Lightbulb IM

4.15 / 5 (40 votes)

Description
Lightbulb is an instant messenger which supports Facebook Chat, Google Talk and other XMPP-based services. It was initially based on MeegIM.

Features
- sending, receiving messages
- lots of customization options
- notifications (info banner in app, discreet popup, notification led, vibration, and sound)
- multi account support
- widget
- roster management
- VCard (partially, can read, can't write)
- archive

Signed version available here: https://github.com/ksiazkowicz/lightbulb/releases/tag/0.3.1

Version 0.3.1 Changelog:
I'd like to dedicate this release to wonderful Symbian community, I wouldn't be able to continue developing this app without their support. Both mentally (motivation) and physically (donations). You might want to read a story about it on GitHub (https://github.com/ksiazkowicz/lightbulb/releases/tag/0.3.1).

Release containing critical fixes and small improvements for 0.3.

- fixed status not being updated properly on homescreen widget
- fixed a dump typo causing unreadCount to be broken when discreet popups are enabled
- added some new Facebook smileys (thanks bhavin!)
- updated "Contributors" and "About"
- added an option to disable avatar caching
- introduced NetworkManager - you can now choose access point used with Lightbulb and it will open, close and maintain connection, it should also fix some issues with connection (selecting IAPs is here thanks to Paul Wallace who actually got that idea btw. I thought using default all the time would do just fine)
- improved reconnection feature, it now actually works (thanks to NetworkManager btw.) but only with currently selected account
- introduced Migration Manager, as settings files were moved in this release (as well as cache) to private folder, you can use migration manager to import your current settings. Bear in mind that you'd have to remove your old Lightbulb.conf manually (cache is being cleared automatically though). Btw. it should also be able to import some of the settings from 0.2.x and older versions but I actually never tried that.
- improve VCard cache (it actually does anything now)
- check if phone is in "Silent" mode before playing a sound/vibration notification
- cache moved to "Private" folder, you can set your own path in Settings.conf if you care that much

HUGE IMPROVEMENT
- accounts list is finally refreshed properly, you can delete, add and modify accounts and you won't have to restart the app for changes to take effect ^^

Known issues:
- restarting app after migration never works, but that's not a big deal so I just left it this way, I'll fix it later

Screenshots

  • pisarz1958
  • 0.3.1
  • July 18, 2014
  • Unsigned
  • General Public License 3
  • LocalServices, ReadDeviceData, WriteDeviceData, NetworkServices, ReadUserData, WriteUserData
  • Symbian^3, Symbian Anna, Symbian Belle, Symbian Belle Refresh, Symbian Belle Feature Pack 1, Symbian Belle Feature Pack 2
  • 0xE22AC278
  • sis
  • 2 MB
  • 2453

27 thoughts on “Lightbulb IM

  1. is that possible to make the app run in background. Like whatsapp… When i close that app in the task manager also its shows the notifications via widgets and popups…

    • Technically – yes. It’s planned for a distant future as it means lots of significant changes in the app to be done.

    • Just open menu, choose Accounts, ad an account, make sure it’s enabled, go back to main view, open menu again, choose “Status” to get online and you’re ready to use the app. I’m thinking about adding a wizard on the first run, but it was never my priority in this early phase of development.

  2. really nice app. facebook integration works well. UI is also very smooth. overall i liked it.
    but willing to see windows live and yahoo in future updates.

    • Thanks. :) It’ll remain free of course, cause it’s open-source, but it’s good to know that it would be worth paying for. ^^ About the homescreen widget, I have some new ideas I’d be working on later.

  3. I like this app but I’m having some problems with it…
    It seems that everytime it refreshes it get’s freeze for more than 30 seconds, is that normal?
    And when trying to chat on facebook everytime I send a message it goes offline and eventually it will crash.
    Any help? I’m using a Nokia N8 with the lastest Delight custom rom.
    By the way thanks for keep on developing for Symbian, any help will be appreciated.

  4. Very nice Chat app finally available on my Nokia Symbian powered smartphone!
    I love the UI as it is simple and beautiful.

    With the new version it doesn’t load the avatar pictures from the facebook chat people.
    I wish that this app could access my notification drop down bar (like the Chat “IM on the go” app powered by Nokia could).
    Furthermore it would be nice to use this app permanently, so that the facebook status remains with a little mobile icon. Some of my contacts did worry about that I am online all night long because as long as this app is working it shows the green “online” icon in facebook.

    All in all, great app with a little room for improvement. And one more brilliant coder who has it down pat! Thank you.

    • Thank you! I really appreciate your feedback.

      I don’t know any way to access the drop down bar. I guess it would require using some undocumented APIs, maybe even not public. On the other hand, I’m already testing support for chat icon on the status bar and it goes pretty well, so that’s some kind of solution after all. Though it needs some capabilities that are not available if you’re using a self-signed certificate, so I need to think this through.

      As I’m not using Facebook API – and I’m not planning to, there is no way Facebook could recognize your connection as mobile. I’m sorry about that.

      Have fun with my app :)

  5. LED notification is not working fo me on Nokia 603 (Belle FP2). But overall, this app is something that i was waiting for a loooong time:) Great job:) I hope it will be evolving in the future

  6. Same error as Angel’s said.

    SOCKET_ERROR
    Nokia C7 Belle OS.
    Lightbulb 0.3

    Please help.
    (I wasn’t able to use this app yet because of this error. So unable to feedback. Sorry for that)

  7. I love the interface of the app but unfortunately it just won’t work.

    – I have installed it on a Nokia 701 with Belle FP2 as well as a Nokia 701 with the Delight custom firmware.
    – I have installed, uninstalled and re-installed the app.
    – I have tried different credentials for Facebook chat (including my email and my chat username followed by ‘@chat.facebook.com’)

    and it still gives me a socket error.

    Plus, I have read that the @chat.facebook.com is no longer supported.

    Any workrounds?

    • I’m sorry to hear about that. @chat.facebook.com is supported until april 2015 if I recall correctly. Until then I’d need to code Facebook API support I guess.

      You’re getting a socket error, which is generally an internet connection issue. Can you check if it got your Internet Access Point right? Check it in Preferences -> Connection.

      About the credentials, there are few simple rules to remember.
      First, if you’re using 2-step verification, you have to generate an application password and use it as a password in app.
      Second, use the login and password from here:
      https://www.facebook.com/sitetour/chat.php

      I hope I’ve been of any help here. If not, please contact me by mail (pisarzk at gmail.com) or anything and I’ll try to help you.

  8. Thank my comrade, you can release best app for this legendary Os
    you know Symbian fan need Social app like tango line and instagram :(
    can you build third party app? You can, i see and waiting
    can use this app for whats app and viber?

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