Replacement for GTalk with similar functionality?
October 14, 2013 10:11 AM Subscribe
Ideally, I need a windows client and/or browser interface, an android client, and an iOS client. I would like synchronization (to be able to change devices and continue conversation cleanly). I need a standard chat log. I would love the chat log to be on an online platform so it can be easily downloaded/forwarded/searched.
Google+ Hangouts has destroyed my workflow.
I need a program that operates similar to the way GTalk used to. Ideally, I need a windows client and/or browser interface, an android client, and an iOS client. I would like synchronization (to be able to change devices and continue conversation cleanly). I need a standard chat log. I would love the chat log to be on an online platform so it can be easily downloaded/forwarded/searched.
I am open to virtually any solution at the moment, as I've just spent the last three hours tearing my hair out as I try to recover work-related information from the insanely useless hangouts system.
Any and all suggestions welcome.
Google+ Hangouts has destroyed my workflow.
I need a program that operates similar to the way GTalk used to. Ideally, I need a windows client and/or browser interface, an android client, and an iOS client. I would like synchronization (to be able to change devices and continue conversation cleanly). I need a standard chat log. I would love the chat log to be on an online platform so it can be easily downloaded/forwarded/searched.
I am open to virtually any solution at the moment, as I've just spent the last three hours tearing my hair out as I try to recover work-related information from the insanely useless hangouts system.
Any and all suggestions welcome.
It's no clear what you are missing. How exactly did the changes to gtalk kill you workflow?
posted by aspo at 10:34 AM on October 14, 2013
posted by aspo at 10:34 AM on October 14, 2013
I get those features using GTalk through Trillian.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:40 AM on October 14, 2013
posted by Chrysostom at 10:40 AM on October 14, 2013
Response by poster: Specifically, Hangouts has changed the way messages are logged. Instead of having a single day's messages logged as one message, searchable and forwardable, Hangouts has a dynamic scrolling message log that isn't downloadable or forwardable.
I am a writer, collaborative, and my process involves lengthy IM chats with writing partners, etc. Previously, I was able to forward these chats to my Evernote account, my project partners, etc. I was also able to call up this information through Gmail itself on my phone or iPad. None of these things work any longer.
I have been using Pidgin to restore some of the functionality that was taken away, such as the ability to see if my contacts are online, read their status messages to know if they're actually available, and so forth. However, logging through 'GTalk' now deposits those logs in a hangouts log, and thus I'm right back to the same problem where the logs are concerned.
posted by erisraven at 10:57 AM on October 14, 2013
I am a writer, collaborative, and my process involves lengthy IM chats with writing partners, etc. Previously, I was able to forward these chats to my Evernote account, my project partners, etc. I was also able to call up this information through Gmail itself on my phone or iPad. None of these things work any longer.
I have been using Pidgin to restore some of the functionality that was taken away, such as the ability to see if my contacts are online, read their status messages to know if they're actually available, and so forth. However, logging through 'GTalk' now deposits those logs in a hangouts log, and thus I'm right back to the same problem where the logs are concerned.
posted by erisraven at 10:57 AM on October 14, 2013
I use imo. It works with most popular chat services. There are apps for iOS, Android, and a web interface for when you're on a computer. The logs/chat history are searchable and per conversation, but I don't know if it's downloadable (maybe from the web interface).
posted by bluefly at 11:02 AM on October 14, 2013
posted by bluefly at 11:02 AM on October 14, 2013
Response by poster: imo has been good, somewhat, but I've several times hit a problem with the logging where it will only log one side of a conversation. Not sure what's happening there, will research it with them and see if it's something I can fix/work around.
posted by erisraven at 11:26 AM on October 14, 2013
posted by erisraven at 11:26 AM on October 14, 2013
Best answer: If you go to the hangouts log in your gmail (under the chats label), you can click the little down arrow on right of each day boundary and mail that days chat log.
It's not exactly easily discoverable, but I believe that's what you were looking for.
posted by aspo at 11:44 AM on October 14, 2013 [2 favorites]
It's not exactly easily discoverable, but I believe that's what you were looking for.
posted by aspo at 11:44 AM on October 14, 2013 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: That's brilliant, aspo! That fixes at least half my drama in one shot. Now I can email it again. I looked for that all over the web, and never freaking noticed the little arrow. Just goes to show that user interfaces aren't always as obvious as their designer thinks they are.
posted by erisraven at 11:55 AM on October 14, 2013
posted by erisraven at 11:55 AM on October 14, 2013
Alternately, as a long-term solution you can switch to an IRC client and use bitlbee to connect to GChat (or whatever else). The way it works is you use your IRC client to go to a bitlbee server, you join a private channel, and the bitlbee server acts as a go-between for your client and the chat network.
May be kind of a nuisance if you're not used to IRC already, but it's relatively future-proof.
posted by 23 at 8:54 PM on October 14, 2013
May be kind of a nuisance if you're not used to IRC already, but it's relatively future-proof.
posted by 23 at 8:54 PM on October 14, 2013
Pidgin has a nice searchable log, but it won't all be synced with the chants you on on phone and web. However, anything said on any of them will still log to gmail.
posted by Canageek at 11:54 PM on October 14, 2013
posted by Canageek at 11:54 PM on October 14, 2013
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BeejiveIM for iOS and Android
Continue using your gTalk account and logs should be synchronized and searchable via GMail's All Mail folder (not the individual clients).
posted by lucia_engel at 10:30 AM on October 14, 2013