AIM Triton

December 5th, 2005 | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0) |

I just finished downloading and installing the new next-generation instant messaging¹ service by AOL called AIM Triton. I’ve only been using it for a short while and I have mixed feelings about it.

First of all, you have to download a stupid AOL Downloader which then downloads the new software for you. That’s pretty annoying… something I liked about AIM made it simpler than AOL. The whole look and of Triton is completely different than past AIM versions. I made a screenshot of what it looks like on my desktop. It feels more like a watered-down AOL program than a standalone, simple instant messaging program.

There is a new feature for keeping addresses. AIM apparently teamed up with Plaxo, an online address book service. I could see how this would come in handy, but I don’t think I’ll be using it. Of course Triton also comes with its own browser (”AOL Explorer Browser”), because we already don’t have enough of those. At least give me the option not to install the dang thing. Besides, Firefox is the best browser. Ever. And then there are other various features that I haven’t tried yet. It’s just so… different.

At least it doesn’t uninstall the old, trustworthy version of AIM. What do you think?

1. Since the beginning of instant messaging, I have wondered why the final word of “AOL Instant Messenger” is “Messenger” and not “Messager”. After all, you’re sending instant messages, right? You’re not sending messengers. Is it because the program itself is the messenger; the deliverer of said instant messages? Either way, I still hold that it should be “Messager.” ↩