- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows Me/2000/XP/2003/Vista/Server 2008/7
- Date added: November 06, 2009
- Total Downloads: 38,880,944
- Downloads last week: 35,344
- See full specifications
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 1562 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: Seth Rosenblatt on August 20, 2009
More than three years in the making, Trillian is back with a slight name change and a slew of new features. It's keeping the beta code-name Astra as part of its official title, but more importantly it's been updated for the modern IM world. Skinnable but not modular, the chat client now supports Google, MySpace IM, Skype, and Facebook, as well as AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo, and IRC. Both POP3 and IMAP e-mail checking see some love here, too.
Trillian now has deep hooks into Facebook and Twitter. It will automatically shorten URLs in your tweets, as well as allow 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 Inbox 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.
Trillian Astra runs lighter than the previous version, too, and you're less likely to notice system slowdowns because of Trillian memory leaks. Video chat gets basic support, as does universal drag-and-drop file transfer. The paid upgrade gives you browser-based IM from Trillian.im, full-screen video and filters to colorize your vids, 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.
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 Windows Live, Yahoo!, MySpaceIM, AIM, Google, ICQ, Jabber, Skype, IRC, Facebook and others. It also helps manage your social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. It provides capabilities not possible with most original network clients, while supporting standard features such as audio chat, file transfers, group chats, chat rooms, plugins, buddy icons, multiple simultaneous connections to the same network, server-side contact importing, typing notification, direct connection, proxy support, encrypted messaging.
What's new in this version:
Addressing a recent change in the Facebook chat protocol.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 1562 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 15 user reviewsSee all 15 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Trillian Astra 4.0.0.119
Pros: still jsut as user friendly, and much more appealing themes.
Cons: nothing at all
Summary: i like it, and i suggest it to others if they need a program to cover multiple instant messengers.
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0 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Trillian Astra 4.0.0.119
Pros: Lot's of options for personalization. Neat blog-type feature. Cool emoticons.
Cons: I Like the graphics of the newer version, but the appearance of the previous one. Astra could use some contrast, better organization of contacts in order by priority of use. The layout just seems pastel, the interaction just sort of wimpy.
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0 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Version: Trillian Astra 4.0.0.119
"Not for me but good try i guess"
Pros: Fancy UI
Easy InstallCons: Can not sort contacts the way i want.
Summary: Pidgin is better for my use.
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Version: Trillian Astra 4.0.0.119
Pros: good connectivity, easy to use, improved screen appeal and emotions.
Cons: the text box takes awhile to get used to
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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Trillian Astra 4.0.0.119
Pros: IM you want and need, all together.
Cons: Have to purchase pro to get additional features. (Not sure what you get besides skins.)
Summary: If you are practical-minded, get Astra. Everything else is full of fluff.
- See all 15 user reviews Write review
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