NetStream has composed a new multiprotocol and multiplatform communication manager – MDC for our convenience of communication. Now I'm going to sort it out by the bones, trying to figure out which one is sugar.
The first thing that came to mind after installation was Qt and pidgin similarity again. Apparently, all multiplatform messengers suffer from this, trying to please both ours and yours (Windows, Linux, macOS). However, in addition to the standard interface, which gives us the use of Qt, the developers have prepared some delicious visual chips and good functional tricks. The first trick is the display of contacts. The contact status is displayed by a vertical multicolored stripe, which seemed to me beautiful and non-standard.
In addition, the type of contacts can be switched to a shortened one, saving space on the screen. Fans of minimalism will like it.
The second trick is to combine contacts. Of course, those who are familiar with Miranda IM have known and used meta-contacts for a long time, while the rest of the developers offer to actively use it. The bottom line is this: if you have, say, Vasily Pupkin, who has ICQ, Jabber, and Gtalk, then these three contacts can be combined into one, with a common history.
The third trick is storing the history on the server. I think this is the most convenient innovation, which is currently present only in Gtalk and in Meebo. Now it doesn't matter where you communicate, both at home and at work you will have the same message history. This function can be enabled or disabled in the options, as well as data encryption is assumed in the future.
The message window is very standard, partly resembles QIP, allegedly implemented in Linux.
Now MDC supports ICQ, AOL, Mail.Agent, Jabber, Gtalk, Ya.Online, and in the upcoming beta version — MSN support. The developers also promise a gradual expansion of the supported networks. Regarding platforms, the beta version of MDC is available today only for Microsoft Windows (2000/XP/Vista, 32-bit), but in the near future they promise versions for Linux (32/64) and Mac OS X (Intel), and in a month and a half the web version of MDC will be available. In general, the program left behind conflicting feelings. On the one hand, there are very useful functions that such giants as MSN, ICQ have not yet thought of, such as storing message history on the server and meta-contacts, and on the other hand, an ordinary message window interface suffering from obvious anachronism and imitation. So far, the program is distributed through invites, but soon they promise a public version along with a new skin. But, honestly, I was more impressed with Xeus IM.
