Apple Thoughts: Trillian Unified IM Client Beta For Mac

"Cerulean has released the first public beta of Trillian for Mac, a formerly Windows-only instant messaging app. The software presents a unifying interface for several IM networks, including AIM, ICQ, Google Talk, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo and Facebook. Contacts can be synced with the Trillian iPhone app as well as multiple computers via the Astra network."

Finally available for the Mac, Trillian has long been a favourite of IM Fans. Rather than a bunch of very different individual apps all running, Trillian offers one user interface, with all the major clients integrated. I installed the beta, and discovered one immediate downside - an Astra (extra) account is required. I downloaded the beta, added an Astra account, and added my various IM, Twitter and Facebook accounts. Back to the main UI window, and I see small icons for services, but no user lists like in the Windows version. Oops. Where is that vaunted Mac friendliness? Aha, look up, each service has an icon on the task bar. Looks like it'll work, but will take some getting used to. Impression of this first beta? Low.