New in Trillian 4.1: Trillian Embraces Windows 7!
With Windows 7 right around the corner, we wanted to make sure that Trillian will work seamlessly with the new user interfaces in Microsoft’s new operating system! As such, we’ve taken advantage of some of the new functionality unveiled to developers by Microsoft. Check out a few of the innovative ways we’re using Windows 7 APIs to improve Trillian…
Set status quickly with Jump Lists. A handy Jump List menu appears when you right click the taskbar entry for Trillian. When you are not signed in yet, you can sign directly into a given Astra Account directly from the taskbar or Start Menu. After you’ve signed in, you can easily control your global status, or access your mail accounts right away.
See file transfer progress from Windows 7 Taskbar. Watch minimized file transfers smoothly progress from a distance using the new integrated meters featured in Windows 7.
See your status from Windows 7 Taskbar. Status is displayed right on the taskbar, similar to the existing system tray implementation, but with a much bigger and more handsome icon.
Enhanced taskbar thumbnails. We had quite a few ideas here in Cerulean Studios on how to enhance Taskbar thumbnails. As our first try, during a video call you will now only see the video stream – live – without the unnecessary parts of the window!
All Trillian windows also gain a neat new Windows 7 feature – double clicking the top vertical resize anchor will vertically maximize a window, which is incredibly handy when someone sends you a huge IM but you don’t want a single window to overtake your full desktop. A full suite of preferences controlling Trillian’s usage of both the taskbar and the system tray is also provided for your tweaking pleasure.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:32 pm
I’m loving my Win 7, these screenshots look tasty. I really like the things you guys have thought of! Well done.
At the moment I have to run Astra as Admin so on my primary screen, all Trilly windows get the little Security Center icon attached to them in the taskbar. The way the status icons show up in the screenshots up there. Can’t wait to see how that works now, heh.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Thanks for the great update
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Great!
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:43 pm
great job CS, really great!
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Love the double click for full height option!!!!!!! Double click must restore back then, yes?
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:48 pm
I love what you did. But what’s about AeroPeek, AeroSnap and AeroShake??? This would be soooo awesome!
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Hey guys, just wanted to say I’ve been in since build 53 and you guys have come leaps and bounds. A truly phenomenal product that I share with everyone I know who IM’s…
“This is the grown up version of IM.”
“I feel like this is how IM-ing should be.”
“Windows? Mac? iPhone? These guys are unstoppable.”
“You get everything you pay for and more. Tech support for the ONE time I had to contact them is unbelievably fast.”
4.1 almost looks like an entirely new product. I’m/We’re a very insanely happy paid supporter of Astra.
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Love the jumplist and the taskbar status =)
Will we also see Areo Peek integration for containers just like MS did with tabs for IE8 ?
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:12 pm
While I appreciate all the previews…..just release 4.1 already! LOL
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Also what about the feature like what IE8 has, when you mouse over the group of different IMs in 1 box, you should be able to see all of them and just click on them, just like IE8s feature with their tabs.
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Looks good. How about a blackberry version of trillian next?
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:55 pm
How about a blackberry client already?
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:55 pm
I’ve been running 4.0 w/Windows 7 RTM, for about a month, and have had no issues with it.
September 22nd, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Yummy.
September 22nd, 2009 at 2:17 pm
You guys are great, I plan to purchase pro soon so looking forward to seeing more!
I just wish Pro got me the mac version as well.
September 22nd, 2009 at 2:21 pm
@gahgah, frseno, and lunar21…
They can’t add aerosnap and aeroshake and such because Astra draws its own windows, it does not use regular windows from the OS. Probably never going to be possible.
September 22nd, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Can’t wait to see if this fixes the still-really-broken Facebook Chat experience.
September 22nd, 2009 at 2:40 pm
@Diamond
well don’t think so. it might be possible. don’t think it is restricted to normal os windows. i think you’ve to do some work to do it. but not impossible!
September 22nd, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Well perhaps if they code all the behavior in themselves, then yes… but I don’t think it can hook into the native windows behaviors when it isn’t one itself.
September 22nd, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Nick: Maybe not with the two lines of code that a managed code solution would have it, but I presume that if they can show you a video chat, they should be able to split out individual IM conversations into their own Aero Peek interface. Obviously, with custom windows, it’d be a custom solution, but I’m sure they can figure something out.
CS: One thing I’m missing the most with Win7 right now is being able to show my contact list via something like a Jump List. To me, ideally, the taskbar should be a replacement for the system tray icon. Keeping everything together you you always know where to look for a program seems to be the goal of the Win7 taskbar. Leave the system tray as an option for pre-Win7 installs and people who like cluttering up their system tray, but the option to combine the system tray icon with the taskbar icon would be an extremely nice option.
All in all, it looks like a very good start, and it’s good to see this being addressed right from the start.
September 22nd, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Nice, but a MAC version would be even better.
September 22nd, 2009 at 4:03 pm
i love the new astra but just like the older version,till they put a patch up to use ,everytime i log on to my astra all the other accounts connect.except for yahoo…….where i get this lil message that the security has locked my account and will i please log into a yahoo account to verify……….cmon……….the others all connect why the on goin probs with the yahoo connections ?
September 22nd, 2009 at 4:06 pm
PLEASE FIX THE YAHOO CONNECTION
September 22nd, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Pjdrums, Yahoo connection issues with Astra should be filed to bugzilla and they will be fixed in the next 4.0 build… Lots of people got it working just by using yahoo’s IP address instead. You won’t have to wait until 4.1 to get that fixed if you report it properly.
September 22nd, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Great. When can I start Alpha testing?
Been Running Win7 since they released the beta.
September 22nd, 2009 at 4:59 pm
How i download 4.1?
September 22nd, 2009 at 5:35 pm
awsome cant wait i just got windows 7 xD
September 22nd, 2009 at 5:44 pm
okay guys seriously, this is EPIC WIN!
i just wish you luck with that! these are going to be my favourite features!
September 22nd, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Someone (y0himba – or me?) should shoot this over to Lifehacker… I think they’d like it.
September 22nd, 2009 at 6:30 pm
thank god! i have windows 7 rtm and it is so sad without these features (but with these features it is an epic win)
September 22nd, 2009 at 6:51 pm
the advancement you Trillian guys are making is OVER 9000!!!
definitely love the new Windows7 features.
September 22nd, 2009 at 6:58 pm
superb version of Trillian for superb Operating System (Windows 7)
very friendly user……….
rock on guys!!!
September 22nd, 2009 at 7:08 pm
I fully recommended this latest Trillian Astra for everyone who has multi platform accounts especially for supporting their customers or clients all over the world… And best of all is when you run Windows 7, wow… nothing’s compared to Trillian Astra!
September 22nd, 2009 at 7:11 pm
I have been using Astra with W7 for abour 5 months now and it works so nice!! Keep up the good work!!
September 22nd, 2009 at 7:20 pm
[...] really digging the new ideas for Trillian 4.1 to integrate better with Windows 7. If you haven’t read about it yet then take a look at [...]
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Can’t wait! wicked job crew. This program is just straight off the cuff! Cerulean Studios by far “Takes The Cake” in what we can centralize in instand messaging… Well Played!
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:36 pm
i just use new trillian it’s seem work and nice
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:55 pm
and when will Trilly 4.1 be coming out??
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Please don’t take away minimise to the tray. I know its the new ‘windows 7′ way of doing things, but please leave me the option as I work in a relatively spartan environment (you only need to see my install of OSX with only 5 icons on the dock to see the attestion of this)
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Hey, send me that cracked quickbooks when your done there
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:40 pm
This looks great! I’ve been using Windows 7 since pre-beta, and Astra since the early alpha builds. Glad to see you’re taking Win7 heads on.
Any idea on a release date for 4.1? I was selected by Microsoft to host a Win7 release party, and I might be able to sneak Trillian into a photo or two from the event. 4.0 looks great but it’s be nice to have a version designed witn Win7 in mind.
September 22nd, 2009 at 11:03 pm
I might buy a second trillian astra licence just to show you guys how much i love the new astra!
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:55 am
Danke für das aufdringliche meldungsfenster
September 23rd, 2009 at 2:14 am
Looks great but when can I enjoy all these features? That’s all I care about.
September 23rd, 2009 at 2:48 am
Looks awesome! Again.. where can we download this?
4.0’s been nagging me. >.<
September 23rd, 2009 at 5:37 am
good news! thank you.
September 23rd, 2009 at 5:37 am
super
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:16 am
[...] 4.1 anzukündigen. In dieser sollen jede Menge neue Features eingebaut werden. Heute wurden einige Neuerungen angekündigt, die speziell Windows 7 betretten. Ein [...]
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:52 am
I wonder if videocalls in MSN will work now? My mates always complains that I cant take videochatt with them :/
September 23rd, 2009 at 8:18 am
Why didn’t they do Aero Snap? And to the person who said it’s because Trillian “draws their own windows”, well so does the new Zune software, and it can do the Aero Snap effects!
Also, I wish we had the option of making the Trillian contact list a desktop gadget.
September 23rd, 2009 at 8:49 am
Been running Tillian 4.0/Windows 7 RTM and have found it to work fine. I have been with Trillian for years and will never go back. Keep up the good work.
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:58 am
The Zune software does not draw its own windows, you think Microsoft would make software that doesn’t utilize the standard windows “windows”? Come on.
To all those asking release date of 4.1 … they don’t use release dates… probably be a few more months before its even to beta.
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:28 am
Can’t wait for 4.1!! 4.0 runs smoothly on win7 but with these features in it, it will definitely be the first choice for every one using win7 and a third-party IM!!!
Well done :]
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:36 am
I can’t wait for 4.1
the more you tell us about it the harder the wait becomes
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:48 am
Awesome! Again u advertise with a NOT-WORKING Videofunction!!!
Im waiting since Trillian2 that your videofunction does finally work! Now Trillian4 and still not working.
In germany we have a name for companies advertising with features they dont have. FRAUD
so before adding NEW features, what about FIXING the existing features?! Since Trillian2, passing Trillian3 and now on Trillian4 you OWE us a working videofunction for all messengerservices you offer (this INCLUDES MSN LIVE!)
no kindly regards anymore until u do ur job!
Simon Lange
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Reany nice job guys, the best IM client is now even better :p
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:30 pm
great!
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:33 pm
@Simon, what is your problem? Astra is not finished yet… and nowhere does it say version 4.0 has MSN video features. It says ASTRA will. I know it sounds misleading, but Astra does contain video features, just only for Astra to Astra and Yahoo so far.
MSN Video requires a complete rewrite of MSN (also needed to fix file transfer speed issuses on MSN) and they said they are doing that during 4.1. So just relax a bit.
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Alert comes up and stays up every day for 4.1 in the windows task bar. I get the point, a new release is coming. Really annoying to visit this site every day to get it to clear.
Also, Astra in general seems more sluggish to open new chat windows then previous versions, Trillian 3. All extraneous features (ui skins, sounds, etc.) when chatting are secondary to speed in my mind. Will speed be improved in subsequent releases?
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:22 pm
[...] 7 Taskbar integration (Jump Lists) – Today, 06:22 PM Follow the lead of Trillian Astra: Cerulean Studios’ Blog Blog Archive New in Trillian 4.1: Trillian Embraces Windows 7! Neal Culiner NC Software, Inc. Visual Basic .NET Forums [...]
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Casey…
They have wrote a blog entry 3 days in a row, the alerts are for the blog entries, and that is why there has been one everyday. You will see another “annoying” one tomorrow too.
There is an option right in the preferences to not be notified of Trillian news, I would suggest you turn it off instead of whining.
And chat windows are way faster in Astra than they ever have been. All of it is subject to your setup. Perhaps you need to switch to a lighter skin or turn alphablending transparencies off, or not run as many plugins. CS is not stupid enough to think that the new skin is more important than the speed.
September 23rd, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Casey, you did read the users manual ? Doing so can help prevent you from being flamed.
CS, nice work guys. Looking forward to using it !
Now release it, your teasing is killing me ….lol
September 23rd, 2009 at 3:59 pm
I believe!
September 23rd, 2009 at 4:56 pm
I am running Windows 7 (thanks MSDN) and am looking forward to the new Trillian 4.1 enhancements for Win 7
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Suggestion: Add a ‘Frequent’ section to the jump list containing your most frequently messaged contacts, for quick access.
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Well I already bought Trillian Pro – now I just have to get Windows 7! Can’t wait
September 24th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Beautiful!! keep up the good work techs;> I’ve been a fan & user for some time now
September 24th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
I’ve been using Trillian for over 4-5 years. It’s a great product! I’m glad I purchased the full version instead of the free one prior to the Astra release. Win7 integration looks like it will be great since lot more people will jump onto that OS than people did when Vista rolled out.
Keep up the good work, I look forward to testing out the beta as well.
Also good luck with the iPhone App. I just realized it has been about 6 weeks since it was sent in for approval. That’s pretty lame on Apple’s part. I’ve seen too many companies spend so much time and money creating something for the iPhone too only see it never reach customers. I hope it goes through and can’t wait to grab it when it does. (Will it be free? if you are pro? or paid for everyone?)
September 30th, 2009 at 4:10 am
awesome demo. I was looking for some product like this. trillian is worth buying. Please provide links for its download. How much will it cost?
October 1st, 2009 at 4:23 pm
[...] Windows 7 integration. [...]
October 2nd, 2009 at 12:25 pm
PLEASE PLEASE!!!!!! Make this app to Meizu M8… its win CE based more info on http://en.meizu.com they have a SDK to development!
October 5th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Спасибо. было познавательно.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Changing status is not working…
October 29th, 2009 at 11:08 am
[...] Windows 7 integration. [...]
October 29th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
I just got Win 7 all set up and really like it. Besides solving many of the problems I had with Vista, I’ve been discovering the new Trillian features in Win 7 over the past few days, and I just keep loving Trillian more and more.
-A loyal user since before Trillian 1.0 ^_^