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Messages - Facebook ID numbers instead of Names

Messages Facebook names are alternating between ID Numbers and Full Names. I think this started happening after Airport Utility Update 6.3.1

but not absolutely sure.

It will cycle several times between the correct full name and the Facebook ID number from the Facebook Email address (eg. ****@chat.facebook.com) while the contact is signed in. Once the contact signs out the greyed out name will stay as it was when the contact signed out... ie as the correct name or the number...

Also the contact's picture disappears when the number is shown and reappears when the full name appears.

Anyone else seen this problem?

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Jul 24, 2013 1:39 PM

130 replies

Jul 27, 2013 7:27 PM in response to TildeBee

The fact that it's exactly every 10 minutes does seem a little odd, but we have verified that this happens in Guest Accounts, Safe Mode and on other OSes, so I don't think another app is the culprit here.

A little off topic, but has Apple mentioned anything publically about Facebook support in 10.8? It seems long overdue since it's integrated into iOS.

TildeBee

Level 7

31,917 points

Jul 27, 2013 7:33 PM in response to magician13134

magician --

I know that'r true for you, but we don't know what Haunt has done yet, if anything. His is super regular, eh?

Jul 27, 2013 9:15 PM in response to TildeBee

Magician: What do you mean? Facebook has been integrated into OS X for a while now.

~Bee and others: It's not irregular for software that has to poll an API to have a regular heartbeat. The assumption that it's other software seems a more odd assessment to me, since we can see that it's an issue for a large number of people including people on several machines. Most Mac users don't run interfering software, anyway!

TildeBee

Level 7

31,917 points

Jul 27, 2013 9:49 PM in response to DotFreelance

Dot --

I'm confused. Are you running a Mac? Your profile indicates Windown 7, and nothing else.

Most Mac users don't run interfering software, anyway!

Really? I wish that were true. Too many former PC usering are loading up their Macs with Norton, Intego, Sophos, etc., because they expect all kinds of attacks. Loading those onto a Mac is similar to beating it up with a sledgehammer, IMHO.

Jul 27, 2013 9:56 PM in response to TildeBee

I don't keep my profile up to date, but it is now, if it pleases you.

We have 5 fully upgraded 27" iMacs at the workplace, as well as 2 MBPs, a Mac Mini and a Mac Pro, one used as a file server. There's an iPad 2 thrown in there as well for testing.

I myself own a 15" MBPr, an iPad 2 and an iPhone 4.

I've never seen a user with any anti virus or firewall enabled under OS X. I agree that it's like that. 😝

Jul 27, 2013 10:12 PM in response to DotFreelance

I've never seen a user with any anti virus or firewall enabled under OS X. I agree that it's like that. 😝

Unfortunately, we see users installing all manner of A/V, Internet 'security', firewall, etc., software around here. That type of software frequently is the root case of many, many problems. ~Bee's just following protocol!

Clinton

TildeBee

Level 7

31,917 points

Jul 27, 2013 10:14 PM in response to DotFreelance

Wow! We've seen tons of them. Boy, I wish I lived in your world, LOL.

Seriously, we spent eons trying to help former PC users who immediately load up Norton & Intego on their brand new Macs. Or their Safari got slow, so they go to the web and download all kinds of AV, Security & Malware apps, not realizing that none of them are relevent on a Mac.

Thanks for updating your specs on your Profile. It makes a huge difference -- with that information, we now know you're one of us.

😉

Jul 28, 2013 9:15 AM in response to DotFreelance

DotFreelance: For Facebook integration, I was talking mostly about messages. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't adding Facebook to Messages still require manually adding [yourFacebookName]@chat.facebook.com as a Jabber account and setting the port to 5222 and all of that? This method can only use Facebook's "last resort" API method of username/password verification, whereas if Messages was more "aware" of Facebook, it could use the OAuth authentication techinque which doesn't limit us to plaintext messages (sending pictures, files, etc.)

Jul 28, 2013 1:16 PM in response to magician13134

HI,

If you use Facebook integration and it appears in System Preferences > Mail, Contacts and Calendars and can be "Enabled" for Messages there, as can Google (GoogleTalk and Yahoo)

Any Account can also be Manually added to Messages via the + icon at the bottom of the list in Messages > Preferences > Accounts.

There have been issues in setting up a Facebook account that needs the setting at Facebook about "Other Browsers" to be changed.

The idea seems to be that Facebook takes note of your Browser and then stop other Browsers (or in this case Apps) Logging in.

9:16 pm Sunday; July 28, 2013

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.4)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Jul 30, 2013 6:44 PM in response to stevefromorpington

I, too, am having this issue, and I have installed nothing new. It just randomly started happening one day (as far as I can tell). An only in FB (in Messages); AIM accounts show up fine. Hmmm....