The state of IM software is a perfect case study on how a entire genre of software can be complete crap. Until iChat, none of the clients even had a clean inteface suitable for most users. Standardization completely failed and the commercial protocols are flakey as hell.
This isn't to say that certain projects haven't been impressive. I'm impressed at what developers have pulled off given how messy, different, and incompatible each proprietery network is. However, they all still leave much to be desired in end user experience. Things are just too convoluted in IM land for users' lives to end up being simple.
If google can push a "standard" enough to make it standard... we'll all bennefit. *fingers crossed*
Can you image if email was as incompatible and unreliable as IM? Only being able to email a select bunch of people from each program? Not being able to reliably send files or use 90% of the auxilary features? Nobody would stand for it.
I agree entirely.
It's an unfortunate reality for IM. If at least the 'core' of all IM clients was using an open standard (Jabber) to at least discover people and at least send text messages...I'd be really happy. The rest can be proprietary for all I care but discovery and text messaging (and perhaps audio and video) should all be on open and standard protocols.
If all clients were using the same protocol for text, we'd have the IM equivalent of e-mail. If all clients were using the same protocol for voice, we'd have the IM equivalent of phones. And if all clients were using the same protocol for video, we'd have video phone.
Then everyone could have a bluetooth phone that would tap into their computer and work like a landline phone (provided you're calling someone with a computer.)
I don't see this becoming a reality until everyone's got a bluetooth capable computer (or some other form of wireless communication between device and computer) and fast internet but, hopefully one protocol will prevail (hopefully a standard one so clients can put in the core functionalities and add whatever they want beyond that).
I'm using Google Talk now, but most of my gmail buddies aren't using it yet. I love that Google is using the open Jabber standard so everyone can plug in their compliant chat app of choice. For me it's just one more buddy list in iChat, which is perfect!
All my buddies are on AIM though, so Google Talk isn't really necessary at this point. I'm excited to see where Google runs with this ball though.
Am I the only one who objects to e-mail addresses being required for IM handles?
Probably not...that's why they should just be IM IDs...a handle should be allowed. But then again, I hate MSN because people on the MSN network change their names daily (although this is probably only because MSN doesn't let users be creative with customizable availability/away status). I'd much prefer just using the e-mail address as the handle and be allowed to change their names to what I choose.
I'd much prefer just using the e-mail address as the handle and be allowed to change their names to what I choose.
I'm uncomfortable giving active e-mail addresses (e.g. Gmail, .Mac) to everyone who I might want to have IM communication with. I may not know someone well enough to trust that they won't reveal the address/handle (accidentally or intentionally) to people I wouldn't want to have it. I became more sensitive about this after one of my e-mail addresses, stored in someone's Windows address book, became victim to some "Outlook-scavenger" virus (or worm, I forget) a few years ago.
It's clear we're continually losing more control over how certain semi-private personal information (for lack of a better term) is becoming publicly exposed and propagated on the net. Even if resistance is futile I choose not to make it any easier.
AFAIK .Mac allows five mail aliases but unfortunately they can't be used for IM handles. It would be useful if at least ONE alias could be reserved for IM usage, making it easy to handle any mail addressed to it. And to get similar functionality with Google Talk currently requires creating a new Gmail account that's dedicated to IM usage.
For now I'm satisfied just using my non-email-based AIM handle.
If you got a gmail account, simply open up iChat prefs, go to the 'Accounts' pref pane, add an account, select Jabber Account as the 'Account Type', put in your gmail address as the Jabber ID, your gmail password for Password, and talk.google.com as the Server.
HI: Fairly new mac user (love it). I have ichat and fire both chatting with google talk no problem. I just bought an iSight and it says I can one/way video to aol or jabber but the actual menu item in iChat to do that is not there. So, do I have a problem with ichat which the manual and help describes as there but is not, or is there another problem that aol and jabber do not support the appropriate protocols for video. Just a little confused and would like clarification.
No protocol support would make sense but I should still see the "invite One Way Video Chat" in the Buddies menu (according to the doc) but its not there.
As of a week ago, I started receiving errors when iChat connects to the Google Talk servers. I get the following error:
Quote:
Could not connect to Jabber
An unexpected SSL error occured.
[-9843]
This happens with all Tiger macs I've tried with no changes to my previously working config. I've double checked google's instructions to see if they've changed, but they are the same and my setup is correct.
As of a week ago, I started receiving errors when iChat connects to the Google Talk servers. I get the following error:
This happens with all Tiger macs I've tried with no changes to my previously working config. I've double checked google's instructions to see if they've changed, but they are the same and my setup is correct.
Anyone else have these problems?
Google knows about the error, and they are working on fixing it.
Quote:
Please note:
There are currently connection issues with the iChat client. We are aware of the problem and are working on it. Please expect a fix in the next few days. Thanks for your patience during our beta period!
Comments
Originally posted by sebaz
I have some gmail invites, whats your email, i'll send one your way
Cool Thanks.
My e-mail is in my Profile, if you can't get it there I will send you a private message with it.
Thanks.
[Edit] Sorry, my e-mail was hidden, it is available now.
Originally posted by zonazag
Cool Thanks.
My e-mail is in my Profile, if you can't get it there I will send you a private message with it.
Thanks.
shoot me a PM, it doesnt work through the board, Pm me ur email ill send u a gmail invite
Originally posted by dfiler
The state of IM software is a perfect case study on how a entire genre of software can be complete crap. Until iChat, none of the clients even had a clean inteface suitable for most users. Standardization completely failed and the commercial protocols are flakey as hell.
This isn't to say that certain projects haven't been impressive. I'm impressed at what developers have pulled off given how messy, different, and incompatible each proprietery network is. However, they all still leave much to be desired in end user experience. Things are just too convoluted in IM land for users' lives to end up being simple.
If google can push a "standard" enough to make it standard... we'll all bennefit. *fingers crossed*
Can you image if email was as incompatible and unreliable as IM? Only being able to email a select bunch of people from each program? Not being able to reliably send files or use 90% of the auxilary features? Nobody would stand for it.
I agree entirely.
It's an unfortunate reality for IM. If at least the 'core' of all IM clients was using an open standard (Jabber) to at least discover people and at least send text messages...I'd be really happy. The rest can be proprietary for all I care but discovery and text messaging (and perhaps audio and video) should all be on open and standard protocols.
If all clients were using the same protocol for text, we'd have the IM equivalent of e-mail. If all clients were using the same protocol for voice, we'd have the IM equivalent of phones. And if all clients were using the same protocol for video, we'd have video phone.
Then everyone could have a bluetooth phone that would tap into their computer and work like a landline phone (provided you're calling someone with a computer.)
I don't see this becoming a reality until everyone's got a bluetooth capable computer (or some other form of wireless communication between device and computer) and fast internet but, hopefully one protocol will prevail (hopefully a standard one so clients can put in the core functionalities and add whatever they want beyond that).
All my buddies are on AIM though, so Google Talk isn't really necessary at this point. I'm excited to see where Google runs with this ball though.
Originally posted by sjk
Am I the only one who objects to e-mail addresses being required for IM handles?
Probably not...that's why they should just be IM IDs...a handle should be allowed. But then again, I hate MSN because people on the MSN network change their names daily (although this is probably only because MSN doesn't let users be creative with customizable availability/away status). I'd much prefer just using the e-mail address as the handle and be allowed to change their names to what I choose.
Originally posted by kim kap sol
I'd much prefer just using the e-mail address as the handle and be allowed to change their names to what I choose.
I'm uncomfortable giving active e-mail addresses (e.g. Gmail, .Mac) to everyone who I might want to have IM communication with. I may not know someone well enough to trust that they won't reveal the address/handle (accidentally or intentionally) to people I wouldn't want to have it. I became more sensitive about this after one of my e-mail addresses, stored in someone's Windows address book, became victim to some "Outlook-scavenger" virus (or worm, I forget) a few years ago.
It's clear we're continually losing more control over how certain semi-private personal information (for lack of a better term) is becoming publicly exposed and propagated on the net. Even if resistance is futile I choose not to make it any easier.
AFAIK .Mac allows five mail aliases but unfortunately they can't be used for IM handles. It would be useful if at least ONE alias could be reserved for IM usage, making it easy to handle any mail addressed to it. And to get similar functionality with Google Talk currently requires creating a new Gmail account that's dedicated to IM usage.
For now I'm satisfied just using my non-email-based AIM handle.
Originally posted by kim kap sol
If you got a gmail account, simply open up iChat prefs, go to the 'Accounts' pref pane, add an account, select Jabber Account as the 'Account Type', put in your gmail address as the Jabber ID, your gmail password for Password, and talk.google.com as the Server.
How do you add an account in 10.3.9 iChat?
Originally posted by AquaMac
How do you add an account in 10.3.9 iChat?
iChat in Panther doesn't support Jabber and therefore Google Talk.
Use Adium
Originally posted by Jambo
iChat in Panther doesn't support Jabber and therefore Google Talk.
Use Adium
Ugah!
No protocol support would make sense but I should still see the "invite One Way Video Chat" in the Buddies menu (according to the doc) but its not there.
Thanks in advance, I appreciate it.
Could not connect to Jabber
An unexpected SSL error occured.
[-9843]
This happens with all Tiger macs I've tried with no changes to my previously working config. I've double checked google's instructions to see if they've changed, but they are the same and my setup is correct.
Anyone else have these problems?
Originally posted by Xool
As of a week ago, I started receiving errors when iChat connects to the Google Talk servers. I get the following error:
This happens with all Tiger macs I've tried with no changes to my previously working config. I've double checked google's instructions to see if they've changed, but they are the same and my setup is correct.
Anyone else have these problems?
Google knows about the error, and they are working on fixing it.
Please note:
There are currently connection issues with the iChat client. We are aware of the problem and are working on it. Please expect a fix in the next few days. Thanks for your patience during our beta period!
http://www.google.com/support/talk
Originally posted by sebaz
Google knows about the error, and they are working on fixing it.
http://www.google.com/support/talk
Phew. Thanks for the link.