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New chat idea...want your opinions

There seems to be a lot of dislike for the new chat "enhancement", as well as requests for a chat that would be available via iPhones and such. With the goal of making as many of you happy as possible, I'm experimenting with adding something like that. If we like, it can totally replace the existing chat feature.

WebChattr has a widget that we could put in the right side where the other one used to be, and it has it's own URL for access to it via web-enabled phones and such. I'd be curious what you guys thought of the idea. Here is their promo blurb:
webChattr is your own real-time chat room, anywhere and any time you need one.

- All rooms are optimized for iPhone and iPod Touch, and slower data connectivity (EDGE)
- Chat online with multiple friends instead of TXTing one person at a time.
- Rooms are easy to create with a simple web address: webchattr.com/go/anything_you_want .
- Bookmark a room's web address and give it to all your friends.
- Participate in up to 5 chat rooms at the same time. (less)

You can test it in a separate web page at the Theologica room I set up. If it puts you in the general iLounge, just select Theologica from the option in the bottom right.

Tags: chat

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Apolojedi (Daniel Eaton) on March 1, 2009 at 11:18am: So far, it looks like the rooms are public to anyone. Don't see that as a good fit for Theologica. So I'll look around for a private chat room widget that also allows iPhone access. If anyone comes across something like that, let me know.
D.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dr Mike on March 1, 2009 at 11:35am: Just curious: why did we "fix" the one that seemed to be working?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Char on March 1, 2009 at 11:35am: Well after my extensive testing, I note that you can't hyperlink in the new one either. Nor is the /me command functional. I will miss the /me command. It has little memory beyond what is currently on the screen plus a little and you can't scroll up and read what has gone before-or I can't. Maybe that is a setting or something. I am also wondering how easy it will be for spammers to access.

It does not however do the cursor thing so that's a plus, and you can select any comment. I am going to leave it on and see if it times out. If so it really isn't that much of a difference-so I see no point in going to the effort to change it.

Now that I've griped like an old lady, thanks Daniel for attempting to appease us.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Apolojedi (Daniel Eaton) on March 1, 2009 at 11:52am: Dr Mike said:

Just curious: why did we "fix" the one that seemed to be working?

Ning did it. They wanted like Facebook.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rey Reynoso on March 1, 2009 at 1:18pm: Daniel check out mibbit. It seems to work on the iphone and has some great functionality.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lisa Robinson on March 1, 2009 at 1:21pm: For whatever reason, the notification that alerts a new chat entry is not working. I know its not my computer. I've clicked the little horn thing and I am assuming the 2 semi-circles to the right means it should be on. Not sure why its not working.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by amy waddell on March 1, 2009 at 4:18pm: I miss the chat,and don't have iphone . Bring back the old chat.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Apolojedi (Daniel Eaton) on March 1, 2009 at 5:25pm: amy waddell said:
I miss the chat,and don't have iphone . Bring back the old chat.

Bringing back the old isn't an option unless Ning wants to add that as an option in a future release. Our only real option is to replace the new one (remove it) with something else (add it). D.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Apolojedi (Daniel Eaton) on March 1, 2009 at 10:28pm: OK everyone, Rey helped set up a new Chat option. It's in the tab bar on the top of the site. It uses standard IRC, so using it on an iPhone with an IRC client like the $2 Colloquy (available in the app store) is really sweet. It's super responsive and, because it is IRC, will have a lot of capabilities of people using desktop clients and such. Try it out and post your opinions here. Here is a shot of what it looks like on the iPhone.

And, BTW, if you have your iPhone jailbroken, the app works nicely with Backgrounder.

Please give me some feedback as to if you want to replace the new ning chat with this option.
Daniel; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by mem on March 2, 2009 at 8:45am: I like the IRC chat much better than the pop-out one. I can connect using any kind of client i choose, which is convenient for me. Centralizing all the communication i have to do is nice.

Though i can see how dissociating it from the discussion forum is probably not the greatest thing, come to think of it...but I appreciate the ability to connect using any client. And the pop-out window is really annoying. Even if you can raise it up in the window, it's a frustrating experience for me because it doesn't allow convenient multi-tasking. It breaks all my pre-built interface guidelines.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Crazyupstart on March 2, 2009 at 9:08am: My work connection cannot log on to Mibbet.com. Since I work at a christian school there is a whole system filter that gives me the message:
"The Server.......has chosen to limit viewing of this site, due to the rating of its content or its non-educational value."

So I guess that doesn't work for me.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rey Reynoso on March 2, 2009 at 9:14am: Double check that its mibbit.com (the actual chatting system) and not mibbet.com (the Tibetan midget porn site)

Crazyupstart said:
My work connection cannot log on to Mibbet.com. Since I work at a christian school there is a whole system filter that gives me the message:
"The Server.......has chosen to limit viewing of this site, due to the rating of its content or its non-educational value."

So I guess that doesn't work for me.; ▶ Reply to This