Spicebird Beta 0.7: Instant Messaging and Mail Client, with Calendar
If you are looking for a software application which incorporates an instant messaging application, an email client, a calendar, and even Google Gadgets and an RSS reader, then the Synovel developed Spicebird Beta 0.7 is the right choice for you. There are bonuses also, such as the fact that the software’s development is based on Mozilla's Thunderbird code, or the fact that the software runs under a GPL license and is absolutely free.
“Spicebird is a collaboration client that provides integrated access to email, contacts, calendaring and instant messaging in a single application. It provides easy access to various web services while retaining all the advantages of a desktop application. The application is based on projects like Thunderbird, Lightning and Telepathy and adds more functionality and integration among its components,” explains Indian software developer Synovel.
Amongst the most notable things you can do in Spicebird Beta 0.7, two stand out of the crowd: the first is instant messaging support for Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, AIM, ICQ and even Jabber; the second is Google Gadgets and Google Calendar support. Other features include blog management support (experimental), availability in several of the most commonly used languages, add-ons (basic set), and the possibility to import your Outlook, Outlook Express and Thunderbird data.
To my mind, the greatest disadvantage this software has is Gmail, the mail client Spicebird is designed to work perfectly with (if you already have a Gmail account the transition is done swiftly and effortlessly). The thing is that setting up a Gmail account is free, just like Spicebird is; the IM client could be compared to the Gmail Chat, which now includes audio and video; Spicebird’s calendar can be compared to the very recently released Gmail Tasks; and the RSS reader in Spicebird could be compared to Google Reader, which recently got a facelift. This is not to say that you should dismiss Spicebird Beta 0.7 – it has its own advantages, such as the ease of use and the potential for improvement (keep in mind that this is still a Beta).
If you would like to get Spicebird Beta 0.7, a download location is available here.
“Spicebird is a collaboration client that provides integrated access to email, contacts, calendaring and instant messaging in a single application. It provides easy access to various web services while retaining all the advantages of a desktop application. The application is based on projects like Thunderbird, Lightning and Telepathy and adds more functionality and integration among its components,” explains Indian software developer Synovel.
Amongst the most notable things you can do in Spicebird Beta 0.7, two stand out of the crowd: the first is instant messaging support for Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, AIM, ICQ and even Jabber; the second is Google Gadgets and Google Calendar support. Other features include blog management support (experimental), availability in several of the most commonly used languages, add-ons (basic set), and the possibility to import your Outlook, Outlook Express and Thunderbird data.
To my mind, the greatest disadvantage this software has is Gmail, the mail client Spicebird is designed to work perfectly with (if you already have a Gmail account the transition is done swiftly and effortlessly). The thing is that setting up a Gmail account is free, just like Spicebird is; the IM client could be compared to the Gmail Chat, which now includes audio and video; Spicebird’s calendar can be compared to the very recently released Gmail Tasks; and the RSS reader in Spicebird could be compared to Google Reader, which recently got a facelift. This is not to say that you should dismiss Spicebird Beta 0.7 – it has its own advantages, such as the ease of use and the potential for improvement (keep in mind that this is still a Beta).
If you would like to get Spicebird Beta 0.7, a download location is available here.
