iChat AV 2.0

[Schiffi]

This new version of iChat is very useful. For instance the ablity to use groups (Preferences>General>Check "Use groups in Buddy lists"). Not only this but I there is also the ability to create "chat rooms" using Cmd+G. By light of these new occurances, I say we start a "macrumors" chat room for us to use instead of IRC. This is just a thought.

P.S. To see ppl's name in the chat room go to View>Show Names or View>Show Pictures and Names.

P.P.S. Oh yeah, there is also the little feature of audio and video conferencing that's new.

 

[Ensign Paris]

The chatroom feature has been there since v.1

And the chatroom MacRumors has been used fairly frequently in the last few months

Sorry to be mean :s

Ensign

 

[dricci]

I bet you didn't know this!

From my own post at my own forum:

Have friends using ICQ? - iChat AV (in an undocumented, and probably unsupported feature) can communicate with Windows ICQ users using the latest betas of either ICQ or ICQ Lite (This will NOT work with the Mac verison of ICQ at this time.). Simply add the user's ICQ number as a friend or send an IM to it, and you'll be chatting with them (if their version of the ICQ software is supported). NOTE: Because of ICQ's security features, the ICQ user might appear as offline in your buddy list until they "Authorize" you as someone who is allowed to add them. There is no visual notification of when this happens in iChat like in the ICQ client. Let me restate this again: This does NOT work with the current ICQ for Mac OS X.

 

[Moe]

No AV Interoperability

When I heard Steve say in the keynote that iChatAV would be Mac to Mac only, I could understand video not being compatible with Netmeeting, since it's connection is based on AOL IM and Netmeeting isn't (uses Internet Locator Service or MSN IM to find on-line users/buddies).

But I just couldn't believe that audio chats couldn't be done with PCs using AOL IM w/audio chat. Got the iChatAV beta, and YGBSM... it DOESN'T voice chat with AOL IM on the PC! Neither does AOL's Mac client!

Since I use that a LOT with my 84 year old dad who can't type, and since my wife won't give up Netmeeting video chats with the granddaughter across the country, it looks like we won't be "switching" any time soon.

Any PC user that saw Steve making a big deal out of AV chat probably got a big laugh. We've been doing this for years... and once upon a time there was CUSeeMe, initially developed on Macs.

 

[Rower_CPU]

Re: No AV Interoperability

Originally posted by Moe
Any PC user that saw Steve making a big deal out of AV chat probably got a big laugh. We've been doing this for years... and once upon a time there was CUSeeMe, initially developed on Macs.

Really? You've been doing AV conferencing with no setup, or entering of IP/phone numbers?

 

[Moe]

Re: Re: No AV Interoperability

Originally posted by Rower_CPU
Really? You've been doing AV conferencing with no setup, or entering of IP/phone numbers?

Yes.

 

[Rower_CPU]

Re: Re: Re: No AV Interoperability

Originally posted by Moe
Yes.

Care to elaborate? I've never seen anything as simple as iChat AV.

 

[Schiffi]

I believe MSN messenger for the PC can do AV conferencing.

 

[Moe]

Re: Re: Re: Re: No AV Interoperability

Originally posted by Rower_CPU
Care to elaborate? I've never seen anything as simple as iChat AV.

As mentioned, MSN IM can start a Netmeeting session with a buddy. Netmeeting can also log onto an ILS server, where all you need know is a buddy name. When a user starts Netmeeting, it transparently passes the current IP address to the server, and when you select them from the ILS menu, that IP is passed directly to your Netmeeting client. All very easy to do, at the click of a button.

 

[Rower_CPU]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: No AV Interoperability

Originally posted by Moe
As mentioned, MSN IM can start a Netmeeting session with a buddy. Netmeeting can also log onto an ILS server, where all you need know is a buddy name. When a user starts Netmeeting, it transparently passes the current IP address to the server, and when you select them from the ILS menu, that IP is passed directly to your Netmeeting client. All very easy to do, at the click of a button.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Moe]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: No AV Interoperability

Originally posted by Rower_CPU
Thanks for the info.

You're welcome. It really hurts to see Apple fallen so far behind in this area.

Netmeeting allows AV chat users to collaborate using a shared whiteboard for notes and rough sketches, as well as share applications or even the entire desktop, at the simple click of the mouse.

It also allows a guest lecturer to teach a remote group from his office PC. And that's true even if the group is using something like a Polycom teleconferencing unit, since it's standards based.

I was hoping for a lot more out of iChat2.

 

[Rower_CPU]

Originally posted by Moe
I was hoping for a lot more out of iChat2.

I think iChat AV is just the start of Apple's work in this arena. Given the fact that they've only had a chat client for 10 months or so, they've come a long way.

If Apple sees the need, they will try to fill it. Make sure to submit a "enhancement request":
http://www.apple.com/feedback/ichat.html

 

[Moe]

Thanks for the link. I will use it!

 

[alset]

Anyone else buy an iSight?

Dan

 

[Rower_CPU]

Originally posted by alset
Anyone else buy an iSight?

Dan

Yup.

 

[NNO-Stephen]

Originally posted by alset
Anyone else buy an iSight?

Dan

no. you can always send me one though

 

[altivec 2003]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: No AV Interoperability

Originally posted by Moe
As mentioned, MSN IM can start a Netmeeting session with a buddy. Netmeeting can also log onto an ILS server, where all you need know is a buddy name. When a user starts Netmeeting, it transparently passes the current IP address to the server, and when you select them from the ILS menu, that IP is passed directly to your Netmeeting client. All very easy to do, at the click of a button.

If i'm not mistaken, and i read this in the new york times, that Microsoft included audio and video chat in MSN just the same day as apple announced icat av. Also, according to David Pogue (who wrote the article) ichat's video quality is much better and the framerate is superior to that of msn. Of course i am not too much up to date on pc software and they might have had this functionality earlier as a plug in or something.

 

[Moe]

I'm not sure why they did this other than perhaps to compete more directly with Yahoo Instant Messenger which has had webcam capability for some time. I can't remember how far back it was that Microsoft hooked NetMeeting into their chat client, but PC users have been running NetMeeting AV chat for over 5 years. My son did it all through college with friends at other universities. I ran a White Pine Meeting Point server for multi-user CUSeeMe and NetMeeting chats a few years ago, 'til funding for that software dried up, and they could have group AV chats. Also ran an ILS server for the NetMeeting users. Sure, things are better now with VGA resolution and Firewire. We were using parallel printer port cameras back then, and later only USB1.

 

[Codemonkey]

MSN 6 is *weak*

And this isn't jsut some Machead's heresay, we upgraded all the PeeCee IM clients in the office, and it's an absolutly _rank_ application. The interface is arbitrary, messy and confusing, you have three choices of size for video: small, smaller and microscopic, and they've just _started_ to add features that iChat has had since the word go (backgrounds, for one).

Everyone needs to remember that it's taken M$ !SIX! *freaking* *versions* to get to where it is now, and iChat has managed to gain all it's ground *within* *two* versions. Nevermind an 84 year old grandparent who can't type, what about an 84 year old that can't strain to see the video? Or hear the crackly, low-fi audio?

By managing to keep the requirements so high, they'll succeed in providing the best possible user experience compared to the competition.

And for the record: NetMeating is for gay pr0n. Not family video chat.

 

[Moe]

Re: MSN 6 is *weak*

Originally posted by Codemonkey
And for the record: NetMeating is for gay pr0n. Not family video chat.

I'm straight, so I'll have to take your word about the gay stuff. None of my business if that's what you use it for.

We've used it for family stuff at home, and research collaboration at work, for years.

 

[alset]

I think iChat AV will be a great opportunity to "meet" other MacRumors members. I have become friends with a few users from this site, and only one lives in my area (thus, I only know what one person looks like).

This would have been a godsend when I was a teen.

Dan

 

[wsteineker]

Originally posted by alset
This would have been a godsend when I was a teen.

Heh. Fair enough, then.

 

[synthetickittie]

ichat as it is right now (and will even get better with this verison in beta) fixes all the bugs well besides for 2 little ones that I can definitly live with. I do love the video but this doesnt help me because NONE of my friends have macs so I cant use it. I'll still be using yahoo messanger untill aim for windows, if they ever do, gets this and will work with ichat users. Yahoo definitly has a lot less quality but less quality is better then higher quality that I cant use as of yet. Now I do know apple can't help this they just have to wait for windows programs to join them..

 

[BigJayhawk]

There's Audio Too

Most people are talking about the "V" in iChat AV but there is also the "A" for those of us who don't have the $150 yet.

I installed it immediately and my 3 1/2 year old son gets a kick out of talking to Grandpa (TiBook to TiBook) on the computer instead of on the phone.

iChat AV dowloads plus $0 and now there's a new toy. Thanks Apple!

 

[spacemanspiff]

iChat and ICQ

Getting through to ICQ doesn´t seem to work. How exactly do you add the ICQ contact? I only have the choice of adding a .mac account or an AIM account. Maybe it´s because I´m using a German version?