Instant Message with ease using Adium
Adium is a well known, popular multi-protocol instant messaging client which has just hit version 1.3.3, which has tons of new features and has fixed a few bugs. Adium supports most instant messaging services and is also fully customizable in almost every way. It is much easier to use this application instead of separate applications for every instant messaging service. But it doesn’t stop there: it’s free!
One of the many great things about Adium is that is has a helpful setup assistant. If you are a first time user, you won’t be for much longer! Adding an account is as simple as selecting the service and typing in your username and password! Now you’re ready to use Adium!
On its first launch, Adium asks you if you want to install Growl. Growl will display a small, unobtrusive notification when someone sends you a message in Adium. By default, this message appears in the top right hand corner of your screen, but you can change this and much more. Growl can also be used with iTunes, Mail, Safari and many other applications, so I definitely recommend that you install it!
Now that Adium is installed, you might not like the default looks of things, so you probably want to customize it. Fortunately, Adium makes this as simple as it can get. By going to Adium Xtras, you can quickly download and add third party add-ons, such as Dock Icons, message styles, sound sets, emotions and a lot more! Xtras can be installed with one click from the Adium Xtras Website. They are downloaded and installed for you, without having to restart Adium. One minor complaint is that if you install an Xtra that has many variants, such as a pack of coloured ducks, you have to click through lots of windows to finally install them. Some of my personal favourite Xtras include MetalChat2 and the R2D2 Dock Icon. If you wish to uninstall an Xtra, you can use the Xtras manager, which quickly deletes extras without you having to dig through application folders.
Guest accounts are another great feature of Adium. Say my friend comes to my house and wants to sign on to AIM, they can with ease and once they are finished and log off, Adium won’t save any account information! Of course, the best part of Adium is the customizability. You can change pretty much everything, from the Dock icon, to the amount of spacing on your contacts list.
Overall, Adium is a great application. It has a few annoying bugs (such as not remembering your password when you tell it too) and it still lacks a few features that would come to good use. Adium is a great application if you are a Mac user who is fond of instant messaging. So you might as well give Adium a try, due to the fact that it’s a great free application.
I lurve Adium, and I think it’s helpful to mention that there’s a Skype plug in for it now. So you can see your Skype contacts in the same list as FaceBook, MSN, iChat etc… contacts. When you get a Skype call, the Skype app opens so you can video conference or whatever.
The niggle I have with it is that when I chat with MSN contacts, they sometimes send me customised emoticons. In the Messenger:Mac app proper, it is possible to right (CTRL) click on these to add them to my own emoticons. This is not possible in Adium, although if your pals use these emoticons they will be displayed – you just won’t be able to send them back. A shame, and I bet someone at Adium can fix this!
On the subject of emoticons, there are LOADS to download and install via Xtras. But be aware that the recipient may not be able to see the same ones that you are sending. Thereby defeating the point. Best to stick with the basic packs for the account you are using.
I lurve Adium, and I think it’s helpful to mention that there’s a Skype plug in for it now. So you can see your Skype contacts in the same list as FaceBook, MSN, iChat etc… contacts. When you get a Skype call, the Skype app opens so you can video conference or whatever.
The niggle I have with it is that when I chat with MSN contacts, they sometimes send me customised emoticons. In the Messenger:Mac app proper, it is possible to right (CTRL) click on these to add them to my own emoticons. This is not possible in Adium, although if your pals use these emoticons they will be displayed – you just won’t be able to send them back. A shame, and I bet someone at Adium can fix this!
On the subject of emoticons, there are LOADS to download and install via Xtras. But be aware that the recipient may not be able to see the same ones that you are sending. Thereby defeating the point. Best to stick with the basic packs for the account you are using.