It’s All Pidgin to Meebo

Crystal GoldmanUniversity of Utah

MPLA/ULA 2008 ConferenceSalt Lake City, Utah

Meebo v. Pidgino Why not use traditional

chat reference?o Why these programs?o Background of eacho Featureso Pros/Cons of eacho Personal Recommendations

Deficiencies of Chat Referenceo Multiple chat protocols that

patrons might prefer to useo AIM, GoogleTalk, ICQ, MSN,

Yahoo, etc.

o IM is single-user, and library reference departments are multi-usero Need one public identity, but

multiple librarians

Why Pidgin and Meebo?o Freeo Interface with embeddable

widgeto Trillian

o Multiple chat protocolso libpurple

oProgramming library o Connects to/interfaces with all chat

networkso Manages accounts and preferences

Meebo Historyo Created by Seth Sternberg, Elaine

Wherry, and Sandy Jen in 2005.o Received funding from Sequoia

Capital in December 2005 and Draper Fisher Jurvetson in January 2007

o Six chat protocolso Embeddable Meebo Me widget o Meebo Rooms to embed a chat

roomo Firefox extension, browser sidebar

with buddy list

http://www.meebo.com

Pidgin Historyo Formerly Gaim, created in

1999 by Mark Spencero Dispute with AOL for their AIM

naming trademarko Fifteen chat protocolso Allows developers to create

their own custom plugin applications

http://www.pidgin.im

Finch and Adiumo Finch is the text-based version of

Pidgino Adium

o Pidgin’s sister project for Mac OSXo Like Pidgin, it uses a plugin system

o essential features provided through plugins

http://www.adiumx.com

Meeboo Pros

o Web-basedoAccessible from anywhere with

the internet

o Simple user interfaceo Video/Audio Conferencing

o Conso Logging in bumps other users

offlineo Does not log chats from

widget

Pidgino Pros

o Pidgin4lib - feature/plugin specifically targeted at library needs

o Interfaces with Meebo widget using a plugin

o Logs all chats regardless of origin

o Conso Complicated interface, high

learning curve o Plugin system, must update

manuallyo Must download to each computer

o Portable app on USB driveo Windows only, must use a sister

program in order to switch to Mac

Sources ConsultedAbout Adium. (2006). Retrieved April 12, 2008, from

http://trac.adiumx.com/wiki/AboutAdium

About meebo: Instant messaging everywhere. (2008) Retrieved April 20, 2008, from http://www.meebo.com/about

Adium. (2008) Retrieved April 5, 2008, from http://www.adiumx.com

Casey, M. E. & Savastinuk, L. C. (2006) Library 2.0. Library Journal 131(14): 40-42.

M is for meebo: the meebo story—live and uncut. (2008) Retrieved April 16, 2008, from http://www.meebo.com/history

Pidgin Portable. (2008) Retrieved March 31, 2008, from http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/pidgin_portable

Portable Adium. (2008) Retrieved April 20, 2008, from http://www.freesmug.org/portableapps/adium

Wells, C. A. (2003) Location, location, location: The importance of placement of the chat request button. Reference & User Services Quarterly 43(2): 133-137. Retrieved March 7, 2008 from Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts.

What is Pidgin? (2008) Retrieved April 5, 2008, from http://www.pidgin.im/about