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Gtalk 'Labs Edition' launched

After toying a lot with IM features in GMail and Google Desktop Gtalk Gadget, Google finally released new version of Gtalk, named 'Gtalk Labs Edition'. This is second release of popular IM client which has given Yahoo! Messenger, AIM and MSN Messenger a run for their money. The success was due to extremely light weight size, a clean and easy interface and simplicity in use.

All of these features seem to be on their way out, if Labs edition is any indicator. I remember the earliest version of Gtalk was 900 kb. The one I have got installed is 3.5 MB. Labs edition is more than 8 MB. However install is still very fast and simple as compared to any other IM client. The interface seems a little crowded but still is passable!

Most of the features of Gtalk Desktop gadget have been incorporated in this version. So you have group chat, tabbed conversations and what I wanted most: good smilies :) There is tighter integration with Orkut and Calendar and you can even
snooze Calendar notifications, just like you do in your Calendar
desktop gadget.

However the big minus: no voice chat and file transfers! If you have to use these, install the normal Gtalk. Though you can run both of them simultaneously without any problem (if you learn how to make out, which is which since the tray icons are same!) Google recommends to have any one of them.

This is currently available only for Windows XP and Vista in English language only. Gtalk Labs Edition can be downloaded here: http://www.google.com/talk/labsedition/index.html

Give it a try. See if you like it.

PS:More I use it, more I dislike it. The worst feature is that you can't copy whatever you have already sent, which was such a nifty feature in Gtalk.


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