Network & Communication

Qnext is the easiest way to share all of your music, photos, and files with anyone, instantly. You can also use it to talk to IM (universal messanger) and Email contacts from a single list. Qnext can also be used to connect to your PC remotely with full control of it if needed. And now you can talk and share with anyone, even if they don't have Qnext installed.

Qnext is written in Java, so you'll need the Java runtime files (JVM) installed to run it, but if you need an all in one IM or tt connect to your computer remotely then its worth it!

I'm sure this program needs no introduction as I think most people have heard of it - if not using it! For those that don't know what skype is ... it allows you to make PC to PC 'phone calls' without any charge. The technology is called Voice Over IP (VoIP), and skype is probable the most used service on the internet. Skypes' own blur from their homepage states: "Talk, listen, watch, read, write to anyone, anywhere in the world without worrying about cost, distance or time." Although 'time' could be an issue if you are trying to phone someone in another time zone while they are in bed asleep!

If you have a network at work or perhaps set up at home, then this utility (installed on each machine) allows you to speak to people at different computers the same as you would using an Instant Messenger. The main difference is it is secure, and cannot be accessed outside of the private network. For a business, this has the benefit of each person in the company being able to communicate directly with each other, yet not be distracted by external chat if they had to use MS Instant Messanger for example! A great little program, and highly recommended for internal communication.

IRC was the communication method of choice until the arival of instant message clients. Still, a lot of people use it to discuss things in various specialised channels, and to exchange files etc. A lot of gamers (such as myself!) still use it for their own team channels to meet before matches and discuss tactics and positions. If you need an IRC client, then you wont find much lacking in this one, and as it supports scripting, you can download additional functions/features or develop your own if have the skills!

If you use more than one instant messaging (IM) service (AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo Messenger, and IRC), then Trillian can be used to replace them. This means that you don't have to install or open several programs just to have a chat! Obviously, this will cut the clutter on your PC, plus you have the added benefit of only needing one interface to do all your communication.

Trillian also provides capabilities not possible with original network clients, while supporting standard features such as audio chat, file transfers, group chats, chat rooms, buddy icons, multiple simultaneous connections to the same network, server-side contact importing, typing notification, direct connection (AIM), proxy support, encrypted messaging (AIM/ICQ), SMS support, and privacy settings.

Trillian also provides unique functionality such as contact message history, skinning (changing the colour or look of the client), a powerful skinning language, tabbed messaging, global status changes (set all networks away at once), Instant Lookup (automatic Wikipedia integration), contact alerts, an advanced automation system to trigger events based on anything happening in the client, docking, hundreds of emoticons, emotisounds, shell extensions for file transfers, and systray notifications.