Loudtalks

The new build of Loudtalks is available (if you are using .36, you will receive the update automatically). Here are the changes:

1. If you are not talking to anyone and receive an incoming message, the contact, who sent it, is selected automatically
2. There is an option to turn Away status automatically after given period of inactivity or when the workstation is locked
3. Bugfix: Random crash, when starting a new message

Download it here

This release brings the biggest incremental change since the very first public build. Hope you’ll like it! Here is what’s new:

1. Messages history
2. Better notifications for messages received, while away or busy
3. Automatic updates support
4. Ability to assign mouse buttons as hotkeys
5. Volume controls in audio settings
6. Automatic gain control option
7. Enhanced headphones mode — now you can talk and listen simultaneously
8. Improved HTTP-proxy support — now works with Microsoft ISA server
9. French localization — contributed by Jean Marie
10. Bugfix: Multiple recipients messaging didn’t work
11. Bugfix: “Can’t connect to server” error occurred repeatedly for some users

Here are some screenshots:

Download the new release

We have discovered two major bugs in 0.9.0.35 release, which is currently up on the site namely:

1. Multiple recipients messaging doesn’t work
2. Connection via Microsoft ISA server http-proxy doesn’t work

They are fixed in 0.9.0.36, currently under development, which will be released very very soon. The new release will include many cool new features too:

1. Messages history
2. Automatic updates support
3. Ability to assign mouse buttons as hotkeys
4. Volume controls in audio settings
5. Automatic gain control option
6. Enhanced headphones mode

This is a quick-fix follow up to the previous version, which addresses few important issues:

1. Bugfix: Crash in Windows Vista
2. Added support for connection over HTTP-proxy. It works reasonably well with WinProxy, and doesn’t work with the most on “anonymizer” proxies available in the internet so only use this option, when you can’t connect the other way. If you had success with other implementations of HTTP-proxies, please share your experience

Working on automatic updates support, which would allow us to release updates often, without disturbing users :-)

Loudtalks 0.9.0.34 is here. It’s a major update with multiple visual and functional improvements. Here is what’s new:

1. Supports fall back over TCP, when UDP is unavailable. This means Loudtalks will work behind the most corporate routers
2. Support of operation behind SOCKS5 and HTTPS proxies. You can configure proxy settings in “Tools > Options… > Connection”
3. Smaller contact list window, re-sizable “talk” button
4. Redesigned contact list, which uses two lines by default now
5. “Compact” mode for contact list. New menu item “View”, which switches views
6. Improved accessibility — extended keyboard navigation
7. Bugfix: Sometimes the application could crash during logon
8. Improved contacts drag and drop visualization
9. Renamed “Channels” to “Groups”.

Download the latest version

Here are some screenshots of the new release:

Please let us know, what you think!

Today, three months from the first public appearance at TechCrunch40 we reached an important milestone of 10,000 registered users.

I want to thank these brave people for helping us. It takes courage to try the new software, which challenges existing communication tools with multi-million user bases.

We try to work up to your expectations. Over that time we went through 13 releases, fixing bugs and gradually improving usability. I really hope we are heading in the right direction. If you think we are not — give us a punch, we are listening.

Here is what expected in the coming releases:

• Automatic updates support
• Support of TCP-only transport
• Support of operation through a proxy
• Incoming messages and statuses history (think twitter timeline)
• Improved GUI (slimmer main window, compact contacts mode)

We also keep on adding new UI languages. Right now Loudtalks is available is English, Russian, German, Spanish, Finnish and Chinese.

We didn’t want to update it that soon but it turned out we made something really stupid in .32, which prevented many users from joining the p2p network normally. This update fixes it.

Changes

1. Bugfix: “Can’t join Loudtalks network” error occurred for some users of 0.9.0.32 even though the previous version could log in fine
2. Added contact search by email, re-designed “Add a contact” wizard
3. Improved supernodes performance and reliability
4. Improved look of the installation wizard
5. Bugfix: Selecting multiple contacts in the contacts list using Shift button caused unwanted scrolling under certain conditions
6. Bugfix: Under Windows 2000 tray icons appeared with purple background
7. Bugfix: Crash under Windows 2000 when accessing Options

Download the latest version

If you don’t want to use the installer, you can download a zipped executable here, which is suitable for portable use (from USB flash drive).

As always we are looking for your feedback and suggestions. The easiest way to reach us is to use the error reporting form, available under Help menu in the software.

We decided that it would be cool to nominate Loudtalks for one of The Crunchies awards.

If you think we deserve it, please support us by clicking on that cheesy round button on the left and entering “loudtalks” into “Best Bootstrapped Start-up” category. You may nominate us into different categories as well :)

Thanks!

Hurray! The new release is here. One of the most expected features is support of the installation to the USB flash drive. This new version is completely portable. You can install it on USB drive and take with you anywhere — no traces will be left on host computers.

Changes list:

1. Bugfix: Contact authorization re-request interval reduced from 1 hour to 3 minutes. Should fix most of the issues with authorization.
2. Support for portable use from USB flash drive. Loudtalks will detect automatically if it runs off the flash stick and will use program folder for the configuration in that case.
3. Double click on the tray icon hides Loudtalks window
4. Added quick problem report form. Use “Help > Report a problem…” to send us bug reports and feedback
5. Sound alert precedes a message received after a long period of inactivity (the sound can be configured or turned off completely in Options)
6. Improved blind accessibility — the contacts list is now compatible with screen readers

Download the latest version

We often mention that Loudtalks is faster than alternatives. What exactly do we mean? One meaning is that it’s lightweight, uses very little system resources and will work fine on older PCs too.

More importantly, it allows to communicate faster by skipping through the clutter and giving the ability to speak the very same moment you decided to say something.

Consider you want to ask co-worker a quick question. Here is how the timeline would look if you use Loudtalks, phone call (i.e. Skype), and an instant messenger (i.e. ICQ):

Loudtalks wins this case because it offers “always on” voice channel, without overhead associated with a phone call ritual.