Hasta La Gadget!

Today, BitTorrent announced it’s building a private instant messaging client for our post-PRISM world. The firm told CNET that BitTorrent Chat should function like the company’s other peer-to-peer services, using a form of torrenting’s decentralized technology-approach that’s been adapted for real-time communications. And while compatibility with other IM protocols is expected in the future, for now it’s exclusive to BitTorrent account holders. You can even apply for an invite into the pre-alpha at the BitTorrent Labs site — if you’re so inclined, that is.

Filed under: Internet

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Via: CNET

Source: BitTorrent Blog

We’re hearing from tipsters and a number of other sources, including Google’s own Product Forums, that a bug is causing some Google Hangouts and Google Talk messages to be sent to the wrong recipients. A few awkward situations have already ensued, according to TechCrunch, such as internal company communications being sent to ex-employees. The privacy bug seems to crop up when users of the old Google Talk platform try to connect with those who have migrated to the newer Hangouts service, so it sounds like it could be a transitional thing — it’s also reminiscent of a similar bug that hit Skype last year. Meanwhile, some of us here at Engadget are currently experiencing the more fundamental (though thankfully less embarrassing) problem of not being able to log onto Hangouts in the first place.

Update: Google’ status page reports that the issue has been resolved and that services are “gradually returning to normal.” It says it will update users again when the full service is restored.

[Thanks, Boris]

Filed under: Internet, Mobile, Google

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Source: Google Product Forums, TechCrunch

BlackBerry’s effort to extend its messaging service beyond its own failed hardware has finally come to fruition. After some awkward false starts, plus a detailed leak, BlackBerry Messenger apps for iOS and Android will soon be available for download at the respective app stores, allowing members of those more popular ecosystems to do… well, chat-related things that they could largely do already, except now through BlackBerry’s BBM servers. The company has confirmed that the Android BBM app will launch at 7AM ET on Saturday, while its iOS equivalent will be available beginning at 12:01AM local time (in each market) on Sunday. More details at the source link below.

Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile, Blackberry

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Source: BlackBerry

We already suspected that Windows and Skype were going to get particularly cozy after Microsoft phased out Messenger, but it’s now official: Windows 8.1 will ship with Skype pre-installed. Those who haven’t already downloaded the messaging client will get it when they upgrade their OS (or buy a Windows 8.1 PC) after October. The move won’t change much for existing Skype users, but it could easily lead to a jump in Skype adoption when the app will soon come bundled with the majority of PCs.

Filed under: Internet, Software, Microsoft

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Source: Windows Experience Blog

Twitch streams a lot of events these days, and it’s improving its iOS app to keep up with the flood of new content. The just-posted 2.3.5 update more than triples the number of accessible live channels from 200 to over 750, giving viewers a better chance of seeing a local tourney or a “let’s play” feed. Chat has also received a thorough makeover that brings both a simpler design and support for Twitch’s unique take on emoticons. And if you’re a dedicated Dota 2 player, you’ll definitely want this upgrade — link your Steam account and you’ll earn item drops in Valve’s arena battler when watching certain streams. There’s no word of corresponding updates for Android or other platforms, although Twitch says it’s improving channel capacities across all its apps.

Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Tablets

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Via: Twitch Official Blog

Source: App Store