Trillian on iPhone vs other clients.

[AllenR]

I'm not intending to start a war here; I'm just asking for some user feedback. I'm wondering if there are any sort of features that make Trillian on the iPhone better than its competitors on the app store? I've noticed there's quite a bit on there like eBuddy and IM+ that have the multi client option but at the same time cost a few bucks less than Trillian (Trillian is $5. IM+ is $2 and eBuddy Pro is $3).

Also this is probably a dumb question but as odd as it sounds I couldn't find the answer with a simple Google search, but does Trillian on the iPhone come with free updates to it? Or would I have to fork over the 5 dollars everytime it gets an update to buy it again?

[Pechente]

IM+ isn't better than Trillian in my opinion. The interface of IM+ looks horrible and also the program has a some bugs. But if you need landscape mode and the additional protocols it supports, go ahead and buy it. For me, the currently best messenger for the iPhone is Beejive. It supports all the protocols I need and offers cool features like direct file transfer and Meta Contacts.

Also this is probably a dumb question but as odd as it sounds I couldn't find the answer with a simple Google search, but does Trillian on the iPhone come with free updates to it? Or would I have to fork over the 5 dollars everytime it gets an update to buy it again?

Updates for apps are commonly free and I'm sure Cerulean Studios will not charge money for them. Only major new releases in the distant future like "Trillian for iPhone 2.0" could perhaps cost money.

[DiamondNRG]

Beejive. It supports all the protocols I need and offers cool features like direct file transfer and Meta Contacts.

FYI: Trillian for iPhone supports MetaContacts as well.

[Pechente]

FYI: Trillian for iPhone supports MetaContacts as well.

Really? Were do I find this feature? Apparently it isn't turned on by default.

[DiamondNRG]

When I log in, my metacontacts are there and work just fine, they expand when i click the right arrow on them..

It isn't an optional thing... I mean maybe the iPhone version doesn't let you *create* metacontacts yet? If that is what you meant... but it certainly lets you use them when they are already on your list from the windows client.

[Pechente]

Ah okay, it uses a different Meta Contact System. Beejive implements this feature in a lot more intelligent way:

When a meta contact is created, the messenger adds the IM-Information to the adress book of the phone. That means you can only link IM-Accounts to persons in your adress book (or create a new person from within the messenger) but this also means that when I synchronize my phone with my mac, these IM information is added to my Mac's address book as well so that desktop messengers also have access to these informations.

The result ist that creating a Meta Contact on my phone also creates a Meta Contacts in every desktop messenger with the next sync, additionally if someone asks me for the IM information of a friend, I can just check my adress book and see the IM details.

[DiamondNRG]

Yes, phone book integration (not just for the iPhone) would be neat but does not exist yet.

I wouldn't call Beejive's metacontact implimentation "more intelligent" ... the phone book syncing is a totally different animal.

Trillian invented the Metacontact in the first place, so good for beejive that they found a way to expand on it.

Hopefully 4.2 for windows (and then find a way to bring it to the mobile clients) brings about the metacontact chat window though, bugzilla entry #605. That would truly rock. 1 chat window to rule them all.

[Zcott]

Things Beejive does better:

1. Better chat screen. The translucent text input box is a better solution to the confines of the screen than Trillian's SMS-style input box, IMO.

2. It's quicker!

3. Address Book integration.

4. Group chat. (Does Trillian do this?)

5. Push for all messages


Things Trillian does better:

1. Syncing with desktop client

2. Astra (not just as a medium, but as an all-in-one IM service)

3. I'm afraid I can't think of one.

I haven't really tried eBuddy, IM+ or Palringo as much, and I regret to say that Beejive has returned to being my on-the-go IM client of choice. But I'm still hoping the next version of Trillian will rule again :-)

[darkdragon-001]

does Trillian for iPhone support Facebook-Chat?
-> As far as I know not...
And as far as I know IM+ does.

[Zcott]

Not in this version, but I believe the 1.1 update will.

[Pechente]

Things Beejive does better:

1. Better chat screen. The translucent text input box is a better solution to the confines of the screen than Trillian's SMS-style input box, IMO.

2. It's quicker!

3. Address Book integration.

4. Group chat. (Does Trillian do this?)

5. Push for all messages

That's very subjective. I like Trillian's chat screen a lot more even though it wastes a bit more screen space. Also, the App is quicker than Beejive on my phone but I agree with the other points.

[rainwater]

I like Trillian's chat screen a lot more even though it wastes a bit more screen space.

Yes, lot's of the UI screens in Trillian waste way too much space than is needed and move relevant info off the screen. I understand they are trying to make it like the Windows client, but they could learn a few UI tips from other iPhone apps.

[James Wine]

its only a first version that took months to improve compared to beejives 3.*

[z1r0_]

Pro trillian:
- typing indicator
- messagestatus (bubbles gets green when message is really send)
- push just for the first message by a contact.