Why is tower chat still IRC?

Devonna Harren

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I second Stephen. Notifications would be an issue for a lot of apps.

One thing is that if there are multiple apps/chats, that will split the number of people in a given chat which could be an issue. Also people seem really really attached to IRC which is ... fine I guess. This is my first time using it but I don't dislike it. (I find specific things and keep to them. I only talk to a few people consistently online(one actually), found AIM in high school, and stayed there.

My issue is that it would be nice to have an iPhone app. There do seem to be workarounds for Android but that doesn't help me.
 

Jeryn Lekar

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My issue is that it would be nice to have an iPhone app. There do seem to be workarounds for Android but that doesn't help me.
Like I mentioned by proxy, IRCcloud. :) There's also Colloquy for iPhoneys (iPhones ;p).
 
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Onis O'Leia

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In the past I've used a couple of different Android IRC clients, but lately had lots of issues connecting to Sorcery with them. I signed up for IRCcloud now and loaded the app. It works fine. Thanks, Jeryn!
 

Elania al'Manir

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List of positive/negative features to consider:
  • Mobile and desktop friendly
  • Ad-free
  • Easy to link to
  • Random people can pop in
  • Familiar
  • Have to provide personal information
  • Voice chat
  • Share images/videos/gifs
  • Respond to/quote messages
  • Join vs be added to a group
  • Bots
  • Notifications

List of chat programs to consider:
  • IRC
  • Discord
  • Telegram
  • WhatsApp
  • Slack

Did I miss anything?
 

Qamra Daielin

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I would honestly take WhatsApp off the list Elania. It requires you to give out your phone # to be in the "chat" and would be seen by all. And I think that a number of people would be opposed to that? (But I could be wrong....)
 

Elania al'Manir

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Oh, I definitely agree. I just wanted to make sure we looked at every option that was mentioned at some point in the thread.
 

Qamra Daielin

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OK, cool :)
 

Alyria Ess

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I have a love and passion for IRC, and I manage a few other channels on the same server, so keeping it as is would be grand, but most important to me is that the live interaction between us all remains or improves. If I had more time I would volunteer efforts toward this since I'm so passionate about it, but alas...
 

Onis O'Leia

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Yeah, Whatsapp is out for me. I only would use it with a those that would have my cell phone number regardless of chat or no chat.
 

Jaryd Kosari

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Most "modern apps" you can turn push notifications completely off if they bother you.
 
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Most "modern apps" you can turn push notifications completely off if they bother you.

See, but the glorious thing is that I can actively be on IRC and have notifications on when I am, and then leave IRC and not be bothered by it again until I log back in. :P
 

Jaryd Kosari

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See, but the glorious thing is that I can actively be on IRC and have notifications on when I am, and then leave IRC and not be bothered by it again until I log back in. :P


You can do this with discord. Set your status to do not disturb, close the app. Reopen the app, set your status to online.
 

Alyccea Nymaessene

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I would add the criteria (though it might fall under "mobile-friendly") that the mobile app for the ideal option should be non-battery-sucking. From what I've seen, that's a fairly common complaint when it comes to IRC apps.
 

Jaryd Kosari

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I don't think that's avoidable, Alyccea. Chat apps are constantly (as in every 2-3 seconds) sending and receiving data, which by nature eats battery. :(
 

Enya Tawarwaith

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Irc is the only thing I can do from work :look:
 
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I just would need an app that only notifies me when i'm signed in and it's open. And I wouldn't want 1378975234397 notifications each time I sign in.... which is what happens with Group Me. Maybe some of these others aren't like that, but I don't need to be connected to 7-20 people 24/7.
 
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If there is the option to turn off voice (I don't want to listen to someone go into a tirade while I'm on my break at work, for example), I don't care.

Whatever you pick, please make it easily accessible from the site.
 
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Lol, yeah. I have absolutely zero interest in listening to or speaking with most Tower members, though I love to chat with them.
 
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