Trillian Astra

[Poolzer]

After 3 months of silence, the guys that have created the best damn IM integration program are showing off Trillian 4.0, or Astra.

Sneak Peak

Some of the new/updated things include:

MySpace IM and Google Talk

Trumping about every other feature request we've received lately was the constant demand for MySpace IM compatibility. So here it is - basic IM and list management, avatars, emoticons and formatted text are all supported. We'll continue to adapt this as the MySpace IM network grows. We've also created a new plugin specifically for Google Talk, breaking it apart from Jabber.

File transfers refreshed

The protocols involved in establishing a successful file transfer tend to receive minor changes here and there for various reasons. We've worked hard to ensure that Trillian Astra speaks all of these latest languages, and are once again compatible with all the latest versions of major instant messaging file transfer protocols.

Sending multiple files is a breeze, Trillian-style

Some networks support the idea of "folder transfers" or "bulk file transfers". Because not every major IM service supports this idea, we've always shied away from supporting it "partially" within Trillian. In Astra, we've solved the problem using another technology entirely. Select 5 files on your desktop, drag them to a friend, and Trillian will automatically zip them up and send them as a zip file. Everyone speaks ZIP!

A new file transfer window with even more information and utility

Our new file transfer window exposes a variety of useful goodies, including total transfer time, a debug window that helps explain exactly what's going on behind the scenes, and an image preview area so you know what file type or image you're receiving before you receive it.

More support for status messages, AIM and ICQ interoperability, and MSN gatewaying

Beyond file transfers and major design changes, we've worked hard to bring the little things together. Trillian Astra includes support for custom status messages on MSN, and we've finally separated our AIM engine from our ICQ engine, meaning less wasted memory for you if you don't use one of those services. We've also worked hard at improving AIM/ICQ interoperability - when you're an AIM user talking to an ICQ user, your experience should be vastly improved over 3.x. Lastly, we've finally added support for the oft-requested MSN Messenger "gateway" service, ensuring that you can connect to MSN even when port 1863 is blocked!

IMCore

Historically, building and maintaining support for 5+ major IM services has been a challenge. Compounding the problem were the little bugs that may have appeared in one service but not another service due to slight changes in programming style or even forgetting to fix a bug. With Trillian Astra, every Cerulean plugin is built using the same underlying technology - IMCore. This means that when MSN fails to reconnect properly or can't talk to a SOCKS5 proxy, fixing the bug in one spot will automatically fix it in every other plugin. This speeds up development and reduces the chance for human error. Technically speaking, IMCore is a carefully-designed set of C++ classes that provide the underlying basics needs for ANY IM plugin - communicating with Trillian's API, handling low-level network connectivity, and managing the notions of contact lists, file transfers, etc.