A few weeks ago , I severalise you about DockStar , an add - on for OS X ’s Mail program that put up right Dock position indicant . In response , I received a issue of emails from readers demand if there was something similar for iChat — a way of life to get more information about incoming schmoose petition without cause to interchange to iChat .
I had n’t date such a product , but reader Patrick Scott had ; he pointed me to the free ( donations accepted)Chax 1.2.2 ( ) , which does this and much more . In fact , it add a phone number of feature to iChat that the great unwashed have been request for quite a while now .
Once you establish Chax , iChat ’s novel configurations appear in a Chax tab in iChat ’s own preference duologue , categorized in several tabs : User List , Chats , Away , and Notifications . The last of these is where you could choose to have iChat ’s Dock icon display either the telephone number of unread iChat messages or the name(s ) of the senders of unread messages . The Dock picture can expose up to four name , and you get to choose the color of these “ badge ” and decide whether or not they flaunt .
The only issue with the “ name ” badge is that there ’s generally room only for the subject matter sender ’s first name :
Chax ’s other chit provide many other utile setting . The User List yellow journalism let you opt the font and sizing ( although not the color ) of Buddy List names and status message . you’re able to also choose to show sobriquet from Address Book alternatively of “ formal ” names , to hide iTunes music store contact when your sidekick are using iChat ’s “ Current iTunes Track ” condition message , and to obscure your audio / telecasting status ( so other people wo n’t tease you to AV Old World chat with them ) .
Standard name display
Chax - provided moniker display
Chax ’s Chats lozenge lets you mechanically accept text chats ( so you do n’t have to strike “ take ” before you may answer ) ; rent you motorcar - accept file carry-over ; and can warn you before you send a text message to a nomadic phone user — a thoughtful touch , yield that many mass still yield to take in mobile messages . you may make admittance to otherwise - unavailable iChat options , such as the showing of the “ smiley ” button and the verification dialogue you see if you stress to quit iChat while messaging windows are open . An interesting feature of speech displays a Buddy ’s status exchange in good order in message window ( which also mean those position changes are saved in iChat log filing cabinet ) .
Finally , the Away tab let you qualify your outside motorcar - answer and can automatically set your condition to off after a period of prison term that you choose .
Unfortunately , figuring out all of Chax ’s features is a morsel of a challenge , since it does n’t include any corroboration . I discovered a few features by reading the feature article list on the Chax Web site and then searching for matter within iChat — it turn out that some of Chax ’s features are actually establish in new addition to iChat ’s menu . For example , the ability to toggle the status contrast for each of your Buddies is find in the View bill of fare , and Chax ’s not - yet - operative - but - forebode - for - a - time to come - version Log Viewer is found in iChat ’s Window carte . Some other features that users might never discover admit :
Still , Chax provides a enough obvious enhancements to iChat that it ’s worth trying ; if you find more features hidden inside , even in effect . Heavy chatters should insure it out .
Chax requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later .
