AIM 6 Beta 2 released

As always, the hard working AIM team has released a new version.  After a couple years of going backwards, I am happy to be able to say every month brings the best new AIM client ever.  This release is no exception even though it is labeled Beta.  The team is striving to ship release quality each month now…and we are very close to achieving that goal.  I haven’t seen any bugs in my daily use and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this Beta to everyone.

We have a lot of goodness in this version.  You can see a lot of it just by looking at it.  The first thing you may notice is the Ad is at the bottom of the buddy list.  Next you will notice a free-form status entry box.  Gone are the days of multiple clicks to set a custom status message.  Just start typing.  The default setting for the buddy list is to show your buddies status under their screenname.  We would like to have your feedback on this so we can know if you like it of if we need to make it better.  Here is a list of other changes:

• Connection settings: AIM can help you configure your firewall or proxy settings. Look for the Connection tab in your settings manager.
• Status message in the Buddy List: Broadcast a personal message to your friends, even when you’re available. Simply type your message in the field under your screen name at the top of your Buddy List. It will appear under your screen name on their Buddy List and when they hover over you name too. More status integration is coming soon.
• My Quick Access Panel: Rollover your screen name at the top of the Buddy List and get one-click access to your settings, email, expressions and buddy info
• Buddy Details: From the Buddy List, roll over your buddy’s screen name and take action. Send a text message, call their PC, send an email and more. Don’t forget to try expanding the form and save info for your buddy.
• Tips from AIM: Did you know you could do that on AIM? Look for a tip on the IM window.
• Updated Advertisement placement: Conveniently moved to the bottom of the Buddy List to allow easier access to your menus.
• Text Message Mode: Don’t waste your mobile phone text messages. Send them from AIM. Clicking the TXT Msg button on the IM form is just one new place you can access this mode.

Please give this a try yourself and let us know what you think.  Click here to get it.

AIM for iPhone — Tiny Buddy IM

Thanks to James Burke, we (those of you who have an iPhone) can use AIM on your iPhone. Cool! James wrote about it on his blog. The client is basic but it works. You can try it out by clicking over to http://tybyim.com/ on your iPhone or using the Safari web browser.

UPDATE: Check out the official AIM for iPhone in the Apple iTunes Store.  Click here.

Some Interesting Art from Italy

I had a great time in Italy with my family. I will post more pictures later but thought I would start with some interesting art I saw. After you look at these, check out a higher quality slide show here. You can’t help but see a lot of art in Italy. It is everywhere. I am not much of an art lover so these are not pictures of classics but rather some items I thought were interesting and unusual.

I saw basically three types of art: religious, sex and violence, and quirky. I typically don’t like religious art. This one was an exception. It was in a tourist shop window. The Jesus eyes open and close as you walk past it. I almost bought this one because it made me laugh out loud.

This one was found in a Brothel in Pompeii. 2000 year old porn!! The small building was, by far, the most popular in Pompeii the day we were there.

This is a staircase in the Vatican Museum. It is a double helix with one path leading up and one for down.

This mosaic is about 2000 years old. It was in the enteranceway to a house in Pompeii. Underneath the dog, are two words “Cave Canem”. Thanks to Nikki, who took Latin in 6th grade, we know it means “beware of dog”.

A dome inside St. Peter’s Cathedral at the Vatican. It is all marble mosaic.

The ancient Romans were very big people

Just one of the violent subjects

and another. They used to cut you open and pull out your intestines while you watched. You might have to watch it happen to your friends first. Yeesh.

This is from the Arch of Septimus Severus. The arch is in Rome and was built in 205 AD to celebrate Emperor Septimus Severus’s victory over the Parthians. This panel shows a Roman soldier leading a prisoner to slavery.

An odd character

and another

One of many free running public fountains in Rome. The water is cool and drinkable. Ancient Rome used to be fed by a system of aqueducts. The water in public areas was free running and drinkable in 300 BC. It is amazing to think the Romans were so far advanced. It took about 1000 years for Europeans to get running water after the fall of the Roman Empire.

Another strange fellow…

Come see more in my online gallery at flickr.