Tip #4292 - iChat Features
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Q:
The new Mac Leopard operating system is coming out very soon and one
of the features I'd like to learn more about before I start using
it is iChat. Can you please tell me a little more about it?
A:
First of all, I have to say that you have chosen
one of the coolest features to be curious about. The new operating
system for Macs, called the Leopard, comes with a ton of new features,
but from what I've seen, iChat is one of the best.
Apple has really outdone themselves on this one. Now, before I go
any further, I want to let you all know that the Mac OS X Leopard
is scheduled to be released to the public today (October 26, 2007).
Apple has been taking pre-order sales for the new operating system
for awhile now, so maybe yours is already on its way, but if not,
you'll have plenty of time to upgrade after today. Alright, let's
now get back to iChat!
To begin, iChat
is a form of video chatting, which means you can see who you're talking
to while you chat. For example, if you have some family members who
live far away from you, iChat can bring you together! As long as you
both have Mac computers, you can see each other while you chat it
up. It's the perfect way to stay connected with family or long lost
friends. I know a lot of people who buy Macs just for this iChat feature.
It really takes online chatting to the next level and it's just so
much fun to use!
Even better,
with the new iChat, you can now chat from anywhere in the world. How,
you ask? Well, new video backdrops have been added to iChat, so you
can make it look like you're chatting from several different locations,
like the Eiffel Tower, underwater or even from the moon. Or, if you
want to make your own backdrops, you can do so by using your own photos.
All you have to do is drag your picture to the Video Effects window
and it will show up as your video chat background. The new backdrops
will even show up on other computers that may not have the Leopard
yet. So, if some of your friends or family don't get the Leopard right
away, they can still see your awesome backgrounds!
Another new feature
is called the Photo Booth. If you're using one of your own pictures
for your chat backdrop, you can add special effects to it with Photo
Booth. Maybe you'd like to add a comic book effect to your picture
or maybe you want to soften your image with a glow. You can do all
of that and more with this new feature. All you have to do is choose
the special effect you want and your video chat will instantly change
over to it. Here's another one! How would you like to show some of
your projects and such to your friends and family? Maybe you have
a photo slideshow you've been working really hard on and you'd like
to show it off. If so, you can do that right from your iChat video
screen. You can put up a picture slideshow, a presentation or even
a movie and your chat buddies will be able to see it with no trouble
whatsoever!
The new iChat
also comes with a screen sharing feature. With it, you and one of
your chat friends can share the same computer screen, which makes
it easy to collaborate with each other on certain things. For instance,
maybe you need some help with a document you've been working on. If
so, just put it up on your screen, activate the sharing feature and
you'll both be able to add your input to it. Or, maybe you found something
on the Web that you'd just love to share with one of your friends.
In that case, bring it up on your Mac computer, start the sharing
process and you'll both be able to see it at the same time. You can
use either computer screen and you will both still have full access
to what you're working on. This also comes with an audio feature,
so you can talk to your friend while you work as well. It doesn't
get any better or easier than that!
Have you ever
wanted to record one of your chat sessions? If so, you can now do
it with ease! iChat will first make sure it's okay with both chatters
if it records what you're saying and if it is, it will record every
last second. It will then save the session to your computer so that
you can listen to it later on your computer or even with iTunes. It's
the perfect way to save a special chat or refer back to something
later on. Along with that comes a crystal clear audio sound that is
sure not to disappoint. iChat uses the AAC-LD audio format to capture
the best sound possible for any type of voice.
Now, maybe you're
not into the whole video chat thing. If so, that's no problem! The
Leopard takes care of that too. The text chats have also been upgraded
with new additions, including tabbed chats, multiple logins, invisibility,
animated buddy icons, SMS forwarding, a custom buddy list order, a
file transfer manager and space-efficient views. And even better,
iChat now works right alongside the popular AIM chat program. Yep,
you and your chat buddies can now either be AIM or Mac users and the
iChat features will work for both. Talk about convenient!
Well, there you
have it. Those are just some of the new features you will find in
the Leopard iChat program. I'd say they're off to a pretty good start,
how about you? Check it out today (or whenever is best for you). Enjoy!
~ Erin
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