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Free Instant Chat

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 8:35 am
by ast3r3x
I was hoping somebody would be able to turn me on to a free chat (preferably flash based, but a java applet could do). I am writing a forum, and just thought it would be neat to have a live chat. My hoster 1and1.com gives me a java applet, which amazingly isn't slow, but it's ugly as sin. It doesn't fit with the look of my site AT ALL. Because I don't think there is a way to override the CSS in the chat page (because that is why CSS is great, the further in the document you are the more precedence you get) and I'm sure some of the coloring and stuff is hard coded into the java applet, would anyone like to recommend a free chat I could customize the look and use?

Wow, major run-on sentence.

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 10:13 am
by feyd
you could create a semi-live chat in php, using some creative iframes (to hide the refresh) and javascript to populate the browser window...

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 10:18 am
by ast3r3x
feyd wrote:you could create a semi-live chat in php, using some creative iframes (to hide the refresh) and javascript to populate the browser window...
I may have to do that. I'll need to learn javascript though, I started getting into it like 3 years ago, but stopped. I need to learn it anyways, as the forum I'm creating is a little feature lacking without javascript.

Wouldn't it become a real bandwidth hog to constantly keep checking if a new message has been entered and constantly refreshing? Though I'm not sure it would be any different with flash or whatever.

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 11:17 am
by hawleyjr
Check out flashkit.com I haven't been there in a while but they have a massive resource of flash programs and programmers.

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 1:02 pm
by ast3r3x
Thanks, looks like that may be able to help me :)

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 4:02 pm
by penguinboy
Flash is the devil.
You could try Jpilot.

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 4:05 pm
by Joe
Yeah well Jpilot are looking for cash. The demo versions suck as a demo notification message pops up every time the user types a message.

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 4:05 pm
by Draco_03
penguinboy wrote:Flash is the devil.
You could try Jpilot.
Flash == 100% comlpiancy on all browser (with the player)
Interaction with end-user(with animation) (dhtml is nothing compare to the l33t power of flash)
etc etc etc

Flash is awesome.
Denying it, it's like.. using only tables to do a website
8)

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 4:06 pm
by Joe
Well personally I think using flash would also suck as not everyone has the required files to play multimedia online.

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 4:09 pm
by Draco_03
if your using ie 6 you have it...
and if you don't have it.. You re missing a whole bunch of stuff on the web

If the site is directed to a group of people that will not likely have flash then I agree.
otherwise.. I don't

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 4:15 pm
by Joe
Well yeah I guess you have a point. Also, I thought I would mention. Not all IE6 users have these files. Multimedia is a different stream all together.

Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 9:56 am
by ast3r3x
If anyone cares (I'll pretend :wink: ) I've decided to go with AgChat

http://www.flashkit.com/movies/Applicat ... /index.php

It's pretty good, small, and relatively fast. I do like that I can change the graphics so it will fit to my site.

My site... http://forums.intouch04.com/chat.php

I do dislike that you can pretend to be others, but it will do, not like I plan on this being used a lot.

Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 12:24 pm
by penguinboy
Draco_03 wrote:Flash == 100% comlpiancy on all browser (with the player)
I don't care how compliant it is I don't download the player.
And there are thousands of other poeple just like me.
So if you use flash your going to miss out on some traffic.
Draco_03 wrote: Flash is awesome.
Denying it, it's like.. using only tables to do a website
What?

Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 12:27 pm
by Draco_03
penguinboy wrote: I don't care how compliant it is I don't download the player.
And there are thousands of other poeple just like me.
So if you use flash your going to miss out on some traffic.
Well my friend sorry to tell you that but your the minority.. A TINY LITTLE minority. There's almost more NS4 user then ppl with no flash player.
And go make a quick search on stats you'll see..

Almost everyone does HAVE the player.

Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 12:35 pm
by feyd
quit arguing, or I lock this thread.