Built-in Web Browser, You've Got Pictures, live video IM, Encrypted IMs...
New in v7.x: Ability to choose which services to push your AIM status, Windows 7 improvements with enhanced application icons, improved and more streamlined upgrade mechanism, mail notifications now have subject and sender, new look for notification "toasters" that appear in the lower right of your screen; various other minor enhancements and bug fixes for earlier releases; Release Notes
- Last Updated: 12.04.09 (v7.1.6.4)
Upgrade Meter: 3
New in v7.x: Lifestream (keep tabs on what's going on with your buddies, including support for Facebook and Twitter), support for netbooks, search for buddies by name, numerous performance enhancements, new colors and themes for AIM, saved away messages, better buddy info, improved conversation bubbles (Beta 2); redesigned user interface (new look and feel), better performance, bigger buddy icons, buddy icon cropper tool, big status entry area, new ad size and placement; various other minor enhancements and bug fixes for earlier releases; Release Notes
- Last Updated: 10.06.09 (v7.0.13.4)
Upgrade Meter: 3
New in v6.9: Shiny new gold look and layout (with new buttons, new layout, new color, new brand), ability to get updates from your friends on AIM and other social networks (including Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace), new Bebo profiles and profile manager, AIM Blast feature, Emoticons as text (instead of always as images) (Beta 3); option to sign in as invisible, new light-weight design (with new colors, buttons, and overall look and feel), options to manage your Buddy List, ability to search the Web from AOL AIM (Beta 2); new Welcome Screen with "AIM Zones" (TMZ, Moviefone, Sports, etc.), feature for reporting abusive or threatening IMs, various plug-in updates; various other minor enhancements and bug fixes for earlier releases; Release Notes
- Last Updated: 07.16.09 (v6.9.17.2)
Upgrade Meter: 4
New in 6.0:
Drag and drop interface for sharing pictures, AIM Phoneline integration for PC to PC chatting, the ability to retrieve messages you missed while you were offline, IM logging, IM grouping for more efficient management of friends' IMs, bigger buddy list; Release Notes - Last Updated: 11.15.06 (v6.0.28.1)
New in 1.0.4:
Additional Expressions support, ability to edit or create a profile, more customization options for IM windows (v0.7.13.1); plaxo-enabled AIM Address Book that provides ability to import your contacts from a variety of applications (Outlook and Outlook Express) and ISPs (Yahoo and MSN Hotmail) directly into your Buddy List, new Expressions setting that allows you to display other users' wallpaper in your IM windows (0.6.17 Beta); automatically remembers your conversation with your buddy, even after you close the conversation (v0.5.21 Beta); Release Notes - Last Updated: 01.27.06
New in AIM Triton (vs. AOL Instant Messenger): Sleek New Look for AIM, unified Buddy List and Address Book with single-window access, QuickNote feature, multi-party voice chat, improved away message management, session-based IM logging, easy-access modules for AIM Radio and AOL Mail; Release Notes
New in v5.9: You've Got Pictures (you can now store your digital photos on AIM and IM them or email them to buddies), new AIM Expressions
(100s of new free buddy icons); Release Notes
- Last Updated: 09.09.04 Upgrade Meter: 4
New in v5.5: Live video IM, ability to log in with multiple accounts (screen names); Notes Upgrade Meter: 5
New in v5.2: Support for encrypted IMs, IM Forwarding, ability to send IMs to mobile phones, enhanced file transfer and direct IM; Notes Upgrade Meter: 5
New in v5.1: Outlook Express integration, AIM Expressions, Content Panels, Typing Indicator; Notes Upgrade Meter: 4
New in v5.0: AIM Expressions, Content Panels, and a new Typing Indicator; Notes Upgrade Meter: 5
New in v4.8: E-mail and address book integration, automatic authentication at the Manage Web Alerts site, potential AIM Security Issue resolved, bug fixes; Notes Upgrade Meter: 4
New in v4.7: "AIM Today" window for meeting buddies and learning new tips, Buddy List buttons, Buddy List preference options, Send Buddy List feature, IM Greetings (for special occassions like birthdays), HTTP Proxy support; Release Notes Upgrade Meter: 5
New in v4.0: Instant Images feature (for sending and receiving photos, images, sounds, and animations); Instant Alerts: Mail Alerts (with support for multiple mail accounts), Buddy Alerts, and Stock Alerts; AIM Talk for voice chatting; Auto Upgrade feature; Buddy List docking; time, date, and screen name stamping for away messages; pop-up info for your online buddies, talk improvements; Release Notes Upgrade Meter: 5
Pros: Freeware, excellent feature-set, voice chat capabilities, integration with AOL
Cons: Must first register with an AOL server, inability to move/undock stock ticker
