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schalliol · Jan 19, 2005, 03:36 PM

I did a search for a similar thread, but could not find one, so here goes: I noticed that Tiger's version of iChat AV from Mr. Schiller's video is enhanced with video conferencing, but there was no attention that I could see to general improvements to the application I use very frequently. Pklease add as you see fit:

1. Grouping within a larger group - similar to AIM, the optional feature would allow you to see everyone online youa have selected in the current groups, but keep your work folks at top, etc.
2. Allowing of commas after the last name if you sort last name then first name.
3. Ability to mouse over and get real bio information easily (i.e. sometimes I have people on my list I don't normally chat with and I'd like to know where they are and why I have them on my list in my own words).
4. More efficient UI around the buddy window (lots of windows take up lots of space)
5. Instantly available transcripts (like Fire has where you can easily see what someone sent you in your last conversation)
6. Perhaps good dashboard integration since that's the big deal.
7. An EASY way to do secure chatting. Fire supports it, but it's not easy to set up, Apple can do it well!
8. An option to have tabbed iChat windows (like safari) to switch between multiple people's conversations. The benefit here is you could have one window with all your current conversations and chat with 9 people at once without completely taking over your computer.

Ok, there's a first list, add your own! :-)

Wiskedjak · Jan 19, 2005, 03:43 PM

iChat video chat client for Windows. AIM for video chat, with a non-resizable 120x90 video window, is pathetic to the point of being completely useless.

schalliol · Jan 19, 2005, 03:48 PM

Originally posted by Wiskedjak:
iChat video chat client for Windows. AIM for video chat, with a non-resizable 120x90 video window, is pathetic to the point of being completely useless.

Hmm, I thought that they had added AIM video/audio chatting, I guess not. Those seem to be good things to add too. It looks like Apple cares about such things, but I don't think they seem to be working on the general 95% use of iChat much, IMHO.

JangoFett124 · Jan 19, 2005, 03:49 PM

Improved support for chat. Right now instead of showing the chat room name it has it as the first person in the room. Also, I would like chat rooms to save the preference for icon, name, or icon and name separate from normal chats.

schalliol · Jan 19, 2005, 03:57 PM

Originally posted by JangoFett124:
Improved support for chat. Right now instead of showing the chat room name it has it as the first person in the room. Also, I would like chat rooms to save the preference for icon, name, or icon and name separate from normal chats.

Agreed, I'd bet 90% of people who use iChat don't know you can do chat rooms.

brutal · Jan 20, 2005, 04:11 AM

I'd like to see support for other protocols (MSN, ICQ, Yahoo etc.)

But I guess that'll be possible through Jabber.

ManOfSteal · Jan 20, 2005, 06:41 AM

A built-in "Log Viewer" (see Adium).

Wiskedjak · Jan 20, 2005, 06:59 AM

Originally posted by schalliol:
Hmm, I thought that they had added AIM video/audio chatting, I guess not. Those seem to be good things to add too. It looks like Apple cares about such things, but I don't think they seem to be working on the general 95% use of iChat much, IMHO.

They did, but you'll note from my original post that I said the AIM video chat window has a resolution of 120x90 pixels. The average OSX icon is 128x128 pixels. AIM's video chat window is smaller than an OSX icon, and ISN'T resizable.

This is why AIM is useless for video chat, since the person you are chatting with is the size of a thumbnail. Apple chose the very worst Windows video chat client to be compatible with, and I doubt it was unintentional.

lavar78 · Jan 20, 2005, 08:49 AM

Originally posted by Wiskedjak:
Apple chose the very worst Windows video chat client to be compatible with, and I doubt it was unintentional.

It certainly wasn't. AIM is the most popular chat client here in the U.S.

schalliol · Jan 20, 2005, 09:47 AM

Yeah, I bet that they're trying to say, you can do this with Windows, but it's not as good. Get a Mac. Certainly this should be improved. What do people think of my other suggestions if they haven't any of their own?

rishio · Jan 20, 2005, 09:57 AM

I noticed if I type to fast, iChat starts giving me these error messages and stops working untill I restart the program! Anyone else have this MAJOR problem?? I'm surprised no one ever mentions this. I hope they eventually fix this.

rishi
www.rishio.com

schalliol · Jan 20, 2005, 10:08 AM

Originally posted by rishio:
I noticed if I type to fast, iChat starts giving me these error messages and stops working untill I restart the program! Anyone else have this MAJOR problem?? I'm surprised no one ever mentions this. I hope they eventually fix this.

rishi
www.rishio.com

Yep, I have that too, REALLY annoying. I think it's the AIM service, not iChat, but still they should be able to work with that.