AIM 6.8 Refresh not so fresh
Make sure you know exactly what you install with AIM.
(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET Networks)The new update of AOL Instant Messenger, the AIM 6.8 Refresh, came out Tuesday with a new feature that allows you to send photos to cell phone users. I decided to try the new version out, mostly because I wanted to get rid of the annoying update notification.
Once the installation was done, I found out that the neat-sounding feature is limited to people using certain types of cell phones within the T-Mobile network.
None of my buddies meet the criteria so I didn't get to try it out, but I am not terribly impressed with the idea of this new feature, especially when cell phones these days can be used to easily check e-mail or receive multimedia messages. If anything, I am concerned.
The installation of the new AIM, much like that of any other instant-messenger app, still wants to significantly change the settings of your computer, including installing the terrible AOL toolbar, change the default home page to AOL.com, and change the default search engine to that of AOL (which is also terrible).
Make sure you pick the custom installation and uncheck all the boxes of features you don't wish to install before proceeding.
Dong Ngo is a CNET editor who covers networking and network storage, and writes about anything else he finds interesting. You can also listen to his podcast at insidecnetlabs.cnet.com. E-mail Dong. 
same here! pidgin all the way
- by jblogg February 9, 2009 6:36 PM PST
- First, who still uses AIM (other than me)? Second, no surprise, right? AOL is behind the curve and I don't think we can expect to see them come out with anything ground breaking anytime soon.
- Reply to this comment
-
(7 Comments)My company had to drop it and Yahoo instant messenger because of the security (people were sending confidential files), the ads (which weren't always safe for work), and the productivity (they were chatting with their friends and family instead of working). We opted instead for a small firm who had developed their own enterprise IM client - www.Brosix.com
So far it's been a good move for us. I expect to see more companies opt for custom IM clients with disasters like AIM continuing to happen.