Ralph Johns UK

Other Useful Web Pages

Use Right Column for quick navigation to the different sections

This page is essentially a collection of lists. This page was originally constructed because the previous format of the Apple Dicussion pages had limits on the length (or rather the character number total) of post (although a quirk in the posting software allowed updates). There is a version of this page on the Apple Discussion pages. Unfortunately the current sofware does not allow updates to the text.

Where possible I have split the lists into sub areas with nice Pinkish text. Towards the bottom it lists places you can find other Chatters. This in turn leads on to ChatRooms. Below that are some instructions to make any web browser link to iChat from a ChatRoom weblink.

Jabber in Tiger

Jabber was added to iChat at iChat 3 when Tiger (10.4.x) came out. It does not have any set up features so you need to register a Jabber screen name and then use this in iChat. The first link tells you how. The second tells you how to extend this with "Transports" to other services. The third is needed for you to check on the Public Jabber servers available to pickone for your needs with link 1 and 2.

1. Jabber Australia Info site.
2. AllForces Blog that tells you how to connect iChat Jabber to MSN and other services
3. Jabber Public Servers for use with above.

On AIM

iChat uses the AIM service to connect to other people also using the AIM service which includes @mac.cam names (even trial accounts after the 60 days is up). It is possible you will need to convince your PC Buddies to change to AIM.

1. Download AIM 5.9 site PC version Download site. They need this version as opposed to the newer Triton version.
2. PanFlute Another site explaining how to set up the AIM application. Basically a blog in several parts. Message #570 is where it is most useful
3. Add on AIM Video File Grab the aimrtc12.exe file from the list. For Windows XP users having trouble with starting out. This was certainly needed more for Windows 95 and 98 but seems less needed in XP
4. AIM for Mac Doh?!?!? It's a list on AIM !

On Internet Speed Checks

Thanks to Defcom on all of these. Now and then when starting out or encountering problems, it is worth checking if you have the Connection Speed you think you have (or indeed pay for). Most need you to have JAVA installed and active. Most of the common Browers will have the required Pug-inactive.

1. Check Your Broadband speed DSLreports. Speed check with a Javascript enabled site
2. ADSLGuide's Speed Test Another Java based Test site in Britian.
3. Speed Test at Audit My PC As the Link says
4. SpeedTest.net A test site just for Testing. Nice Graphical interface (bit "blokey" Men will like it). Shows a section of the world with the most local servers. You can choose ones from further afield
5. BroadbandMaX.co.uk As it says Another British based single server test site. Uses javasript and Flash rather Java to run test. Has speedometer style graphics.

iChat ADD-ONs

OK. iChat may not do all the things you may come across when trying out different IM applications.

iChat 2 stuff first

1. iCAR Away Message maker. BEWARE CONFILCTS WITH iCHAT 3
2. iProfile 1.2: Add an AIM profile. Beware of using with Tiger/iChat 3
3. "iTunes Calling.." Doug Adams' Utility for showing what your iTunes is playing as a Status Message. Not needed for iChat 3
4. iChat Status A System Preference control item that can run several applescripts (included) from it's interface to put info from other applications in the Status message. Not siutable in it's current form for iChat 3
   Edit Sept. 2006 And March 2007 No revision yet.
5. Live Icon Moving Buddy icon add on. It lives !! Was written by Ecamm but found on VersionTracker only. (Thanks Defcom !!) The VersionTraker page does say it is iChat 2.x Only !!


iChat 2 and 3 compatible stuff

6. Ecamm.com (iChatUSBCam) A utility for making G3/500 and slower work with USB cameras and external iSight cameras. Originally for iChat 2.x but the current version is Universal and works on Intels as well.
7. John Kennedy's Video Page All sorts of stuff. Camera driver links, other products - basically an eclectic look.
8. iGlasses Enhancement for Picture control for External cameras.
9. iChat Streaming Icon Another moving icon Utility. Seems to be OK in iChat 3.x
10. iChatter More from Ecamm.com Speaks iChat Text chats.
11. Conference Recorder Yet more from Ecamm. Allows you to record iChat Video chats.


Not tried in iChat 2 or is iChat 3 specific
12. Showmacster Adds the ability to show Video clips, icons, pics as slide shows and more.
13. ChatFX Adds the ability to live feed of Photobooth type distortions and more. Was originally Intel Macs only but NOW Universal!! Can be power hungry as Video is effectively processed twice.
14. Chax An Add-on that does much. Allows Auto Accept of Files and Text chats. Tabs Text chats into one window. Has many items that add to the iChat Menus and a set of Preferences added to the iChat Prefernces window.
15. PowerBoost More from Ecamm. This time a Utilty for slower Macs to be able to Multi-Video chat.

On Other Applications

Multi-service (AIM, Jabber, MSN, Yahoo! etc.) Text Only apps.
1. ProteusX A Mac based multiple service Text Chat Instant Messenger client.
   Edit: March 2007. Web site has not been online for several months now.
2. Fire Another Multi-service Text only Client for Macs.
3. Adium X Another text based multi- service client.


Mac based AIM Client(s)

4. AIM for Mac The Mac Version of AIM.


Alternatives to iChat but Video chatting capable apps

5. iVisit A Mac and PC alternative. (does not use AIM or MSN or Jabber)
6. Yak For Free Like Skype and iVisit is a Cross Platform Video, Audio and IM application. They beat Skype to a Mac version.
7. Skype Cross Platform IP telephony and Chat client. Now has a Mac version for Video chat
8. PalTalk.com
9. Gizmo Says it can link to almost anything. Frre to Download. Looks like calls to lanlines cost like Skype does.
   
   Apps for PCs in addition to lose listed above
   
10. Trillian PC based alternative to AIM using the AIM servers. Will connect to iChat


Apps to connect to other Services

11. Mercury Messenger A JAVA based MSN Client. JAVA makes it cross platform. Has a beta for Video and Auido chats.
12. aMSN Another MSN Video chat Client

On Other iChat Set Up and Info Pages

• CherryPop Homepage Alternative pages about setting up iChat.
• John Kennedy's Homepage Links to Camers Drivers and other useful stuff. A bit dated now
• Ryan's iChat set up pages Well worth a beginners visit.
• MVLDesign.com Mac to PC (AIM 5.9) and iChat help page.

Chatter Lists pages

iChatters.com
chatfinder.com
.Mac Buddy Central (Thanks to Iveta Staks.)
iChat Club : (Thanks to Phillippe Alary)
seeser.org Not the site it once was. Links to adult content: Advert led
dotmac.info Courtesy of Ian Bickerstaff

Some of them cost. Also do a Google search for more.

Lists of Chatrooms

iChat Rooms Listing
AIM chat rooms Edit Sept 2006. Seems to have gone by the wayside. It now points you to here where I can see no chatrooms listed.

This news Peice May have a bearing on the lack of the AIM ChatRooms.

Chatrooms to iChat

Sometime when you click on the link on the list of ChatRoom pages you find that the link seems not to be suitable for iChat. One workaround is to Right or Control click the Link and Use the Properties item to see the link in full. Highlighting the link and then usig the Apple Key and c key together to copy (it will not work from the menu item in Firefox) and paste it in the window that pops up when you use the "Go to Chat" item in the iChat File menu.

A more elegant solution follows.

In the Mac version of Interent Explorer you can tweak the preferences to make sure iChat is your Chatroom application (if you have another AIM client). Redone for IE 5.2.3

1. Open Internet Explorer
2. Open the Explorer Menu./li>
3. Select Prefernces.
4. In the Window that appears, scroll down to Network, and use the reveal triangle.
5. Select Helper Protocols.
6. Choose AIM by click on it once and deselct it as an Active choice.
7. Now Click the Option to "Change" at the botom of the window.
8. In the Pop-Up window select Change and in the next navigate to the application you want to use with Chat rooms.

This makes sure the go:aim html code on the web page that links to the Chatroom opens the right application.

It would be worth saving a .dmg file of Internet Explorer for your Intel Mac when you get it as it does not come as part of the Installed applications.

Chatrooms as Bookmarks

You can also add a bookmark in your web browser to Regualr chatrooms
This works for Firefox and Safari.

Select (copy) the chatroom name by going to the View menu and the item Chat Options. (It is in the third subsection).
Next go to the Bookmarks menu in Firefox.
Select Manange Bookmarks
Use the Add Bookmark icon.
In the Location item type aim:gochat?roomname=(paste the room name here).
Fill in any other details as you see fit. Where it says New Bookmark is the name that will appear in the Bookmarks.

One note for those wishing to use this technique: In "...=(paste the room name here)", the parentheses are NOT part of the room name in the bookmark.

Back to the Top of the Page - Next Page (6)

---

© 2005 Ralph Johns: Edited 24/9/2005, 5/5/2006
Updated September 2006. Moved to Gargoyles and edited Mar 2007

Information Column

Section Links

• Jabber


Three links on How-to for Jabber. How-to for Jabber to MNS, Yahoo! and others and a List of servers to achieve the same.


• ON AIM


Bits about AIM for the PC - Links to same and help sites.
See also "Info on Other iChat sites


• Speed Test Sites


Like what it says - A list of Speed Tests sites


• iChat ADD-ONs


A list of links to ADD-Ons for iChat
Some of these do work in other applictaions as well such as iGlassses


• Other Applications


Lists of other applications that can use the AIM service in some way first. Followed by stand-alone applications that have Mac and PC versions as alternatives. List of one PC app as an alternative to AIM 5.9 and finally those Mac Apps that use the MSN network


• Info on Other iChat Sites


Listing of other sites that have something to do with iChat and it's set up.


• Chatters Lists


There are lists of people that use Chat Applictaions. This is a List of AIM and iChat based ones. They vary greatly in the way they are structured. Some are justs lists - others tend to lead you to where they think you want to go. Some Cost.


• 'List of Chatrooms' Sites


Variation on the above in terms of meeting people. AIM and other sites list Chatrooms on web pages. These tend to be either popular rooms or topic/interest based. Most are permanent rooms (even if no-one id there when you visit).


• Open iChat from a Web page


So... You want iChat to open when you use a web based link to a Chatroom ?


• Bookmarking Chats


A How-to on adding a Chatroom as a Bookmark for Safari and Firefox.