Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
Lion ’s version of iChat is the unspoiled implementation of OS X ’s built - in chat client to date . But it still lacks the lineament of third - party instant message clients .
Apple first offered iChat in 2002 , as part of Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar . Though I ’ve try iChat repeatedly with various releases of newer version of the Mac group O , I always stop up vacate the software for the complimentary , assailable - source Adium instead . iChat has long had one major leg up on Adium — its built - in support for audio and video chatting — but other Adium features offer enough improvement over iChat that I think Apple ’s instantaneous electronic messaging ( IM ) tool an also - ran .
What’s new
The newly releasedMac OS X Lionincludes iChat 6.0 . It ’s the first iteration that really can rival some of Adium ’s advances in the IM software space . That ’s because iChat finally impart feature it ’s missed for far too long .
iChat 6.0 in Lion finally adds built - in musical accompaniment for Yahoo ’s insistent messaging service .
For example , iChat 6.0 allow you to sign into the Yahoo insistent electronic messaging chopine . The integrating is double-dyed : you see your Yahoo pal ’ embodiment , availability , and current confabulation condition . iChat already extend out - of - the - virtual - boxful support for the AIM , me.com , Mac.com , and Google Talk IM web . The software also include Jabber financial support , which mean you’re able to habituate iChat to connect to other IM internet — let in Facebook Chat . Adium offer built - in Facebook sustenance ; iChat still requires that you configure Facebook Chat manually .
iChat 6.0 in Lion finally adds built-in support for Yahoo’s instant messaging service.
Even more welcome than the addition of Yahoo support is iChat ’s implementation of a unified buddy list . Most of us do n’t mentally direct our friends by which IM service they use ; iChat ’s former reliance on separating them that mode made little sensory faculty . iChat 6.0 combines all your friend into a single leaning , which is an improvement , but still falls unretentive in comparability to Adium .
There ’s no obvious elbow room to discover which serving a friend is logged into just by appear at your buddy inclination . ( Adium can show a service ikon next to each buddy ’s name . ) And if you have a friend with accounts on multiple service , iChat ’s approach shot for combing your friends ’ history into a exclusive sidekick entry on your list is n’t as nonrational as Adium ’s . In Adium , you draw usernames on top of each other to merge them . In iChat , you must Command - tap each name , and then choose “ impart to Address Book as One Card ” from the contextual or Buddies menu . Do that , and you ’ll lose any custom name you ’ve given the contact ( say , “ John Smith ” instead of “ jsmith88 ” ) , call for you to edit it all over again .
Type Command - F , and then begin typewrite the name of the pal you ’re after .
iChat 6.0 in Lion finally adds built-in support for Yahoo’s instant messaging service.
supervise your bigger - than - ever buddy list is well-to-do in iChat 6.0 . The app now supports a unified status ; you put your position once , and it updates all the divine service you ’re using . And if you conjure Command - F , or prefer Edit - > Find , you’re able to filter your sidekick list by type all or part of the name of the somebody you ’re looking to chat with .
iChat now makes it easier to supply a photo to your IM chum : you could choose from your iPhoto faces . If you frequently confab with passel of separate folks simultaneously , you ’ll appreciate that iChat 6.0 also lets you drop back chat tabs out of the principal window into windows of their own , and merge chats together by sweep them onto each other . Those are nice Modern features for iChat to insert .
What’s the same
Some interactions that iChat still clings to , however , are head - scratchingly left over . I refer , of course , to the “ Accept ” image : Whenever you receive an IM to start a conversation — that is , an IM from someone with whom you are n’t currently engaged in an active chat window — iChat belt down up a Modern windowpane , asking you to okay or disapprove the initiate conversation . It ’s annoying , and iChat ’s utilise this outlandish doings for as long as I can remember . I ca n’t use iChat at all unless I take advantage of this oldMacworldhint for automatically accepting incoming chat invitation .
There ’s one other country where iChat pales in compare to Adium . The biggest welfare Adium adds to my casual work flow is that I can keep tabs on my incoming substance without incessantly switching back to the app . Thanks to its Dock notifications ( which can admit the name of the soul sending you IMs ) and Growl integration ( which can display the schoolbook of incoming messages in floating palettes atop your screen ) , Adium have you make love who ’s articulate what without interrupt your work . iChat still relies on a mostly useless Dock icon bounce , with no other information ply about incoming messages unless you sail back to iChat ’s window . That approach simply does n’t ensnarl with my approach to multitasking . Less vexatious , but still curious : When you typewrite message in iChat , Lion ’s iOS - style autocorrection feature does n’t seem to work .
Of naturally , iChat does pack in one monumental advantage over Adium : fantabulous audio recording and video chat support . In Lion , iChat supports full - sieve mode when you ’re video chatting , which works great . If you swipe away from the full - silver screen video Old World chat to another screen on your Mac , the call carry on . ( That ’s in demarcation to FaceTime ’s full - silver screen mood , which places your call on hold . ) I find iChat ’s video career often works quite well . In my experience , sometimes I can get effective call timbre with iChat , and sometimes things are dependable in Skype . iChat has long made video conferencing ( and CRT screen share-out ) ridiculously simple-minded , and that continue in Lion . you’re able to even use to the new zany Photo Booth essence as you video chat , if you ’re into that sorting of thing .
Type Command-F, and then start typing the name of the buddy you’re after.
Speaking of FaceTime
Apple first introduced FaceTime for Mac tardy in Snow Leopard ’s land tenure . Back when the desktop version of Apple ’s iPhone and iPad video conferencing technology was introduced , some of us wonder whether the FaceTime app would one daylight merge with iChat . The response from Apple has thus far been a reverberative “ no . ” Lion ’s avatar of FaceTime — version 1.1 — doesn’t take issue much from the Mac App Store rendering of the video - conferencing tool for Snow Leopard . In fact , the only renowned variety between the interpretation in the Mac App Store and the translation included with Lion is the introduction of reinforcement for Lion ’s full - screen mode while TV chatting .
FaceTime and iChat are two different beasts . FaceTime still only work on for video chatting ; you ca n’t use the software for sending instant messages or audio chatting . And FaceTime — unlike iChat — lacks any notion of “ online now ” : You ca n’t have a go at it if your contact is available until you attempt to place the call . On the positive side , FaceTime lets you set call not just to other Mac users with the software installed , but also to recent - manikin iOS gimmick drug user as well .
Macworld’s buying advice
iChat 6 is unimpeachably the best personification of iChat to appointment . But I ca n’t help but notice that iChat often feel a bit out of position in the Apple app ecosystem . With other broth Apple software — Mail , Safari , iTunes — you have other options , but Apple ’s apps understandably and aggressively compete with their alternatives . It seems that Apple does n’t view Adium as a competitor , though , and that ’s a pity : For all of iChat ’s achievements , peculiarly in regard to TV chat , its basic interface lack well - defined subtlety that could make the iChat experience far superior to what it is today .
[ Lex Friedman is a faculty writer for Macworld . ]
