posted
Looks like our guru friend Greg, has the new Letterville chat app up and running. We still playing with it, but it's already shown it's value. Over the last few days, we've seen several first time chatters join the regulars in Letterville Chat. That's just what we want to see happen!
It's not a new chat or server. Experienced mIRC users can still access the channel using that popular program. The "new" chat app is just an easier way for Letterville BB users to get to the chatroom. Think of it as an automatic transmission. No more complicated gears and clutch to learn.
The new chat include a feature that should make for some serious fun. People in chat can click on a link called "Send An Invitation." When you click this link, a list of all those reading the BB at that moment is displayed. You can select any or all, by name, and invite them for a chat. What a great way to meet and get to know your fellow Lettervillians better!
I've never personally seen what an invite looks like at this point. They tell me a popup window appears on your screen that says so and so wants to invite you to chat. We've attempted to edit this invite text to include instructions and an actual link. The changes are in place, but I have no idea if it is doing what I hope.
You don't need an invite to access Letterville Chat. The main link is located under Tips and Tricks at the Forum List page. This is normally the first page you see when going to the BB at www.letterhead.com/ubb I'll add a graphic here to try and clarify the location of this link.
You can also use the green chat button. It appears in the purple column to your left. Those that load enter Letterville via the Front Page will also see a green chat button there. Both methods work, but the link on the Forum List Page is preferred for several reasons too technical to bother with. Now pay attention!
The first time you click on this chat link, a java certificate will appear on your screen. This is not a virus or sinister new plot for Steve to intrude into your homes. You can grant permission for one session, or select "always grant permission" and be done with this step. It's up to you. Either way, this step has to be completed in order for the new java chat to work.
If you have an unregistered nickname or nick, as us oldtimers say, you are in luck. Those that know nothing about the geeky World of IRC Chat seem to have the easiest time using this program. The new chat app should take you directly to Letterville Chat and automatically use your BullBoard username. It's simple! I personally like seeing the user's real name instead of a nick.
There are some that have been around so long, we know them better by their nicks. These users are all experienced chatters. They should know what they are doing. If you have a registered nick, you may have to do the /nickserv identify password thing and then the /join #letterville thing. Some will probally carry on doing things the way they always have. Nothing wrong with that. This new door to chat is geared towards new Letterville chatters.
The next step is up to you. Since 1995, The Letterhead Chatroom has been the best tool we have, outside a live meet, to build community. You'll meet and get to chat with many of those you see on this BB daily. You'll form close friendships. In the case of Bruce and Dana Bowers, that friendship ended up at the alter.
The Laws Of Letterhead Chat are pretty much the same as our Laws Of Letterville. Treat your fellow Letterheads with respect and refrain from personal attacks and other forms of verbal abuse. Have fun, but consider the others in the chatroom. You flirters know exactly what I'm talking about!
Typing in ALL CAPS IS CONSIDERED SHOUTING in today's Internet World. This applies to the BB, as well as chat. That's all I'll say on that subject.
If you get to chat and see the name MayorBot, you may find he does nothing. It's just a temporary trick necessary to keep the chatroom open for newbies with unregistered nicknames.
Why are you still here? Go give Letterville Chat a test run.
[ August 18, 2003, 02:09 AM: Message edited by: Steve Shortreed ]
-------------------- Steve Shortreed 144 Hill St., E. Fergus, Ontario Canada N1M 1G9 519-787-2673
Scared the shoots outta me! I'm sitting here in the dark, drifting through Letterville NAKID no less and up pops this Window with a message from the Red Thong himself! (at least I hope it was him... )
THe full side of the Moon tonight
-------------------- The Moon aka: Stefenie Harris Moonlight Designs Pollock Pines, CA learnin' somethin' new every day! stefenie@comcast.net Posts: 550 | From: Pollock Pines, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Heyyy, it actually works now! Thanks, Steve.
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7017 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
Ok, Steve, now I have a few comments or questions.
"I personally like seeing the user's real name instead of a nick. There are some that have been around so long, we know them better by their nicks." If you want to see my real name, that's fine but I know you'll be asking yourself "who in the hell is that?"
"The Laws Of Letterhead Chat...treat your fellow Letterheads with respect and refrain from personal attacks and other forms of verbal abuse." Does this mean I have to be nice to Sticky & that Rochon guy?
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
I tried out the new chat last night. The link on the forum page said "one person in the chatroom"
It was "MayorBot" we chatted for quite a long time, although this letterhead was an exceptional listener, I can't recall now if I actually recieved any feedback. Oh well, it was a nice chat anyway, maybe I'll drop back in, but I guess 10PM hawaii time is kind of slow there.
Chris, you can use your real name or you can be nice to Rochon & Stickie, but don't do both or we really won't recognize you.
posted
hahahahaha...Don't feel bad Doug. There was a time when I thought Chanserv and Nickserv were real people. MayorBot is just a name I registered to keep the chatroom open when nobody is here. If I'm actually in the chatroom, I'll use my real name.
If you find yourself alone in chat, I suggest you click on that Send An Invitation link at the top of the chat window. I'm still not certain that invite thing is actually working or what it says. If someone gets one, please let us know via email if and how it is working.
Kissy is a good example of someone who will always be just Kissy to me. That's who see was the first time I met her.
And how about that Naked Moon last night. I'm like the old lady in Monsters Inc. I'm always watching.
The message Stef got was actually an Instant Message. This is another new hack we are playing with that has nothing to do with the chat invite. Similar, but 2 different animals. All I can really tell you about IM is it's location.
Look at the top, right section of your screen underneath The Auction link. You'll see a row of links that includes my profile | directory login | register | search | faq | forum home | calendar | im That lowercase im is the link to Letterville Instant Chat. It should open a list of users currently browzing the BB, and allow you to send messages to each other.
[ August 19, 2003, 05:10 AM: Message edited by: Steve Shortreed ]
-------------------- Steve Shortreed 144 Hill St., E. Fergus, Ontario Canada N1M 1G9 519-787-2673
posted
Steve I like the new format but am having trouble...I'll be chatting along then everthing "Seizes" and i have to leave the chat room and reboot it to get it going again...anyone else having that problem?
It happened to me about 4 times last nite ...I had to give up.
-------------------- "Werks fer me...it'll werk fer you"
posted
Over the years, we've seen similar problems with HeadTV. Works great for some, while others see nothing and/or get error messages. I'm NOT a computer or software expert, but I have discovered a few things that seem to make a big difference with our own 2 computors.
HeadTV, The New Chat App, and all sorts of other things use a code called Java to make it all work. MicroSoft has it's version of java, called MS Virtual Machine. Sun Systems also has it's own version, commanly known as java.
Although they are supposed to do the same thing, the MS version appears to work better if you are running IE. For a longtime, I could only get HeadTV by using Netscape. It just would not work in my IE. On Barb's computer it worked great on IE.
We discovered some users on another website that were having similar probs. IE users were advised to click on Tools-Internet Options and finally the Advanced tab. If you scroll about half way down the list you will see a line that reads Java (Sun) with a checkbox just below it.
Now just below that, you'll see a line that reads Microsoft VM. This is the Microsoft Virtual Machine we talked about. On my screen, I see 3 checkboxes. Here's my theory, just a theory, but it works for us.
If you are an Internet Explorer user, uncheck the Sun Java checkbox and select the Mirosoft VM option. In our case we selected the top and bottom checkbox, leaving the java logging option unchecked. I'm not certain it really makes any difference if you check the logging option. Now restart you computer to make the necessary changes. Your IE is now using only MicroSoft VM. In my case, HeadTV started working on IE.
Something else to remember. The first time you click on the new chat, a java permission certificate will appear. It asks your approval to install the required chat app on your computer. You have 3 choices. Grant permission just this onetime, grant permission always, or forget the whole thing and refuse it altogether.
In these days, I can see where we are all extra cautious about what we permit on our computers. Some of you may not be granting permission via this certificate. That's ok. We understand your fears, but you need to know that this particular chat app will not work if you don't grant it permission.
I also need to tell you things are very hectic around our house these days. In addition to the Quebec Meet, there are all sorts of family issues happening. We're ovewhelmed. Some jobs are just not getting done. All I can suggest is that you write down any issues with chat or the way the website is working and e-mail us your discoveries. We will address your issues as soon as we can.
[ August 19, 2003, 03:54 PM: Message edited by: Steve Shortreed ]
-------------------- Steve Shortreed 144 Hill St., E. Fergus, Ontario Canada N1M 1G9 519-787-2673
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