Digsby - Multiprotocol Instant Messaging plus Social Network Desktop Client
February 8, 2008 – 4:10 pm
If you ever heard of Pidgin or Trillian, then you must be familiar with the “multiprotocol instant messaging client” term. A desktop multiprotocol IM client is a client that allows you to connect to various instant messaging services such as Yahoo, AIM, Google Talk, MSN, and Jabber from a single desktop client. The advantages of this method is that you don’t have to run multiple IM clients from your desktop (less clutter and memory usage) and management of buddies from different networks will be much easier.
Digsby is a good example of a multiprotocol IM client. Furthermore, it also acts as an email and social networks notification tool. With Digsby, you can have your email, instant messaging and social networks from one single client. Isn’t that cool?
What is cool about Digsby
Digsby has all the basic functions of a good instant messaging client and email notification tool, so I am gonna skip the basics. Listed below are the cool features of Digsby.
Instant messaging features:
- Supports popular instant messaging networks - Yahoo, Google Talk, AIM, MSN, ICQ, Jabber.
- Multiple chat windows are accessible from one single, tabbed interface (less clutter!)
- A single person with more than one IM accounts can be combined into one logical account so you don’t have a friend with multiple online presences at once.
- Send text messages from the chat window (for networks that supports SMS e.g. Yahoo!)
- Reply messages directly from a notification popup - so you can quick reply and continue your work.
- Conversation history window so you don’t miss anything important a week after that long chat session.
- File transfer over IM support.
Email features:
- Supports Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, AOL, POP and IMAP mail accounts.
- Login to multiple accounts from the same network at once!
- Separation of email and IM account - for example, you can set a Yahoo account for email notification but not for instant messaging use.
- Send email from a chat window - right click on a buddy name (online or offline), select a sender account and send him an email! Bye bye web browser!
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Perform email actions from Digsby client - e.g. mark email as spam for Yahoo!, delete email on Gmail.
Social network and other features:
- Supports Facebook and MySpace - get alerts of events, friend requests, real time news feed etc.
- Change Digsby’s skins, buddy list displays and more.
- Digsby’s settings can be synchronized between multiple PCs so you don’t have to add all your accounts over and over again.
- Digsby also offers widgets that you can put on your Facebook profile or website. This way, you can chat with your visitors and friends from your own desktop.
FYI, currently Digsby is available by invitation only. To register, check out DownloadSquad to obtain the registration code. Based on my experience, I am impressed with the stability of Digsby and most of the features are working very nicely. If there are more support for popular social applications such as Youtube, Twitter, Pownce, LinkedIn, Flickr and more - rest assured that Disgby is on the right track to become an essential desktop application.
P/s I love the Digsby logo. The mascot looks so cool with the baseball cap.
* Steve from Digsby has kindly offered 5000 invites for TechMalaya.com readers. Just insert “techmalaya” as the invitation code during setup.
Tags: digsby, instant messaging, instant messaging client, im client, multiprotocol im
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29 Responses to “Digsby - Multiprotocol Instant Messaging plus Social Network Desktop Client”
I’m using miranda IM now, loving it for he simplicity.
But this apps have social network and tabbed interface. Thats tempting. Have to try this one.
By SembangKomputer.Com on Feb 8, 2008
Thank you so much for the wonderful writeup. We are working on adding more social networks (right after we fix the most critical bugs).
I have added the invite code “techmalaya” with 5,000 fresh invites.
By Steve Shapiro on Feb 9, 2008
@Steve: Looking forward to see additional functions from your team!
By Syahid A. on Feb 9, 2008
I was just getting familiar with pidgin but this digsby looks fantastic! I will give it a try
By NoktahHitam on Feb 9, 2008
This looks interesting. I just registered for an account under your invitation code.
By Gette on Feb 9, 2008
If you guys need more invitation, I’ve got some.
http://53m1.com/social/1000-digsby-invitation-just-for-you-guys
By Jonathan Solichin on Feb 10, 2008
This is just damn awesome! I think it’s time to quit using Pidgin and try this one.
Thank you for this, a pingback is coming your way soon
Downloading the app right now!
By Shankar Ganesh on Feb 10, 2008
@Shankar: Glad you like it Shankar. I love the app.
By Syahid A. on Feb 10, 2008
The interface and the new features are just great. Downloading it right now.
By Madhur Kapoor on Feb 10, 2008
i have many IMs and dont liked triliand nor miranda, i’ll try this one out, looks cool =)
the mail client is good?
i can wait to bring im email and social networks in the same screen , i can see a new web app comming
By Jonathan on Feb 12, 2008
@Jonathan: You bet its good! Try it with the invite code above. You have nothing to lose.
By Syahid A. on Feb 12, 2008
Damn - I gotta try this!
By Friedbeef on Feb 13, 2008
@Friedbeef: You should! Don’t hesitate anymore.
By Syahid A. on Feb 13, 2008
i like it but just wondering, this app is likely using a lot of my RAM.
did u noticed?
it’s place on second after firefox.
By ali sabki on Feb 17, 2008
@ali sabki: Yes, there are some issues about the memory usage of Digsby. Check out the dev blog. There are working veru hard to make it better.
By Syahid A. on Feb 17, 2008
@ali
yes its eating a lot of ram here too, its using more ram than opera with 10 tabs…
i think this problem will be solved in the future, since its a beta software.
but even with some problems, i liked digsby , it’ll surelly become a nice social suite =)
By Jonathan on Feb 17, 2008
After years of using Pidgin (aka Gaim) I’ve actually switched clients. The social networking tool was just too cool for me to say no to. The only thing I’d love to see is eventual VOIP and VTC support. Also, I haven’t discovered yet, is it possible to set-up a conference chat?
Thanks for the info!
By Tara on Mar 3, 2008
@Tara: Based on experience and observation, group chat is not yet available at current. VOIP will make Digsby more fun to use!
By Syahid A. on Mar 3, 2008
I can’t make mine work. It won’t connect my hotmails, live account, aim…
Tried out couple of tricks but it won’t do.
By Carol on May 3, 2008
@Carol: Have you checked your firewall rules? That could be the culprit. Anything else, you need to report to Digsby blog on errors. Mine works perfect.
By Syahid A. on May 4, 2008
I am facing little problem with Digsby Whenever i open Digsby it shows unread message which are actually marked as read.any one else facing similar problem ??
By BlogsDNA on Jul 22, 2008
I don’t normally leave comments… but I really enjoyed your post! I will be leaving a link back here in my blogroll! Thanks!
By Social Bookmarks on Oct 8, 2008