peterwsterling

Once the widget is added to your sidebar you may easily configure it to provide a display of recent comments with comment author avatars. The options are:
<ul>
<li>The title of the widget.</li>
<li>Limit the number of comments to shown (1 to 15).</li>
<li>Option to display the avatar of the comment author, or not.</li>
<li>Set the size of the avatar.</li>
<li>Chose to have the comment author’s URL (if given) open in a new window,</li>
<li>Show the date of the comment, or not.</li>
<li>Set the format of the date.</li>
<li>Set the size (as a fraction of the normal text size) of the date string.</li>
<li>Show an excerpt from the comment.</li>
<li>Convert smilies in the excerpt.</li>
<li>Show a country flag indicating the source of the comment, requires MySQL database modifications, see below.</li>
<li>Show a country flag in main comment loops, non-widget, requires theme and MySQL database modifications, see below.</li>
</ul>
The style of the output may be controlled with simple CSS rules that need to be included in your <code>styles.css</code> template file. 
 The container (i.e. <code><ul></code> or <code><table></code>) has the id recentcomments (use CSS <code>.recentcomments</code>). 
 List items (i.e. <code><li></code>) have the class recentcomments (use CSS <code>#recentcomments</code>).

Sibin Grasic

Letter Avatars enables custom avatars for users without gravatar. Avatar will be replaced with the first letter of username or e-mail.
Letter Avatars does not use any images, scripts, or font-icons. All letters will be rendered by your theme font (or Optionally via a Google font).
Features
<ul>
<li>Works anywhere – Plugin hooks into pre_get_avatar function, so the avatar size is preserved</li>
<li>Highly customizable – You can change colors, letter font, as well as the font size</li>
<li>Stylish – You can change the background and letter colors or you can randomize them for all the avatars</li>
<li>Lightweight – Plugin does not use any external stylesheet, image, or js files. It only adds a small inline css in your header</li>
<li>Highly compatible – You don’t have to edit your theme / plugin files, it works automatically and plays nice with other plugins</li>
<li>Works with BuddyPress – Users and groups without gravatar / local avatar will use Letter Avatars</li>
<li>Works with YITH Reviews for WooCommerce – Avatars in reviews support Letter Avatars</li>
<li>Works with WP User Avatar – Users with Custom Avatar will use those, users without avatar will default to Letter Avatar</li>
</ul>

Letter Avatars

Nice

Nice work! Much better than "Mystery Man" for unknown users.



Featured on iThemes Training Plugin Roundup, March 2016

I chose this plugin over another similar plugin which had more installs and reviews because this plugin offers a solution as simply as possible. No images or scripts needed, just plain old CSS for the win. Kudos to the developer.

Lightweight & Elegant Solution

Works great and with good support by the maintainer. Thanks for your work!

Works great and good support

Sets custom avatars for users without gravatar. Avatars will be replaced by first letter of usename (or e-mail) on a colorful background

Recent Comments with Avatars vs Letter Avatars