AOL Releases Third AIM 'Triton' Beta
America Online has released a third beta of its next-generation "Triton" instant messaging client. The build is an incremental improvement that fixes bugs and adds new functionality.
As first reported by BetaNews, Triton has been rewritten from the ground up as a replacement for the existing AIM 5.9 series client and a platform for AOL's next generation broadband communication services.
Triton sports a brand new user interface that displays tabbed messages within a single window AOL has dubbed "IM Catcher." The client will record IM conversations with session based logging called IM History.
Other interface elements include Triton's "Quicknote" dialog, a replacement for the initial IM window, which allows users to choose what method of communication they will use to contact a buddy.
New functionally added in Triton Beta 3 includes: The latest revision of AOL Explorer, a full fledged browser that replaces the AIM Today window; a redesigned Away Message setting; "Remember my Password" features; two additional tabs at the bottom of the Buddy List so that users can toggle between AOL/AIM Mail and AOL radio; and animated 2-D Buddy icons in the IM/Quicknote forms.
The previous beta added a thumbnail overview for all Buddy list contacts and settings to customize the layout of advertisements including size and location. Beta 2 also introduced live video messaging and expanded support to the Windows 98 SE, Windows 2000 and Windows ME operating systems.
The AIM Triton Beta 3 client is available at FileForum.