As we wait for any big news from CES, and grieve about the almost total lack of any news at all from Macworld,  I thought I would tell you about a desktop application that is up there with the best I have ever used. It it not new, but its latest updates make it a real show-stopper. I am talking about the IM, Social Networking, and email aggregator for PC, Mac, or Linux; Digsby.

I have been using Digsby for months now and I have to say, it is almost flawless. Now, for me to say that about a program is a big deal, I am the kind of user that gets annoyed by the most trivial and ridiculous little quirks that 99% of people would never notice. Anyway, Digsby gives you a very clean and nice looking interface that includes the following services (sit down, it’s a long list):

• AIM: Oldie but goody
• MSN Messenger: Still a very good program even with the endless spam
• GTalk: Keeps getting better
• Yahoo Messenger: It serves its purpose, not great, but they get an A for effort
• ICQ: Never used it, but props for being the first of the gang
• Jabber: Never used it
• Facebook chat: Buggy but very useful

Those are the IM networks only, here is what else you have access to without even opening up your Web browser:

• Hotmail: Designed by Microsoft, but there are still people using it
• Gmail: Best email, period
• Yahoo Mail: Always getting better
• AOL/AIM Mail: No comment
• IMAP: Huge fan
• POP: Good to have

Now, for the big news, the latest Digsby update added the following social networking sites:

• Facebook: Will take some time till someone takes its place
• Twitter: Love it, love it, love it
• MySpace: Never used it, but very popular
• LinkedIn: The interface could be better, but very useful, I am told

OK, enough lists. Bottom line is, Digsby pretty much offers you every possible tool used to communicate on the Web (I guess Skype is missing, but then again, with so many VOIP options in the above lists, why use Skype?).

In addition to all the available services, the actual experience is absolutely perfect. Tabbed conversations, awesome skins, nicknames, reply from within popup notifications, Facebook and Twitter updates that do not disturb your work, and more and more. I can go on and on with Digsby’s amazing features, but I am sure you get the point.

Just to summarize, ever since I installed the latest update, I have not opened up a browser more than twice, and that was to check the news.  So, why is it not the perfect program? Well, if  I have to name something, it does not include CNN updates, yet!

-Hillel