Ralph Johns

What Will iChat AV Do ?

It will Chat/Instant Message in text to multiple users, both iChat and AIM and access AIM chat rooms.

In iChat 3 you can also use a "Jabber" Buddy list to see your Jabber name and Text chat to a mixture or Buddies on other Services if you engage "transports". More links to that on Page 5

You can Video or audio chat from iChat to iChat with Jabber valid names, but not to PCs or other Services like MSN and the like.

1. It will Audio and Video chat to one other user of iChat AV or Video to AIM 5.5 (No longer downloadable) or 5.9 (Does not work on Vista) but preferably AIM 6.1 (NOT Triton, a now defunct Beta - Classed as AIM 6.0) that ran on Windows XP (Home or Professional).
   
   AIM have since Updated their version to AIM 6.5 and more recently (June 10th 2008) to AIM 6.8
   
   NOTE: They (your PC Buddy) must be using AIM 5.5 or above and must be XP or Vista to do Video with the AIM Application.
   
   There is an application for PC users called Trillian that also used to use the AIM Service that allows Audio only chats (As well as Video) from PC to Macs. This is now at version 6.5.43 and is no longer compatible with running iChat on older OS versions
   (Edit 2024:- In fact it seems to be a standalone app now linking only to other Trillian users but that does appear to be cross platform based on the Downloads available. However the Wayback Machine Archive does have this page from 2007).
   
   

2. Depending on the capabilities of each user (which are displayed in the form of green icons in iChat. See pic to the right, third box down.) you can also Audio or Video chat one way.
   Notice some have "stacked" icon for multiple chats.
   (i.e. if you have a camera and your Buddy only has a microphone you can start a one way chat and he/she will see you, whist you will only hear them.)

Also depending on the capabilities of the receiver, you can exchange files; including movie clips, put pictures in the text chats as well as Text, Audio or Video Chat. (And that is before you get to the Add-Ons !!)

iChat 3 in Tiger gives you the ability to have Video or Audio only chats with more than one person. Video is with 4 people in total (you and three others) and Audio only is up to 10 people.

If this is not what you want then return to Earlier OS versions to post a question about iChat (pick a Forum from the list when you get to the Category page) or choose another page from the menu items.

In Leopard not only can you Text Chat, Group chat, Video or Audio Only chat, send files or Pics but you can Screen Share with capable Buddies (other Leopard/iChat 4 users) and play movies and Slide shows with "iChat Theatre"

Summary

We are talking about an App that Apple replaced with Messages and it's proprietary iMessages and SMS abilities. iChat and Messages can't communicate together.

For iChat 2 you essentially need Panther (10.3.x) and at least a G3/600Mghz Mac

iChat 3 comes with Tiger (10.4) and your Mac needs to be able to run that level of OS.

With computers at this early point you are likely to need an External camera of some sort. The preference tends to be Firewire although USB can be made to work

If your Mac does not have an Internal Mic - you will need one of those as well. The External iSight had an Microphone inside it which is why it does not get mentioned that often.

For iChat 2 you will need an Screen Name that will work with the AIM service. These are ones from any AOL source such as Netscape or AOL or AIM. Older Apple Email names (Username@mac.com) work even if a trial one has expired or a paid one has lapsed.
Apple have changed what was was .Mac (and the @mac.com emails) to MobileMe and @me.com names. These will work in Leopard and Tiger (I have not tried iChat 2 but don't really expect a problem other than in how you might have to enter the details)

For iChat 3 and 4 you can also use Jabber Valid names.

iChat 3 offer Multiple Buddies in A/V chats

Leopard with iChat 4 offers various Video tweaks and Screen Sharing. Some of the Video tweaks are dependent on the Mac you have.

All versions need a "Broadband" internet link of at least 100kbps in both Upload as well as download speeds for Video. Audio 1-1 can be done on a Dial-up modem but multi-way Audio only chats need higher.

"Broadband" was written in this way at the time because the word broadband meant different things in different countries with accompanying definitions.