Digsby, the popular multi-protocol IM and social networking client has been acquired by Tagged; a social discovery engine for finding new people.

The Digsby buyout is more of a talent acquisition than a client acquisition as the Digsby team will now work as part of the Tagged team on their product. The Digsby will continue to support Digsby as a standalone product, however, they don’t have any long-term plans for Digsby right now. Digsby currently has over 3 million users.

They have also updated the Digsby installation to remove all bundled offers, so users will have to skip a lot less crapware installations while installing Digsby. It is not clear as to how much Tagged paid for Digsby.

Digsby has been improving the user experience of late, allowing users to disable ads in Digsby and improving their Twitter support. However, it looks like it is the end of road for future updates.

You can head over to the official Digsby blog to learn more about the acquisition.

If Skype has been down for you, you are not alone. Millions of Skype users are reporting that they are having problems with accessing the service. The downtime seems to have occurred a few hours ago and is continuing to plague users.

The official Skype account has been updating users about the progress through Twitter, here is what they have had to say so far:

Some of you may have problems signing in to Skype we’re investigating, and we’re sorry for the disruption to your conversations

Our engineers and site operations team are working non-stop to get things back to normal thanks for your continued patience

Downtimes to such services can cause a lot of problems. Hopefully, the team at Skype are working over-time to fix this problem. If you are locked out of Skype, you can try accessing Skype online to see if it helps. We’ll update this post when more news becomes available.

Update: Skype is still down and make take several hours to come up again. Skype has written a post about the problem and it seems to be something of a problem with their phone directories, which they call supernodes.

Skype engineers engineers are creating new mega-supernodes as fast as they can, which should gradually return things to normal.

Another update on their Twitter page says:

Skype is now gradually returning to normal we expect it may take several hours for everyone to be able to sign in again, however

Advertising helps free products and sites stay free. Of course they can be annoying, but you have to understand that without them products and websites will soon run out of fire-power.

However, Digsby the multi-protocol instant messenger is now allowing users to opt-out of ads. Yes, the ads are actually optional. The options for disabling ads is available in the latest build 86. So if you have been annoyed with the ads, you can simply go ahead and disable it by going to Options -> Conversations.

Skype has launched a new version, Skype 5.0, which has direction integration with Facebook and a Group Video calling feature. Skype users will now be able to view their Facebook News Feed in Skype along with the ability to use their Facebook phonebook to make calls to people.

Skype will now allow users to view their Facebook news feed, post updates to Facebook, comment and like friends updates, call and SMS Facebook friends and make a free Skype call if your Facebook friend is also using Skype.

In addition to that, Facebook has also launched a new Group Video Calling feature; which is currently in open beta, and will allow users to call several family and friends at once. This is something similar to a group voice chat, except it will also include videos now.

You can download Skype 5.0 for your PC from here, or read more about the latest version at the official Skype blog. Also watch a video of Skype for Windows in action in the embedded video above.

Trillian has long been one of the best multi-protocol instant messengers for Windows. However, Cerulean Studios has no intention of being limited to the PC or the Mac. It has already has already released Trillian for the Blackberry and the iPhone, both of which have been lauded by critics. In fact, Trillian is regarded by many as the best IM app for the iPhone, along with Beejive. Now, Cerulean Studios is bringing the same awesomeness to Android users.

Trillian for Android supports AIM, Facebook, Google Talk, ICQ, Jabber, Windows Live Messenger, MySpace and Yahoo. The support for Facebook Chat should earn Trillian brownie points from Android users, since the official Facebook app is yet to implement this feature. Existing Trillian users will be pleased to know that the Android version also features cloud synchronization of contacts and accounts.

Trillian’s interface is simple but functional. The home screen displays all online contacts, grouped according to existing categories and the messaging service. Pressing a contact opens up the tabbed chat interface with landscape mode support. I was impressed to discover that Trillian already supports supports photo transfers, emotions and even buzz.

Trillian for Android is still in beta, and as expected, there are a few niggles here and there. Nevertheless, it is still very much usable. In fact, Trillian already has its fair share of handy features like push mail notification for IMs when Trillian is suspended and automatic away mode.

Users on Android 1.6 and above can download time restricted beta build of Trillian from here.

Last month, I had previewed Trillian 5, a major update to the popular multi-protocol instant messaging and social networking tool. On paper Trillian 5 appeared to be a stunning update to one of the most powerful instant messengers out there. Now that the public beta has been finally released, I can confirm that Trillian 5 lives up to the expectations.

As always Trillian is packed to the brim with features. However, unlike before, it doesn’t feel congested or bloated. The UI is sleek, intuitive and gorgeous. Trillian 5 supports Twitter, Facebook as well as LinkedIn in addition to Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk, ICQ, AIM, Skype and E-mail. Future beta builds will also introduce cloud syncing for chat history, so that you can access your social graph on the move.

For a more comprehensive look at the new features in Trillian 5 check our earlier coverage. Trillian 5 Beta can be downloaded from trillian.im/get/windows/beta.

Cerulean Studios released a new refresh to the popular multi-protocol IM and social networking client last week. Trillian 5 added a host of new features including integration with Facebook and Twitter. Now, after the desktop refresh Cerulean has announced that a new Trillian client will be available for the Android platform soon.

Just like Trillian 5, Trillian for Android will integrate with Facebook Chat, Windows Live, Yahoo!, AIM, ICQ, Google Talk, Jabber/XMPP and MySpaceIM. The app will also synchronize your contacts, avatars and more with Trillian enabled desktop or mobile apps.

Trillian for Android will work on Android 1.6 and newer versions including Android 2.1 and Android 2.2 Froyo. The app has several interesting features, some of which include:

• Connect to Facebook Chat, Windows Live, Yahoo!, AIM, ICQ, Google Talk, Jabber/XMPP and MySpaceIM
• Synchronize your contacts, avatars, status, accounts and more with your Trillian-enabled desktop or mobile apps
• Get notified easily with Android notification system integration
• Contact list sorting, grouping, meta contacts support, privacy settings and various ways to organize
• Set status, avatar and display name quickly in one simple screen
• Tabbed chat windows with bubble view, photo transfer, buzz and emoticon support
• Support for Android phones as far back as version 1.6 works with your good old T-Mobile G1 or the newest HTC EVO 4G or Motorola Droid!

Cerulean Studios has not announced the release date for the beta yet, however, we will keep you updated when the app is released to general public.

Facebook and Twitter might be the dominant social networks, however they aren’t the only way to connect with friends and strangers. Many of us still rely on instant messaging services like Yahoo! Messenger and Windows Live Messenger or the good old IRC. In fact, most of us use multiple services on a day-to-day basis. However, using individual clients for each service can be quite inconvenient. This is why applications like Digsby are so popular.

However, even before Digsby, Trillian built its reputation as a neat multi-protocol messaging client. Unfortunately, for the past couple of years, Trillian has been struggling to retain its charm. Trillian Astra (v4) took too long to come. And when it came, it disappointed many. The good news is that with Trillian v5 things are set to change for the better.

Trillian 5 – Flexible Interfaces

Earlier this week, Trillian’s developers -Cerulean Studios, celebrated its 10th anniversary by announcing Trillian 5. The new version will feature a brand new user interface, which is not only beautiful and functional but also sleek and slim. Minimalism is the ‘in’ thing these days and Cerulean Studios is following suit. The flexible interface offers 5 modes – large, medium, small, tiny and simple. Simple mode occupies very little space and is ideal for Netbook users.

Trillian 5 – Supported Networks

Trillian will support Twitter, Facebook as well as LinkedIn in addition to other networks like Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk, ICQ, AIM, Skype and E-mail. It will also leverage Windows 7′s in-built GPS support to enable Foursquare check-ins.

Trillian 5 – Foursquare

Trillian 5 – Facebook

Other features include synchronized contact list, accounts, and chat history, streamlined news feeds and enhanced performance. Trillian 5 Beta will be released to current subscribers soon.

Trillian 5 – Chat Window

Gary Roy writes about the Facebook IM: Chit Chat for Facebook

I haven’t visited the Facebook website for days now and I must admit I don’t really miss it.   I had a problem with something so I thought I’d just take a break from Facebook.   You might consider me an UN-happy camper.   Here’s what happened.

My girlfriend has a Facebook profile too, and, on her account, she’s posted pictures of us together and added something to her Facebook profiles, letting the world know that she and I are in a ‘relationship’.   I had no problem with this.   We ARE in a relationship (14 months and counting) and, although it’s not my style to announce this kind of information to the world, I thought that it was fine for her to let her friends know that she was happily involved with the man ‘of her dreams’.

That was before one of my previous girlfriends latched on to this piece of information thanks to Facebook feeds I guess. My previous girlfriend started to send Facebook messages of a dubious nature.   I wasn’t counting on this complication.   I know there are ways to filter out who sees what and who can comment on which things on Facebook, but I’ve never previously been concerned about who sees information posted to Facebook.   It’s probably just a few simple clicks, and I now need to take care of that.

Here’s the good part of the story.   Whilst I’ve been avoiding the Facebook site recently, I still like to keep my communication lines open with my contacts on Facebook, and I’ve been able to do that.

I gave up on the Facebook Chat on Facebook’s website a couple weeks ago, when I found a way to bypass the whole thing and yet still keep in contact with the people on my friends list.   I wasn’t too fond of the Facebook Chat anyway, due to its bare-bones presentation and lack of so many functions I’d grown used to with other IM platforms.

I found out about a little ancillary program out there called Chit Chat for Facebook, it’s a Facebook Chat IM [Windows Only].   It works right along with Facebook, using the same contacts list, user name and password, but it stands by itself, over to the side or somewhere in the back of everything else on the PC.   Here’s what it’s meant to me.

If I want to know who’s online on Facebook or want to talk to someone on my list I don’t have to sign onto Facebook with my browser.   Instead, I just click the green Chit Chat icon in my tray and up pops my Facebook contact list.

Not only can I see who’s online on Facebook and who isn’t.   I can post on someone’s wall or make a comment.   If I want to talk to someone on my Facebook buddy list they’re only one click away, and this Facebook IM that I use is full of lots of things the regular Facebook Chat doesn’t have.   It’s so much better than before.   Maybe you should try it.     You’ll like it. Chit Chat for Facebook – it’s very cool, slick and convenient.

The Yahoo Messenger team has released a new update to YM 10 (v10.0.0.1241) with bug fixes and other stability updates.

The major change in Yahoo Messenger 10 enhances the stability and performance of the new video call feature, it also improves the video calling features on PCs which run Windows 7.

Other than the above changes no other change log is available right now. If you have never used Yahoo Messenger 10, you can visit our earlier review of YM 10.

If you are looking to download the direct/standalone installer of Yahoo Messenger 10, visit this link (.exe file download will begin). If you prefer to use the web installer you can download YM 10 from here.