Video and hands-on review: Digsby IM

The shouts of indignation from defenders of the two big multiprotocol IM apps, Pidgin or Trillian, are a bit more hushed these days. The newest chat client in town makes them both look passe.

Digsby is a free beta release of a supercharged communications client that gathers up major IM networks like Yahoo, AOL, MSN, Google Talk, Jabber, and ICQ with Web mail and social networks. From a single skinnable interface, people can chat, check e-mail, update Twitter, and view MySpace and Facebook activity feeds. Instant messaging, e-mailing, texting, file transfers, and voice and audio chat can all be launched from within the conversation window.

As an aside, Digsby's got some good-looking emoticons that resemble bubblier versions of Yahoo IM favorites. Although they're mapped to a range of character sets meant to be compatible with a variety of networks, some things are still lost in translation. (An emoticon for a kiss on the cheek I sent from Digsby transformed into a sloppy wet one right on the smacker when it materialized on a co-worker's screen. Oops.)

The wealth of preferences lets users rein in the number of activity notifications that pop up and customize privacy settings and most aspects of the display. I highly recommend ripping out the system-tray icons, which only add clutter, and shutting out strangers in the privacy settings. I accidentally let the latter lapse the first time I evaluated Digsby and was pestered by spim (spam IM) that I couldn't immediately quash.

When you've got your preferences just so, including some splendid skins, you, too, may begin to see Digsby as a perfect example of where integrated services are going. Based on my imagination, I predict a basic mobile version and integration with image editing and video playback next.

[limor3]

for whatever reason, it seems CNET will not allow me to post my honest experience with digsby. why?

[limor3]

let's try this again. at first, digsby worked quite well. then, after an automatic update download, the program will not run no matter which way i attempt to access it. although the little, mad-looking green guy looks awfully cute pinned to my taskbar and start menu, he is on his way to receiving a proper burial.

[gcwyodave]

I had that issue too. I just reinstalled, and it worked fine. It's well worth it to reinstall, the program rocks. It is somewhat of a memory hog, though.

[ssis87]

The auto update should have been fixed (it works correctly on my machine), but you may have to reinstall the program to get the auto update fix. Remember, it's still in beta, so the code has not been optimized yet and still has a few (though minor) bugs. That is also why it's a memory hog. BTW, is CNET still using Windows2000? The OS (or Windows theme) used in this video made Digsby look terrible.

[bluestar112]

the video does not work

[see2u2]

free dowlaod?