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Level 1

14 points

Multi-IM client with file transfer

I've been trying to find the ultimate multi-IM client which supports file transfers on all protocols... Quite ambitious, I know. I haven't found one, so I'll share my experience and ask for other suggestions. I'm mainly interested in Yahoo! Messenger, GTalk and Facebook Chat.

- Messages/iChat : great, except that the Facebook Chat account doesn't support file transfers. I only get a text: <contact name> sent you an image/file if I receive and an error if I try to send.

- Adium - no file transfers whatsoever. I know they have included this in "Known Issues", that it's actually a matter of luck whether file transfer works or not...

- Trillian - no file transfers on Facebook Chat.

- Nimbuzz - no file transfers on Facebook Chat.

- Psi - no file transfers on Facebook Chat.

I have yet to try the newly launched Flamingo, but I really wouldn't like to spend $10 for it...

Is there any way I could make Messages support file transfers on Facebook Chat? It would be my first choice, as it's deeply integrated into OS X and its iMessages support. I asked this on the Facebook Community, but still no answer. I have set up the Facebook Chat account as they say on the Facebook website.

Does it have anything to do with Mavericks?

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2012), OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Nov 20, 2013 9:48 AM

23 replies

m3adi3c Author

Level 1

14 points

Nov 25, 2013 11:13 AM in response to m3adi3c

I'm back to confirm that most probably it's a Facebook problem or something more subtle.

I downloaded Flamingo, the most recent and "state-of-the-art" IM app supporting Google and Facebook and file transfers. If I try to send a file, it works, but not via direct connection, but using Droplr or Cloud.app and it sends the link to the file. If someone sends me a file, I get the same text: <contact name> sent you an image.

What's wrong and why doesn't Facebook answer? You know I tried all the various settings...

Nov 26, 2013 11:38 AM in response to m3adi3c

Hi,

I can't answer for Facebook.

It may be like here where answers are supplied by other users.

It may be that the staff reading the questions don't know the answer either.

7:37 pm Tuesday; November 26, 2013

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
 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

m3adi3c Author

Level 1

14 points

Nov 26, 2013 12:01 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Well, in the meantime, I played with it even more. I wrote to the guys at Flamingo, asking for support and they said that the Facebook API doesn't allow any third parties to use direct file transfers.

But the strange thing is that I downloaded Chatbook (https://itunes.apple.com/ro/app/chatbook-for-facebook/id727622611?mt=12) and this app ALLOWS direct file transfers, both ways! I don't know much about app development, but I'm guessing that they actually use the browser version, somehow, like "extracting" the chat window from the browser, I don't know...

Nov 26, 2013 1:05 PM in response to m3adi3c

Hi,

I am wondering if that App is pulling just the chat part(s) of the web page and as you then say using the Web Browser File Transfer access.

9:05 pm Tuesday; November 26, 2013

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
 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

m3adi3c Author

Level 1

14 points

Nov 26, 2013 1:08 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

That's exactly what I thought, but there's probably no way to find out for sure.

Nov 26, 2013 1:41 PM in response to m3adi3c

Hi,

It will take some reading of this page

https://developers.facebook.com/docs/chat/ (strangely one of the ones you can access without logging in)

I still don't think even that page has the File Transfer stuff on it.

9:40 pm Tuesday; November 26, 2013

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
 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

m3adi3c Author

Level 1

14 points

Nov 26, 2013 9:56 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Thank you, Sir! I shall read it thoroughly, but I highly doubt it will give a definitive answer.

However, since it seems less and less likely to get my desired result (i.e. a full-featured multi-IM client, with full file transfers), I'm going to accept your last answer as a solution and call the discussion a close.

Maybe it's too much fuss for something which could have a simple alternative: being at my computer, there's no big deal in using the browser version, rather than an app.

Thank you very much again for your invaluable support!

Regards,

Adrian

Nov 27, 2013 11:42 AM in response to m3adi3c

for the Points.

7:42 pm Wednesday; November 27, 2013

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
 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

Multi-IM client with file transfer