Noticed that it is Google Talk’s one year anniversary today and as it usually is with Google, they picked the day to release lots of new features for the product.
Part of the new features include File Transfer and now voicemail all on top of the highlights of a clean fast interface and good intergrated telephony functions.
Why is all this important? I’m not really sure.
Heck, I don’t even have the program installed.
I have this thing against having two programs that do basically the same thing running at the same time. And so with everyone still stuck on using MSN (beware the memory hungry ways of the new Live version of MSN) there is really not much reason for me to run the Google Talk client just to speak to only a few people. It’s good to see the continued work on it though, perhaps they can turn it into a runaway hit like they did with Gmail.
And Gmail is basically the whole point here. The absolutely smartest thing that Google has ever done, was to actually intergrate Google Talk with Gmail. You don’t have to have the Talk client installed, anyone on your contact list who is logged on is fair game.
Now that is one way to get your IM network being used by tons of people, everyone who has a Gmail account is bascially a gTalk user as well. And with these new features out, they are also intergrated into the gTalk on Gmail. How sweet is that?
The answer, of course in my case, is that it is bittersweet. I found out that not only are IM clients blocked at my workplace (when I finally do have a place and workstation to use), but web based email sites as well. While I know that there are alot of people who have all these blocked at their workplaces, for me it’s akin to having a arm tied behind my back.
I guess it just could take some getting used to, but nowadays there are some contacts that only can be connected mainly by IM. Guess I’ll have to go back to using email after hours and sms for local contact…ouch my wallet says…
Tell me about it. Then again, I find MSN a terrible intrusion (and memory hog) and would much prefer to use GTalk’s built-in interface in Gmail. As for GTalk’s client…That just sounds too much like MSN all over again. I hardly log onto MSN these days, but I’m on my Gmail all the time. Maybe that’s the way things will go.
Agreed. Maybe it will go this way. But I don’t see people letting go of their MSN anytime soon. Especially for the younger generation.
I totally feel the same about the MSN client itself. That’s why I at most will just run GAIM or Trillian to connect to as many IM networks as possible in one. *shrugs* it just seems more efficient this way…
My Gmail is on all the time as well, but I don’t recall seeing you on it Vic.
Send me a chat invite the next time you log on yah?
Oh, umm. I find that slightly intrusive, as well, so I’ve disabled it unless I want to use it (which is hardly ever). Hahaha.
Whatever happened to just plain email, and just plain chat proggies? Maybe I’m old fashioned.. but I like my email and my chat seperate. Love Gmail, but I only access it through Thunderbird. And Trillian does everything I need it to (since I only have internet at work right now, I don’t need the bells and whistles.) But that’s me.
Although Google Calendar has proved itself over and over to us here at work. (Which is why I now manage 9 calendars for seperate things. Gotta love job security.)
Hiya Light! How have you been?
Well for me I have Thunderbird at home setup to download from Gmail, but it’s mainly for backup purposes. I like having my mail being web-based now, as I’m on different computers because of work and don’t want to have duplicates on the different machines.
As for chat progs, I still love Trillian and GAIM but work computers usually block such progs first, so I’m forced to use Gmail Talk as an alternative, which is difficult has hardly any of my contacts use it.
I love Google Calendar as well and the idea of a group calendar for better organizing of meet-ups and outings. Too bad my close friends don’t seem keen on the idea. As for me, I just need Google Calendar to sync with my Palm Desktop prog and thus with my Treo, then it would be golden.
hey
Sucks about work blocking everything. Luckily here at work (University) they can’t because of students and such, and MSN is how my office communicates a lot (we’re not lazy, just extremely spread out between two buildings.)
As for duplicates on dif machines.. that’s what a USB key is for… at least.. I think. I take it everywhere I go, and I even got Stretch to start using one (Big surprise!) My key is now my lifeline. Just as much as my cell. Sad, really.
Yeah. It wasn’t that way when I was still at the Call Centre. I actually kinda miss it…
I think the Portable USB/Flash drive is a great idea and was greatly considering it myself. Even found this cool website for it, Portable Apps.
Problem was I only had a 128meg USB drive on hand, and well it was much easier to just use gmail itself, especially after I had it intergrated into my Firefox by an Extension, then go out and get a bigger drive to fit everything I wanted.
Hopefully that website might give you more ideas on what you can add to that lifeline of yours
Portable Apps is my favorite site for my drive. I have quite a few of their apps on there (and Stretch’s.) I actually bought my 1gig Attache from TigerDirect.com for pretty inexpensive, after the mail-in rebate. My uncle’s dog, unfortunately, jumped on it while it was attached to a laptop and broke it (damaged the laptop as well) so I had to buy a new one. But it’s all good now. Now, I just use a 512MB and it’s enough for what I need. For now.