AOL Renews Interest in Mac with AIM Beta 1

MacRumors · Sep 30, 2008, 02:36 PM

As noted by Arstechnica, AOL has launched a beta of AIM for Mac. The new instant messaging client offers an alternative for iChat users. Advantages listed include:

- Users can customize their AIM for Mac experience with AIM Expressions - Change your AIM sounds, wallpaper, emoticon set or Buddy Icon.
- File Transfer, Tabbed IM conversations, friendly names, AIM Groups, AIM Blast groups are supported.
- With a single click, you can view your mail in AOL or AIM webmail.

AOL had previously released a version of AIM for the Mac but that version was last updated in 2004. AIM for Mac Beta 1 is available as a free download.

Article Link

Eidorian · Sep 30, 2008, 02:38 PM

It isn't iChat but you do get all those AIM features I'm sure that you were missing.

adom · Sep 30, 2008, 02:39 PM

Worth a shot....oh wait, forgot everyone is on MSN

Nice to see company renewing mac interest though

NAG · Sep 30, 2008, 02:39 PM

This is, like, totally awesome! Mac users were, like, totally bummed that we, like, couldn't chat with our friends! Totally!

stephengiem · Sep 30, 2008, 02:39 PM

is this supposed to make my life easier... i don't get it

what about multiple video chat support?

thefourthpope · Sep 30, 2008, 02:40 PM

I've not used AIM for yeeeaaars, but this could prompt me to give it a go again. Noone I talk to has a camera anyway, so the best feature(s) of iChat are a waste.

bbplayer5 · Sep 30, 2008, 02:40 PM

How is this any better than ichat?

Roessnakhan · Sep 30, 2008, 02:42 PM

Adium > *

mainstreetmark · Sep 30, 2008, 02:42 PM

Must be a slow news day.

11800506 · Sep 30, 2008, 02:43 PM

And why should anyone be interested in this? iChat provides a much nicer user experience IMO.

Kilamite · Sep 30, 2008, 02:43 PM

Chat window interface looks dreadful..

badcrumble · Sep 30, 2008, 02:43 PM

http://www.adiumx.com/

seriously.

iriejedi · Sep 30, 2008, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbplayer5

How is this any better than ichat?

How is this better than Adium? I use that for all 4 chat client AIM, Yahoo, MSN and IQC....

riversky · Sep 30, 2008, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badcrumble

http://www.adiumx.com/

seriously.

I downloaded adium but my understanding is it does not support groups/video etc. in AIM or Yahoo etc....It only does text chats and file transfers.

Am I wrong????

Karpfish · Sep 30, 2008, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roessnakhan

Adium > *

Not until it has video chat support. Until then, iChat is king.

hexonxonx · Sep 30, 2008, 02:50 PM

I'm surprised that AOL still spends money on software developement.

The AOL service itself has been declining in users every year. Last time I even used an AOL chatroom there was only a handful of users in there when 5 years ago, there would have been 3 chatrooms for my city during evening hours. This is even after AOL made the service free a few years ago.

slicecom · Sep 30, 2008, 02:51 PM

I still can't believe people use AIM. It's the worst messaging client out there.

NewSc2 · Sep 30, 2008, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roessnakhan

Adium > *

seriously, what is this 'iChat' people are talking about?

davidee · Sep 30, 2008, 02:53 PM

So I use adium but as a comment...

This is not slow news but rather interesting that an entity that seemingly abandoned the Apple platform has come back now that there is popularity.

There are reasons I use iChat and there are reasons I use adium, if its a small light client then maybe that is ok. also for people like my sister who insist on using aol well not anymore but she has her email/chat etc still, this would be a nice newb way to access what she'd want.

so think of this as a validation of the expansion of the platform. what other apps were on the mac in the past that people want back (or maybe that is a whole new thread ;-) ), anyone?

slicecom · Sep 30, 2008, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewSc2

seriously, what is this 'iChat' people are talking about?

You know, it's that app that comes with your computer that you immediately delete and put Adium in its place.

davidee · Sep 30, 2008, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riversky

I downloaded adium but my understanding is it does not support groups/video etc. in AIM or Yahoo etc....It only does text chats and file transfers.

Am I wrong????

you can join jabber and yahoo groupchats in adium, though i have not tried to add one as a contact (yet) and the ones I connect to are internal jabber

danielsan26 · Sep 30, 2008, 02:56 PM

They can pry ichat w/chax from my cold, dead fingers.

Twilight Elk · Sep 30, 2008, 02:57 PM

AOL? Hah! Don't make me laugh; I've lost interest in AOL the moment I used it years ago.

ztigerpaw · Sep 30, 2008, 02:58 PM

Finally! I thought they never update AIM. Was the same way for Yahoo.

Rojo · Sep 30, 2008, 02:59 PM

I'm confused by this. I just assumed AOL stopped doing anything with AIM because of iChat (which can communicate with AIM users). Why would a Mac user NOT use iChat now, and use this AIM For Mac Beta instead? So they can have wallpapers and different sounds? Do they really think this will drive more interest in their dead e-mail service? Seems like a waste of resources here...

Sep 30, 2008, 02:36 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	AOL Renews Interest in Mac with AIM Beta 1 As noted by Arstechnica, AOL has launched a beta of AIM for Mac. The new instant messaging client offers an alternative for iChat users. Advantages listed include: - Users can customize their AIM for Mac experience with AIM Expressions - Change your AIM sounds, wallpaper, emoticon set or Buddy Icon. - File Transfer, Tabbed IM conversations, friendly names, AIM Groups, AIM Blast groups are supported. - With a single click, you can view your mail in AOL or AIM webmail. AOL had previously released a version of AIM for the Mac but that version was last updated in 2004. AIM for Mac Beta 1 is available as a free download. Article Link

Sep 30, 2008, 02:38 PM	#2
Eidorian macrumors G3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Indiana	It isn't iChat but you do get all those AIM features I'm sure that you were missing. __________________ MRoogle it! hikari T7500 2.2 GHz / 4 GB / 320 GB / GMA X3100 / 10.5.8 chobimaru Core i5 750 2.66 GHz / 4 GB / 640 GB / 4830 / Windows 7

Sep 30, 2008, 02:39 PM	#3
adom macrumors regular Join Date: May 2006 Location: UK	Worth a shot....oh wait, forgot everyone is on MSN Nice to see company renewing mac interest though __________________ 20" Alu iMac 2.4 Ghz, 4GB RAM & iPhone 3G Black 8GB

Sep 30, 2008, 02:39 PM	#4
NAG macrumors 68000 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: /usr/local/apps/nageth	This is, like, totally awesome! Mac users were, like, totally bummed that we, like, couldn't chat with our friends! Totally! __________________ "You call this archaeology?" • Professor Henry Jones

Sep 30, 2008, 02:40 PM	#6
thefourthpope macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Austin	I've not used AIM for yeeeaaars, but this could prompt me to give it a go again. Noone I talk to has a camera anyway, so the best feature(s) of iChat are a waste. __________________ Cool toys not listed

Sep 30, 2008, 02:39 PM	#5
stephengiem macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon	is this supposed to make my life easier... i don't get it what about multiple video chat support?

Sep 30, 2008, 02:40 PM	#7
bbplayer5 macrumors 68000 Join Date: Apr 2007	How is this any better than ichat?

Sep 30, 2008, 02:42 PM	#8
Roessnakhan macrumors 65816 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Albuquerque, USA	Adium > * __________________ \| facebook \| twitter \| flickr \| : Mac Mini, MacBook Pro (Unibody), iPhone 3G S 16GB (T-Mobile), iPod nano 8GB

Sep 30, 2008, 02:42 PM	#9
mainstreetmark macrumors 68000 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Saint Augustine, FL	Must be a slow news day. __________________ iTunesRegistry.com <-- v3.0 Now Playing

Sep 30, 2008, 02:43 PM	#10
11800506 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Washington D.C. Area	And why should anyone be interested in this? iChat provides a much nicer user experience IMO. __________________ Unibody Macbook Pro / Aluminum iMac / eMac / Airport Extreme / iPod Touch

Sep 30, 2008, 02:43 PM	#11
Kilamite macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Scotland	Chat window interface looks dreadful.. __________________ - MacBook Pro Unibody 15" 2.8GHz 'anti-glare' - Apple TV 1TB (work in progress) - iPhone 3G 8GB - MobileMe // OS X 10.6.2

Sep 30, 2008, 02:43 PM	#12
badcrumble macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2007	http://www.adiumx.com/ seriously.

Sep 30, 2008, 02:50 PM	#16
hexonxonx macrumors 68030 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Denver Colorado	I'm surprised that AOL still spends money on software developement. The AOL service itself has been declining in users every year. Last time I even used an AOL chatroom there was only a handful of users in there when 5 years ago, there would have been 3 chatrooms for my city during evening hours. This is even after AOL made the service free a few years ago. __________________ Mac Pro 2.8, 23" ACD 2GB Ram; iMac 20" 320GB 3GB Ram; 1 white iPhone; 160GB Classic Silver, 120GB Classic Black

Sep 30, 2008, 02:51 PM	#17
slicecom macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada	I still can't believe people use AIM. It's the worst messaging client out there.

Sep 30, 2008, 02:53 PM	#19
davidee macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2006	So I use adium but as a comment... This is not slow news but rather interesting that an entity that seemingly abandoned the Apple platform has come back now that there is popularity. There are reasons I use iChat and there are reasons I use adium, if its a small light client then maybe that is ok. also for people like my sister who insist on using aol well not anymore but she has her email/chat etc still, this would be a nice newb way to access what she'd want. so think of this as a validation of the expansion of the platform. what other apps were on the mac in the past that people want back (or maybe that is a whole new thread ;-) ), anyone?

Sep 30, 2008, 02:56 PM	#22
danielsan26 macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Houston, TX	They can pry ichat w/chax from my cold, dead fingers. __________________ 15" 2.33 C2D MBP

Sep 30, 2008, 02:57 PM	#23
Twilight Elk macrumors regular Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Arizona	AOL? Hah! Don't make me laugh; I've lost interest in AOL the moment I used it years ago. __________________ -Elk iPod Classic 80gb (Black) Aluminum MacBook 2.4GHz 4GB RAM 250GB HHD (Yay, my first Mac )

Sep 30, 2008, 02:58 PM	#24
ztigerpaw macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2008	Finally! I thought they never update AIM. Was the same way for Yahoo.

Sep 30, 2008, 02:59 PM	#25
Rojo macrumors 65816 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New York City	I'm confused by this. I just assumed AOL stopped doing anything with AIM because of iChat (which can communicate with AIM users). Why would a Mac user NOT use iChat now, and use this AIM For Mac Beta instead? So they can have wallpapers and different sounds? Do they really think this will drive more interest in their dead e-mail service? Seems like a waste of resources here...

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