LJ Talk

[cos]

I tried out LiveJournal's new LJ Talk, a jabber server integrated with LiveJournal - mainly because it was so easy! In iChat preferences, I added an account of type "jabber", username cos@livejournal.com, with my LJ password. You could do the same in Trillian, GAIM, or any other IM program that supports jabber [edit: apparently the free version of Trillian doesn't do jabber, only the paid version]. My favorite things about LJ Talk (besides not having to create a new account) are:

• I can talk to people on gmail/gtalk without having a gmail account: I add user@gmail.com to my buddylist.


• Since LJ's jabber server automatically treats mutual-friend links between your LJ accounts as approved buddy links between your jabber accounts, it adds a "who's online" feature to LJ for mutual friends.


• You can now chat with LJ users as soon as you mutually friend them without having to find some other way to traid AIM names first, via comments or email.

So this post is my way of encouraging my LJ-friends to use LJ Talk. If you don't already have an IM program that supports jabber, LJ provides one for Windows or OS X (it seems to be a skype competitor).

P.S. Massachusetts people: Deval Patrick rally tomorrow on the Common, 2:30pm.
Also, The Nields at the Iron Horse in Northampton this evening (comment/email if you're going?)

Comments

[coraline]

you might want to note that the seamless integration into iChat won't work unless you're runing 10.4 -- iChat under 10.39 doesn't do jabber. you'll have to download adium (www.adiumx.com).

[cos]

I didn't know that. But I should note that under 10.4, you also have to disable SSL for your LJ Talk account, or it will fail to connect. Hopefully LJ will fix that.

[kirin]

Yeah, it did say to disable SSL in one of hte LJ announcements. Thanks for the poke, BTW; I'd been meaning to check whether this worked smoothly for iChat, but forgot about it. Not that anyone else is on through LJTalk, but hey, more options.

[cos]

You should see me online sometimes... do you? I haven't noticed you logged in to LJ Talk yet.

[kirin]

I was only on briefly, so we probably just missed each other. I don't generally IM from work and lately I haven't been at the computer much at home.

[bookishgrrl.livejournal.com]

Did you text me last night about the show? I was at work and didn't get it until late late late (no cells allowed).

[cos]

I did, just to find out if you're coming. You could text me back :)
(texting back late late is no problem, I won't hear it if I'm asleep)

[queen-of-wands.livejournal.com]

This looks really nifty, but I can't seem to get it to work with Fire, which isn't on the list of clients that are known to work with it, but does support Jabber.

[cos]

What happens when you try? Your jabber ID should be queen_of_wands@livejournal.com, using jabber server livejournal.com, with your LJ password. (I had to disable SSL in iChat, maybe you have to do that too)

[queen-of-wands.livejournal.com]

Yup, that's what I put in. And I uncheck SSL. But then it won't connect. I even downloaded a slightly newer version of Fire hoping that would make it work. :( Luckily, I can still talk to you.

[firegryphon.livejournal.com]

"P.S. Massachusetts people: Deval Patrick rally tomorrow on the Common, 2:30pm."

Just a reminder, not everyone on your list would go to that rally. Maybe next time be more specific? I'm just being a wanker.

[cos]

Huh? Not everyone on my list would go to the Nields concert, either. What's the point? Can't the look at what the event is and figure out whether it's something they're interested in or not, without me reminding them of that?

[firegryphon.livejournal.com]

"I'm just being a wanker.