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Digsby is my Favorite Instant Messenger

on August 2, 2011 in Tech for Life

Originally posted 2008-03-24 09:51:19.

That’s right. Move over Meebo. Move over Yahoo Messenger, GTalk.

Digsby on the covers will look like one of the dozen multi-protocol Instant Messenger clients out there. But, this is by far the best integration I have seen among them. I am not just going to say that but actually tell you why. Garry Conn asked me on Twitter why I liked it so much and here you go, Garry!

Digsby Logo Digsby integrates not just your IM accounts but also your email accounts and your social network accounts like Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.

Digsby Features

Instant messenger Features

  • Support for multiple IM networks. Nothing new here. It supports Google, Yahoo, MSN, AIM, ICQ and Jabber.
  • Tabbed conversations. You can chat with multiple buddies with just one window.
  • If your buddy is on multiple IMs, you can merge their accounts into one in Digsby.
  • Your buddy has a weird number in his/her name? Give him an alias.
  • This is the best part. You can have Digsby minimized but new messages will popup and you can reply from within the popup and get back to what you were doing!
  • Setup various alerts for individual buddies like a sound and/or a popup when a friend logs in or logs out.
  • Video/Audio chat using TokBox

Digsby Features

(picture credit: digsby.com)

Email Features

  • Supports Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Hotmail, AOL/AIM Mail, IMAP and POP accounts
  • On login, a InfoBox popup shows you new email messages and you can scroll within the popup to see all messages.
  • A taskbar icon for the email account showing unread messages.
  • Clicking on the icon, popups a box with latest message and you can Mark as read, delete, archive messages without ever opening up the browser. You could also go to the Inbox or the Compose screen right from here.
  • You can send email directly from your Digsby Contact List from the IM window.

Social Network

  • Get Facebook/MySpace news feed and updates on Digsby
  • Best Twitter integration I have experienced so far – Timeline view, replies, direct messages. Plus, every contact looks just like the twitter web interface with the Favorite star, a reply icon, etc.
  • Update your status easily and new Tweets popup (configurable) in a nice little window.
  • Support for more networks coming soon.

Digsby has many more features to list here. And did I say it looks gorgeous with capital G in Vista?

Sometimes, applications gets overloaded with features and casual users will get lost. Not with Digsby. Every feature has been implemented very naturally and probably better than the app maker themselves in certain instances. Personalization options are another option you have to see it to appreciate it. Just the whole look and feel is very user friendly.

Download Digsby

With this software in beta, I haven’t had it crash even once in the last 2 days of full use. I installed it for my wife and she is in love with it too. I know I am writing this with rose-colored glasses but I haven’t found a single thing to complain about. But, again I have used it only for a couple of days and this is more like my first impressions and I have been known in the past to change my allegiance. :wink:

Nevertheless, this is a great piece of software that’s availabel for free. If you are a Mac/Linux user though, you’ll have to wait a little longer but they promise to have one for us nerds soon.

Update: 6/26

After using it for 3 months, Digsby still rocks my world with its user friendly features. I love the ability to delete my emails right from the Gmail notification window and keeping just the emails I want to read when I open my inbox. At build 30, it even integrates Facebook chat nicely but I am still waiting on their promised Linux version. Patiently. :-)

Update: 8/17/09

The latest release of Digsby is loaded with crapware and you have to watch out for it while you install it. Plus, there is a hidden research module that will use your computing resources when your computer is idle. Read on to see why Digsby is NOT my favorite instant messenger at the moment.

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  • http://www.thelinuxblog.com Owen

    Wow, that is an awesome looking program. I’ve thought about something like this for a while. Sure Pidgin / GAIM are great but there is no integration with any Social Networking sites. As a Linux user I’m going to have to see if it runs under wine :)

    I’ll blog about it if it works.

    - Owen.

    Owen’s last blog post..Linksys NSLU2 – A Great Linux Box

  • http://techie-buzz.com Keith Dsouza

    I must say I am impressed with Digsby, I downloaded and installed it after reading this and I must say it definitely reduces a lot of problems and will definitely be one of the best IM client for me too

    Keith Dsouza’s last blog post..Pathetic Web Hosting Services In Us and Canada

  • http://martinwelchworld.blogspot.com/2007/07/great-mountaineer.html Martin Welch

    Thanks for sharing this to us! I haven’t try using Digsby so far. I’m quiet interested to give a try for this new program. Interesting features! ;)

    Martin Welch’s last blog post..Dr. Martin Welch Research Works!

  • http://www.shankrila.com K

    Owen.. I checked out your blog and will keep an eye on it to see if you can run it in wine. I’d be very interested, if you could do it.

    Keith, glad to see you agree with me. I was a little hesitant to go all out and say it is my favorite when there are a dozen alternatives out there! But, the more I use it the more I love it. It has to be teh next best thing for me after Enso.

    Martin, you are absolutely welcome. If I love something and start using it my readers will be the first to know. Let me know how you like it. :razz:

  • Pingback: Digsby A Great Multi IM and Email Client

  • http://darianknight.110mb.com Darian Knight

    I have Digsby installed and I really don’t have any complaints. The only thing I have a problem with is that the list of messenger protocols is a bit small in comparison to Pidgin.

    Which is why I use Pidgin instead of Digsby. When Digsby adds stuff like IRC support, then I’ll make the full switch.

  • http://blog.nishitshah.com Nishit

    Hey thx for sharing this cool IM. I have tried this and have been using this ever since then. Got rid of all the clutter.

    Nishit’s last blog post..If you’re so smart, why aren’t you rich?

  • http://www.shankrila.com/ K-IntheHouse

    Hey Darian, thanks for taking the time to comment! Pidgin is cool and I’ll continue to use it in Linux until Digsby comes out with a Linux version. I was able to install it and run it with Wine but the proxy setting won’t work for me so I can’t get out with it. :cry:

    Nishit.. you are very welcome! Getting rid of the clutter is right. Thanks for the comment and welcome to ShanKri-la! :razz:

    K-IntheHouse’s last blog post..Digsby is my Favorite Instant Messenger

  • http://www.nirmaltv.com Nirmal

    Digsby is pretty decent one, the problem I faced is the connection to Gtalk, its not connecting properly for me.

    Nirmal’s last blog post..Technology Advancement: 1GB Now and 20 Year Ago

  • http://www.stylusouls.com immy00100

    looking like a good handy all in one messenger it includes gtalk thats a good thing to add in these days when gtalk is taking every one, i’ll sure give it a try ;)

  • http://www.scratch99.com/ Stephen Cronin

    K, I’m not into instant messaging (I can’t get any work done as it is!), but this looks like a great option for those who do.

    Stephen Cronin’s last blog post..New WordPress Plugin – KeywordLuv

  • http://web2.ajaxprojects.com/web2/projects/Chat/Meebo.php Meebo

    this is cool im……..

  • Trinkit

    Digsby has lots of privacy concerns, someone hacks your diggsby account, they instantly gain access to all messengers and social networking sites registered with it.

    It’s one problem among many with Digsby, it may yet come to form and be a useful IM, but, as long as it’s required that you store information on the Digsby server it will not be a client I use.

  • http://www.Delawaretruckdrivingjobs.com tom@Delawaretruckdrivingjobs.com

    I’ve never heard of such a program either – I really value any software that can greatly simplify my work and it looks like I’ve found another. This one seems to top even microsoft outlook. I’m hoping more programs like this will come into play and that software will become simpler and more powerful

  • http://www.ceruleanstudios.com Master M.

    Trillian is much better than this poor comparison. It does everything Digsby does and more. With the new Trillian Astra coming out soon, Digsby shouldn’t even be allowed in the same paragraph. Check it out at http://www.ceruleanstudios.com

  • http://www.techiesouls.com MOin

    digsby is really a nice little all in one instant messenger i am also using it from a quite long ago. i really like all in one apps.

  • superbobbes

    there is already a german support community: http://www.digsby-forum.info

  • http://www.effortlesshr.com/ Aaron@HR Software

    Hi K… Digsby has come a LOOOONG way. I have been using it (thanks to your blog post) every since you posted. Going through the latest round of beta’s has turned Digsby into a huge potential contender in the IM market. I use it for everything and the best feature of all is the multiple google-hosted mail account notification.. It is invaluable to me.

    Aarons last blog post..Political Discussions in the Workplace – Danger Zone

  • http://www.shankrila.com K

    Aaron, great to hear that. I use it extensively as well and love the fact that they cut the resource usage in half. It’s slim and mean now. :-)

  • http://fununo.info fun info

    I never heard Digsby before, but according to the features sounds interesting. I’ll give it a shoot, thanks

    fun infos last blog post..The First Ever Hello Kitty Netbook

  • http://www.lexoj.com Stefan

    We want the linux version :(

  • http://sdfjk bryant

    I like digsby a lot but I wish it has a portable version like pidgin. so i still use pidgin. :)

  • Pingback: Digsby - Not My Favorite Instant Messenger Right Now | ShanKrila

  • http://www.linkedin.com/company/web-promo вебпромо

     I was suggested this website by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my difficulty. You’re wonderful! Thanks!

  • http://www.previewnaples.com/the-moorings.php moorings real estate

    Sounds really a good instant messenger. I wonder if this has an application for Android? I’d like to have this on my phone.