Hi,
Starting with:-
What exactly is ichat? Is it just an instant message service? is it just for Apple to Apple or Mac to Mac/iphone or can you chat with people with PCs? Do you set up an Apple account? Or do you use Google(Gmail) or AOL (aim) or another email service? Ive had trouble even trying to set it up let alone use it. How does it differ than just chatting on Gmail since it offers that capability?
As stated above iChat is a Message application that can use or join several of the larger IM (Instant Messaging) services depending on the Screen Name you obtain.
It started out as just a AIM Client (an App that can login to the AIM service) and Apple arranged that their @mac.com names wer recognised as valid AIM Screen Names.
Since then they have also included MobileMe names in the same agreement. (So they are both Apple IDs and AIM Screen Names)
You can of course also register a Name at AIM.
You can then create a Buddy list with one of these and add any of the others. (Generally referred tt as your "AIM" List)
Since iChat 3 you have also been able to use Jabber Names/IDs.
Goolge run a Jabber Server for their GoogleTalk Service so if you have Enabled Talk on your Gmail accounts you can use it in iChat. Whether you use a Google of Jabber ID you can add Jabber or Google Buddies to that list.
iChat 6 lets you use a Yahoo ID as well to text chat to Yahoo Buddies.
What you cannot do in add Jabber Buddies to an "AIM" Buddy list and vice versa. (Or Yahoo).
Although iChat 6 can make the Buddy List appear in one list (if you want) to save on Screen Area)
Video and Audio
iChat uses a Connection Process for audio and Video Chat that is compatible with the AIM app on PCs and a third Party PC app called Trillian (if they are using an AIM valid name)
iChat will Video and Audio Chat to other iChat users no matter what Buddy list they have as long as you are logged in to the same service.
There is also iChat Theatre (a way of showing documents and movies in other apps as the Video feed)
There are also Video Effects.
File Sending
In Chat you can send Files to your Buddies
This can be done as a Standalone action or within a chat
If it is a Pic that is sent then the Pic will appear in the Chat and the Chat window makes it scalable.
Screen Sharing
You can also Screen Share if you have iChat 4 and upwards.
Technically it is an Audio Caht with a VNC connection running along side.
This has advantages other other VNC connections that don't have an Audio Chat with them.
Face Time
Video Phone calls.
Effectively that is all it does.
The Face Time For Mac version requires a Apple ID that is also registered for Face Time and it can call other such IDs or Phone Numbers on iPhones and IDs on some iPod Touches.
No FIle Sending.
No 4 way Video Chats
No 10 Qway Audio CHats.
No Frills whatsoever
Then this:-
And does it do video chat? or just text chat? If it does video, then how does it differ from Face time or Skype? I think Facetime is only for Mac while Skype lets you video chat with people who don't use Macs.
iChat can Video (Or Audio Only) chat on a 1-1 basis. This is a Peer-to-Peer Connection (You can log out of your Buddy list and the chat will continue).
It can do you and 9 others in an Audio Chat.
Or you and 3 others in a Video Chat.
iChat Theatre or the iPhoto Variant still work as to the Video efects.
Skype Charge for Group Video chats over a certain Number.
Skype is now owned by Microsoft and is more open to Man in the Middle attacks (it was like that before Microsoft bought it)
Although this was written for iChat 4 the Broad strokes of it still apply.
Work through or read the pages in the second menu down the page (Starting with Get a Screen Name)
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11:07 PM Friday; August 12, 2011
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