iChat Version 3 About

Before

iChat made it's it way into the Apple Application fold in about 2003 with the first version. We are talking at the time of Jaguar (10.2.x).

At that point it was just a basic AIM client. That means that Apple developed an application that worked with other Clients that use the AIM Service. They came to an agreement with AIM that @mac.com email IDs would be recognized by the AIM Servers as valid AIM screen names (See iChat 4 section about changes to @mac.com/.mac).

So iChat (ver 1) can Text chat (including Group chats) and send Files and Pictures to other AIM based clients

Then Came

Then comes iChatAV (iChat vers 2). It came initially as a Beta and then as a $29.00 Add-on application for 10.2.x (Had to be 10.2.5 or above though). What it added was the ability to do Audio only and Video Chats with similar equipped Buddies (AIM went A/V for PCs around the same time). It was free with Panther (10.3.x).

Now, or At iChat 3

iChat 3 adds Multichating to Video and Audio only chats. It also adds a much improved Group system in the Buddy list allowing them to be displayed in Groups.

Multi-Video chats can be between up to 4 buddies (you and three others). Audio Only chats can be between up to 10 Buddies.

iChat 3 also adds the ability to use Jabber IDs creating a third Buddy List that can be on view. If you have a Googlemail ID and enable GoogleTalk you can use this in iChat.

A note about Passwords with Apple Screen Names

As with other versions of iChat the Password for any Screen Name has to be 16 Characters or less to be accepted by the AIM Servers for a Log in. As @mac.com (and the newer @me.com) passwords can be longer, this needs to be watched.

 Functions, Pictures and How-tos

Other Help

As well as these Pages here, help can be found at the Apple Discussion Boards This link is to the Earlier Operating Systems page, as the Boards have changed over the last 16 years and there are no longer specific Fourms for thinsg like iChat.

A Word about Navigating the Apple Discussion Boards

The Boards are hierarchical. The front page is now picture led rather than a older formal list type structure. They lead to the specific OS versions that are still somewhat Supported. The older indivual formums for specific Apps have gone. However they do have a Search item toward the top right that can bring up Old iChat items

You can not post until you are in a Forum where the New Topic link is or have clicked on a Topic. You also have to be registered with Apple. Apple uses a common ID for iTunes, the Store and the Discussion - so you may have one already.

 ©  Ralph Johns. Created October 2008

Created October, 2008
Major Update/Edit October 2024 Moving towards HTML 5 Compliance.

Information Block

This site is about iChat from Version 1 through to iChat 5.x.x
Mostly this is kept as an Historical Document. Some small tense changes have been made but the content is by and large untouched.

It has a mixture of basic info and problem solving help.

The sections below will change for Specifics about info on the page on view

About This Page

A small history of iChat and what iChat 3 adds and links to the other pages in the iChat 3 section.

Compatibility

Much of this page has been altered to be as HTML 5 compatible as possible. This may cause issues with any of the Browser below.

I have tested in Safari 18.1, Firefox 130.x and 131.0, Vivaldi 6.9.3447.48 and iCab 6.2.3 (All Mac Browsers) I don't have access to a PC let alone multiple browsers to test on.

Previously confirmed to work with Win/IE 5.5 and later (should work in 5.0, but not confirmed), Firefox 2, Safari 3, Opera 9, iCab 3.02 and later, Mac/IE 5, Netscape 6 and later

Old browsers (IE version 4 or earlier, Netscape 4 or earlier) should only see a text-based page which, while not the prettiest option, is still entirely usable.

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