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Question/suggestion about viewing users online/offline
I noticed that online/offline users on Buddycloud aren't marked differently in the contact list. I asked Ross about this over chat, and he explained to me that the approach was more of a sms style approach as opposed to an IM style approach, therefor it is not needed.
Since chat is very much integrated as a part of Buddycloud (and the way that users are used to interacting with such services), I've got to say that I find this somewhat confusing, and a little bit of a learning curve, since Buddycloud's first impression to me what more of an IM-type implementation.
I'd like to know if you guys are planning on tackling this issue, considering the fact that you have indicated that you're planning on perhaps integrating gtalk/facebook IM. Both gtalk and Facebook are IM services which users are used to interacting with using a user online/offline interface. I believe that changing this for the user will be a hefty learning curve for new users and quite confusing.
I don't know how this fits into your "master plan", but I would like to suggest indicating offline contacts with a greyed-out icon.
Since chat is very much integrated as a part of Buddycloud (and the way that users are used to interacting with such services), I've got to say that I find this somewhat confusing, and a little bit of a learning curve, since Buddycloud's first impression to me what more of an IM-type implementation.
I'd like to know if you guys are planning on tackling this issue, considering the fact that you have indicated that you're planning on perhaps integrating gtalk/facebook IM. Both gtalk and Facebook are IM services which users are used to interacting with using a user online/offline interface. I believe that changing this for the user will be a hefty learning curve for new users and quite confusing.
I don't know how this fits into your "master plan", but I would like to suggest indicating offline contacts with a greyed-out icon.
I’m unsure
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Inappropriate?I would like to see it too. Offline /Online mark shouldn't be this difficult
I’m unsure
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Inappropriate?@Liron: We've done some thinking about this offline vs online issue over the last year. And had a couple of heated conversations about what was the "right" thing to do.
Here's how our thinking goes:
When you send an SMS, there is no obligation on the recipient to reply immediately. Perhaps their phone is elsewhere... perhaps they just don't want to be under the pressure of having to reply immediately. IM is different you see when a user is online or offline and expect a reply.
Perhaps I speak for myself here, but I don't like the pressure of the recipient expecting an immediate reply. I like to be able to reply in my own time.
So our thinking is really:
"respect the message recipient's privacy by just having them marked as always "there" with the understanding that they may log in every now and again to reply to their BC messages."
There's a caveat that confuses things even more (there always is!):
Some people use their desktop IM clients on BC (http://www.buddycloud.com/cms/node/6). Sometimes these are setup to always be online, sometimes they mark the user offline after x minutes. Sometimes people are invisible. This only confuses things even more. So we think that it's right that people are just always "there" like with SMS and can reply in their own good time.
I should also add that, until Apple gets their inbound messaging API sorted, the iPhone Buddycloud build will have most users as offline, and perhaps logging in once an hour to check and send messages. Make of this what you will.
Also, you get an idea of when users were recently on BC by where they are in your list. Activity bubbles a user to the top of a list. Less active users bubble down.
I’m privacy-alicious.
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This answers the question
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could i suggest you put this up on the blog?
it is this little "differences" that make new users get annoyed as you have broken their mental model.
i have to say i agree with your basic idea, but Liron has a point in that the app does look IM like (and of course has XMPP underneath it all!). -
will do mike. Today has been Buddycloud scalability day. Tomorrow is "write the FAQ day", amongst other things...
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Inappropriate?"Also, you get an idea of when users were recently on BC by where they are in your list. Activity bubbles a user to the top of a list. Less active users bubble down."
While this is true, I don't think this is clear enough visually. I certainly didn't understand this in the beginning and was wondering why my contact list was shifting around all the time. The fact that this needs to be explained to a user at all means that something about the usability is a bit off.
I understand what you're saying about IM vs. SMS, however this is going to be a very foreign concept and a learning curve for new users. The Buddycloud application behaves like an IM app in most of it's implementation, except for it's buddy list. If a total SMS over IM approach is taken, then it needs to be somewhat more global than it currently is. At present, the entire app functions visibly like an IM app, so a user is going to naturally expect the buddy list to function in a similar way - and that is just about the only main element which functions differently than expected. If a feature preforms vastly differently than how the user expects it to, it's frustrating for the user.
As for respecting a user's wish not to answer a message, one can always implement "away", "not available" or "do not disturb" statuses. Users will feel right at home with this, as it is a widely known standard.
I’m don't kill me
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Inappropriate?I'd like to add an additional point to this (which I guess you may already thought of, but still), adding offline/online/away status adds an additional dimension of relevance to the app. When a user had his location updated, I don't know if it's been updated recently or if the person has updated and logged off two hours ago. Adding the online/offline status lets me know how relevant and up-to-date the the person's location data is.
I’m happy
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