| So you're sick and tired of AOL Instant Messenger. | | | | know about the service and offering a download link. |
| You're looking for something fresh and new that will | | | | This makes it really easy to convince your friends to |
| just work. Well Google feels the same way. On | | | | make the switch.Another feature that is greatly |
| Wednesday August 24th they released their version | | | | appreciated in Google Talk is the way it works |
| of AIM, Google Talk.Although Google Talk and AIM | | | | directly with Gmail. You can add people on your |
| do basically the same thing, Google Talk is very | | | | contacts to the service within the Google Talk |
| different. For starters anyone can join AIM, in order | | | | interface, plus it will notify you when a new email has |
| to use Google Talk you need to have a Gmail | | | | been received. You can also go directly to your Gmail |
| account. AIM will also let you make a profile, Google | | | | inbox via a link from the interface.This next feature |
| Talk you can't. However there are more features on | | | | won't mean much to the average user, but to some |
| Google Talk that are left out in AIM.Google Talk's | | | | misfortunate geeks with low RAM it may. Google |
| main feature is being able to call friends that are on | | | | Talk consumes around 3MB of RAM. AOL Instant |
| your list. Call means being able to talk through a | | | | Messenger takes around 9MB. If you have a lot of |
| microphone to them and they respond through theirs, | | | | other programs open and you can't afford to waste |
| much like the service Skype. There is a similar | | | | RAM Google Talk will work great.Google Talk is also |
| feature in the current version of AIM; however it's | | | | much cleaner looking than AIM. There are no ads and |
| not as easy to use.Let's say you're talking to | | | | no added crap like a stock ticker or news ticker. |
| someone in the conversation window. You decide | | | | However the one thing that I'd like to see in Google |
| that this conversation would work a lot better over | | | | Talk is notifications that tell you when someone logs |
| the phone. Well don't get up and dial a number, simply | | | | on or off. This feature has been available in AIM for |
| plug in the microphone and headphones and guess | | | | about 2 years.There some other things that could be |
| what you're connected, just like a phone. All you | | | | enhanced. In the settings menu I'd like to see a |
| have to do is press the "Call" button in the window, | | | | setting to customize how often it checks the Gmail |
| you'll hear a dial tone, and when the other user | | | | mailbox, customize sounds, and more customization |
| accepts you're connected.At the top of the window, | | | | for notifications.Staying on the topic of customization |
| when call is activated, you'll see a volume meter for | | | | I'd like to see, in later versions, the option to add |
| your friend and one for you. All it takes is a click of a | | | | categories in your friends list. Something so you could |
| button, how easy is that?The other easy thing about | | | | put all your family under one list, friends under the |
| Google Talk is the simplicity behind making a | | | | others and so on.Overall I wouldn't rush out and |
| customized message. When you're online you'll have a | | | | download Google Talk quite yet. Right now I'd think |
| small snippet under your name. You can customize | | | | that it would be more convenient to corporations so |
| that to whatever you want, that could be considered | | | | that employees can interact with each other. It won't |
| somewhat of a profile. You can also see peoples' | | | | take down AIM, because AIM is just too popular, but |
| away messages right under their name. Making an | | | | it might steal some Yahoo! Messenger or MSN |
| away message is just as simple as changing the text | | | | users.This article was originally posted on this is the |
| under your name. Just go to the drop down list under | | | | full article, screen shots are avilable at offers just |
| your name in the window (not the friends list) and go | | | | about everything. We've got music, games, on |
| to the "Custom Message" with the red circle next to | | | | demand video, podcasts, sports, and of course |
| it.Google has also added a feature to make it easier | | | | technology.If you've got a tech problem we also |
| to sign up for the service. When you select to add a | | | | offer a technology podcast and a detailed Help |
| friend you can insert an email address that isn't a | | | | Center with answers to just about anything. |
| Gmail one. All it does is email the person letting them | | | | |