The world of Instant Messaging is a mess. Countless protocols, friends on different networks and other complications make IM a potential hassle. Which is why we’ve always recommended the multi-protocol, all-in-one IM apps, Adium for Mac and Pidgin for Windows.

But desktop apps aren’t for everyone, which is why I thought I’d point out a great little tutorial over on Lifehacker that walks through the steps necessary to set up the Google Talk widget in GMail as a multi-protocol messaging client.

If you’re thinking that sounds too go to be true, you’re half right. It does work, though some people have reported problems un-installing the hack, but the main problem is that you’ll need to rely on a third party Jabber client to do some forwarding for you. That means your IMs will be visible to a third party. Depending on your paranoia levels and the nature of your chats, that may be a problem.

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Yahoo is now offering its Yahoo Messenger IM service as a web-based service, eliminating the need to run a separate client application. The new service is limited to the Yahoo Messenger and Windows Live Messenger platforms, but should prove handy in cases where the user doesn’t have permission to install client software of their computer.

The interface is for the web version of Yahoo Messenger is written entirely in Flash, making it cross-platform and cross-browser capable.

The messenger window supports tabs so you can run multiple conversations in one window. There are also searchable archives of past conversations and the ability to import contacts from Windows Live Messenger accounts.

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Nobody likes clutter. In fact, the whole reason you moved to a wireless network in the first place was to get rid of that "magical mess" of cables and routers messing up your Feng Shui. Though the blinkenlights are cool, we’ll keep those.

Not content to just leave a wireless router plugged into his old LaserJet, a guy named computerguru365 hacked the two devices together, creating his own network-ready wireless printer for far less than what an integrated unit would cost.

You’ll need a printer, a cheap router running DD-WRT, a network adapter, soldering equipment and one of those clear plastic space-holder donut things that comes at the bottom of a spindle of CDs. Be warned: this project is hands-on and intensive. Not for the faint of heart.

OpenDNS, the service that makes it easy to set up an alternative DNS server, has announced a new service that allows users to browse the web by using keyword shortcuts. The new service allows people to create keywords that point to their favorite web sites.

For instance, Compiler lovers could create a shortcut that allows them to simple type “compiler” in the URL bar and the browser would be directed to this page. OpenDNS sees the service as a ways to make the browser’s url bar more usable.

Of course there are already Firefox plug-ins that can do the same thing and Opera comes with such features built in, but OpenDNS allows the shortcuts to be totally independent of browser choice.

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