transfers being made available in MSN messenger beta 6 (speaking of which, i have never gotten message in icq stating "IM server maintenance will occur in 5 minutes please finish conversations before you are disconnected, GO M$!). Generally i find that people who are making the switch are in fact the new generation of computer user that cant be bothered with remembering a number instead of a leat nickname. To make a long story short almost EVERY feature available in other clients has an equal or improved function in icq so why make the switch? I personally run 3 clients because i prefer having the functionality that the coders intended me to have whilst using their product, as for trillian the interface is horrid and i am not sure if they still lack online databases support?
Also
2 words...invisible mode....why has no one else incorporated this?
Silly rabbits! ICQ > MSN, AOL, YIM
Why? Logging and Offline messages! I use trillian as my client so I dont have to have multiple programs but I prefer to chat over ICQ over any of the others.
The ability to send someone a message if they are online is just great. The fact that AIM and MSN can not do this makes these two services quite frankly SUCK.
Also, last time I checked, icq was the only im client that logged all chats by default.
If you have an ICQ spam problem, just block messages from people not on your list. I havent gotten an ICQ spam in quite some time.
The ultimate network admin tool needs HELP!
You can use Fire for OS X, which works with ICQ, AIM, MSN, Yahoo, irc and Jabber. Works OK for me! And it's free!
Get it from http://fire.sourceforge.net/
Cheers,
max
-- It's always darker before it goes pitch black.
It has a few problems that I expect will dissapear as it nears 1.0 , but the ability to keep all of your chatts and msgs in a tabbed window is an awsome feature. I also have a spell checker installed to help me with a problem that me and about 95% of slashdot users have. It does all the usual stuff like multi platform communication and everything AOL's aim offers.
The Surgeon General says sigs are bad for me.
You would think these dorks could change a password and email it to the original account creator.
I lost 116117 about a year ago with a bogus multi line foriegn character password and I still have yet to get anything but bullsh!t responses from ICQ.
Need my own Jabber server.....
Si vis pacem, para bellum! For evil to succeed good men need only do nothing!
Maybe it's a Canadian thing, but my experience (and everyone I know seems to be the same has been that the popularity of the messengers goes like this:
FWIW, I use Proteus a very well-written Mac client that does ICQ, MSN, Yahoo, Yahoo Japan, AOL IM, AOL IM(Oscar)-whatever that is, Jabber and Gadu-Gadu.
Yes, it's shareware, and no, it's not GPL'd, but it's still damn good software!
Does anyone have any sort of stats on regional/national usage of different IMs? Since your IM of choice is largely based on how many of your friends use a given network, it's not totally illogical that it might vary from place to place.
"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one " -Albert Einstein
I am tired of hearing everyone complain about how bloated ICQ is, how they get spammed, etc, so I am providing this simple guide on how to customize ICQ so that it is perfect. First make sure you are in advanced mode and then in Preferences:
;) :)
1)Contact List
a. Options - tuen off everything.
b. Design - only check Sort Contact List by Name
c. Shortcuts - set Activate ICQ Messages to something convenient, I use control-alt-z
d. Colors - who cares
2) Misc - Only check right-click activation
3) Status Mode - uncheck all
4) Connections - personal preference/settings
5) Alerts and Notifications
a. General - choose only Blink all types, save message history, and play sounds
b. Sounds - change the uh-oh ASAP.
6) Shortcut Bar - get rid of everything except Preferences, Security, and View/Change
7) skip down to Email Prefs - clear everything out in this section
8) Old friends - no checks
9) SMS - if you have it
10) URL Messages - Clear that out
11) File Transfer - whatever you like
Security and Privacy:
This section involves a lot of personal preference. But in here you can set it so that you don't get any of those damned Email messages, phone requests, or anything of the sort. Simply go to the Communications tab and check the left column for those things. You can also set it so that items can only come in from users in your contact list.
Under the Spam Control section check those bottom two checkboxes - that kills half of your spam right there.
I hope all of that was helpful to SOMEONE. Peace!