Yahoo! Messenger 8 for Windows has been officially launched. This latest version, previously available as a beta, provides interoperability with Windows Live Messenger, enhanced PC-to-PC and PC-to-phone calling, and an fantastic plug-in API that lets software programmers build their own extensions to the popular IM program.
Initial reports in the BigBlueBall forums indicate that this final release appears to resolve the stability issues some of us experienced with the beta.
Yahoo! Messenger 8 features excellent integration with the other Yahoo sites, including Yahoo 360 and Yahoo Finance. In addition, this can be pretty easily enhanced and extended using the plug-in system. Currently the top five plug-ins are:
- Pando - a file transfer plug-in that lets you transfer large files and even entire folders to your contacts -- up to 1 GB at a time.
- YEmote - a really nice little add-on with full access to all the smileys, including the secret ones, created by Andy and our friends over at WackyB.
- Yahoo! Greetings - Let's you select and send eCards to your buddy while you're chatting.
- iTunes Remote - Puts a remote control in your contact list. What I don't like about this is that 1) my contact list is usually buried on my screen anyway and 2) if you activate this plug-in, it forces iTunes to launch whenever you load Y! Messenger.
- Eazibo - Interactive space for sharing and creating graphics. Pretty neat and it could be useful for collaboration.
You can browse the complete list of available plug-ins at
http://us.gallery.yahoo.com/, and
download Yahoo! Messenger 8 here.