gbcypes's blog

Over two years ago we launched Open AIM by releasing the Windows Software Development Kit that allowed developers to write custom clients, bots and plugins for the Windows AIM client. Since March 2006, we have released SDKs for the Mac, Linux and PocketPC platforms, as well as AIM Web APIs that allowed developers to build AIM onto websites via embeddable widgets, javascript, or XML.

Today we are adding more exciting ways of integrating and leveraging the AIM network. First, we are documenting the AIM protocol, known as OSCAR. Doing this will allow clients built using libraries such as libPurple, and other open source solutions to be enhanced to take advantage of all our protocol. Second, we are simplifying our license agreement, and removing restrictions to allow you to create the applications you and your users want. For example, we will now allow developers to build clients that incorporate other Instant Messaging services, using our SDKs, protocols and libraries. Third, we will allow developers to build compelling mobile applications for all different mobile devices. Fourth, we are removing limitations on developers from building business and enterprise applications. Fifth, AIM Web APIs now support php and AMF3 return formats for easier server and flash integration. Lastly, we are giving our developer website a huge face lift. On the new site, you will find better message boards, easier to navigate documentation and samples, and additional APIs that AOL has to offer. For developers the new website also will include some basic statistics of your application, plugin or bot.

OK, it has been a long time since I have blogged on dev.aol.com and lots has been going on in the AIM world. I will try and do the abridged version to catch everyone up on the client(s). the APIs and other fun gadgets we are playing with.

Client update
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We have released the latest beta of AIM version AIM 6.2.14.2 and that is available on beta.aol.com. In this first beta in the AIM 6.2 cycle we have officially added support for the dark themed client, that I showed how to hack in AIM 6.1. In addition we changed the colors of the screen names in the IM History window. Keep in mind this is an early beta, and there will be a lot more features to come.

A new AIM Lite was released this afternoon, full of great new features.     In version 0.32 we have added the following features:

    - Better Direct IM support (sending and receiving images w/ drag and drop)
    - Buddy Icon support (drag and drop to profile window)
    - Save custom away messages
    - Privacy support

But there is some other goodies in there as well.  We have added host based profile support where your profile is now saved on the host.  As with previous AIM Lite releases we have support for AIM Widgets.  These widgets are javascript plugins that allow for extension of features in the client, for example, sounds or notifications.  If you are interested in seeing how to build widgets, check out my post on how to make one.  Last but not least, AIM Lite supports theming, so you can build your own skin, included in the release is a default theme and a theme to make the application honor your OS settings.

I have been spending a lot more time recently thinking about how we managed to build AIM into a huge brand, and how it became a major part of social networking tools.  I have seen over the past couple of years how product managers refer to their products as "central to their users' social network".  I actually think that statement is a fallacy.

My theory on the way to think of social networks is to borrow an idea from the airlines, I call it the "hub and spoke system."  In theory the hub is you, the user, and each spoke are tools that you use to communicate and share within your social network.  Some example of these tools might be, AIM for instant messaging, your cell phone for voice calls and SMS, or Facebook for your profile.  But social networking tools do not end with the obvious sometimes.  I would argue music is a major part of your network so things like iTunes, Bit Torrent or LastFM would be a spoke.  Here is a screen shot of some of the tools I use.

Sorry for the delay in posting, got a little distracted yesterday.  Day 3 at SXSW was tremendous fun, seeing independent movie studios arguing with Microsoft and Sony regarding the future of DVDs, HD DVDs, and Blue-Ray, was awesome.  Needless to say almost all of the people in the room were siding with the independent studios, though everyone including Microsoft and Sony were united against Wal-Mart.  For example, Wal-Mart sells 45% of all DVDs in this country, and because they have limited shelf space they only carry new, mainstream movies, making the chances of shoppers finding new independent titles, or even old classics remote at best.

I hope everyone enjoyed the panel today.  It was definitely fun to tell the history of how Open AIM came about, most people just think it was something that happened, but in reality it was 8 years in the making.  If you missed it, well maybe I will be doing it again soon.

One panel I caught today that I really enjoyed was LonelyGirl15: A Case Study.  On the panel were the three creators of LonelyGirl15, Miles Beckett, Mesh Flinders, and Greg Goodfried.  Their story of how they pulled off LonelyGirl15 was really awesome.  Miles was studying to be a plastic surgeon, Flinders was an out of work writer who lived at his grandmother's apartment in Hollywood, and Goodfried was a lawyer.  Miles Beckett is definitely a techie wanna be, and came up with the idea to do an "Alternative Reality Game" (ARG) video story.  He bought a $130 web cam and spent a great deal of time making sure things like the lighting and sound were right. 

When I attend a conference I try to gravitate to new people I have not heard speak, and so far at SXSW that has definitely not been a problem.  Between the film and interactive panels there is just too much to choose from.  Being able to share conference space with a person like actor Bill Paxton, but also see developers and designers like Cindy Li and Jeremy Keith, is very interesting as they are all super stars in their own right.

While I never thought we would "change the world," the launch of Open AIM on March 6th, 2006 was a big deal at AOL.  Outside of Mapquest, and WinAmp, two products that many people do not realize actually are AOL properties, we were the first to have a full fledge API that developers could write to.  Since the launch a year ago, many other groups inside AOL have followed with their own API releases.  I think opening up AIM was a start to some massive changes to the way we think about software at AOL.  When Justin Uberti and I went to give the first Open AIM talk to AOL employees in our Mountain View offices in January of 2006, most were skeptical we would even get the API out the door.  Many said executives would block us from doing it.  By the time we actually released the code in March, developers we talked to at ETech and VON were so excited about having an official API that many of them did not know where to start.

The past two days I have been chasing my tail fixing bugs for AIM 6.1 and getting a refresh out the door for AIM MusicLink.  Before I get to those fun details, I wanted to share a few interesting tidbits I found this week.

    *** While doing some research for my blog post on the future of news media, I stumbled across the travel reporters blog on the Washington Post.  There was a blog post by John Deiner detailing the Top 20 travel web sites used in January.  How many people would have guessed Mapquest would lead the way as the most popular web site?  They beat out the likes of Expedia, Yahoo, Google and all of the airlines.  Great job Mapquest.

Last night I was flipping through channels and I happened to catch an interesting episode of Frontline on PBS.  This month they have been covering how news reporting has changed in the past few years.  While some of the story is definitely a rehash for people who are plugged into the Web 2.0 eco-sphere, there are some very interesting theories shared about the future of media coverage in this country by folks from Yahoo as well as Harvard.