If you’re like me, you’ve probably got several different instant messaging clients installed on your computer at home, such as AIM, MSN, Yahoo, etc. But what happens when you’re away from home using someone else’s computer, a computer at a library or in an internet cafe, or you’re at work and your IT people have blocked downloads? Most IM clients have web-based versions of their software, and usually using those requires you to open up at least one new screen, which can really clutter up the task bar. Now there’s something called Meebo that allows you to sign into multiple IM accounts with just one log-in. And best of all, it doesn’t require you to have 50 new screens open.

Meebo allows you to sign into AIM, MSN, Yahoo, Google, and Jabber instant messaging accounts. If you don’t want to register with Meebo, you can still use their web-based versions, but are limited to signing into only one account at a time. If you take the time to register, and create a Meebo log-in, you’ll be able to add all of your IM accounts to one account and utilize them all with just one log-in.

Signing into your Meebo account brings up just one page, which shows your buddy list on the far right, and other account related info on the left. The buddy list shows all of your contacts from each of the IM services, with an icon next to each screenname indicating what service they are on. Starting a conversation is as easy as double-clicking on a buddy’s name. By starting a conversation, you won’t be getting another pop-up chat box, instead, it will be embedded within the Meebo page you already have up. From here, you can also open up other conversations and spread them out across the screen, or you can minimize them to make more room.

I am really digging this new service, and am very impressed with it so far. It doesn’t seem to have any kind of a lag, and has been very stable for me so far.

Apparently there’s a blog tag thing going around, and I’ve been caught by Cricket. So now I’m supposed to share with you 5 things you all don’t know about me. Hmm…let’s see..

1. I used to be deathly afraid of both dogs and cats, and now I love both.
2. I prefer to wear sandals over shoes, although in the cold and winter that’s not really an option.
3. I’m very peculiar about my bed. The sheets and blankets must be just so before I go to bed.
4. I love to cook, and I’m pretty good if I do say so myself, but sometimes I’m just too darn tired and/or lazy and I order out instead.
5. I’m very shy in real life. That is until I get to know you and feel comfortable with you. This doesn’t hold true in work situations though because I have to be somewhat sociable. But in social settings, yea, I’m shy.

So now that you know that about me, it’s time for me to get some of you. I’m tagging: Waffles, Todd, Davey, Louis, and Nick.

In February, a group of technology vendors, including BEA Systems, Google, IBM, and Oracle, formed the OpenAjax Alliance, with the goal of promoting the popular AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) web development technique. Since then, more vendors, such as Sun Microsystems, have joined, and the alliance has launched its OpenAjax Hub project to boost interoperability among AJAX libraries. One of the founders of OpenAjax was David Boloker, who holds the titles of distinguished engineer and CTO of emerging internet technologies at the IBM software group. He also serves on the alliance’s steering committee. Infoworld editor at large Paul Krill spoke with Boloker at the AJAXWorld Conference and Expo last week about AJAX, the security issues around it, and the possibilities of other vendors such as Microsoft and Apple joining the alliance.

Infoworld: Before AJAX, or theoretically before AJAX, you had Flash. Do you see Flash as a competitor, as a complementary? It just seems like it is kind of a competitive technology even if Adobe says it’s not.

Boloker: I was going to tell you to ask Adobe what their opinion was. Flash is yet another example of a web-based technology, and there are reasons why customers might want to use Flash to have an environment, a full environment, and you know there are reasons why people might want to do something just purely in DHTML and JavaScript. I mean the first obvious reason is DHTML and JavaScript [are] installed on everyone else’s desktop today and is immediately used, whereas Flash was a plug-in. Now, that plug-in happens to be pretty much on most people’s machines.

I just noticed there’s no international standard logo for AJAX yet, who wanna make one?

Read the full Interview at Macworld.

In today’s latest product launch, Apple iPod has finally unveiled the long-rumoured, and very much hyped iTunes video download service as well as a number of other product updates. 

The new video download service is packaged with the new iTunes 7 software, which you can now download from their site.  Available upon its initial launch today are over 75 movie titles.  Apple hopes to continue to expand their movie offerings, whereby you can download videos from iTunes on the same day that they are released in stores.

New movies from iTunes will cost $12.99 if you pre-order them or buy them within the first week.  Older movie titles will cost $9.99.

Also introduced at the product launch were a number of updates to existing iPod products.  There are a lot of them, so I’m just going to give you a quick overview:

• 2nd Generation iPod Shuffle now available - its now the world’s smallest mp3 player, has a handy little built-in clip, and has 1GB of storage.  They are $79 and will be shipped in October, but orders can be placed now.
• iPod: the screen is now 60% brighter, and battery life on the bigger version has been extended to 6.5 hours from the previous 4 hours.
• iPod earphones have been redesigned, and will come standard with all iPods (including the Nano and Shuffle).
• Gapless playback now available on new iPods, which allows you to listen to an entire album and have the tracks flow seamlessly into eachother.
• Instant searching and faster scrolling now available.
• iPod games now available from the iTunes store.  Titles include such games as Tetris, Pac-Man, Hold’Em Poker, and more.
• Video battery life is now 75% longer at 6.5 hours.
• Lower prices: the 30GB video iPod is now just $250, and the 80GB model is $350.  That’s $100 off its recently pricing.
• 2nd Generation iPod Nanos have been “completely remastered” and include: an aluminum outer case on 2GB version, thinner than the 1st generation, 40% brighter screen, the 4GB version is available in 5 colors (blue, green, pink, black, white), 24 hour battery life, and lower pricing.  2GB Nano = $149, 4GB Nano = $199, 8GB Nano = $249.
• The new charger for iPods is 40% smaller
• Also available are new lanyard earbuds.
• iTunes 7 now available for download, has lots of updates.
• NFL Network now has season highlights available on iTunes.
• Better video encoding now available at 640X480 resolution (near DVD quality). 4 times better than previous 320×240 resolution.

And lastly, after all of that, Steve Jobs gave all those present a sneak peek into the future of Apple and a new product in development: iTV.  iTV is the code name for a new device that Apple is producing that will allow you to sync your computer or iPod to your tv.  In other words, you can browse through new movies available on iTunes right on your tv, watch the movies, download and watch podcasts, and even listen to your music.  Most importantly, there won’t be loads of wires running about your house to get this all accomplished - a simple wireless network will do it all.  iTV is a code name, so it will likely be called something else upon launch.  The product is projected to be launched in Q1 in 2007.

Now I’m kinda disappointed I ran out and bought a new Nano only just two weeks ago. I still love the thing, but had I known the new ones were coming out I would have probably waited.  My next goal is to get a video iPod, and now it’ll likely happen faster than before now that they’ve lowered the prices. 

The V7 Tech Blog is again sponsoring a digital photography contest. Send us your best digital photos, and at the end of the month we’ll vote on the best one.

The Theme:

This month’s theme is “Faces”. 

The Rules:

1. All photos must be taken with a digital camera.

2. All entries should be posted in the appropriate thread at the V7 Forums.

3. A maximum of 5 entries per person are allowed.

4. All photos must fit the “Faces” theme.

5. Contest ends 12:00am EST on October 1st.

And although not a rule, please be considerate and resize your images to an appropriate size.  4000 x 4000 pixel images take too long to load up. 

The winner will receive a brand-new geeky tshirt of their choosing, as well as some random prizes of my choosing.

The contest will be wrapping up at 12:00am EST September 1st, so be sure to get your entries in if you haven’t done so already.

Voting will begin on September 1st, so be on the lookout for a thread in the Digital Photography Forums at that time.  Because of the large number of entries, we will likely have to have a series of eliminations, meaning a couple rounds of voting.

Thanks to all who have so far participated - your entries are amazing!  Because of the success of this contest, we will be running similiar photo contests each month here at V7 Tech.  However, future contests will likely have a set theme.  The next contest will also be announced on September 1st.