AOL Renews Interest in Mac with AIM Beta 1

[MacRumors]

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.

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[Eidorian]

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

 

[adom]

Worth a shot....oh wait, forgot everyone is on MSN Nice to see company renewing mac interest though

 

[NAG]

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

 

[stephengiem]

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

what about multiple video chat support?

 

[thefourthpope]

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]

How is this any better than ichat?

 

[Roessnakhan]

Adium > *

 

[mainstreetmark]

Must be a slow news day.

 

[11800506]

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

 

[kolax]

Chat window interface looks dreadful..

 

[badcrumble]

http://www.adiumx.com/

seriously.

 

[iriejedi]

Adium

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]

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]

Adium > *

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

 

[hexonxonx]

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]

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

 

[NewSc2]

Adium > *

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

 

[davidee]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[Twilight Elk]

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

 

[ztigerpaw]

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

 

[Rojo]

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...