New in v2.x:
New name (Pidgin replaces Gaim), MySpaceIM protocol plugin, XMPP enhancements,
enhancements to Status System, Buddy List, Conversations and Chats, Sounds, Plug-ins, and Log Viewer (complete details available here; new MSN, Yahoo, IRC, Jabber, and AIM/ICQ features; many more enhancements and bug fixes for earlier releases; Release Notes - Last Updated: 07.03.08 (v2.4.3)
Upgrade Meter:4
New in v1.4.0:
Fix system log start times for some protocols, SILC compiles with newer SILC toolkit versions, detects the file type of a buddy icon when saving, additional Yahoo! boot protection, fixed a bug where buddy icon cache files were left in the icon cache directory after they were no longer in use, a few Yahoo! memory leaks plugged, enabled sending files to ICQ users using ICQ 5.02 and newer, various other minor enhancements and bug fixes for earlier releases; Release Notes - Last Updated: 07.08.05 Upgrade Meter:2
New in v1.3.1:
Various minor enhancements and bug fixes (complete list here) for earlier releases; Release Notes - Last Updated: 06.13.05 Upgrade Meter:2
New in v1.2.0:
Yahoo file receiving and buddy icon receiving work again, limit animated buddy icon frame rates to 10 frames per second, Yahoo! privacy improvements, various bug fixes (complete list here) for earlier releases; Release Notes - Last Updated: 03.21.05 Upgrade Meter:2
New in v1.1.3: CHAP authentication support for SOCKS5 proxies, ICQ offline messages are sent using specified character set instead of Unicode, MSN HTTP method now works with proxies using authentication, various other minor enhancements and bug fixes; Release Notes - Last Updated: 02.18.05 Upgrade Meter:2
New in v1.1.2: MSN 'HTTP Method' fixed, better handling of MSN's Individuals group and buddy status updates, AIM SecurID login support, various other minor enhancements and bug fixes; Release Notes - Last Updated: 02.18.05 Upgrade Meter:2
New in v1.1.1: Allow SILC authentication via public key if your key is password protected, more MSN bug fixes, drag-and-drop to conversation window file transfers work again, various other minor enhancements and bug fixes; Release Notes - Last Updated: 12.29.04 Upgrade Meter:2
New in v1.1.0: Binary relocable, fallback encodings for IRC, new MSN protocol icon, various bug fixes; Release Notes - Last Updated: 12.06.04 Upgrade Meter:2
New in v1.0.1: Uses the GNOME default browser when opening links (if you're running GNOME), support for multiple address books in the gevolution plugin, various bug fixes for v1.0; Release Notes - Last Updated: 10.11.04 Upgrade Meter:4
New in v1.0.0: Drag-and-drop buddy support for the Invite and Pounce dialogs, improved handling of MSN buddy list, view chat log available from the interface, ability to receive offline messages in character encodings other than ASCII; Release Notes - Last Updated: 09.20.04 Upgrade Meter:4
New in v0.82.1: Couple of bug fixes (for a crash when changing the preference for how to display buttons on conversation windows and the removal of a stray printf() when beginning new conversations and logging is enabled); Release Notes - Updated 08.27.04 Upgrade Meter:2
New in v0.82:
Ability to set available messages for AIM, ability to specify a custom character set for messages sent to ICQ users, ability to edit your current away message, file transfers appear in the file transfer window when they are initiated rather than when they begin transferring, various other enhancements and bug fixes; Release Notes - Updated 08.26.04 Upgrade Meter:2
Pros: Freeware/open source; handles a wide range of IM services, both major and minor; frequent updates
Cons: Subject to changes in the proprietary APIs of IM networks such as AOL and Yahoo! that could lead to temporary inability to connect to these networks, free and open source status begs question of Gaim's long-term availability (continued development depends on continued interest of programmers)
