Even though Google Talk was designed to be a simplified client, giving users exactly the features they most need, there has been a constant call for more effects and capabilities. To help fill this need, a variety of modification tools have arisen to add advanced capabilities into the Google Talk client. For one, the GT-Plug application gives you graphical emoticons and the ability to make your Google Talk client transparent. It also features a boss key, to immediately hide your client in case the boss walks by your office, as well as local logging so that you can keep a handy text log of all your chats.

Another Google Talk modification tool that has a large number of additional features is Extended Talk, which also gives you the ability to show graphical emoticons and make your individual Google Talk windows transparent. As well as a boss key, it also features a keyboard lock so that you can prevent text from being typed into your chat windows while you re away from the keyboard. It includes a number of aesthetic changes, letting you manipulate text from your friends. However, one of its most innovative features is its active status scripts, which allow you to create customized status screens to show off the program you re working in or the regular RSS feed from your favorite Web site.

Although these two programs can manipulate many features within Google Talk, some of the greatest improvements can be made by simply using a customized graphical...