Google Talk's gadget was a nice addition, but you couldn't use it to chat with unknown people or with the visitors of the site, like in
Meebo Me. Now you can do that using
the new chatback badges. You only need to add some code to your site and anyone could click on the generated badge to chat with you.
"A Google Talk chatback badge allows others to chat with you even if they haven't signed up for Google Talk or a Google Account. You can put the badge in your blog or website, and people who visit those pages can chat with you. The badge will display your online status (whether you're available to chat or not) and, optionally, your status message."
If someone clicks on the badge, a special version of the Google Talk gadget will open and he will be able to chat with you.
The conversations are private and only one-to-one, so other visitors won't be able to read them. For some strange reason, they're not even added in Gmail's chat section. Unfortunately, being constantly interrupted by other people is not very pleasant, so you can disable the link from your badge by setting your status to "busy" or by signing out of Google Talk.
{ Thank you, Dan. }
Labels: Google Talk
said on February 26, 2008 2:15 AM PDT:
Great function, nice work!
I have been trying to find out if it is possible to style the talk gadget to match your site. I know it's an iframe but there was some way of doing it for the regular chat box with a linked xml file. No luck so far. Anyone know if it possible?
I still don't understand why you would add that gadget to a site. If I want to chat with my contacts, I have other options.
Regarding the customizations, Google offers
a way to link to a CSS file, but there's a problem: "the domain from which your custom CSS file is served must also be hosting a properly-configured crossdomain.xml file at the root level. This file allows the Google Talk Gadget to load data (your custom CSS file) from your domain."
JBagley said on February 26, 2008 3:12 AM PDT:
This is almost cool, but is there not a way of getting the vistor when he initiates a conversation on my blog to forward to my Gtalk, rather than having me to be logged into iGoogle?
Is there maybe a bot for it?
Rui Cruz said on February 26, 2008 3:51 AM PDT:
Wow, nice feature.
Thanks for spreading.
I will spread it in my language too.
This need just one improvment: internationalization.
I cant change the status message, even if my GTalk is in other language.
Thanks,
Rui
said on February 26, 2008 4:17 AM PDT:
The Google URL gives a 404 error for me right now
http://www.google.com/talk/service/badge/New
imma said on February 26, 2008 5:10 AM PDT:
Re:
> I still don't understand why you
> would add that gadget to a site.
> If I want to chat with my
> contacts, I have other options.
I think it's just a *Really Easy* way to do it - copy paste a little code & you're done.
It's for chatting with people who stumble across your site - perhaps useful for Sales/Support of online apps (or even *ugh* offline apps via company web pages)
- imma
This badge is useful because you can chat with the owner of a site, but
embedding the gadget into your site is pointless.
James said on February 26, 2008 9:27 AM PDT:
Glad to know it's not just me... I'm getting that error, too.
Bad Request
Error 400
I'm almost tempted to fire up Safari or IE to see if Google's accidentally done something that breaks in Firefox.
This is really a neat feature. Matches the Grand Central "Call Me" button or AIM's "Mimzi" Facebook app... the ability for people to connect with you without having any particular software, or even knowing your phone number or IM. (Though sounds like the Google one will display your name.)
said on February 26, 2008 9:28 AM PDT:
Pretty neat. I can use it with my gmail user id but is there a way to use it with my google apps id and therfore domain name?
forgen said on February 26, 2008 10:20 AM PDT:
Wow, this functionality is great - instant communication available to any visitor, but it still maintains anonymity. I have gone ahead and put this one my page, but haven't figured out if my
crossdomain.xml is working in an attempt to style the bubble.
My basic
css file is just trying to change the background of the bubble (class ".b" - thanks
firebug), but no luck yet.
Anybody see my problem?
Ricky said on February 26, 2008 10:57 AM PDT:
It doesnt work for domains yet
joshnunn said on February 26, 2008 12:04 PM PDT:
Joey: I wondered this and then decided it didn't matter, as they never see your identity, other than your nickname (which you can change).
The biggest downside I can see is that this doesn't send the messages straight to your IM of choice, but rather sends a message to your IM app telling you that someone has left a message and gives you a link to the gadget with the guest already waiting for you. So instead of just replying, they must wait for you to receive their question, click the link, wait for the page to open and reply. It's a bit round-about.
Przemek said on February 26, 2008 3:23 PM PDT:
It's not round-about as long as you use gadget instead of Google Talk desktop client. I have strong feeling that Google deliberately keeps forgetting about desktop GT updates hoping that adding lots of features to flash version will disencourage us from using desktop one... I don't really like this all-in-browser way...
@Ricky
It does check http://www.google.com/talk/service/a/YOURDOMAIN/badge/New
Source:
http://www.google.com/support/talkgadget/bin/answer.py?answer=86171
Peregrino said on February 26, 2008 8:54 PM PDT:
Well... I've spent almost half my sleep time just to shrink that enormous 200x60 bubble to fit in my site.
After hours of trying to access the DOM of that iframe via javascript and jquery, trying to include the file by PHP's include() and even trying an XMLHTTPRequest to that external file, I found the solution to my problem. If you look at the code, at the end of the src attribute of the iframe there is something like this:
src="...3bos8c60l2b7&w=200&h=60"
if you change "w=200" for "w=###", the bubble will have a ### pixels width. The same goes for h=60 and the height.
I didn't know of the crossdomain.xml and CSS, I'll give it a try these days, but if you just want to shrink it, it's pretty easier this way ^_^
Przemek said on February 26, 2008 11:54 PM PDT:
@Mustafa Zaza:
Thanks a lot! It works for apps too!
Lorenzo said on February 27, 2008 1:17 AM PDT:
Great! I enjoy it and I was searching something like this one... I'm very happy for this gadget.
I hope in the future I'll customize it to change the image and other things...
thanks to Google! :)
Stijn said on February 27, 2008 5:38 AM PDT:
Awesome new feature! Although it uses an iframe, I have already added it to my blog. Too bad the width cannot be edited. But they will certainly make that possible.
Peregrino said on February 27, 2008 7:21 AM PDT:
@stjin: Look at the comments! There are some ways to shrink it, via CSS and XML or by tweaking a little the URL ^_^
said on March 8, 2008 5:59 AM PDT:
Nice functionality. But when I already logged-in in a client, why it is giving a link and upon clicking that, it is opening a new window. After that, if I minimize the window, it is not giving any notifications when a new message comes. Is it not possible to see all the messages by the site visitors in my client only?
@ anonymous above:
Google Talk's desktop client doesn't support this feature (chatting with anonymous users), so you get a link to a special version of the Google Talk gadget.
BenC said on March 8, 2008 11:08 PM PDT:
Neil,
You might want to play with http://www.hab.la it's a free alternative to google's chat back. And is really customizable, although admittedly no one has really pushed it's customizing features to the edge.
BenC said on March 8, 2008 11:08 PM PDT:
That link was:
Hab.la - funny blogger -- no auto-highlighting.
The Google chatback badge is kinda neat, but it definitely is behind the times in terms of functionality and easy-of-use. The series of pop-ups and windows you get when someone initiates a conversation from the web is annoying. Both Hab.la and Digsby offer plug-ins for your site that are much nicer.
Luxi said on May 22, 2008 8:50 AM PDT:
Well, I think it doesn't work since I tried clicking on it but nothing happened!
proweb said on July 14, 2008 10:14 PM PDT:
how to change online status circle to other picture?
XC Fan said on August 20, 2008 6:13 PM PDT:
Can you put the standard version in a "Google Site"?
said on January 24, 2009 9:07 AM PDT:
i need more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (please)
Kyle said on January 29, 2009 10:47 AM PDT:
I've been messing with this for a couple days. I think the fact that my librarians (which is how we'll use this as a reference service) have to click on so many links just to activate the chat will be a project killer.
@Someone who said this...
"Google Talk's desktop client doesn't support this feature (chatting with anonymous users), so you get a link to a special version of the Google Talk gadget."
It's not just the desktop client. It does this in Meebo, too, which is what we use to aggregate about 5 different IM accounts.
said on March 11, 2009 10:23 AM PDT:
was working fine now I get a HTTP:?? 404 error - any thoughts anyone
please help
i'm offline...but why badge still online?
said on March 31, 2009 4:57 AM PDT:
Is it possible to have a "Chat room"?
Whitout me beeing logged in, just visitors talking to eachother.
And yes, group chat, not only one-to-one?
Thanx!
Anil said on April 21, 2009 12:17 AM PDT:
Just like many people above, I also get 404 error now. It was working perfectly fine until today evening, and I didn't change any darn thing. I tried some "solutions" by disabling old badges and then creating a new one, but that didn't work either. Time to get the old-styled C-box, unless somebody solves this. It was great as long as it lasted. Thanks!
garbage said on April 22, 2009 3:17 PM PDT:
the chat badge has the same problem in my website, 404 error. I tried to create a new badge, disabled all old badge, tried all the browsers, with the updated flash, clearing cookies but still no luck. Will this be fixed at all?
Harold said on April 23, 2009 7:47 AM PDT:
Same 404 problem here!
Still no fix though :-(
Google????
Dan said on April 24, 2009 10:07 AM PDT:
Has anyone seen a response from Google on this?
I am getting the same 404 error message. Why is their no way to notify google of problems other the help forums?
good service really easy but for the sorrow
dosn't work ! " 404 page error "
is there any one can give us here any suggestion to solve this
a big problem . any one from usa can call them about that .
jweld said on April 27, 2009 2:12 PM PDT:
I'm getting the 404 error as well. I use the chatback badge on my wordpress site for customer service. It work fine for about 3 months, now it's a no-go.
Someone from Google said: "We are aware of this problem. An emergency fix is being pushed to resolve it."
> "We are aware of this problem.
> An emergency fix is being pushed to resolve it."
Three questions: when? when? when?
said on June 11, 2009 11:58 PM PDT:
If you have a Gtalk or any Instant Message client account you can use Hab.la live chat. They are a free service, with minimal branding / no ads on the chat widget, and it works great.
Check out their site, www.hablabusiness.com
