I finally got my Google Wave invite and I’m already playing around with the interface. It’s kind of bad timing because I’ve got lots of stuff to do this evening, which didn’t include playing around with Google Wave. I like what I’m seeing so far.

As I play around with it I’m remembering the really long video I watched when I first heard about it, so the interface is sort of familiar. The basic concept imitates what we’re using to seeing in our email interfaces. A listing for folders and inbox type stuff, our contacts, message box and then a preview for each Wave.

When you first sign-in there’s an introduction video from Dr. Wave, which I’ve included above. It’s fun and they did a good job of interacting with the interface based on the position the video displays on your screen.

As I use it more and more and think about the functionality, I’m beginning to wonder how much of the features and functions could be easily migrated and integrated into the Google Chrome OS.

I was imagining my computer desktop being what I see in my Google Wave dashboard of sorts. Communication, video player, document sharing, images, email, instant messaging, video conferencing. It’s all here in Google Wave, what if Google Wave is just a sandbox for them to work out all the kinks for the Google Chrome OS?

What do you think?

Post from: EveryJoe

I’m Surfing the Google Wave (or is it the Google OS?)

Digsby is a wonderful application which allows you to manage your instant messaging, email notifications, & social networking applications from a single interface.

Instant Messaging

digsby is a multiprotocol IM client which allows you to chat with your friends or contact lists on AIM, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, Google Talk, and Jabber.

Email Notifications

digsby is an email notification tool which alerts you of incoming email and allows you to perform actions such as ‘Delete’ or ‘Report Spam’ with just one click.

Social Networking

digsby is a social networking tool which alerts you of incoming messages or other events and gives you a live Newsfeed of what your friends are doing.

Go ahead and give Digsby a spin.

Image source from Digsby.

Post from: EveryJoe

How about Some Digsby Love?

AIM for iPhone and iPod Touch

One of my biggest gripes before with instant messaging on the iPod Touch was that I always had to have the application on or else I would be disconnected from the service. If I’m waiting for someone I can’t do anything else on my iPod Touch. Hence I didn’t really use my iPod Touch much for instant messaging.

Push service finally comes and I think it’s an answered prayer. I tried it and it works. I could do other things with my iPod and receive notices when messages arrive. Cool. Yup until I encountered one problem. I’m still unsure if it’s just my particular set up or this happens to others as well.

I connected with AIM on my iPod Touch and it was working well. One thing I forgot was to sign out on my iPod Touch, I got so used to being signed out upon exiting the app that it didn’t cross my mind. So I transfer to my laptop and use Adium. I’m connected to AIM and I’m able to send messages. Unfortunately I wasn’t getting any replies. I just see the icon change to a “writing symbol” but I don’t get the replies of the person I’m talking to. I found out that the messages were being sent to my iPod Touch. It doesn’t go to both.

So now I have to constantly remember to sign off on my iPod Touch or I won’t get my messages. That’s quite a drag…

Post from: EveryJoe

AIM’s Push Notification Problem

What happens is that you register for the site and as part of completing your profile you provide areas in which you consider yourself having some expertise. Someone then asks a question via IM with Aardvark (you can integrate it with a variety of IM clients) and if the question has keywords related to your areas of expertise you’re sent an IM with the question. There’s also opportunities to answer "extra" questions that may not fit your exact expertise.

Here’s a sample conversation of mine with Aardvark via IM:

aardvark:
Hi Jason, I have an Extra Question that’s not related to your profile…
I have a question about *SEO* – can you help?
(Type ’sure’, ‘pass’, or ‘busy’.)

Sorry I missed you.

Type ’sure’ to see if you can answer the question, or type ‘help’ to learn more about Aardvark.
(Tip: try asking about a *gift recommendation* for the holidays, or get a *travel tip*…)

There’s a variety of other menu’s you can access via IM to find out what other people are searching for or what talents certain people have that are currently online and available for questions.

I love this service, but I can see how it could get interrupting to you during your day with messages automatically coming into your IM client regularly. I’m going to keep playing with it though because I really like the idea of it. It reminds me of how I enjoy using twitter to bounce questions off of my followers and see the results I get.

Give Aardvark a try yourself and sign-up, maybe you’ve got an answer out there for someone, I’m fairly certain you’ve probably got a question you’d like answered in the meantime.

Post from: EveryJoe

Aardvark – Delivering a Bit More in Social Search

Image Source: www.sxc.hu

In the post he shares a link to a clip from The Tonight Show where a morse coder and a texter went head-to-head to see who was the faster communicator.

I was also reminded this morning of another problem I have issues with that have come from both texting and instant messaging. The significant reduction in spelling accuracy and abbreviations. On the one hand, I can see the argument from people that state this is just a natural evolution of language and how it’s used in our society. I still think there’s something to be said for accurate and clear writing and communication.

Post from: EveryJoe

Text or Morse – Who’s Faster?

I just noticed when I logged into my AT&T U-verse e-mail account that I can now chat with Windows Live contacts from within Yahoo! Mail.

I thought this was a nice feature, and even interesting that it has been worked on and released within such close time frame to the hostile takeover bid by Microsoft for Yahoo!.

The challenge for me is still that I have AIM and GTalk contacts that are still separate. I normally keep my GMail open, but can’t really say the same for keeping Yahoo! mail open as well.

I use Outlook to manage my Hotmail e-mail account so I’m not sure if I can now chat with Yahoo contacts from within Live Mail. I just checked and it appears that I’m not able to, in fact, it didn’t become obvious that I could even just chat with Live contacts from within Live Mail.

Post from: EveryJoe

Now Chat with Live Contacts in Yahoo! Mail