yup...the 770 is still a mean lil machine eh?

here is the deal...
yes program and function development and new firmware isn't coming for the 770 or the 8x0 (possibly) in the near future...but it isn't written in stone.
many over the years have been upset over that.
the fact that when the "new" device comes out everyone almost immediately migrates to it and everything on the last device comes to a screeching halt.
Doesn't mean there isn't a planet worth of undiscovered country still explorable on the old devices though.
Also (not just you rid...) look to the example (linguistically) of Latin as a parallel to the older devices..Latin isn't a living language..it's dead. A beautiful ..perfect...dead language. Nothing new there...yet it is still used.
In the same way..yes the 770 and 8x0 are dead devices to consistent systematic firmware and application updates...
But that is not a bad thing. I don't know how many times I read of a devel or maintainer being irritated, frustrated or upset with the fact that they were perpetually trying to fight not only the 3 factors I mention in my preceding post...but as well were fighting against consistent updates to the systems and having to ..yet again ...make their programs try to function properly under the "new" firmware updates.
So...now that problem is solved.
No new updates means it is much easier to create and maintain.
Not to mention the odds are slim that anyone is going to find new bugs eh?
So it ain't so bad....
for some it is always a case of... "glass half... "something"... " ...
me ...I think it is an opportunity.

As far as the question of the choice 'tween rigging up IM with a facebook plugin or creating a standalone...
weeelllll.
yup ..not much has changed with the IM which does make the plugin creation easier. Creating the plugin will prolly be alot easier... quicker...I don't know..since it also probably means learning alllll the ins and outs of the guts of the IM in the process to achieve what you wish..Regardless...It may be smart to learn aaaallllll about the IM in case it starts breaking down...falling apart ...due to the natural lack of maintenance over time and takes your plugin with it. May happen. So that means learning someone elses stuff essentially...and more complicated stuff to boot ...
the standalone may end up taking just as long since you are creating something from scratch...but ...other than perhaps a few dependencies (at worst)...it won't rely on anything else ...which ain't a bad thing.

So yeah...choices ...choices.
1st though...on your device...are you running off the original 770 firmware or have you flashed the last hackers edition?
I suggest whatever you are intending to do...make it for the last ...most recent ..firmware.

2nd ...Symbian? ..you'd prolly have to rework apps to function for the 770...
Java? ...hm...dunno ..possibly..the older versions....the newer versions of Java may end up screaming on your 770 though

3rd...the reason why I'm asking if you have the last firmware ...os2008 hackers edition...it comes the closest in ability to what the n8x0 were running at the time...meaning you should be able to utilize some if not alot of what's possible in chinook . Remember trial and error to be expected since the 770 wasn't meant to run all the stuff the 8x0 can.
As a consequence of running ...to some greater and lesser degree ...apps meant for chinook ...there is the possibility...you may be able to utilize Java proper....on your 770... check out Jalimo...never used it myself ...but..if your thing is Java ...there may be hope.

And about c++...yea it is all about the available time to learn c++
I hear you loud and clear on that one.
Ach...we're both in the same boat there
I imagine our enlightenment will take about the same time...
hehe...it's not like the 770 or the 8x0 are going anywhere new that we can't keep up to eh rid?