imo.im is the latter and have provided a very simple interface to combine your IM clients onto the web. I tried it out and it does a good job of quickly connecting to your accounts and displaying your buddy lists.

imo.im brings together all the major platforms and has just released the ability to pull in Skype contacts as well, which is a big plus in my opinion.

April 20, 2009 – Palo Alto — imo.im is a free online service that aims to make online communication more intuitive and accessible.  It couples voice, video, and text chat capabilities with the most popular instant messaging protocols. Currently in alpha stage development, the startup has released an update that introduces major new features and makes imo.im one of the only multi-protocol instant messaging services to offer Skype support.

In addition to Skype, MySpace Chat support has been added in the latest release. Voice and Video capabilities are now also functional on all supported networks–AIM, GTalk, ICQ, Jabber, MSN, MySpace, Skype, and Yahoo. No download or registration is required to use the service, and multiple accounts on different instant messaging networks can be linked together to one sign-in.

Language support has been expanded as well, through imo’s user-driven translation program launched in April 2008. With this system, imo now offers language support for Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Italian, Macedonian, French, Turkish, and more.

Finally, eight new features have been added giving users the ability to:

• Star favorite buddies for easy reference
• Upload and view buddy icons
• Search for offline as well as online buddies
• Change how a buddy’s display name appears in the contacts list
• Move buddies between groups
• Block and unblock buddies
• Set yourself as invisible upon login
• Voice and video chat with anyone

For a comprehensive list of imo.im features, please visit the imo.im website at http://imo.im/features.html

About:
imo.im (http://imo.im/about.html) is a web-based multi-network instant messaging service. It lets users IM chat with buddies on AIM, Google Talk, MSN, MySpace, Skype, and Yahoo simultaneously. The company was founded by Georges Harik (co-developer of Google’s AdSense technology), Ralph Harik, and Praveen Krishnamurthy in April 2007.

My personal preference is a separate application if I’m running on my own computer. I currently use Trillian Pro by Cerulean Studios, however sites like imo.im come in very handy when you need access to your IM Buddy Network, but aren’t on your own computer.

I’m still waiting for the application that will combine IM, Skype, Facebook, twitter and other social media sites into one interface. Now THAT would be nice.

Post from: Uncover the Internet

Another great online application I was reminded of while at Blog World Expo 08 is picnik. I’m should be ashamed that I haven’t shared this site for you all yet. It’s a great app that does just about everything most users would want with regards to photo-editing, while all the time being FREE!

Tris Hussey showcased this little app during his "How to be More than a Blog: New Media Integration" session.

Check-out this list of features you can take advantage of in the completely free version of picnik:

• Fix your photos in just one click
• Use advanced controls to fine-tune your results
• Crop, resize, and rotate in real-time
• Tons of special effects, from artsy to fun
• Astoundingly fast, right in your browser
• Awesome fonts and top-quality type tool
• Basketfuls of shapes from hand-picked designers
• Works on Mac, Windows, and Linux
• No download required, nothing to install

Can you believe that? What else does 80% of the online population need in their editor?

The only drawback I can think of is that it’s online and not offline, so those surfers with a slower Internet connection may find the experience less than amazing. Those of us with broadband connections.

Perhaps even just as impressive is that you can use picnik to edit your photos even when they’re already on some of the most popular image hosting sites available for Internet users: myspace, flickr, facebook, photobucket, Picasa, webshots, freewebs, and of course those images you’ve already got sitting on your own computer.

Uncover the best, free online photo editing application on the web. Go have a picnik!

Post from: Uncover the Internet

I was just browsing the City of Greenwood, IN website to see if my softball game for tonight was canceled. It is, but while I was there I noticed an article about Greenwood City Police starting use MySpace.

The Greenwood Police Department recently joined the millions of others that use the Internet social networking site known as “MySpace”.  By creating this presence, Detective Eric Klinkowski and Chief Joe Pitcher, hope that teens will list the Greenwood PD site as their top friend on their own MySpace page.  They believe that this could act as a huge deterrent to predators seeking out young victims.  The site also allows the Police Department to post information about recent crimes that the public may have witnessed or can assist in solving.

Here’s their About Me blurb:

THIS PAGE IS NOT FOR REPORTING EMERGENCIES! PLEASE CALL 911 OR (317) 882-9191. THE GREENWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT, WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A CONNECTION WITH ALL LOCAL AREA YOUTH! ADD US AS YOUR #1 FRIEND TO HELP KEEP YOURSELF SAFE ONLINE! DISCLAIMER: GREENWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT OR ITS REPRESENTATIVES ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY CONTENT FOUND ON OTHER MYSPACE PROFILES LINKED TO OR THAT CAN BE FOUND ON OUR FRIENDS LIST, NOR ARE WE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY COMMENTS, PHOTOGRAPHS OR PERSONAL VIEWS OF INDIVIDUALS ADDED TO OUR FRIENDS LIST. ALL FRIENDS ARE ADDED ON GOOD FAITH. ANY INFORMATION FOUND TO BE DEROGATORY OR OFFENSIVE ON OUR FRIENDS LIST WILL BE REMOVED.

Aside from someone telling them they shouldn’t be SCREAMING their about me blurb I think this is a fantastic idea. I’m not sure how effective it will be at their goal, but it’s an interesting tactic. There’s surely nothing to lose in the venture. What’s your opinion?

Post from: Uncover the Internet