How do I contact someone with iChat?

Hi,

Text chats should work.

File Sending (Pic in chats for instance) is messed up and needs to be Zipped (Compressed) first.

If it is AIM to AIM or Jabber to Jabber Video and Audio chats then there is a "Known issue".

This extends to Screen Sharing using Buddy lists.

The issue seems that the SNATMAP server run by Apple to connect these type of iChat/Messages style chats is not working as it used to (it is not clear whether this is an Apple decision or not).

It seems the app still uses this to do a Speed check on your Internet connection.

It also gets to the server with outgoing data. If that data is then coming back to your LAN like Bonjour does, it works (It can also be two AIM or Jabber IDs on two computers on your LAN).

FaceTime does not use this server so iMessages text chats "converted" to FaceTime for Video or Audio work (but leaves your AIM and Jabber Buddies out in the cold).

In Yosemite and Above the iMessages chat will invoke the Screen Sharing App (If you allow it in System Preferences > Sharing and set it to Anyone) and make connections.

10:02 p.m. Sunday; October 4, 2015

hi,

That pic is not selected to the Screen Sharing option.

You need to select the Screen Sharing line as in the pic below.

8:16 p.m. Monday; October 5, 2015

Hi,

If you look in the Messages Help in El Capitan and then select the Screen Sharing in Topic you will see 9or at least be able to work out you are supposed to be able to Screen Share two ways.

The iMessages way does need the Screen Sharing App Enabled via the Sharing Preferences.

The Help also states that you need to use the same Apple ID in the iCloud settings as well as the iMessages account.

This is the first time I have seen this direct info. Before iMessages only had to be an Apple ID and could be different from the one listed in the System Preferences > iCloud Pane.

Mine is different (... well sort of. The ID in iMessages in my original Apple ID. The one in iCloud is the @Me.com name I got for joining the Original ID to iCloud - they seemed to act independently before now.)

I have Screen Shared to someone else using EL Capitan from my El Capitan boot without problems.

However I would try setting things this way if you can at both ends

8:33 p.m. Sunday; October 11, 2015

Hi,

In Messages in Yosemite and El Capitan you can start a FaceTime Chat (Audio or Video from the Detail option top right of the main Chat window) when you are text (iMessaging) that person.

This is a work around if the other person has Yosemite or El Capitan.

This works fro Screen Sharing as well (You have to enable it in System Preferences > Shairng)

If they have an older Mac and only have Messages 8 in Mavericks, Messages 7 in Mountain Lion or a version of iChat then the only way is (was for the moment) using an AIM to AIM to Jabber to Jabber connection staring from the Buddy list (As opposed to the main Chat window).

This method has issues at the moment caused by the SNATMAP server.

This is a server run by Apple that is supposed to connect Internet based Buddies.

Exactly what the issue is with this server is a mystery.

We know it is working at one level as you can do port tests to the ports it uses. (It no longer responds to Pings but that way lies Attacks and is probably why).

The server will still connect LAN based Audio and Video chats (Bonjour account or two separate AIM Names on two computers on the same network for instance).

There are reports that if the router can be and is removed from the set up then connections seem to work.

This excludes other computers and iPhones and iPads on your LAN and any other internet connected devices such as TV, Apple TVs, X-Boxes, PlayStation and some types of Satellite On Demand connection or even some Cable services so it is not very practical.

In some cases ISPs hard code the Login info into the device so you may not be able to use the computer to Login to the ISP anyway.

At present there can be no progress on this front.

You can report it. http://www.apple.com/feedback/ichat.html

This is the correct page despite the lack or updates.

It does mean some of the info requested in the lower Drop downs has to be entered in the Free Text Area.

There will be no reply.

It sort of work on a pressure system, once it meets a critical mass sort of thing then Apple will sort it.

10:01 p.m. Sunday; October 11, 2015

Hi,

Using an AIM to AIM or Jabber to Jabber connection to do Audio or Video chats is the same connection process fro Screen Sharing with those Buddies.

It is a Modified Audio Chat effectively with a VNC connection to show the "picture" of the other person's screen.

The iMessages way in Yosemite and above works like Invoking FaceTime to do Video or Audio Chats but this time uses the Screen Sharing app.

This app is hidden away in Core Services on the System side of things but has to be enabled first in the Sharing Pane of System Preferences.

In broad terms the Audio and Video chats to Buddies (rather than Contacts) that uses the functions within the app itself have been messed up since July at least.

If you have been having this issue since June that would be the earliest instance I have read about.

At the present time there is not fix to this.

10:15 p.m. Sunday; October 11, 2015

Hi,

I am just one of the people answering questions here.

In fact the whole site (Discussions at least) is designed that it is User helping User.

As to updating Threads when I do find an answer or see one posted it can depend if that Thread is still near the top and in some cases whether the Title contains the words that match what the fault finally appears to be.

That is to say that some threads have a title that seems to cover many people's experience of the same thing.

This many join with "Me Too" type comments.

Along the way this might include new ways of describing the issue that lead to looking at something else that solves the issue.

For instance iChat will not fully start up if the Helvetica font is missing (or damaged) meaning you cannot access the Preferences.

A similar thing happens in Messages if AppleGothic is missing. As this one is NOT a System Font people do turn it Off a times.

On really big issues (And this one is in that category) then I try to find all the Threads I can about it and post an Update.

The big thing with this one is that it will most likely get silently fixed with no Fanfare but just start working again, so you may find out before I get to post.

7:31 p.m. Tuesday; October 13, 2015

Interesting.

Seems I may need to test with someone then.

7:33 pm Monday; February 22, 2016