how can i download ichat on Yosemite?

Hi,

AIM increased the Security some while ago meaning that iChat 6 (first edition in Lion) and earlier versions of iChat cannot perform the checks needed to confirm the password.

iChat 6.2 and upwards logs into Apple and AIM so that your app gives permission for AIM to read the password for Apple ID names that can be used is valid AIM Screen Names.

I have @Mac.com IDs that I cannot now use on iChat 5.8 on a laptop that cannot get beyond Snow Leopard but can be used right up to Sierra. (Messages 10)

Various iChat functions have been removed from Messages along the way.

Formatting in the Preferences and the whole Menu for that which allowed different Bubble, Many more Fonts and coloured text (iChat was effectively Mac to Mac or Mac to AIM on another platform which in many cases ignored the formatting)

Video/Audio Chatting from the AIM and Jabber accounts stopped.

In iChat 2 this did include to AIM on PC computers but as time went on iChat and AIM on a PC grew further apart leaving this and Mac to Mac only. By about iChat 4 Mac to AIM on PC for Video was essentially dead.

Now it is only the iMessages account.

From a text chat you use the Details "button" top right and this can invoke FaceTime for Audio and Video Chats of the Screen Sharing App (part of Apple Remote Desktop) which does include an Audio chat feed as well.

See the long piece here I did for you

Re: Cannot screen share via iMessage

10:00 pm Wednesday; September 20, 2017

Ralph, Does this mean I can still use AIM? Because I am unable to share my screen with my mom. If I have a an Apple account without an iCloud account (I dislike iCloud) will I be able to share my screen with my mom if she has an Apple account.

I have been unsuccessful in trying any and al combinations.

Does this mean I can still use AIM?

"AOL seemingly cutting off third-party app access to AIM starting on March 28 [2017]"

<https://9to5mac.com/2017/02/28/aol-cutting-aim-access>

Your mileage may vary.

Ralph, Thanks for all the information. theere is a lot to sort out. What Apple had was easy to use, now is windows complicated!!!

Thanks again.

Mark

Hi,

You have to remember that iChat built slowly into what it became.

The original iChat could only do text chats over AIM and Bonjour.

iChat 2 added Video (and Audio Chats) 1-1 But could connect to AIM on PC users.

iChat 3 was where Screen Sharing was Added (Making use of Apple Remote Desktop) and adds Jabber ability

iChat 4 adds 4 Way Video chats and 10 way Audio ones.

iChat 6 adds Yahoo but is text Only

Version 7 becomes Messages

Adds the iMessages Account (no Buddy List - uses Contacts App list directly)

A separate Buddy List where you could store iMessages Contacts details that you were using iMessages with.

As Video over AIM to PC users when it worked only allowed 1-1 one chats the iMessages Video could have been done in-App so that iPhones could be one to one and other Mac to Mac calls could have retained 4 way chats.

(not sure I could handle a 10 way family Audio chat though 😉 )

As I mentioned many of those things that iChat did have disappeared along the way.

Formatting along with Video and Audio plus Screen Sharing in app are what I miss the most.

Having the Alert sounds back would be nice as you can set an iPhone to different Sounds for different people.

One of the issues was that iChat had a Messages Preferences pane for the formatting (your Preset choices). It also had a Messages item in the File Menu.

That with the new name led to things being changed.

Getting an iCloud Apple ID is no different to gaining an older Apple ID was

iCloud - Sign in

If your @Me.com email still works and is listed in System Preferences > iCloud then you have one.

You may also have an @iCloud.com one if you linked the @me.com one early enough when iCloud started up.

I made my external email Apple ID into an iCloud one and this gave me an @me.com one as well at the time and later the @icloud.com one

Effectively I have three ID using one password to login in to iCloud if I wish.

The @me.com and @icloud.com get the same Mail no matter which I use.

The iMessages Account treats them as separate IDs which means you can still use another Apple ID in iTunes and the App Store.

If you have set up FaceTime with an ID that is likely to be an iCloud valid Apple ID that you could use.

9:02 pm Thursday; September 21, 2017

No. It was replaced by Messages.

(116593)

No. iChat was discontinued in 2012 on Mountain Lion and has not been available since.

It was replaces by Messages.

Hi,

No.

At Mountain Lion the app changed it's name to Messages.

Messages, like iChat comes with the OS

When you open it for the first time it will ask for an Apple ID to register with iMessages.

It also has the Bonjour Account from the start.

Your can Add the AIM, Jabber and Yahoo accounts you may have had in iChat 6.

If you migrated then the System Preferences > Internet Account pane can also activate them.

10:14 pm Friday; November 14, 2014

Need more help... as a casual user of Skype (formerly) and Ichat (1 or 2 a year) I do not understand how messages replaces Ichat. The Imac I just acquired has the camera built in. I find no references to that in Yosemite. On my MacMini running an external apple camera, when it's turned on ichat automatically opens. I've found nothing in Yosemite regarding the camera, etc. In Ichat on a Mac Mini running Tiger, using it was real easy... Examining 'messages' terminology has me in the dark as to what to do. Is there any kind of realistic guide>>>?? As automated Apple has made other aspects in Yosemite, I would hope that the process of viewing the persons on the other end is as easy. I can send email messages, so why would I need 'messages'.... HELP! this user is totally lost with messages...

HI,

AS you may remember iChat could use the AIM and Jabber services to Chat with Buddies of those types.

You may have also used it in Lion (OS X 10.7.x) where iChat 6 could also join the Yahoo service.

Your main interface was the Buddy List itself.

You highlighted a Buddy then either used the green icon for Video chats (or Audio if they only show a Mic) or the icons at the bottom.

In fact a double click on the line of a Buddy opened a Text Chat window.

On the iPhone in the iOS you have or had Messages which did the Apple Only Service of iMessages or SMS to non Apple phones (and in fact to iPhones not registered for iMessages)

In Mountain Lion the app was called Messages and adds the iMessages account to the app and changed the Main interface control to the new tabbed Chat window that can also start New Messages and select either Contacts (for iMessages) or Buddies.

The "Details" that replaces the blue + allows you to do Video, Audio or Screen Sharing when you are in conversation with Jabber or AIM Buddies and will invoke FaceTime to do Video chats with iMessages Contacts.

The iMessage account has no Buddy list.

It relies on the main window/Interface.

The Accounts pane looks similar to iChat (slightly different icons and slightly bigger)

Apple IDs issued by Apple (@Mac.com, @me.com (linked to iCloud) and @iCloud) still works as AIM screen Names like they always did in iChat.

AS you can See I have my original AIM (AOL) listed iconed Name as well as Yahoo and Google with their icons, plus some other accounts with the plain Blue and White Speech bubbles (iCloud/Apple ID and an @Mac.com plus a Non Google Jabber account on view).

Bonjour is still an option for LAN Based chats.

In broad terms Messages can be thought of as being able to join 5 services.

AIM, (To AIM Buddies and part of iChat since day 1)

Jabber, (To Jabber Buddies including Google and Facebook Chat since iChat 3)

Bonjour. (Since iChat 1 Day 1 but called Rendezvous originally. For LAN Based Chats)

Yahoo (as in iChat 6 onwards)

and the new iMessages (Apple Devices registered for iMessages be they iPads, iPhone or Macs (and some iPod Touch devices))

8:04 pm Tuesday; November 18, 2014