Skype is software for calling other people on their computers or phones. Download Skype and start calling for free all over the world.

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Call me stuck in the past, but AIM 5.9.6089 is still my instant messenger of choice. I don’t look for a lot when I’m instant messaging, and AIM 5.9 is very lightweight and gets the job done just as I expect it. We’re in the age of Skype though, which has quickly taken over as the world’s most popular and used platform. Our younger readers may not even know what the hell AIM is anymore, actually.

AOL seems to recognize that sentiment and they’ve recently and unofficially dropped AIM 1.0.0.3 on us, dubbed “AIM Preview“. It looks like Skype, it chats like Skype, and it weighs like Skype. But it’s AOL Instant Messenger.

As you can see, I haven’t put much use to it as I’m not a very big fan. First thing you’re going to notice is that AIM has been completely redesigned. It looks nothing like it did in versions 5, 6, or 7. It’s nice and fat now, just like Skype. We’ve got a lot going on here.

1. Lifestream (which is your “status updates” of the AIM world) has been stripped away with and, well, replaced with real status updates (the Facebook kind). AIM updates still exist, they’re just a little more useless now.
2. As aforementioned, Facebook has now become integrated with your AIM experience.
3. Your buddy list has been transformed in a way that mingles Facebook buddies, contacts, and recent chats. It’s another overhaul that has AIM looking a lot more like Skype.
4. Along with Facebook, you can chat with Google Talk buddies through AIM. This already existed if you didn’t know about it.
5. Photos and videos are synced inline on the client. Chat histories are now stored remotely (rather than locally), which enables seamless synchronization between devices (at the expense of your security).
6. There’s a news feed, where AIM promoted their Huffington Post. Not much more to say here.
7. One-on-one video chatting and group messaging (more features pulled from Skype) are now with AIM. I guess this is what they decided to do with AV?

Nothing too unique or exciting is going on here. Maybe it was AOL jumping the gun on Microsoft acquiring Skype, maybe it’s AOL trying to salvage their last true-to-the-company web property that is still used daily by thousands of people.

In any event, it’s a breath of fresh air to a near-dead messenger and that’s about it. If you’ve instant messaged at all in the past couple years, this isn’t bringing anything new to the table. I can’t think of any real compliment here, though it seems as if this preview version isn’t as riddled with ads as others. You can get rid of ads in older versions of AIM quite easily, though.

It’s not worth your time, guys. Stick with Skype and let’s consider AIM an afterthought unless you, like me, need a barebones solution to IM-ing (in which case, I again recommend a much older version of AIM). Anyone else suddenly feeling nostalgic and missing those days when AOL was relevant? I can hear the modem dialing up now.

I’m not trying to beat up on poor old AIM. This is only a “preview” release, after all. Again, you can pick it up here: http://preview.aim.com/
Luckily, it doesn’t install over your old version of AIM and will write to a new directory, so there’s really no risk in at least giving it a shot.

It’s out on every platform: desktop, mobile, and web. You can get it on your iPhone or Android. I was really looking for AIM to be the first IM client that picks up the ball and adapts to the mobile world with a new release. I know you can send SMS messages from AIM, but adopting a more “permanent” solution like Textfree’s method would have been cooler.

Let me know if you guys find anything interesting with the new version that I may have skipped out on. I gave it a quick whirl after reading a few reviews and came to a pretty quick decision. Nothing new here!

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Skype is software for calling other people on their computers or phones. Download Skype and start calling for free all over the world.

View full post on FileHippo.com

Skype is software for calling other people on their computers or phones. Download Skype and start calling for free all over the world.

View full post on FileHippo.com

Skype is software for calling other people on their computers or phones. Download Skype and start calling for free all over the world.

View full post on FileHippo.com

class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/skype_logo_300x300.jpg" alt="skype libnotify" />If you use href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/skype/">Skype or certain other applications on href="http://www.makeuseof.com/service/linux">Linux, you may be annoyed by how those programs use their own notification system rather than using the system default, known as libnotify. libnotify is responsible for creating those nice little bubbles or windows that aren’t intrusive on the screen. href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/gnome">GNOME 2.x users usually have a black bubble in the top right corner, while href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/gnome-3-beta-desktop-linux/">GNOME 3.0 users get a notification across the entire bottom of their screen and href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/enjoy-clean-improved-desktop-kde-47-linux/">KDE users get a transparent little window in the bottom right corner, as seen in the screenshot.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/libnotify_test.jpg" alt="skype libnotify" width="580" height="136" />

Thankfully though, Skype lets you change this behavior.

Installation

Skype can be downloaded from their website if you use a more popular distribution, such as href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/ubuntu">Ubuntu, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/fedora-15-bringing-latest-linux/">Fedora, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/opensuse-11-2-a-polished-linux-system-perfect-for-new-users-and-pros-alike/">openSUSE, or from your package repositories if you use a less popular distribution. If you use a 64-bit system, make sure that you have the correct dependencies installed. Ubuntu users shouldn’t have a problem, but there is only a 32-bit package for Fedora which requires some extra steps in order to get it to work in a 64-bit environment.

Changing The Settings

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/libnotify_skype.jpg" alt="using libnotify" width="303" height="580" />

In order to change Skype’s notification behavior, you’ll need to go into the Settings. From there, you need to choose the Notifications tab on the left side. You’ll now see a fairly long list of different events that can occur in Skype, anywhere from logging in to phone calls. In order to change the correct options, you’ll need to click on the Advanced View button which is found on the right side of the window.

Now, for each selected event, you can change the exact notification settings. In order to achieve rerouted notifications, you’ll first need to turn off the Display pop-up notification option so that you don’t get two notifications (one of each) at the same time. Keeping the Play sound file option enabled or not is up to your personal preference.

The Command

Next, we’re going to use the Contact Signed In event as an example. You’ll need to copy this line into the Execute the following script box:

notify-send "Contact Signed In" "%name is now online." -i skype

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/libnotify_skype_options.jpg" alt="using libnotify" width="580" height="406" />

What this command does is invoke the notify-send command, which is used by libnotify to generate a notification. “Contact Signed In” is the first parameter, which is used for the title of the notification. “%name is now online.” is the second parameter, which is used for the main text of the notification. The %name portion is a variable in which the name of the involved contact will be substituted for %name. Finally, -i skype simply tells libnotify that you’d like to use an icon (the skype icon) with your notification. libnotify can only use icons that are installed, so not any parameter will work with -i.

The final result will look something like this:

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/libnotify_skype_notify.jpg" alt="skype libnotify" width="580" height="138" />

This procedure isn’t exactly perfect, as you’ll need to copy, paste, and adjust this command for every other event in Skype. Additionally, you’ll want to avoid using this on special notification types such as calls where the Skype-default includes some buttons to accept or decline a call, whereas the libnotify way won’t present those buttons to you.

Conclusion

libnotify is a great way to keep the notification styles of all supported applications uniform and simply “pretty”. While Skype doesn’t take advantage of this piece of software by default, it’s good to know that there are still ways where it’s possible, and who knows how many other programs support these types of modifications?

What other kinds of Linux fixes would you like to see? Is there a problem you just can’t seem to solve? Let us know in the comments!

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Skype is software for calling other people on their computers or phones. Download Skype and start calling for free all over the world.

View full post on FileHippo.com

Skype is software for calling other people on their computers or phones. Download Skype and start calling for free all over the world.

View full post on FileHippo.com

Skype is software for calling other people on their computers or phones. Download Skype and start calling for free all over the world.

View full post on FileHippo.com

Skype is software for calling other people on their computers or phones. Download Skype and start calling for free all over the world.

View full post on FileHippo.com

class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/playstationskypethumb.jpg" alt="" />Hype is beginning to build around the upcoming class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/playstation/">Playstation Vita handheld gaming console. Gamers have been eagerly speculating about the games that may launch with the console. While details about the new titles are being revealed, Sony has also placed focus on support for a number of popular online services including class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/facebook/">Facebook, Foursquare, class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/skype/">Skype and class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/tools-schedule-twitter-updates/">Twitter. Apps for each will be available for free on the Vita.

Confused? Don’t be. Though built as a handheld gaming console, the Vita isn’t much different from a modern smartphone. Inside, alongside the ARM processor and behind the touchscreen, is a 3G antenna that makes the Vita compatible with some class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/gs-ltes-understanding-mobile-broadband-technology-explained/">mobile data carriers.

src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/playstationskype1.jpg" alt="" width="570" height="276" />

4G data isn’t supported on the Vita, but Wi-Fi is. Sony did not state that any of the apps on its device will be restricted to use via mobile data, which likely means the company is not reserving them to users who forgo a mobile data plan and instead connect via Wi-Fi only.

The press release also did not include release dates for the apps. Instead, a footnote clarified that “details of the application’s launch timing will be announced at a later timing“. Hopefully these apps will not significantly lag the Vita’s release, as the usefulness of the console’s 3G connection will be restricted without them.

Source: class="vt-p" href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/playstationvita-expands-its-entertainment-experience-by-introducing-various-applications-for-social-networking-services-and-communications-127885748.html" rel="nofollow">PR Newswire

View full post on MakeUseOf

class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/playstationskypethumb.jpg" alt="" />Hype is beginning to build around the upcoming class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/playstation/">Playstation Vita handheld gaming console. Gamers have been eagerly speculating about the games that may launch with the console. While details about the new titles are being revealed, Sony has also placed focus on support for a number of popular online services including class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/facebook/">Facebook, Foursquare, class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/skype/">Skype and class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/tools-schedule-twitter-updates/">Twitter. Apps for each will be available for free on the Vita.

Confused? Don’t be. Though built as a handheld gaming console, the Vita isn’t much different from a modern smartphone. Inside, alongside the ARM processor and behind the touchscreen, is a 3G antenna that makes the Vita compatible with some class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/gs-ltes-understanding-mobile-broadband-technology-explained/">mobile data carriers.

src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/playstationskype1.jpg" alt="" width="570" height="276" />

4G data isn’t supported on the Vita, but Wi-Fi is. Sony did not state that any of the apps on its device will be restricted to use via mobile data, which likely means the company is not reserving them to users who forgo a mobile data plan and instead connect via Wi-Fi only.

The press release also did not include release dates for the apps. Instead, a footnote clarified that “details of the application’s launch timing will be announced at a later timing“. Hopefully these apps will not significantly lag the Vita’s release, as the usefulness of the console’s 3G connection will be restricted without them.

Source: class="vt-p" href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/playstationvita-expands-its-entertainment-experience-by-introducing-various-applications-for-social-networking-services-and-communications-127885748.html" rel="nofollow">PR Newswire

View full post on MakeUseOf

Skype is software for calling other people on their computers or phones. Download Skype and start calling for free all over the world.

View full post on FileHippo.com

class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/0_msl.jpg?54167" alt="skype multiple users" />Do you have multiple class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/skype/">Skype accounts? A lot of people have different accounts for various purposes. You might have one account that you give out to everyone you meet at networking events, for instance, and one that you like to keep somewhat private for your friends and family.

At any rate, what would you do if you had multiple Skype accounts and wanted to log into them simultaneously? Before, that would require altering Program Files or installing multiple instances of Skype itself, but I’ve uncovered a much simpler way to accomplish this.

What Is Multi Skype Launcher?

class="vt-p" href="http://multi-skype-launcher.com/">Multi Skype Launcher is a free tool that allows you to run multiple Skype instances on one computer simultaneously. When you have multiple Skype accounts, running all of them at the same time can be tough. As I alluded to in the introduction, there are some workarounds for different versions of Windows, but using them isn’t really practical.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/1_msl.png?54167" alt="skype multiple users" width="489" height="372" />

Although you can use Multi Skype Launcher any time you need to launch Skype, it was designed to launch multiple Skype instances on one computer simultaneously. You can benefit from it no matter whether you share your computer with other Skype users or use multiple Skype accounts yourself.

Furthermore, all information used by Multi Skype Launcher is completely secure, meaning that they do not collect any of your personal information, in case you were wondering.

How Do I Get Started With Multi Skype Launcher?

The first thing you’re going to want to do if you would like to install and run Multi Skype Launcher is head over to their class="vt-p" href="http://multi-skype-launcher.com/">website and download the app.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/2_msl.png?54167" alt="multiple login skype" width="493" height="378" />

Once you install and run the application, you will see a simple home screen that will be used to launch your different Skype accounts. Click Add and enter your Skype credentials to add an account to the list. You can always edit/delete accounts after they’ve been added.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/3_msl.png?54167" alt="" width="492" height="373" />

Once you’ve added all of the accounts you would like to run with Multi Skype Launcher, just highlight the ones you would like to run (one at a time) and click the Launch button.

That’s it! Multi Skype Launcher does not require any advanced settings. You can launch as many accounts as your system can handle.

Anything else?

To use Multi Skype Launcher it’s best to be using Skype version 4 or higher and Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7.

Also, while you’re adding accounts to Multi Skype Launcher you may notice the option to have them log in automatically once your computer starts.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/4_msl.png?54167" alt="skype multiple users" width="455" height="280" />

If you’ve asked Multi Skype Launcher to start your Skype accounts when Windows starts, it is recommended that you deselect this option in Skype. In order to do that, just open your Skype window, click Tools > Options and make sure the check-box “Start Skype when I start Windows” is not ticked. This way, Multi Skype Launcher will handle all of your Skype login activity automatically for you.

If you’d like to learn more about Skype, you can find out class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/technology-explained-how-does-skype-work/">how Skype works here.

How many Skype accounts do you have?  Would you be interested in trying this software app out? />
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href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/run-multiple-skype-accounts-multi-skype-launcher-windows/">How To Run Multiple Skype Accounts With Multi Skype Launcher [Windows] is a post from: href="http://www.makeuseof.com">MakeUseOf

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Skype is software for calling other people on their computers or phones. Download Skype and start calling for free all over the world.

View full post on FileHippo.com

Skype is software for calling other people on their computers or phones. Download Skype and start calling for free all over the world.

View full post on FileHippo.com