kichat: FAQ 7 Where to Find Links to Things About iChat

On AIM

1. 
   
2. AIM 5.9 If you are using 10.4.8 or lower your PC buddy will need this version.
   
   
3. 
   
   
4. Download AIM 5.9 site PC version. Versions at AIM 6.5 or above do not work. This site seems to have missed AIM 6.1.x but has other versions. I have no info on AIM 6.2.x
   
   
5. 
   
   
6. Another site explaining how to set up the AIM application.
   
   
7. 
   
   
8. AIM for Mac A Beta Version of the current AIM for PC application but for Macs. The AIM 4.7 version for Mac that was text only has disappeared from the AIM site but can be got here
   
   
9. 
   

On Internet Speed Checks

Thanks to Defcom on all of these. Now and then when starting out or encountering problems, it is worth checking if you have the Connection Speed you think you have (or indeed pay for). Most need you to have JAVA installed and active. Most of the common Browers will have the required Plug-in active.




1. Check Your Broadband speed DSLreports. Speed check with a Javascript enabled site.



2. ADSLGuide's Speed Test Another Java based Test site in Britian.



3. Speed Test at Audit My PC As the Link says



4. SpeedTest.net A test site just for Testing. Nice Graphical interface (bit "blokey" Men will like it). Shows a section of the world with the most local servers. You can choose ones from further afield



5. BroadbandMaX.co.uk As it says Another British based single server test site. Uses javasript and Flash rather Java to run test. Has speedometer style graphics.

iChat ADD-ONs

OK. iChat may not do all the things you may come across when trying out different IM applications.

1. 
   iChat 2 stuff first
   
   
2. iCAR Away Message maker. BEWARE CONFILCTS WITH iCHAT 3
3. 
   
4. iProfile 1.2: Add an AIM profile. Beware of using with Tiger/iChat 3
5. 
   
6. "iTunes Calling.." Doug Adams' Utility for showing what your iTunes is playing as a Status Message. Not needed for iChat 3
7. 
   
8. iChat Status A System Preference control item that can run several applescripts (included) from it's interface to put info from other applications in the Status message. The Site now says Tiger Only and links to Previous Versions
   
   
9. 
   
10. Live Icon Moving Buddy icon add on. It lives !! Was written by Ecamm but found on VersionTracker only. (Thanks Defcom !!) The VersionTracker page does say it is iChat 2.x Only !!
11. 
    
    
    
    iChat 2 and 3 compatible stuff
    
    
12. Ecamm.com (iUSBCam) A utility for making G3/500 and slower work with USB cameras and external iSight cameras. Originally for iChat 2.x but the current version is Universal and works on Intels as well.
13. 
    
    
14. iGlasses Enhancement for Picture control for External cameras.
15. 
    
16. iChat Streaming Icon Another moving icon Utility. Seems to be OK in iChat 3.x
17. 
    
18. iChatter More from Ecamm.com Speaks iChat Text chats.
19. 
    
20. Conference Recorder Yet more from Ecamm. Allows you to record iChat Video chats.
21. 
    
    
    
    Not tried in iChat 2 or is iChat 3 specific
    
22. Showmacster Adds the ability to show Video clips, icons, pics as slide shows and more. Effectively iChat Theater pre iChat 4WIll work with iChat 4 as well
23. 
    
24. ChatFX Adds the ability to live feed of Photo booth type distortions and more. Was originally Intel Macs only but NOW Universal!! Can be power hungry as Video is effectively processed twice. Only works up until 10.4.10 Notice on Site.
25. 
    
26. Chax An Add-on that does much. Allows Auto Accept of Files and Text chats. Tabs Text chats into one window. Has many items that add to the iChat Menus and a set of Preferences added to the iChat Preferences window. The site has different version for Leopard and Tiger. More can be changed in Tiger
    
27. PowerBoost More from Ecamm. This time a Utility for slower Macs to be able to Multi-Video chat.
28. 
    

On Other Applications

1. 
   Multi-service (AIM, Jabber, MSN, Yahoo! etc.) Text Only apps.
   
2. ProteusX A Mac based multiple service Text Chat Instant Messenger client.
   
   
3. 
   
4. Fire Another Multi-service Text only Client for Macs.
5. 
   
6. Adium X Another text based multi- service client.
7. 
   

<hr>

4. Mac based AIM Client(s)
   
5. AIM for Mac The Mac Version of AIM.
6. 
   
   

<hr>

5. 
   
   Alternatives to iChat but Video chatting capable apps
   
   
   
6. iVisit A Mac and PC alternative. (does not use AIM or MSN or Jabber)
7. 
   
8. Skype Cross Platform IP telephony and Chat client. Now has a Mac version for Video chat
9. 
   
10. PalTalk.com
11. 
    
12. Gizmo Says it can link to almost anything. Free to Download. Looks like calls to landlines cost like Skype does.
    
    
    

Note YakforFree seems to have disappeared.
<hr>

9. 
   
   Alternatives to iChat but Video chatting In a Web Browser
   
   
   
   
10. MeBeam. An option to use a Web site that create Private room for Video Chatting. Uses Flash to access your Camera and Mic.
11. 
    
12. iVideoChat Similar setup but a somewhat corporate type look to the site. Has Public rooms as well. Again uses Flash.
13. 
    
14. Googlemail/Googtalk now do a Viersion in a Web Broswer
15. 
    

<hr>

13. 
    
    Apps to connect to other Services
    
    
    
14. Mercury Messenger A JAVA based MSN Client. JAVA makes it cross platform. Has a beta for Video and Audio chats.
15. 
    
16. aMSN Another MSN Video chat Client
17. 
    
18. Yahoo! Messenger for Mac Beta of Yahoo! 3
19. 
    

On Other iChat Set Up and Info Pages

Not numbered as I have no preferences on these.

• CherryPop Homepage Alternative pages about setting up iChat. A bit dated now. Has not been updated since Sept. 2006
• 
  
• John Kennedy's Homepage Links to Cameras Drivers and other useful stuff. A bit dated now John's original .mac pages. Also has links to his Blog which was last updated in November 2007.
• 
  
• Ryan's iChat set up pages Well worth a beginners visit. Series of 4 pages that start with the Start Up Screens. Has pictures of the iChat 3 Preferences as well as how to Add Buddies and How to set up the Jabber side of iChat 3
  
  Some links are not working.
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• MVLDesign.com Mac to PC (AIM 5.9) and iChat help page. Has been there since 2005 and is fairly regularly updated.
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• MonarchWatch As far as I can tell it is mainly iChat 2 based with some reference to iChat 3. Essentially the site is iChat in 500 words
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<hr>

• 
  
• My Pages of Course
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On Jabber

Jabber in Tiger and Above

Jabber was added to iChat at iChat 3 when Tiger (10.4.x) came out. It does not have any set up features (Registration module as Jabber calls them) so you need to register a Jabber screen name and then use this in iChat. The first link tells you how. The second tells you how to extend this with "Transports" to other services. The third is needed for you to check on the Public Jabber servers available to pick one for your needs with link 1 and 2.

1. 
   
2. Jabber Australia Info site.
3. 
   
4. AllForces Blog that tells you how to connect iChat Jabber to MSN and other services
5. 
   
6. Jabber Public Servers for use with above. This is an English version of a Spanish site but is the laid out in a graphical form as to abilities of the servers listed.
7. 
   

Chatter Lists pages

This might be useful to those who ask it regularly.

If your looking for Lists of potential iChat Buddies. You may want to register at these.

They are a way of finding New Buddies.



iChatters.com

Chatfinder.com

iChat Club :                     (Thanks to Phillippe Alary)

iChat Rooms Listing

Some of them cost.

Unfortunately this list is becoming shorter and shorter. This is for two reasons it seems.

1. 
   
2. I keep it to ones that I feel are broadly acceptable or at least Inoffensive to a large majority or people bearing in mind AIM's lower age limit is supposed to be 13 Years of Age.
3. 
   
4. I somewhat rely on other people telling me of new ones but two of these have disappeared this time round.
5. 
   
   

Lists of Chatrooms

Again a list that is becoming shorter and shorter. It used to be that you could search for Sites that listed Rooms and the Listing would be a link to launch you favourite IM app that worked with AIM chatrooms. A bit like the Buddy Listings I tend to Censor those that I find. Essentially it is now just the one.

AIM's own page on this disappeared for a while and now links to Web Based Chatrooms

Getting iChat to Open From Web links

If you have several AIM type Clients (applications that use the AIM servers) you may wish to specify which one opens when you click on a aim:gochat?RoomName=(RoomName) link on a web page.

The aim:gochat?RoomName= link on a web page is much like the iTunes one in an email from Apple that can launch another app.

Sometimes when you click on the link on the list of ChatRoom pages you find that the link seems not to be suitable for iChat. One workaround is to Right or Control click the Link and Use the Properties item to see the link in full. Highlighting the link and then using the Apple Key and c key together to copy (it will not work from the menu item in Firefox) and paste it in the window that pops up when you use the "Go to Chat" item in the iChat File menu.


The more elegant Internet Explorer solution follows.

For this you need to open Internet Explorer on the Mac. (You can get older versions here)

In the Mac version of Internet Explorer you can tweak the preferences to make sure iChat is your Chatroom application (if you have another AIM client). Redone for IE 5.2.3

1. Open Internet Explorer
2. 
   
3. Open the Explorer Menu.
4. 
   
5. Select Preferences.
6. 
   
7. In the Window that appears, scroll down to Network, and use the reveal triangle.
8. 
   
9. Select Helper Protocols.
10. 
    
11. Choose AIM by click on it once and deselect it as an Active choice.
12. 
    
13. Now Click the Option to "Change" at the bottom of the window.
14. 
    
15. In the Pop-Up window select Change and in the next navigate to the application you want to use with Chat rooms.
16. 
    

This makes sure the <code>aim:gochat?</code> html code on the web page that links to the Chatroom opens the right application.

It would be worth saving a .dmg file of Internet Explorer for your Intel Mac when you get it as it does not come as part of the Installed applications.