TinyBuddy: AIM for iPhone from AOL, sort of
There’s a new web-based instant messaging client for the iPhone, and it’s kind of, sort of, from AOL. It’s TinyBuddy, written by AOL employee James Burke and hosted by the AOL Greenhouse. It’s not an official AOL project, but Burke’s used his up-close knowledge of how AIM works to make a instant-messaging client for iPhone that’s a bit different than all the others when it comes to security.
TinyBuddy uses AOL’s OpenAuth servers to authenticate you, meaning that the TinyBuddy web site never touches your password — so it can’t store it and use it later. Instead, TinyBuddy’s embedded JavaScript only handles a special authentication token provided by AIM. I’m pretty sure the other people doing AIM clients for the iPhone, such as JiveTalk, aren’t harvesting passwords for re-sale to criminals, but TinyBuddy’s approach makes the whole thing even more transparent.
To try TinyBuddy, just type x.aim.com/ty into your iPhone browser. And for more on Burke’s development effort, visit his Tiny Notes page.
Category: Software
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Comments (9)
It's awfully flaky but it looks like a good start.
Posted by Shawn King | July 27, 2007 10:12 AM
Hi and thanks for the mention.
Actually, we’ve updated things a bit. Get the newest version at http://x.aim.com/ty/
And for those who are interested in how it's done or tweaking the experience, we’ve also made full source code available at http://x.aim.com/ty_source
Posted by Edwin Aoki | July 27, 2007 11:19 AM
Very cool stuff...thanks for your time guys!
Posted by Mike | July 28, 2007 10:52 AM
The back and forth sign on process is a bit cumbersome, but after that it's very nice... if you can get the graphics to iChat graphics OR utilize the fonts etc. from anyone's AIM client, then it's on its way... but as a basic AIM client for iphone... it's very good. Will save my SMS messages for those not in AIM now... keep it up!
Posted by texG5 | July 28, 2007 12:29 PM
very cool stuff, adding groups (groups is coming per the blog) and a feature to hide offline buddies and I'd be thrilled. =)
Posted by techno | July 31, 2007 2:47 PM
Hi, I was just wondering. Is this is considered internet data usage? or is it sms text messaging? I, unfortunately as of now, only have 1500 sms text messages rather than unlimited but have unlimited internet so I was wondering if this would work out for me.
Posted by Jason | September 11, 2007 8:36 PM
It's data usage.
Posted by Jason Snell![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://iphone.macworld.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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September 11, 2007 8:37 PM
i have a sidekick and im thinking of switching to the iphone. i reallyyyyy want the iphone but i need aim. does it actually really work bc the info on the internet is confusing, some say yes, some say no. does anyone have the iphone and use aim? or know FOR SURE what the deal is? thanks
Posted by yara | November 2, 2007 9:50 PM
So if i use this from my iPhone, it's only charged as internet usages and not sms text messages right?
by the way, it's awesome!
Posted by cheeks | December 29, 2007 3:31 AM