- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows Me/2000/XP/2003/Vista/Server 2008/7
- Date added: July 05, 2010
- Total Downloads: 39,975,376
- Downloads last week: 31,005
- Product Ranking: #5 in Chat
- See full specifications
- CNET Community
- This product is on 8 member lists. Add to my list Add to my Watch List
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 1641 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: Jessica Dolcourt on May 25, 2010
If it isn't enough to chat with friends from Google, MySpace IM, Skype, and Facebook, as well as AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo, and IRC on Trillian't multinetwork IM app, you can comfortably count the app's deep hooks into Twitter and Facebook alerts and checking e-mail (both POP3 and IMAP varieties) as reasons for switching from your current messenger.
Among its best social networking traits, Trillian will automatically shorten URLs in your tweets, and handle direct messages, re-tweets, and replies. Twitter Trends can show up in your contact list, and you can get tweets to appear in tooltip form. Facebook features include news feed integration, Facebook in-box checking, and synchronized message updating in addition to Facebook IM. Just on these features alone, Trillian Astra offers a bit more than its IM competitors.
In addition, there's support for drag-and-drop file transferring, skins, notifications, and all sorts of tweaking in the preference menu. Trillian earns a thumbs-up for previewing a Web site when you hover the cursor over a URL in the conversation window, but the same feature is less effective and less accurate when applied to looking up definitions of terms found within the chat window (luckily, you can turn the helpers off.)
Legacy users will be pleased to know that Trillian Astra (code for version 4.0 and up) runs lighter than previous versions, and you're less likely to notice system slowdowns because of memory leaks. Video chat gets basic support. The paid upgrade gives you browser-based IM from Trillian.im, full-screen video and filters, many more visual customizations, multiple simultaneous file transfer, and themes, as well as tech support. These features are available for the first 30 days you use the free version, then they deactivate. The biggest changes, besides the reskinned interface, are the long-needed performance improvements and support for a broad range of IM protocols. Longtime fans won't be disappointed with the changes, though those using the free version clearly won't get the full effect of Trillian's more-advanced features.
Watch the CNET video review of Trillian Astra:
Publisher's description
From Cerulean Studios :Trillian is a fully featured, stand-alone, skinnable chat client that supports chatting on Astra, Windows Live, Facebook, Yahoo, MySpace, AIM, Email, Google Talk, Skype, ICQ, Jabber, IRC, Bonjour and others. It also helps manage your social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Trillian provides capabilities not possible with most original network clients, while supporting standard features such as audio and video chat, file transfers, group chats, buzzing, tabbed chats, tablet-based drawing, message history, plugins, avatars, multiple simultaneous connections to the same network, typing notifications, proxy support, and encrypted messaging.
Trillian also integrates with Trillian for Web and Trillian for iPhone, companion products that help you maintain a single contact list across all of your devices and locations.
What's new in this version:
Version 4.2 adds instant lookup for links, easier retweeting, simultaneous sign-in for Windows Live chat, and an organized history window.More popular Chat downloads
- 144,676 downloads 1. mIRC
- 89,349 downloads 2. Chatroulette Desktop
- 46,252 downloads 3. Windows Live Messenger
- 33,747 downloads 4. Yahoo Messenger
- 31,005 downloads 5. Trillian Astra
- See all Chat downloads
User reviews
- All versions: 4.0 starsout of 1641 votes
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- 1 stars
- Current version: 3.0 starsout of 10 votes
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- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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5 stars
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Trillian Astra 4.2.0.20
"Does exactly what is says on the tin!"
Pros: Lightweight, multi-protocol
Cons: Butt ugly!
Summary: If you need to run multiple IM clients then Trillian is far and away your best option.
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2 stars
Version: Trillian Astra 4.2.0.20
"Too fancy by far"
Pros: It works with the new AIM, which the old 3.whatever didn't anymore.
Cons: Cluttered and confusing.
Summary: I hate the new dialog boxes, I don't have the time or energy to try to figure out how to get rid of the running RSS feed or change the look of the dialog setup. Just looking at it annoys me. I'm experimenting with Pidgin instead. Time will tell.
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1 stars
Version: Trillian Astra 4.2.0.20
"Doesn't login on many occassions"
Pros: The integration between IMs is a good feature. One need not have to keep many windows open.
Cons: As already told, on many occassions Trillian doesn't login at all. Also I tried to 'Exit' and re-launch app but did not help. I am not very sure if this has something to do with Windows 7 !!! Overall, not very impressive.
Summary: As already told, on many occassions Trillian doesn't login at all. Also I tried to 'Exit' and re-launch app but did not help. I am not very sure if this has something to do with Windows 7 !!! Overall, not very impressive.
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1 stars
Version: Trillian Astra 4.2.0.20
"Would rather use a telegraph"
Pros: free version if it works
Cons: unable to connect to Astra with recent versions, so cannot use at all - no customer support unless you pay them & then I suppose you can hope they will not ignore you - forums did not answer my question nor did lovely AUTO response
Summary: I will not be wasting any further time with this program nor anything having to do with Cerulean Studios.
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3 stars
Version: Trillian Astra 4.2.0.20
"Better than Ping.fm"
Pros: Unlimited identities. Using Trillian to monitor email and conversations of 20+ Google Accounts. I keep logged onto a 12+ Facebook accounts.
Status updates. You can program and rig Trillian to update all of those identities from the status bar.Cons: Need a Windows Mobile 6 version. Hopefully a Windows Phone 7 version. Needs an Android version. Needs to back message archive up to the cloud. Needs to back settings up to the cloud as well.
Summary: Pro is worth the $15. When I think about the things I can buy with $15, like a CD, 3 Happy Meals, 1/3 of a video game... I consider Trillian a great buy. Your license buys you all the upgrades for that version.
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3 stars
Version: Trillian Astra 4.2.0.20
"Not 'all that'."
Pros: Usual Trillian multi-IM and email features. Everyone knows that this is useful.
Cons: Email alerts not always prompt nor accurate.
You HAVE TO sign-up to an Astra account (the CHOICE is a good idea, but don't impose it!)Summary: This requires a login/password for Trillian Astra, which should be an OPTIONAL service, mutually-independent from the software. I have to think about who to trust my data with and you should, too.
I often miss important emails because this software thinks there's no new mail but there is. Annoying! -
5 stars
Version: Trillian Astra 4.2.0.20
"Just keeps getting better"
Pros: one program for all my needs
Cons: The more it does the more I need to study the program to make it work
Summary: I love it!
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4 stars
Version: Trillian Astra 4.2.0.20
"I like it fairly well."
Pros: It does pretty well for me. Has nice colors. Handles all of my IM's for me.
Cons: It sometimes acts weird but then I shut it down.
Summary: Alright if you don't have it running all of the time.
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2 stars
Version: Trillian Astra 4.2.0.20
"I don't like it"
Pros: Does connect most times
Cons: if more then one person contacts you via two difference messengers its a pain
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4 stars
Version: Trillian Astra 4.2.0.20
"Great, but still in need of refinement."
Pros: Pretty smooth, seamless integration with all the popular social networks. Easy access to email accounts and timely updates.
Cons: I would like to see instant share ability being introduced in Trillian Astra, just as it is there in ICQ. So that one can share one's comments and thoughts with friends directly from Astra without having to access the facebook website.
Summary: Lite, fast and smooth. Go for it!
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