Chat bots can be fun or useful, but until now, deploying and maintaining a chat bot for Google Talk was difficult. Google has announced a new XMPP API that makes it easier to build your own chat bots with the Google App Engine. The XMPP support lets you create apps that exchange messages with … [Read more...]
50 Ways to use Skype at School
Skype is a terrific, free program for voice chat (and text or video chat, for that matter). I've used Skype to stay in touch with my son as he travels overseas in the Navy (Skype-to-Skype calls are free!) and to stay connected with my granddaughter on the other side of the … [Read more...]
drop.io adds real-time chat
drop.io promises simple, secure, real-time file sharing and collaboration. It's easy to setup a drop.io "box" -- you don't even need to register. Once you've setup a drop.io space, you can send files, share and retrieve files from that space using almost any method imaginable. Web uploads/downloads, … [Read more...]
Chat Lingo
Instant messaging and chat communications are often more informal than email, and you'll see people using acronyms to quickly express emotion or just to communicate a lot of information with less effort. They can be intimidating and confusing to the newbie, so keep that in mind when chatting with … [Read more...]
Office Hours: Saturday and Sunday
The office will be open this weekend! I'm opening office hours Saturday from 1-3pm, and Sunday from 2-4pm (Pacific time zone). What in the world am I talking about? You can join me in our BigBlueBall chat room to say hello, ask a question, or find out what's coming at BigBlueBall. I'll be in there … [Read more...]
Instant Messaging
What is Instant Messaging (IM)? Instant messaging allows you to detect when your friends are online and send them short messages in real-time. People just like you and I are finding instant messaging a great way to keep in touch with friends, family and business associates. In fact, Jupiter Media … [Read more...]