I’ve been complaining for quite awhile that Google Talk hasn’t been updated in ages (over a year), but the online version of the messaging clients have been receiving features quite regularly. Google recently added AIM support to Gmail Chat, group chatting is possible in both the Flash client and Gmail Chat, and the smilies available in both online messenger clients are way better than what Google Talk has.
Personally what I see Google doing is providing an inconsistent user experience across the board. Their Gmail Chat client has different features than the Flash client, and both of those are extremely different than the Google Talk client. No matter which version I choose to use I should get relatively the same experience, but in my eyes that’s not the case at all.
Google OS says that the Google Talk client may not be dead after all according to a Google engineer. They haven’t abandoned the application and a new version is supposedly on the horizon. However, there’s a good chance that it will disappoint me if they don’t manage to get all of the features packed into it that the online clients already have. For example, I want to be able to send someone a YouTube URL and have the video automatically embedded like the Flash client does.
Unfortunately there’s no word on a release date which means it could be available as soon as today, or a few years from now. I don’t think I’ll hold my breath.
Google Talk is a disposable also-ran.
There I said it.
I’m quite disappointed that there has not been any updates to Google Talk, I think it is the best messenger out there, but is lacking in certain areas, and needs to be updated like every other messenger out there.
Buy Skype from ebay for nutin, integrate it with Google talk and Android then win.
I use Pidgin to handle my Google Talk accounts (via XMMP), so I don’t need separate chat clients.
But the ability to send someone a YouTube URL and have the video automatically embedded quite interesting, although quite dangerous in office environment
I used Pidgin for awhile, but switched back because I missed being able to transfer files with friends and to do voice communication.
I use Adium to for my Google Talk accounts. Although I have nobody to talk to on them.
Totally agree with you Ryan, they need more consistency among their products, especially “Talk”. Almost seems as if every flavor of “Talk” is developed by a different department. You can see it with other Google products as well. I just hope it’s part of their growing pains and that they’ll get their act together soon
I pretty much force a lot of my friends to use Google Talk if they want to talk to me.
Glad I’m not the only one who has noticed that. I’m still waiting for them to really roll up all of their different offerings into one convenient suite.