CNET Editors' review
Paltalk's integration of video, audio and text chatting unified into one window makes for a strong chatware program that includes a wealth of features.
Parental controls employ a password to change settings or block groups; adult content is hidden by default and all rooms are moderated. Add in the room ratings of G, R and A, and safe chatting is a cinch. Right-clicking a person's name gives a user-defined amount of personal information, with private room invite and file sending options. Sessions can be printed and saved, and buddy lists from other chat accounts can be automatically imported. Latest updates include screening rooms to share online vids, music feeds from Rhapsody and multiplayer games in case you get bored talking.
However, the abundance of pop-up ads, which strike even while you're in the middle of joining a room, might motivate users to pay for a subscription or look elsewhere. Free accounts only can open Webcams for a few seconds, while paid users can open multiple video windows. The app crashed for us when closing, and the system slowdowns were disappointing. Uninstalling Paltalk left an icon on the desktop.
Still, the thousands of rooms for politics, karaoke, tech advice, and porn mean that anybody can find a connection on Paltalk.
Publisher's Description
From A.V.M. Software:
The new Paltalk Messenger beta with international calling includes 100 minutes of free talk time to the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, China, Brazil, India and Hong Kong for each new member. Click on the phone icon at the top of the Paltalk Messenger and start your free calls as soon as you download.
Paltalk is the world's largest video chat community, with over 4 million members. The free Paltalk download includes:
-Access to thousands of live video chat rooms. Room categories include music, politics, sports, religion and many more.
-Unlimited group video calls with up to 10 friends
-Virtual Gifts--fun animations that can be sent to other members in a chat room
-100 free minutes of talk time to the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, China, Brazil, India and Hong Kong AND 5 free international text messages for each new member
-Interoperability with AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, Facebook, GTalk and ICQ - IM with all your friends from Paltalk
-A customizable SuperIM URL: http://superim.me/YOURNAMEHERE, where your friends and family can reach you any time, from any browser - no download required.
What's new in this version: New in version 10.1: Calling, SMS and Unicode Text Support (support for Latin and non-Latin accented characters).
More Popular Chat downloads
- Paltalk Messenger
37,671 downloads
- WebcamMax
35,530 downloads
- Yahoo Messenger
35,261 downloads
- Windows Live Messenger
16,710 downloads
- Nimbuzz
12,577 downloads
-
All versions:
3.8 starsout of 871 votes
-
Current version:
1.0 starsout of 1 votes
-
My rating:
Write review
Results 1-1 of 1
-
"Gross Disregard for Member Privacy"
Version: Paltalk Messenger 10.1
Pros
Better than Yahoo.
Cons
Freaks, weirdos, and cyber criminals will find a happy home in PalTalk chat rooms where they can exchange private information about PalTalk members.
Is this a violation of PalTalk TOS?
Yes, but the staff of PalTalk don't seem to care.
Eventually some tragic real life encounter will result from this negligent enforcement of Terms of Servce; should the legal staff of PalTalk claim they made every effort to protect the privacy of their members, they will simply be lying.Summary
Does nothing to stop the release of private member information by other members other than a wimpy unenforced Terms of Service policy.
Results 1-1 of 1
Add Your Review
Submit your reply
E-mail this review
Report offensive content
See more CNET content tagged:
Previous Versions:
