MFC PM's without being on the webpage.

[JerryBoBerry]

MFC Private Messages using phones/tablets and offsite on computers. They recently added a way to do this using XMPP clients and I thought I would try it out.

http://wiki.myfreecams.com/wiki/XMPP


I set it up using two software titles mentioned on that webpage, Xabber on my tablet, and Pidgin on the computer. Xabber was fairly easy. Just sign in with the mfc username and password they way they mention. And then go into that account settings and check the box for 'Custom Host' to enable the host and port settings to match what mfc says. It worked after that.

But Pidgin did not match and it was a bit of a pain to set up. Basically through trial and error I got it. So I thought I'd just post it here in case anyone else wanted to give it a try. It's not bad, you can PM models and friends on mfc without being logged into the web page at all. Both software titles I tried stay running in the background to give you notifications for messages instantly.

Just set it up like this, but with your username and password of course. And just a side note, the nice thing about this is you can set up multiple accounts. So if you have more than one account, model or member, you can send/receive PM's on all of them without having to be signed into mfc on a webpage with each.

---

Be sure to select XMPP in the protocol dropbox. Initially it's on AOL and you won't match these entries.


This screen has 'always use encryption' by default. You have to change it to if available, since mfc doesn't use encryption.



Once you do that you'll see your account and it will have a list of every online person on your friends lists and bookmarks.

Emotes to and from mfc do not work, so don't bother with those. Just text back and forth.


This is important for your sanity. This is the default sound settings. You want to be notified when you get a PM, but this also sounds off when any model or friend logs on or off mfc. So it gets annoying if you have a lot on your friends list. UNcheck the 'Buddy logs in or out' options there to avoid that.



If any one else wants to try the other software, especially for iPhone since I don't own one, let us know if it's easy to set up or if you have to do anything special like for Pidgin.

 

[DFT]

I'm always glad to welcome a new XMPP server to the world. Being XMPP everything should work the same on any platform.

XMPP is like ICQ/AIM/Yahoo/ETC - except it's a federated system that connects to others. Is this, Jerry?

 

[schlmoe]

Maybe I'm just being dense, but I don't get this. Why would I want to PM models/friends when I'm not logged onto MFC? And how do I know which of my friends/model friends are online if I'm not logged in? Maybe Jer explained above and I missed it (or maybe I'm being purposely obtuse, lol).

I guess the target audience is the folks who feel they need to be connected to FB & Twitter 24x7. Hey, more power to you and I hope you enjoy it!

Back in the olden days when I had to provide 24x7 support in a mission critical environment, I was required to carry 2 cell phones and 3 pagers (what's a pager, lol) at all times, even on vacation. Let me tell you, we all can benefit from "disconnecting" every once and awhile...

 

[DFT]

Schlmoe - my single desire for XMPP is it's ancient and still works better than most.

With Yahoo dying I thought the blackhole might collapse back to something reasonable.

 

[schlmoe]

Schlmoe - my single desire for XMPP is it's ancient and still works better than most.

With Yahoo dying I thought the blackhole might collapse back to something reasonable.

As an IBMer, I'm pretty familiar with XMPP (w/Sametime)

 

[JerryBoBerry]

Maybe I'm just being dense, but I don't get this. Why would I want to PM models/friends when I'm not logged onto MFC? And how do I know which of my friends/model friends are online if I'm not logged in? Maybe Jer explained above and I missed it (or maybe I'm being purposely obtuse, lol).

If you have multiple accounts, this will allow you to PM from any of them and receive PM's from any of them without having to be signed into all of them at the same time.

It also allows you to get PM notifications in real time on your phones and tablets so you don't have to use the somewhat clunky method on the mobile site.

From a models point of view she can be signed into her model account, and her member account on these (both at the same time) and get PM's in the same software. Also if she wishes to PM while out and about from her phone, this now does that. It's an option some may want to take advantage of.

As for knowing which are online, as soon as you set up this software it pulls in your friends list and bookmarks. Anyone online on those lists shows up in the main box in whatever software you choose. So you can just click on anyone and send them a PM, based on them accepting them of course. It will also notify you if you get one. That incoming one appears at the top of the list, and also notifies you with sound and or popups depending on your settings.


But yes, if you are wanting to not be bothered when you aren't mfc, this won't be for you. (was that a triple negative? Totally trying for that! )

 

[schlmoe]

If you have multiple accounts, this will allow you to PM from any of them and receive PM's from any of them without having to be signed into all of them at the same time.

It also allows you to get PM notifications in real time on your phones and tablets so you don't have to use the somewhat clunky method on the mobile site.

From a models point of view she can be signed into her model account, and her member account on these (both at the same time) and get PM's in the same software. Also if she wishes to PM while out and about from her phone, this now does that. It's an option some may want to take advantage of.

As for knowing which are online, as soon as you set up this software it pulls in your friends list and bookmarks. Anyone online on those lists shows up in the main box in whatever software you choose. So you can just click on anyone and send them a PM, based on them accepting them of course. It will also notify you if you get one. That incoming one appears at the top of the list, and also notifies you with sound and or popups depending on your settings.


But yes, if you are wanting to not be bothered when you aren't mfc, this won't be for you. (was that a triple negative? Totally trying for that! )

OK, I get it now. On the first go round, I did get how it could be useful to models for several reasons. Mostly, to get/receive possibly important PMs while not "showing up" on the site so they don't get besieged by ardent fans.

As far as members go, all that I can say is over the years I've never had a PM emergency in any of the 37 MFC accounts that I have...

Using the XMPP integration could be helpful to the folks who have several texting friends spread across divergent platforms and they need/want to keep in touch. But that just gave me a flashback to the olden days when I'd have 2 video or teleconferences and a dozen or more different chat windows open simultaneously...<involuntary shudder>

tl;dr PM away to your heart's content, MFCers!

 

[JubalCobb]

I've been using trillian for xmpp on windows (via web) and on the iphone since early july when MFC first posted about this to the wiki.

I"m hoping they will actually make the 'mobile' logo they said they're working on.

from the wiki:

• When you log in, you will appear online on MFC and will remain online until you disconnect on the XMPP client. We are working on indicating that you are online from a mobile device in future releases.

Sometimes I'll even stay logged in on my phone using trillian even when I'm online normally because its notification of a PM is more noticeable than the browser.

You can also see topics which I kind of like.

MissLolly posted a tutorial on configuring the monal app for MFC chat. https://www.cammodelexpress.com/use-an-app-to-pm-on-myfreecams-iphoneipad-tutorial/
MFC did say the monal app had some issues in their testing and thats why they recommended the apps they recommend in the wiki. Still worth reading.

I notice her tutorial has TLS enabled. That didn't work for me in Trillian. I should try again as I'd want to protect my account info and chat info from prying eyes.