Tabbed iChat With iTunes?

[MacRumors]

According to a recent post at AppleInsider (http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=682), iChat 3, which is due as part of OS 10.4 Tiger is likely to sport tabbed windows. iTunes integration has also made an appearance, allowing the current track playing in iTunes to be set as the current here/away message. There are a host of 3rd party scripts to provide this functionality in the current version of iTunes, but this appears to be integrated into the app itself. A group of additional new features are expected in the messaging client that haven't even shown in the most recent builds, according to their sources.

[synthetickittie]

I use adium instead of ichat.. number 1 reason I switched to adium is because ichat does not have tabs

[Stella]

The tabbed chat functionality sounds good.. but really, iTunes integration to display what song you are playing? Is this really necessary, it sounds like extra bloat to me.

Do your ichat 'buddies' really care what music your listening to at the present time?

I'd rather see good ICQ support and other messaging protocols being implemented. Jabber is supposed to be rumoured to be supported :-)

[hobbes3113]

Interesting idea, anybody care to explain this in a little more detail?

[dstorey]

I'd like to see proteus style draws over tabs. Chat windows tend to be longer rather than longer so it is easer to see all the names without scrolling (especially with long buddy names) and its easier to scroll down a draw than across with tabs or stretch the window really wide. The draw also seems to show more information, and easier to find the correct person and click on them as they are not so condensed as the small tabs in adium.

[lazyrighteye]

Hmmm... so in your Buddy List, when one is away, will you hear a specific track (of theirs) playing as their Away message?

[rendezvouscp]

I'll be so happy when iChat finally gets tabs. Now if they'd only let the developers get the latest version of Tiger in their hands. Really, it's quite easy to include it in the monthly mailing Apple!
–Chase

[rendezvouscp]

Hmmm... so in your Buddy List, when one is away, will you hear a specific track (of theirs) playing as their Away message?

You'll just see it as their away message.
–Chase

[gopher]

iTunes integration with iChat? Right now you can't even turn on audio chat in iChat without iTunes music being muted. They don't want the other person to be listening to your music. Surely Apple can't have had a change of heart in the matter. They disabled iTunes 4.0 's internet sharing that worked with anyone who had a static IP and only let it work via intranets on the same subnet with later versions of iTunes. Is Apple going to now open iTunes to broadcasting again over the internet? I'll believe it when I see it.

[serpico]

Yahoo Messenger for windows does this already, so it looks like it might be something that might be the next added feature in IM.

[itsa]

Via a new option in the iChat menu, users will be able to display the currently playing iTunes track as part of their iChat online status.


We can do that now..

[psxndc]

I use the iChatStatus script currently, so maybe I can explain this for those that don't. When you are away or available and use a custom status, in someone else's buddy list it appears under their name. For example, if I am away, studying :-/, my buddies see

PatrickMyers321
Studying :-/

in their buddy lists. Using iChat status they can see:

PatrickMyers321
Listening to Tool - Lateralus - Parabola in iTunes

No one can hear my music, they just see what I'm listening to. And other iChat users don't have to send me a message to see my away message since iChat puts it right under my name in the buddy list. This is also good for Available statuses too. With iChatStatus several other strings are available (weather, track ratings, application currently being used, etc). This sounds like iChat 3 will have the iTunes part integrated, assuming it's done the same way i.e., via applescript. I hope they allow for custom messages too.

I love tabs. Yay! What I don't love is that iChat doesn't seem to echo away messages, at least not for me. People send me an IM when I'm away and it just sails right through. Blech.

-p-

[supercres]

There are a lot more pressing matters for iChat, just to keep up with AIM. Namely:
-- Formattable away messages (and an easier way to browse/update them)
-- "Invisible" support (when my friends on AIM go invisible, i can't talk to them, even if they're talking to me)
-- Animated buddy icons (not major, but hey..)
-- Compatible text-formatting support (text on AIM doesn't look the same for some reason)
-- PROFILES!

C'mon, Apple. I think this stuff is more important that iTunes integration that already exists in scripts.

[proglife]

Nice! I'd take a tabbed Finder, too.

[Private Public]

the itunes thing is nice but tab messaging? com' on at least one app out there doesn't need tabs.

but if it's going to be done, since they hired him, hopefully it will work like proteus and not adium. I use adium but hate the way it handles tabs.

[Private Public]

Nice! I'd take a tabbed Finder, too.

you've got one, the sidebar "tabs" certain folders you use.

also cammand-t is too add to the sidebar and also creates a new tab in safari... coincidence?

[guet]

How about decent video with PC users - either support other clients (MSN, yahoo), or go it alone and create a version of ichat for the PC (using quicktime which they already have installed on a lot of machines now). Given they already have iTunes over there, it wouldn't be that hard.

iChat on the PC would be my preferred option, it would be another small, persuasive, and pervasive piece of technology to convince PC users there is another way. Quite apart from that it would feed a massive boost in iSight sales if it was bundled with that camera for the PC.

AIM is really not good, I feel guilty making people use it so they can chat with me. Also, I've been having problems with the PC video on AIM (when video chatting with iChat) cutting out consistently after 5 minutes and 4 seconds (audio keeps going). Kind of annoying when you're in the middle of a conversation. Has anyone else seen this?

[Private Public]

How about decent video with PC users - either support other clients (MSN, yahoo), or go it alone and create a version of ichat for the PC (using quicktime which they already have installed on a lot of machines now). Given they already have iTunes over there, it wouldn't be that hard.

besides it cutting in to reasons for people to switch and Apple even sold it to jag users, how many windows users would actually pay for it? you feel bad making people use AIM you would probably feel just as bad making them pay $30 to talk to you. however it would sell more iSight but I can't see how that would be marketed. the iMac was retooled to gain on the success of the iPod.

As far as supporting video in other programs. I haven't used the video support in MSN, but Yahoo video was terrible: .6 fps and no audio.

[jenniff]

What I don't love is that iChat doesn't seem to echo away messages, at least not for me. People send me an IM when I'm away and it just sails right through. Blech.


I completely agree with you. And, too often, the person sending me the message someone doesn't figure out that I'm away, and sends a barrage of nasty messages criticizing me for not replying to their banter.

Almost solely for that purpose (truthfully, and a handful of others), I keep AIM (which I hate) on my machine for away messages, to satiate the majority on my list (who are not mac users).

The tabbed chat functionality sounds good.. but really, iTunes integration to display what song you are playing? Is this really necessary, it sounds like extra bloat to me.

Do your ichat 'buddies' really care what music your listening to at the present time?

I disagree. True, it's not necessary to chat, but neither are buddy icons if you think about it. Neither is having a plethora of available status messages. And neither is it necessary to have an abundance of away messages - wouldn't one suffice?
These are fun things that make "joe cool", living down the street, want to use iChat instead of another app that offers competing capabilities.
And, I would care about the music, being a music fanatic myself. On the music forums I frequent, it's not uncommon to put "now playing: " in your signature, and include your current song. So, to someone like me, integration of the feature is priceless. Now I don't have to waste my already lacking time with a script. Woohoo!

[narco]

I had iChatStatus for a while, but then every once in a while I'd have my iTunes library play at random, then I'd forget that everyone on my buddy list could see what I'm listening to. Really embarrassing when that ONE New Kids on the Block song that I like comes on.

.narco

[Doctor Q]

The current-tune feature may be of interest to only a minority of users. It's one of many little gimmics they could have chosen to add. I'd imagine this one was favored because it adds more integration between applications, the same way the Change My Picture... feature allows you to take an iSight snapshot. Apple clearly looks for chances to make iLife and other applications work together smoothly.

[Whigga Spitta]

If iChat became as useful and as customizable as Adium, I might consider switching, but right now, Adium seems to be the best client out, and I'm doubtful this will change with the release of Tiger.

[proglife]

you've got one, the sidebar "tabs" certain folders you use.

also cammand-t is too add to the sidebar and also creates a new tab in safari... coincidence?

Yeah...it's nice, but too permanent. I like to keep my Finder clean.

[Koodauw]

Notice though its only when your "available" that it displays your iTunes song playing. So only your fellow iChat users would see it correct?

Its not set to be an away message.

[Mr_Ed]

You'll just see it as their away message.
–Chase

Oh great . . . now when my buddy's away, I could be staring at:

"****** in a bag"
"Scream until you like it"
"Tampon teabag"
"Wynonna's Big Brown Beaver"

or any number of far more bizarre and outright disgusting song titles! :eek: :D

I don't see this feature as a big deal (from a usefulness point of view) but I suppose if a lot people think it is cool and if it would help the application increase its user base, by all means, go for it.

On the tabbed windows: I'm not sure I understand how they would be used. If it is to "tab" between different "Groups" of buddies in your buddy list (currently a pulldown menu thingy) then I definitely like it!

[zim]

iTunes integration with iChat? Right now you can't even turn on audio chat in iChat without iTunes music being muted. They don't want the other person to be listening to your music. Surely Apple can't have had a change of heart in the matter. They disabled iTunes 4.0 's internet sharing that worked with anyone who had a static IP and only let it work via intranets on the same subnet with later versions of iTunes. Is Apple going to now open iTunes to broadcasting again over the internet? I'll believe it when I see it.

You can play iTunes while in iChat, doing it right now. The bit about the song being displayed is just your status message, I have 3 people in my buddies list who are currently using some other application to do this, personally I think it is neat.

[rendezvouscp]

-- PROFILES!

Profiles are now included in Tiger. In fact, it's really easy to change your profile now. You just select it under Format (I think), and then a menu option (ie, Change My Profile). A window pops up, you enter the text, and close the window. That's it! I think it's almost too easy, because you don't get any comfirmation that you're changing anything important.
–Chase

[manosira]

Yeah I use Adium instead of iChat also. It would be interesting to see what other features iChat takes from Adium in the new release.

[jholzner]

iTunes integration with iChat? Right now you can't even turn on audio chat in iChat without iTunes music being muted. They don't want the other person to be listening to your music. Surely Apple can't have had a change of heart in the matter. They disabled iTunes 4.0 's internet sharing that worked with anyone who had a static IP and only let it work via intranets on the same subnet with later versions of iTunes. Is Apple going to now open iTunes to broadcasting again over the internet? I'll believe it when I see it.

It's musted as a feature...who wants to be talking while music is blaring? Once it mustes you can simply hit the play button and it will turn back on and the person you are talking to can hear the music.

[johnnyjibbs]

It's nice to see Tiger advancing but it's another example of Apple simply copying something to put into the OS that is currently already offered by third party apps/plug-ins, just like Dashboard and some other things. Ok, so spotlight is big, but I'm currently not seeing my $129/£99 worth.

[vollspacken]

I already use the "Now playing in iChat"-script to display my current music track as my iChat status...

but iLike (mawharharhar...) how iChat matures... now give me ICQ support and it's perfect

vSpacken

[swissmann]

I like iChat. These improvements sound great. I just wish I had more people that I could iChat with for my business. Most of my customers are still phone users.

[FaasNat]

Tabbed windows, nice. iChatStatus built in, okay. Where's the buddy groups (in the format all the other IM clients use) in the buddy list window?

[jackieonasses]

If you look at the link to Appleinsider does that picture look like so-called "platinum"?? it doesn't look like anything normal.

[ZildjianKX]

Now to just add animated icons and user profiles...

[rendezvouscp]

Tabbed windows, nice. iChatStatus built in, okay. Where's the buddy groups (in the format all the other IM clients use) in the buddy list window?

Go to View: Show Groups. Unless you already know about that and I'm missing your point.

BTW, does anyone know how to get rid of the groups pull-down menu in the main buddy list after showing groups?
–Chase

[rickvanr]

glad to see justin is doing some good things over there, i knew he would. hopefully the tabs will be on the side of the window, rather then the bottom like in adium.

long time proteus users will know what i mean

[macridah]

Sounds like cool new features in iChat for Tiger. Can you group your buddy contacts in iChat?

[sworthy]

iTunes integration with iChat? Right now you can't even turn on audio chat in iChat without iTunes music being muted. They don't want the other person to be listening to your music. Surely Apple can't have had a change of heart in the matter. They disabled iTunes 4.0 's internet sharing that worked with anyone who had a static IP and only let it work via intranets on the same subnet with later versions of iTunes. Is Apple going to now open iTunes to broadcasting again over the internet? I'll believe it when I see it.

You're taking this all wrong. Your audio won't be broadcasted to your buddies, they'll just be able to see what song you're playing... you know, written in text.

[budgej867]

For anyone wanting standard auto-reply away messages in iChat, check out iCAR at VersionTracker.com.

[zaphoyd]

The tabbed chat functionality sounds good.. but really, iTunes integration to display what song you are playing? Is this really necessary, it sounds like extra bloat to me.

Do your ichat 'buddies' really care what music your listening to at the present time?

I'd rather see good ICQ support and other messaging protocols being implemented. Jabber is supposed to be rumoured to be supported :-)



ICQ is already supported. Simply add the ICQ # as an AIM Screen name.

[Trowaman]

I have not not gotten my hands through some method on my hands on a Tiger beta and I can report that Profiles are definately added. The tabbing sounds great, gimme. I really want that. That was on my want list for iChat. They also made it easier to manage groups. THe only thing left is making it easier to add buddies and to choose which snreen name you want to IM if someone has say 4 screen names and are signed on to 2 at once (yes this does happen to me semi-regularly).

[Trowaman]

Sounds like cool new features in iChat for Tiger. Can you group your buddy contacts in iChat?

Yes. In the current version you can and the next one makes it a lot easier.

[CoffeeMonkey]

I haven't looked at iChat for a long time, so maybe they've implemented this, but I'd like to see iChat support for Yahoo Messenger.

I like the idea of iChat, but some of my friends still use Yahoo messenger, so I'm still using Fire.

Is Adium that much better than Fire?

[TorbX]

Dear Apple,

Support MSN in iChat, and I will buy Tiger. In a snap!

Yours,
-TorbX.

[jimthorn]

Now to just add animated icons and user profiles...

I agree. That would make the app much more complete when compared with AIM. Lack of profiles is frustrating for switchers. And I'd like to see the integration of something like iChat Streaming Icon into iChat, since that would make the iSight useful even if the other person you're chatting with doesn't have one.

[UWStudent]

I am very excited about these features. I already use iChat Status to show what track I'm listening to. I'd like to see this as an official feature, because in my experience, Apple does things better.

Tabbed chat windows are very cool also, especially if you're using a 12" Powerbook like me, and desktop real estate is at a premium. Expose was brilliant for this reason, and made Panther well worth the $70 (student discount).

It would be nice to see Yahoo and maybe MSN support as well. I have to use Fire right now because while 80% of my buddies use AIM, there are still a few people using MSN, and a couple using Yahoo because their firewalls block AIM (the Army is weird like that). However I doubt that we'll see MSN support because, well, that would mean working a contract with M$.

[Stella]

ICQ is already supported. Simply add the ICQ # as an AIM Screen name.
The problem is however, if the other user you are talking with hasn't got a new ICQ all your messages will appear as HTML to them.

iChat needs *better* icq support.

[TorbX]

However I doubt that we'll see MSN support because, well, that would mean working a contract with M$.

Thumbs up for Jabber working this out!

[shidoshi]

you've got one, the sidebar "tabs" certain folders you use.

also cammand-t is too add to the sidebar and also creates a new tab in safari... coincidence?

As somebody else who wants a tabbed Finder, I can tell you that the sidebar can do some of the things a tabbed Finder would do, but not all of them. And while we're at it, I'd also like multiple sidebar sets for different purposes.

[johnpaul191]

not having tabs in iChat is what keeps me from using it more than i do...... Adium will always get points for existing before iChat (or even an actual AOL AIM app for OS X for people that jumped right in with 10.0). i like in the Adium betas how you can modify the hell out of the buddy list etc... things Apple will never do. either way if iChat really gets tabs i'll probably still use both.

as for the iTunes thing, it's not really like the argument about konfab..... it's just an applescript to set your status (available or away status).... there are others for your local weather or a ton of other things. Apple made the applescript stuff work so easily for a reason. does anyone actually try to sell those scripts? if anything, Apple adding this means i don't have to try to explain applescripts to people quite as much. the people that wrote some of those scripts will come up with more clever ideas in the future.

[wdlove]

I am very excited about these features.

However I doubt that we'll see MSN support because, well, that would mean working a contract with M$.

Steve has work with Microsoft before, so anything is possible. We should give Apple a chance.

[Natron]

There are a lot more pressing matters for iChat, just to keep up with AIM. Namely:
-- Formattable away messages (and an easier way to browse/update them)
-- "Invisible" support (when my friends on AIM go invisible, i can't talk to them, even if they're talking to me)
-- Animated buddy icons (not major, but hey..)
-- Compatible text-formatting support (text on AIM doesn't look the same for some reason)
-- PROFILES!


AMEN!!!!!

Go to View: Show Groups. Unless you already know about that and I'm missing your point.

BTW, does anyone know how to get rid of the groups pull-down menu in the main buddy list after showing groups?
–Chase

I think you can turn it off in Preferences, in the general tab.

My only complaint with groups is that you can only view one group at a time, not a huge deal, but if they could be organized like AIM.

For anyone wanting standard auto-reply away messages in iChat, check out iCAR at VersionTracker.com.

I used to use that, but it began acting funky and crashing iChat whenever it tried to auto-reply.

Steve has work with Microsoft before, so anything is possible. We should give Apple a chance.

I read the problems with MSN and Yahoo support with other programs, such as Adium and Fire, was due to MSN and Yahoo wanting you to use their software. So every so often they would change something and the 3rd party programs would lose support and users would have to wait for updates.


Just thought of something, how about "Forward to Mobile" support!!


EDIT: Added that last reply.

[~Shard~]

Good to see that additional functionality is on the way for iChat, it needs it in order to remain competitive. These newly announced improvements are no doubt the case in general though for Tiger and all the included updated apps it will bring - we have only seen a brief sampling of the changes, updates, new features, etc. which are being integrated into Tiger, and there are many more which will surface in the upcoming months before its release. There will probably be additional iChat updates and improvements beyond these that we don't even know about yet, so for all of you wanting additional functionality a la Adium, Proteus, etc., just be patient and see what happens with iChat. :)

[michelle]

I apologize if this is off-topic, but does anyone know if there is a keyboard command to switch between tabs in Safari? If not, it would be a useful thing.

[johnnyjibbs]

I apologize if this is off-topic, but does anyone know if there is a keyboard command to switch between tabs in Safari? If not, it would be a useful thing.
Command+Shift+Left/Right arrow key

It's documented in the Window menu of Safari.

[virividox]

sounds promising

[areyouwishing]

i don't know about anyone else but when Im away from my house, i leave my music playing.

I guess the feature has a limited use for some.

[MentalFabric]

The only way iChat is ever going to become popular is if Apple work a deal with Google and make iChat the official gmail client, and release a windows version....

I wish.

[michelle]

Command+Shift+Left/Right arrow key

It's documented in the Window menu of Safari.

Thanks :) Don't know why I never thought to look there.

[maya]

I find it funny that people complain, that oh ah tiger doesn't have features that should cost $ 129.00 USD, since its implementing features from other developers, etc...etc....etc...

Do you want an easier way for an application like iChat to have scripts built into the application or do you want to have to install it yourself. Sure its not new then again how many times have other developers taken things from other software companies and implemented into they own application. This is not new people. :rolleyes:

No one is forcing you to upgrade *cough* unless your HW is not supported *cough* ;)

When it comes to software and even hardware things are bound to cross paths with other hardware or software. Last time I checked "GADGETS" are different for those thinking its a copy cat of kon...blah blah :rolleyes: should read the about GADGETS Verses WIDGETS. Just because they look the same on appearance doesn't mean they work 100% the same.

Talk about judging the book by it cover. :rolleyes:

For that matter why not just say that OS X is like XP they both are Operating Systems as with computer Mhz and Ghz chips lets all forget about RISC and CISC, etc... Why are you people complaining?

Tab's are nothing new it all has to do with if a company wants to implement it into they application.

Get over it people, so they took the play iTunes song to play as an away message, BIG DEAL get over it, you still used APPLE SCRIPT to do this.


take care.

[maya]

The only way iChat is ever going to become popular is if Apple work a deal with Google and make iChat the official gmail client, and release a windows version....

I wish.

Don't have to just register your gmail account and get a .NET passport, if iChat supports messenger networks it will work.

Since the AOL and Apple partnership is drawing to a close, I wonder if Apple and AOL is going to renew or do something different.

[ravenvii]

Awesome, tabbed chatting rocks. I used to have it with AIM on my PC (using DeadAIM) and really missed it when I started using iChat (yes I know about Adium and Proteus - I have tried those before, but prefer iChat). I just have to wonder, how would they handle the little cloud that appears on the upper-right when someone IMs you, and you click it to make it transform into a real window. How would it transform into a tad on a separate window?

[nagromme]

I had iChatStatus for a while, but then every once in a while I'd have my iTunes library play at random, then I'd forget that everyone on my buddy list could see what I'm listening to. Really embarrassing when that ONE New Kids on the Block song that I like comes on.

:D

That's what I was thinking... at first I thought it sounded fun, might raise something to discuss with a friend even. And I thought... no. :D

[Sophipod]

It seems like apple is drawing alot of the new features of tiger from 3rd party programs... (Konfabulator/ituescripts)?? Apple is not known for doing things like this, its usually their internal innovation that "wows" us all... I hope this is just a "macrumor" Apple can do better! (even though its a pretty cool idea, they can come up with their own stuff ) :)

[ijimk]

I think it is a good idea. I will use as i am already an ichat and itunes user.

[Doctor Q]

I want to know if they fixed the bug I reported to Apple where you type a long message into the iChat window and the window migrates up the screen rather than repositioning itself after it expands and contracts.

See details in this thread.

[mgbaron]

Finally ichat will have ONE of the great features of adium. If only they would take a few more hints.

[hulugu]

besides it cutting in to reasons for people to switch and Apple even sold it to jag users, how many windows users would actually pay for it? you feel bad making people use AIM you would probably feel just as bad making them pay $30 to talk to you. however it would sell more iSight but I can't see how that would be marketed. the iMac was retooled to gain on the success of the iPod.

As far as supporting video in other programs. I haven't used the video support in MSN, but Yahoo video was terrible: .6 fps and no audio.

But, I could buy iSights with iChat AV for Windows for those friends and family still blighted with Windows. I'd love everyone to use a Mac, but this isn't going to happen soon, and I think that iChat would become another Halo app, just like iPod and iTunes. The more people using iChat AV, the more important Quicktime gets, not only do you have it for iTunes on a PC, but now it becomes even more important to use.
This strikes me as a win-win situation for Apple, while porting the iApps would not be.

With a bundled system my F&F would get a neat little camera and a cool program, worth 129.99 IMHO.

[King Cobra]

Man, I hate tabs. They prevent you from seeing everything (or a lot of items that you want to see) within the tabs at once. It's real bad with tab chats, because you have to visit each chat to see if what each person said is important or necessary for a reply. Plus, using multiple Windows allows so much more flexability: You can resize each one, minimize a few of them if you wanted, and keep track of multiple things at once. (I know, there will still be people who prefer tabs over windows due to saving room on your desktop. Bah, tabs are way overrated.)

iChat 3 should have the "What you are playing" option in it, not iTunes. I don't see why you should use an application outside of iChat to show what others see from the application.

Oh, and iChat 2 needs some heavy NSDebugging. :mad:

[t300]

One word...


Hallelujah!

[narco]

It's nice to see Tiger advancing but it's another example of Apple simply copying something to put into the OS that is currently already offered by third party apps/plug-ins, just like Dashboard and some other things. Ok, so spotlight is big, but I'm currently not seeing my $129/£99 worth.

I was thinking the same thing; I wonder if the people who created the scripts in iChat will be as pissed as Konfab was.

On the other hand, there's usually one big thing in every OS that makes the upgrade worth it. Spotlight by itself is well worth the money in my opinion, but all these little small features are going to be fun to go through.

.narco

[solvs]

Man, I hate tabs.
I'm sure you can disable it like with Safari.

[King Cobra]

Oh, I bet $15 that iChat 3 would have an option to choose between window and tab browsing. My frame of mind in my above rant wasn't about an all-tab iChat, but the addition of tabs. It was also a vented opinion.

After that, we'll be seeing tabs in the Finder, tabs in Mail, and by 2006, I say tabs in the Terminal. (rumor machine turns up)

[MacFan26]

Man, I hate tabs. They prevent you from seeing everything (or a lot of items that you want to see) within the tabs at once.
I like tabs, but sometimes it's easier just to have more than one window open. I would hope if Apple's intending on including this they're going to have it like Adium, where you can have some tabbed and some not. It's not just an "on" or "off" function.

[DJMad]

I personally love iChat but you need to be able to have multiple accounts online at once. Since aim caps your number of buddies at 200 it is annoying to use another client or switch back and forth.

Second I would love to see them connect bluetooth with iChat, that way when you get a call it would mute your music and put up an away message saying you are on the phone.

Third depending on what they do with iTunes and iChat there are some cool social experiments you could do. For example if people could vote on the next song that would play. Or if your buddies could also rate your music so you could compare there ratings with yours. All sorts of cool stuff could happen.

Oh well thats my two cents

[Flying Llama]

darn it apple legal removed the pic... i just got home so i never saw it... :(

[inkswamp]

Gees, so many naysayers on this iChat/iTunes things. :confused:

Some co-workers of mine and I use freeware that sends the current iTunes song to iChat and it's great. I like the feature because sometimes you see a tune in their chat status and it sounds interesting so you move over to iTunes and find their playlist and check the song out, streaming over the network. Imagine if Apple allows you to just click the song title there in iChat and it starts streaming in iTunes. There are lots and lots of possibilities given the presence and integration of Rendezv... er, whatever-it's-called-nowadays... :D

Imagine being able to broadcast a "listen to this song" request to everyone in your buddy list, which is a link that starts a song from your library streaming to everyone who accepts.

Sure it's non-productive (like iChat and iTunes to some degree) but then it's also sort of fun too.

What I really want to know about the next iChat is whether or not it will support multiple person text chats over a local network. Why the current iChat doesn't support that now seems to be a mighty big oversight, IMO. It really hobbles the usefulness of the software. There are many times when I want to be able to talk to many co-workers at once. iChat's basically useless and too slow in that regard. I end up reaching for the phone instead.

[gopher]

Gees, so many naysayers on this iChat/iTunes things. :confused:

Some co-workers of mine and I use freeware that sends the current iTunes song to iChat and it's great. I like the feature because sometimes you see a tune in their chat status and it sounds interesting so you move over to iTunes and find their playlist and check the song out, streaming over the network. Imagine if Apple allows you to just click the song title there in iChat and it starts streaming in iTunes. There are lots and lots of possibilities given the presence and integration of Rendezv... er, whatever-it's-called-nowadays... :D

Imagine being able to broadcast a "listen to this song" request to everyone in your buddy list, which is a link that starts a song from your library streaming to everyone who accepts.

Sure it's non-productive (like iChat and iTunes to some degree) but then it's also sort of fun too.

What I really want to know about the next iChat is whether or not it will support multiple person text chats over a local network. Why the current iChat doesn't support that now seems to be a mighty big oversight, IMO. It really hobbles the usefulness of the software. There are many times when I want to be able to talk to many co-workers at once. iChat's basically useless and too slow in that regard. I end up reaching for the phone instead.

You should try http://www.codingmonkeys.de/subethaedit/

[UWStudent]

Man, I hate tabs.

Tabs are awesome when you use a 12" Powerbook/iBook. I can get away without using them when I'm at a desk with a multibutton mouse bound to Expose keys, but when I'm mobile, its a royal pain to shift through a ton of windows. I think its important for Apple to continue to include things like tabs & Expose since so many of its new "switchers" are laptop users.

[mms]

What I'd like to see is Apple implement something in iChat that is new and revolutionary. Tabbed windows have already been in Adium and Proteus and Apple is just playing catch-up. The iTunes script has already been created by third party developers and Apple is again just playing catch up. That's not the innovative upgrades that Apple is known for, and I do hope that they can come up with something that will wow us and make them the leader once again, rather than the follower. Adium IMO is much better than iChat, and Apple needs to do more than just catch up. They need to implement some new and revolutionary features that will persuade myself and others back.

[shidoshi]

What I'd like to see is Apple implement something in iChat that is new and revolutionary.

While it wouldn't be new or revolutionary, one thing that would be fun and would really make iChat stand out would be to bring in something like the only program I give MS a lot of credit for - MS ComicChat. It would be something "different," because I'm sure a lot of people out there - especially Mac users - have never used ComicChat. Obviously it wouldn't replace what is already there, but it would be a great extra, fits in along with the speech bubbles that are already there, and I know that Apple could really do it up nice.

[mms]

I've never heard of ComicChat. Can you explain what that is?

500th Post!

[ravenvii]

ComicChat is something you'd never thought could come out of Microsoft. It's really weird, and cool. It's not being worked on anymore though - not for 6 years or so. Here's a link:

http://research.microsoft.com/vwg/projectsheets/comicchat.htm

I never tried it myself, but my curiousity is definitely piqued.

(Thanks goes to Google :p)

[Diatribe]

I think it's awesome. Apple is catching up with some of the stuff other clients already had, while adding other nice features. And according to the scources, development is far from done. So there'll be even more.
Now all I want is MSN support... :D

[Diatribe]

What I'd like to see is Apple implement something in iChat that is new and revolutionary. Tabbed windows have already been in Adium and Proteus and Apple is just playing catch-up. The iTunes script has already been created by third party developers and Apple is again just playing catch up. That's not the innovative upgrades that Apple is known for, and I do hope that they can come up with something that will wow us and make them the leader once again, rather than the follower. Adium IMO is much better than iChat, and Apple needs to do more than just catch up. They need to implement some new and revolutionary features that will persuade myself and others back.

How could you possibly call video conferencing with 3 people and audio conferenceing with 10 not new and revolutionary?

[solvs]

How could you possibly call video conferencing with 3 people and audio conferenceing with 10 not new and revolutionary?
I'd say more evolutionary than revolutionary, but cool none-the-less.

[h'biki]

iTunes integration with iChat? Right now you can't even turn on audio chat in iChat without iTunes music being muted. They don't want the other person to be listening to your music. Surely Apple can't have had a change of heart in the matter.

It ain't Apple. Its the RIAA and that wonderful piece of legislation called the DMCA...

and you can thank the corporatisation of the legislative process for that piece of law.

Read the following if you want more information:

http://www.free-culture.org/freecontent/

:)

And I should also make mention of the Induce Act, which could be seriously damaging to Apple (remember, all music on an iPod is stolen):

http://savethe.org/

[Diatribe]

I'd say more evolutionary than revolutionary, but cool none-the-less.

Yeah, I guess you could debate those terms. I just wanted to make clear that Apple has indeed a very unique messenger out there that is, in terms of video conferencing and audio conferencing to a certain point, pretty revolutionary compared to the other clients out there.
That's not saying it isn't lacking a couple of things but it is nevertheless an awesome client if you do use video/audio conferencing.

[ssamani]

you've got one, the sidebar "tabs" certain folders you use.

also cammand-t is too add to the sidebar and also creates a new tab in safari... coincidence?
Yeah...it's nice, but too permanent. I like to keep my Finder clean.

Also if you have traversed to a directory below your sidebar icon, clicking back on that icon does not take you back down to that directory. You have to keep

I would like to have a tabbed Finder to deal with all the clutter caused by Installers and Browsers popping up new windows every time a disk image is mounted or a I click on "show file in Finder". I want to be able to get it to "show file in existing Finder window" or "show fiel in new Finder tab".

Sanj

[Nermal]

ComicChat is something you'd never thought could come out of Microsoft. It's really weird, and cool. It's not being worked on anymore though - not for 6 years or so. Here's a link:

http://research.microsoft.com/vwg/projectsheets/comicchat.htm

I never tried it myself, but my curiousity is definitely piqued.

(Thanks goes to Google :p)

Wow, that brings back memories, I haven't used it in YEARS!

[anonymousbrit]

Again, the photos have been removed under threat from Apple Legal, and again, they are available on my site here (http://photos.theanonymousbrit.com/thumbnails.php?album=30).

[Wonder Boy]

You're taking this all wrong. Your audio won't be broadcasted to your buddies, they'll just be able to see what song you're playing... you know, written in text.

i don't think there could be a feature more pointless. i think apple's stock just dropped a couple points because of this nonesense.

[gopher]

i don't think there could be a feature more pointless. i think apple's stock just dropped a couple points because of this nonesense.

The market is down. Look at the oil data.

http://quote.yahoo.com/

[Wonder Boy]

The market is down. Look at the oil data.

http://quote.yahoo.com/

adorable. that's the only word i can think of.
i'm well aware this feature had nothing to do with apple's stock. i was kidding.

[7on]

Thumbs up for Jabber working this out!

Jabber, I believe is Open Source.

Which is another reason iChat can't be compared to Proteus and Adium. Because both Adium and Proteus reversed engineered or "hacked" MSN, Yahoo, and AIM to get them to work. I imagine that a percentage of the money made from each OS sale goes to AOL so that iChat can work with AIM, so Apple can stay in the loop. Adding more protocols will not only complicate the interface, it might raise the value of the OS. I'm sure Yahoo and MS won't mind sharing their service, its one less app they have to update - but Apple would have to up the price somewhere, and judging by Apple's price "intelligence" it'll probably be on the OS. Probably $150 if both those services were added.

I'm sure you can disable it like with Safari.
And don't forget with Safari, tabbing is off by default. So iChat tabbing will most likely be off by default.

[Codemonkey]

Hmmm... so in your Buddy List, when one is away, will you hear a specific track (of theirs) playing as their Away message?

Ya, it's like being on hold with a big company.

You just sit there and listen to it.

:D

[space2go]

Jabber, I believe is Open Source.

It's even better:
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc3920
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc3921
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc3922
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc3923

[takao]

Wow, that brings back memories, I haven't used it in YEARS!

yeah it was quite funny...especially because it's fully compatible with ordinary IRC servers (MS have been taken down long ago).... i tried that on a channel where i was a lot in the past..works perfectly but all the other people get funny msgs additional to the written text...

[RocksInMySocks]

Tabs and iTunes... you know, it's "for the kids".

Someone wake me when Motorola lets slip they've been funneled an iChat client for handhelds.

Peerio... pfff.