iChat and Gmail Account

After you click on the +

Hi,

In iChat > Preferences > Accounts and the GoogleTalk ID you have put in there can you look in the Server Setting tab on the right ?
What is the Server Name and port you see listed ?

It should read talk.google.com (As per the Pics Defcom linked you to) and Port 5223

If it does have you allowed this port through your router or modem ?
Is you Mac Firewall ON ?
Have you set it to Allowed Signed App in the Advanced Button ?
Is iChat included in the List ?



11:30 PM Sunday; June 13, 2010

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

Maybe this is the right place to ask.
Yesterday, I tried using iChat from the iMac, to "video chat" my brother, with a Windows PC, both of us using our GMail accounts.
When we both go to GMail, from our browsers, we can launch a "video chat" (after I installed some kind of Google Talk video plug-in for the Mac).
But if I try to initiate anything from iChat, I can only initiate "Chat" and "Offline messaging". "Invite to Video chat" and "Invite to Audio chat" are grayed out.
My Gmail account and server settings are correct. My Router Type is "Symmetric".
A similar lack of capability exists when he falls back to a standalone Google Talk client for Windows (I think I could start an "Audio Chat" from the browser).

When I looked at other forums, I get the impression that, at one point, iChat allowed video chats with Gmail users, but then, some Google upgrade somewhere changed the compatibility (by changing a codec?)

I get confused by all these different Google terms, so I hope I don't use GMail, Google Talk (and is there even a separate Google Chat?) incorrectly.

Are my expectations wrong? Is there some kind of history to this, and should iChat support "video chats" with his standalone Google Talk client, without either or both of us having to login to Gmail?

Thanks for any insight into this.

Hi,

Welcome to the  Discussions

iChat will chat in Video to another iChat user if they both have GoogleTalk accounts.

The GoogleTalk app on a PC and the web chat version uses a different protocol to start chats which is not compatible with iChat




11:46 PM Monday; June 14, 2010

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

OK thanks for that -- somehow, one day later, it already seemed clear that was the case. I guess since it works in Gmail, with the plug-in I'm OK talking to my Windows afflicted brother (as soon as he buys a webcam I mean -- I just get a picture of his "avatar" for now). Just trying to understand everything, and a little disappointed that it doesn't work from iChat (looks like some people blamed Google for upgrading something).

Did it work once? I get the idea from old posts and product announcements, that iChat compatibility was introduced, featured, and basically worked at the end of 2008, and between then and now, they are not compatible any longer. Is that true, and if so what changed?

Hi,

iChat to the Google PC App called Google Talk or the web site has never worked for Video or Audio Only chats.

Google talk is a jabber server.
Those jabber server that do Video or audio chat use a Protocol called Jingle.
Any Jabber able app has to have the libjingle file installed as well for this to work.

It is this libjingle that connects two Buddies.

As a matter of fact Google has their own implementation of libjingle that does not work with other Jabber Servers/Applications.
See here

iChat uses SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) which is also used by VoIP phones and adapters.
In theory this would make it easier for iChat to become a fully able VoIP app and dial phones (cell, VoIP or Landlines) if certain protocols were added to the SNATMAP server and iChat itself.

A Login is a Login so to speak in any app.
Basically it is th same. As long as the app has a User Name, Password a Server and port to contact it will login.
Therefore getting iChat to login to a Jabber server is a very small step.

At one point the Google Video service worked in a Web Browser without the need for the Plugin. It seemed to be Flash based.
There were thoughts at the time that the PC app was also Flash based, although it seems more likely that the app was one protocol and the web mail chat was another.
(My memory on this maybe flawed as I only used it once).

The date of the end of 2008 does seem "right" though.



9:05 PM Tuesday; June 15, 2010

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

Trying to use iChat Mac to Mac with gmail accounts. I am currently located in India. Skype works but iChat with gmail accounts makes me wait for authorization or gives error. I followed all setup instructions. What can I do next?

Hi,

Most Jabber apps included a Authorization module than continually repeats sending the Authorization request until the contact either accepts or declines.

iChat does not have this so the Buddy stays in the Buddy list showing "Waiting For Authorization".

Two ways around this.
1) Delete the Buddy and arrange a specific time via Email to both be On-line to accept the Request

2) Delete the Buddy anyway and then when Text chatting, which you should be able to do, go to the Buddies Menu in the menu bar and click the Add Buddy when it lists their name.

I also do not see a setting to repeat the Invite on the Google Web Mail Chat option.



4:43 PM Wednesday; August 25, 2010

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

Thanks, Ralph. Your solution worked!

You are welcome.

Other posters may be interested in whether it was number one or number two that did it.



5:44 PM Wednesday; August 25, 2010

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

I used your first option (1). What I now know is that if you are patient enough, you can just wait (a long time) until the other potential buddy comes online and accepts you. What was confusing was that I tried to start a iChat text message and I actually sent several messages but then was given an Error message. When I finally became patient and waited until the other person authorized my request, the error messages quit and I was successful in establishing both text and video. Thanks again for your expert advice. After seeing the long list of solutions you have given to many people, I was actually hoping that you would respond to me. You did and your solution worked. Thanks again. I am a university administrator from the US traveling on business in India and I desperately needed to get iChat video working. THANK YOU again!!

Thank you for letting other posters know.



6:41 PM Wednesday; August 25, 2010

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"