HWiNFO 5.22

The Beta 4 build of AIM 6.8 is now available and ready for testing. We've heard your feedback and made some significant updates to this version.

Updates to this release include:

* Notifying buddies of the plugins you have installed by posting them in your Buddy Updates, controlled from a new preference added to the Privacy tab in settings
* Minor UI updates to the plugin "Top Picks" manager
* Internet Explorer 7 support and AIM 6.8 software detection for AIM Gallery
* Default AIM chrome color changed from "Love, AIM" to "Skinny Dip" black and blue chrome
* A replace option for Load Buddy List

Also look for additional plugins now available: IM Freaqs, Haiku, AIM Stats and more. Click "Get More" at the bottom of your Buddy List window and click through "Most Downloaded" and "Most Recently Updated".

The Beta 3 build of AIM 6.8 is now available and ready for testing. We've heard your feedback and made some significant updates to this version.

Look for changes to the way we display plugins at the bottom of your Buddy List® window. We've pulled them out from behind the control panel and now you can access them with just a click on the icon. Don't miss the following updates as well:

* Click the Get More link and browse our Featured Developers, Most Downloaded, and Most Recently Updated plugins
* Slide the curtain up to view more plugins
* Click the Manage link to de-activate, uninstall plugins
* AIM Call Out is back in this version
* New plugins! Single/multiplayer games, sync your AIM and Twitter status messages, list of your most frequent IM buddies and more

The Save/Load Buddy List Feature is Back!
You've been asking, and we've FINALLY brought it back - Save your Buddy List as a text file that can be easily shared with friends, added to your new screen name, used as a back-up for AIM, or loaded into AIM on another computer. You'll find this new feature under the AIM menu on the Buddy List.

Continue to test our Real-Time IM feature, look for Real-Time IM Info link at the top of this page for details.

Special Note:
If you installed the previous AIM 6.8 Beta 2 build, you will need to delete your old default set of plugins. Uninstall them by right-clicking the old plugin icon displayed on the Buddy List, or click Manage to uninstall from settings.

* Certain animated GIFs should no longer have redraw problems in preview/thumbnail area at bottom of Pictures window in Instant Images session
* The Send button in the IM window is no longer enabled when the Compose field is empty
* After being signed on for a while, the Windows 'Default Beep' sound no longer plays instead of the appropriate buddy sound
* While having a tabbed IM session with an unread IM and any Module open, pressing ALT + Shift + F4 no longer causes the module to go blank if focus is on the Buddy List
* "Unknown Caller" in the Call Alert window titlebar no longer disappears after answering a call from an unknown caller
* After signing off while Buddy List was docked, the Sign On screen no longer snap to whichever side the BL was docked to
* +/- menu at the bottom of the Buddy List now displays the shortcut keys for Add Buddy and Add Group
* AIM no longer freezes while starting a talk or video session with ZoneAlarm® installed on Windows® Vista®
* Members should no longer be ejected from buddy chat
* Opening up a new unaddressed IM window (CTRL + N) no longer results in debug message "Send call. Method: Arial. Moniker:viewFactory.createFontbarView. EEResults=6"
* The yelling emoticon (smiley) is now displayed correctly in Buddy Info
* Keyboard scrolling is no longer very slow at lower portion of large Offline group in Buddy List
* The Mute button now resets when session is ended by other user
* When selecting "Show My Expression" option on IM form, input field no longer takes up entire area and your expression still shows in both places
* The 'Lost or Broken PassCode?' link on the PassCode screen during login now works correctly
* Getting Buddy Info on a cell number no longer results in "Error on buddyfeed pull 600"
* Get Buddy Info item is no longer disabled in Buddy List's View menu when a group name is selected

The Beta 2 build of AIM 6.8 is now available and ready for testing. You will see some exciting new updates! As soon as you start installing AIM, you'll notice our newly designed installer, now with AIM Search.

Plus, we're opening up the bottom of the Buddy List® to developers with new Buddy List UI Plugins. An API to create these plugins will be available to developers soon, but in the meantime, try uninstalling and reinstalling these new plugins (Hot Searches, Mobile, Radio, Stock Quotes and Notes). They are still a little buggy, so be sure to check out known issues. For information on installing and uninstalling AIM plugins, click here.

Special Notes

* Changes have been made to the Real-Time IM feature found in our first Beta build that are not compatible with this new version. You will not be able to communicate with buddies using the previous Beta build using this feature. Please encourage all your Beta buddies to upgrade, as this change is permanent moving forward.
* AIM Phoneline and AIM Call Out are not supported in this Beta build.
* The AIM location plugin is not compatible with this version of AIM. If you currently have this plugin installed, please disable or uninstall before downloading this version.

This version includes our new Real-Time IM feature. Please note: To test this feature, you will need to IM with users who are also using AIM 6.8 - so recruit your buddies today!

What is Real-Time IM?

Real-Time IM lets you and your buddy see what the other person is typing in real-time, as it is being typed, right in your IM window. It is like seeing a preview of an IM. Normally, you can't read a message from your buddy until it is sent and appears in the IM window. But with Real-Time IM, you see each letter your buddy is typing in the IM window even before it is sent to you.

How does it work?

Real-Time IM directly connects your PC to your buddy's PC to send and receive information in real-time. This is also called Direct IM connection. AIM recommends that you only accept Direct IM connections from buddies you know.

How do I use it?

To invite a buddy to participate in Real-Time IM, click the Actions menu at the top of the IM window, or at the bottom of the Buddy List® window, and then select Real-Time IM. You may also press Ctrl+R on your keyboard to initiate Real-Time IM. Once your buddy accepts the invitation, both of you can begin to send and receive IMs in real-time.

* Choose the AIM installation that's right for you. We made some changes to our installation process -- you'll get our "Recommended" package by default, or you can choose to customize what's included. No matter which you choose, you'll still get the option to add on AIM Tunes and QQ Games plugins. With "Recommended," you automatically get the following:
o AIM Toolbar: Check your mail, set your status from your browser, broadcast cool Web sites to your buddies using AIM Share and more.
o AOL.com as your home page: Stay up to date with the latest news with AOL.com. We'll set your default browser, whether it's Internet Explorer or Firefox.
o AOL Search, enhanced by Google, as your default search engine: AOL Search delivers great search and multimedia results all delivered on one page -- so you can search less and discover more.
* Speaking of search, check out the new "Hot Searches" module at the bottom of your Buddy List(r) window. It gives you one-click access to the top searches so you are always on top of what's hot.
* We made some small changes to the much-loved Buddy Info window. The IM and "add buddies" functions were moved from the bottom to the top of the window to increase your viewing area. Don't forget, in AIM 6.5 we added the ability to add pictures from the Web to your Buddy Info. Just right-click, or click the picture on the format bar in "edit" mode.

Several performance enhancements and minor bug fixes were addressed in this build.

Important Note Before Installing the AIM 6.5.4.16 build:
If you previously installed the Beta build from 9/28 build 6.5.4.15, please do these following steps before installing the GM build:

1. Navigate to C:Program FilesAIM6services
2. Delete the following folders:
* boxelyrenderer
* boxelyToolkit

You do not need to do these steps if you did not install the Beta build released on 9/28.

We're getting close to launching the new AIM 6.5. Help us test drive the latest AIM beta software - version 6.5.4.15. We've listened to your feedback and have continued to make improvements to our new features. This version includes the following updates:

New Themes: Now you can customize your AIM experience with MORE colors. Check out the color wheel at the top of the Buddy List window, and select your favorite theme. We got a little creative with the names. Let us know what you think.

Stream Music: After downloading AIM, select the option to also install the AIM Tunes plugin. It allows you to stream music from and to your buddies. Once you download the plugin look to the Actions menu on your Buddy List window for the AIM Tunes site to launch in your default browser. Then play around with fun options like play list management, find new music, and check out what your buddies are listening to.

One click to Buddy info: Back by popular demand, we have brought back the one-click to view your buddy's 'Buddy Info'. Notice that familiar blue indicator. You'll still get the orange indicator in the Buddy List to indicate when something has been updated by your buddy.

Audio/Video updates: New software updates have been made to improve Live Video performance under low bandwidth conditions. Also, especially for Vista users, we've added more default device options found in your Enhanced IM settings.

Enhanced call notifications: If you use our call products, you will now receive incoming call alerts directly in your IM and as an alert.

Module enhancements: We made managing your modules easier. Click the buttons to expand and collapse the modules. We've made some slight design changes too.

Buddy Info Design Update: Status messages are now integrated into your Buddy Info. Plus, check out the updated feeds area.

Connection Settings: For users who are having difficulty connecting to AIM we have updated our last Connection settings tab to include more web-based help information about connection settings, proxies, and firewalls. We also combined the HTTP/HTTPS protocols so now AIM will always try your secured network if you manually select this option.

Plus: Continue to test our new Status in the Buddy List feature, TXT Message mode feature from the IM window, and QQ games plugin.

You may find a few things still in progress: Links to AIM Dashboard and AIM Profiles, plus, a glitch with the orange indicator not disappearing after you click it. No fear, those updates are in the works.

Help us test drive our new AIM 6 beta software - version 6.5.3.12. We've heard your feedback on our earlier beta tests and have continued to make improvements to our new features. This version includes the following:

Status message in the Buddy List®: Broadcast a personal message to your friends, even when you're available. Click Enter status message here& and type a message. It will appear under your screen name on their Buddy List and in your IM window. New! Thanks to beta feedback, weve updated this feature to only show a custom status message in your Buddy List view. Note: You'll only see the set message of users who are on your buddy list and testing with the same version. We encourage you to create a new screen name and post it in the Message Boards created for this feature so others can add it to their Buddy List to see how this feature works.

State selector menu: Do you want to set yourself as Available, Away, Mobile or invisible? Choose from the handy state drop down button. Want to go away fast? Click the yellow sticky icon and well set your away message. Click it again to come back from away.

Play games with your buddies: As part of the AIM install, you can choose to install additional software from QQ games. This plugin allows you to invite your AIM buddies to play games like Pool, Poker, Puzzles, Matching and more! Compete against buddies or other players in live games or relax in practice mode.

Modern design, plus more color: Check out the new sleek chrome. Weve also added more color to the top of your Buddy List. Pick your favorite by clicking on the color wheel in the upper right corner.

Grouped IM tabs: Look for enhancements to your grouped IM window tabs. If your buddy goes away, youll see the away sticky to indicate this change. Look for visuals for mobile, idle, and offline too.

Get Buddy Info: Weve removed the blue (i) from the Buddy List. It now only appears on your buddys details card when you hover over their screen name. Youll still get the orange (i) in the Buddy List to indicate something new about your buddies.

Tips from AIM: Did you know you could do that on AIM? Weve added more tips to the IM window since our last test.

Plus: Continue to test our new TXT Message mode feature from the IM window. Don't waste your mobile phone text messages. Send them from AIM. Clicking the TXT Msg button on the IM form is just one new place you can access this mode. And, if you are having issues signing on AIM can help configure your firewall or proxy settings. Look for the Connection tab in your settings manager.

We hope you enjoy testing the latest version of the AIM 6 beta software.

ATTENTION! AIM Phoneline, AOL Call Alert, and AOL Voicemail subscribers: Call alerts are disabled with this software. If you use this software, you will be unable to receive incoming calls. Call alert integration will be coming soon.