iChat is numb — long springy Messages . WithThursday ’s announcement of Mac OS X Mountain Lioncomes the news that iChat is being promote and renamed to Messages , with support for the iMessage chat system acquaint with iOS 5 .
If you ca n’t wait until Mountain Lion come this summer to finally use iMessage with your Mac , slack up — you do n’t have to . On Thursday , Apple also releaseda beta rendering of Messages for Lion drug user . ( The final version will be available this summer when Mountain Lion ship . )
I ’ve spend the past few mean solar day using Messages and Mountain Lion . Here ’s a first spirit , keeping in judgement that Mountain Lion wo n’t be expel for months , so features are in fluxion and could change .
The sign someone is typing.
It uses iMessage
The feature that transmogrify iChat into Messages is support forApple ’s iMessage chat organization . Apple says that in the few month since iOS 5 make it , there have already been 100 million registered iMessage user and more than 26 billion iMessages have been beam .
When Apple insert iMessage , mass concenter on how it ’s interchangeable to the SMS text - messaging system of rules on phones . And yes , it ’s cool that iPhone users can send text and multimedia system files over the net without any of the per - message charges that wireless carriers raise for texts . But that miss the bigger picture : By using the cyberspace instead of the cellular system , equipment thataren’tphones can join the party . iOS 5 gave the iPad and the iPod touch iMessage capabilities too , and now it ’s the Mac ’s turning .
iMessage defend some nice extra features such as the power to ( optionally ) institutionalize information about whether you ’ve received and record a content , and when you ’re in the process of send a answer . To send a message to someone using iMessage , you need to be intimate their Apple ID ( which is commonly found on their electronic mail address and may also be their iCloud username ) . Using the iMessage system , you’re able to transport textbook , photo , and other attachments . If you ask to let the cat out of the bag with more than one supporter , there ’s even backing for multi - person chats . It ’s all encipher , and it work no matter if you ’re on an iPhone , iPad , iPod touch , or a Mac . And if you ’re logged into iMessage on multiple devices , your conversations will go with you — you may start a confab on a Mac and end up on an iPad , with your entire conversation useable for reference .
iChat plus iMessage
Though the name is now Messages , the features of iChat are more or less entire . The app still supports AIM , Yahoo , and Jabber protocols . ( Since Google ’s schmooze system utilize Jabber , Messages therefore supports Google Talk , too . ) There ’s still a buddy list and still support for audio and video confab via those services . iChat Theater is still there , too — it ’s just call Theater now , and is accessible once you start a television chat from the Buddy List .
The major interface change in the upgrade from iChat to Messages is the new Messages window . This is a new , persistent windowpane that pull in all your currently - alive conversation , disregarding of which service they ’re on .
The left side of the Messages Lucy in the sky with diamonds is a scrollable inclination showing every conversation , with the name and buddy ikon of the person you sing to , a portion of the most recent message in the conversation , and the time or date the most late substance was sent or received . you’re able to remove items from the left back breaker by moving your shiner over one and clicking the ecstasy image that appears . Typing Command - W will also remove the currently selected item . ( you’re able to double - select any of the detail in the left-hand pane to open them in a standalone window , if you favor to have several , separate schmooze windows open at once . )
The sign someone is typewrite .
The right side of the pane is a confabulation windowpane . There ’s nothing too dramatically dissimilar here , though when someone ’s typecast you ’ll see the same opinion - bubble picture that ’s on exhibit in the iOS Messages app . The textual matter - entry box at the bottom of the pane displays what overhaul you ’re using for this particular chat , until you lead off type . At the top of the battery-acid , there ’s a camera button that gives you nimble accession to video chat . FaceTime is the primary aim here : content will show you every phone number and electronic mail reference for the somebody you ’re chatting with , in hope that one of them will be valid for FaceTime employment . If you just want to expend AIM to confabulate with them , you have to scroll down to the Other hierarchical menu and then pick an account statement .
While substance links to FaceTime , it ’s important to note that message does n’t actuallydoFaceTime . When you pick out a FaceTime address and initiate a FaceTime session , Messages launch the FaceTime app and initiates the connection . The two apps persist disjoined .
The sign someone is typing.
Double - select a confab to unfold it in its own window .
ruffle support for iMessage and traditional IM service in one app does precede to some interesting asymmetry . For example , there ’s no concept of a “ chum list ” for iMessage — to chit-chat with someone via iMessage , you create a new message and type in their name . I ’m not certain Apple want anyone to cerebrate of iMessage as just another instant - message service , but I do see the charm of build a listing of my favorite iMessage New World chat recipients ( and possibly being able-bodied to severalize at a glance if they ’re available to chat ) .
There ’s also the question of iMessage alerts across devices . Anyone who ’s had both an iPad and an iPhone hooked up to iMessage will already know about this phenomenon : Every metre someone sends you a content , all your iMessage - enable devices will beep , and unexampled notification appear . When I chatted with a friend using subject matter on a Mac , my iPhone and iPad were beeping repeatedly , every prison term the friend respond to a message of mine . There ’s likely a well way of life to care situation like this .
Double-click on a chat to open it in its own window.
Here now, coming this summer
There ’s no telling how much Messages may change and develop in the months between now and its final going as a part of Mountain Lion . But even in beta form , it ’s an exciting update that most iChat users will want to try . With Messages , Apple ’s finally brought all of its ironware into a undivided , integrated text - message universe . I expect utilization of iMessage to soar in the calendar month out front .
[ Jason Snell is Macworld ’s editorial director . ]
