Macminute reports that Apple today released a public beta version of iChat AV 2.1, an update to its instant messaging application that adds support for video conferencing with those using AOL Instant Messenger 5.5 for Windows (also released today). Apple has released Bluetooh Software 1.5, the latest version of the short-range wireless connectivity technology for Mac OS X. Version 1.5, available via the Software Update preference pane, provides support for Bluetooth-enabled headsets and printers.
iChatAV 2.1b adds AIM Video Conf Support; Bluetooth 1.5 Update
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Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
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Can Gaim do this yet?
Not even close.
I video-chat over iChat AV with Eugenia every once and a while.
No, therre hasn’t been any dirty pictures exchanged.
(yet?)
It wouldn’t be too hard to accomplish this, though. I know that kopete was planning on using Gnomemeeting to integrate MSN videoconferencing. Don’t know how that panned out, but it is plausible. The Gaim developers are otherwise preoccupied at the moment with features I find a lot more exciting. Christian Hammond is hacking on a library/deamon that will integrate presence info accross the whole desktop, which will really make for some neat GNOME features. Anywho, this feature is only in standard AIM for a few hours now, so I wouldn’t be too quick to fret over this. Maybe IM one of the GAIM developers and discuss what it would take to accomplish this.
Lots of devlopments going on in Apple Land. The only problem is every Windows user I know as well as my friends using MSN Messenger. I would love to buy one of those sweet little iSight’s but until it is suported in MSN I won’t be able to switch.
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http://www.sideliners.ca
That’s nice, and what program do you use?
🙂
oh boy! OSX gets A/V chat support, and linux users are still left with gnomemeeting, which isn’t really that easy to configure (not on a chat with whoever you want basis). the power of oss? oh yes, theres no file transfer support in kopete yet.
iChat AV supports all sorts of firewire AV devices like digital8 and Mini DV camcorders, so you don’t necessarily need an iSight to get video chat.
Glenn:
I would use iChat but it needs to support MSN Messenger contacts. Thats the biggest issue. Everybody is using MSN.
I don’t have too many friends with MAC computers.
I didn’t know so many used MSN.
I don’t know ANYONE that uses MSN Messenger. FEW with Yahoo! Messenger. And A LOT on AIM/AOL/iChat/etc.
Maybe MSN Messenger needs to be updated [Microsoft] to support the iSight?
gnomemeeting also support digital8 and Mini DV,
itis not a big deal
mmmm yeah MSN is a bit behind. But we MAC people are used to it.
Might be different in other parts of the world but here in Vancouver everybody I know is using MSN. I also have some contacts in Germany on AOL but they don’t use the AOL chat client. To bad. iChat is looking like a pretty decent application specialy the iSight part of it.
isight has a problem with the color red. I think it differs from camera to camers. Moreover, i think apple did a sweet thing with the isight looks really cool. It be really nice if gaim would support though. Although gaim does supprot file transfer, if i recall correctly?
Yes, most people I know have MSN, as you don’t even need a hotmail adress to use it.
Microsoft needs to update MSN Messenger for Apple period, or tie the product in with iChat. They have made a number of advancements to MSN Messenger on the Windows end – like shared browsing, video and audio messenging.
I’m in the same boat, the majority of people I know all work for Microsoft (like myself), so they all use MSN Messenger. I would love to get the Video and Audio with all my buddies, because my buddy list on the iChat/AIM side is getting weaker and weaker.
We really need to make a loud voice to both Apple and Microsoft to get on the drawing board and make this damn thing happen! I mean Apple’s address book gives you all the IM software for your friends, why not support them all with iChat. Then you push iChat to windows, and BOOM, a wider audience to download the application. I really don’t think Apple is making too much money with selling iChat to all the people that won’t upgrade to Panther.
Time to get on the ball guys.
What needs to happen first is that all these IM protocols need to be able to communicate with each other. Wasn’t that even one of the things that MSN was complaining about with that whole AOL having a monopoly on IM? So if you can use AIM to talk to MSN people that would be the first step. Then after that you can get AIM, MSN, etc.. to use the same video conferencing standards. (Yes I know it’s easier said than done).
One thing that I haven’t really heard much about (seeing as how normally we Mac users like to complain about everything), is that with this bluetooth release Apple has provided the headset/printer support… but only for people with bluetooth built-in or the D-Link DBT-120. That means people that bought any other device won’t get these new features. Why does it bug me? Because I bought a D-Link DWB-120M from the Apple Store, probably a year after the bluetooth adapters were first available, with no knowlegdge that this one would become un-upgradable but the D-Link DBT-120 would be.
There should be one open protocol that is used by ALL IM applications, problem is that Microsoft will never use this open protocol.
It is said that the newest version of MSN will be released in the new OFFICE 2004 edition for the mac that will be released this year. Untel then you will have to use the old version or Jabber instead on the mac.
The Jabber protocol, XMPP, is now officially declared a standard by the IETF:
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId…
I wouldn’t count on Microsoft, Apple and AOL to support it though… : [
There should be one open protocol that is used by ALL IM applications, problem is that Microsoft will never use this open protocol.
This already exists. Can you say Jabber?
It’s an open source XML based IM system.
http://www.jabber.org
> Microsoft needs to update MSN Messenger for Apple
> period, or tie the product in with iChat.
Apple could license the protocol from MS. Trillian does this. Why not Apple?
BTW: Everybody I know uses ICQ, not MSN, not Yahoo, not AIM or whatever.
In the header to this story
“Apple has released Bluetooh Software 1.5” – s/b Bluetooth
“Apple could license the protocol from MS. Trillian does this. Why not Apple?”
Because Apple doesn’t want to promote a colosed standard that could (and would0 come back to bite the company in the ass.
A better solution would be for microsoft to license AOL’s protocalls… or better yet, start utilizing open protocalls that Apple created like Rendezvous for networking IMing.