Can't connect in Chrome? Try ws=1!

EDIT: 08/31/11 ?ws=1 is no longer needed as we now default to websocket for Chrome users! 

In an attempt to debug Chrome and what is causing people to not connect please try the following:

Try to enter your room, example:

http://www.synchtube.com/r/mrchess

If it doesn't work, add ?ws=1 to the URL, so try this URL instead.

http://www.synchtube.com/r/mrchess?ws=1

Adding ?ws=1 forces the browser to use a different communication mechanism called "websockets", which is faster but only works in Chrome.

Please let me know if you Chrome users have any luck with this hack. If it works, try joining all rooms with ?ws=1 for a speedier experience!

Cheers,

~mrchess

Wednesday Updates

• Added support for Blip.tv
• Added back Import from YouTube
• Added ability to Favorite rooms (so you can now remember!)
• Frontpage now displays more rooms and shows the video type
• Properly display users after they remove their cam
• Restored twitter button

~mrchess

Webcam crashing?

If cam is crashing for you please fill this out to help me fix it http://bit.ly/q3858w.

~mrchess

Monday Updates

• Upgraded image server to support all file types (gif, jpg, png)
• Avatars were wiped in the upgrade
• Added customization (custom leader icon, custom banner)
• Added webcam support (BETA, warning, may cause your browser to freeze)

This should be the last of the big changes. We are now on a good server, and great image server.

~mrchess

Friday Update

• Added back "Fix Video" -- reloads the video player in case of an error
• Added back "Synch Settings" -- lets you tweak how sensitive the synch is
• Added back little indicator to show where you are on the playlist
• Added back layout options, [Classic, Large, Regular], see bottom of room
• Added a cookie so it will remember your last layout choice
• Poll disabled on vote again
• Changed skip button image

State of Synchtube

Just wanted to answer some common question about the state of synchtube the past few days and the new deployment.

1. Why didn't you test it first?

We tried to test it as best we can, but we simply don't have enough resources.

2. Why don't you have the resources?

Synchtube is a small company of two people. Believe it or not we don't make money off this, and we aren't a funded company. Realistically we might have to resolve the money problem as but right now we think building is the most important thing to be doing now.

3. No money? Why are you building it?

For the love of the game if you will. We think synchtube has the potential to really connect people, and we at least need to try.

4. Can you just go back to the old one?

We can't. The old one caused too many problems, but the most important being that the old code cannot scale. The old code prevented your friends from being able to join (the firewall error), and locked us into YouTube only. Now with the new code, we can support any media type, and everyone should be able to connect.

We need this new one. We all do.

5. What can we expect in the next few days?

The server will be going up and down as we stabilize the loose ends. We are also addressing some performance issues with lag in the client, so the client should improve as well.

6. Can I help?

If you'd like to help us progress faster, keep visiting and e-mail any bugs you find tosynchtube@gmail.com or leave a bug comment in the comments section below. These reports help a lot.

-----------------------

We put a lot of thought into the new server and code, so this should be the last major change for a long time. Trust me, we are as frustrated as you are with this deployment but you simply cannot plan for some of these things on our limited budget.

In the event you just want to know when it's all over, when the day comes that this new synchtube is officially stable (within a few days), I will send an e-mail out and announce it on our Twitter, and Facebook page so feel free to subscribe to either of those.

Thanks for bearing with us. We are working 24/7 to get this up and running smoothly as soon as possible. We are almost there.

TLDR; as someone once said, it gets worse before it gets better

Justin aka mrchess

Wednesday Updates

I'll start keeping track of all the big things changed each day!

Here is the list for today.

8/17/2011

• Fixed leader synch issue when changing leaders
• Fixed soundcloud and imgur
• Fixed name overflow in chat list
• Fixed moderators
• Live testing a fix for "blocked by firewall" message

And a list for yesterday since we didn't write one for yesterday.

8/16/2011

• Added back a "classic option" that restores you to the old layout
• Added user avatars for a more interesting bubble chat view
• Added back thumbs in chat when you paste links