Extra Topics (Joe’s Blog Site)

You would immediately notice in the new version of Yahoo! Messenger 9.0 that the messenger contact list’s appearance has changed. It now shows 2 lines per contact and so having larger avatar images by default. This is called the Detailed view which shows more information but less number of contacts on the list. Most of us are used to the old one liner per contact which is called the Compact view, which shows less information but more contacts on the list.

If you want to switch from the detailed view to compact view, follow the steps below:

1. Go to Messenger->Preferences (or Ctrl+Shift+P)
2. Click the Appearance tab
3. Select Compact view
4. Finally, click Ok.

When you sign-in to Yahoo! Messenger, the Yahoo! Insider appears immediately. When you’re doing something else and suddenly someone sends you a message, that annoying message window appears right in front of you. It would be better if a new message would simply stay minimized on your taskbar until you decided to read it right? So here’s what you should do:

1. Go to Messenger - Preferences (or simply press Ctrl+Shift+P)
2. Go to Generals tab
3. Uncheck Show Yahoo! Messenger Insider.
4. Now go to Messages tab.
5. Select Minimize the message window to the taskbar.
6. Check Show messages at the bottom right of screen.
7. Finally click OK.

Sometimes you’d want to use a different identity or alias when you join chat rooms in Yahoo Messenger besides your personal account. Most of you would probably try to create a new Yahoo id. But if you do so, that would mean you would have to sign out of your original account and sign in to your new account to use it.

Yahoo has a feature which allows you to create aliases within your existing Yahoo id/account. By creating aliases, you can hide your true Yahoo id in chat rooms. Why would you wanna hide your true id? Well for security reasons and to avoid spammers. In addition, you can use your aliases to chat or send message to your existing friends. They wouldn’t know it’s you because they would see your alias instead of your own account… (hehehe!)

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Do you know there are websites which allow you to login to your Instant Messaging (IM) accounts like Yahoo, MSN, AIM, and GTalk without installing any software clients? This is good for those people who are not given permission by administrators to install anything from their computers. Or to those who are using other people’s computer which doesn’t have the IM software that they need. The good thing about these online messengers is that they work even if you’re behind firewalls. So check out these two websites.

1. Meebo (www.meebo.com)
2. Ebuddy (www.ebuddy.com)

On the other hand, the problem with using online messengers is the unavailability of some features such as webcams and file transfers and others…But if you simply want to chat, these sites will be very useful.