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MoodSwing Quicksilver action simultaneously updates your iChat, Skype, Twitter and Adium status
If you are a text, audio and video chatter, chances are you have some combination of iChat, Skype, Adium and a Twitter client running throughout the day. It's also possible that you're a Quicksilver junkie, which means you might appreciate Brett Terpstra's new Quicksilver script that will let you update your status across all these apps and services from the comforts of your Quicksilver window.To get set up, download the MoodSwing script and then follow Brett's instructions at this page to install the script in the proper location for Quicksilver. There's a simple system for entering the proper status message so that it fits into all the apps you have running, but bear in mind that Brett isn't taking bug reports or offering support; this was more of a fun project that he tossed out there for the masses, so if you know some AppleScript and can improve upon what Brett has already designed, have at it.
FlickIM: A nice AIM solution for iPhone
Until Apple releases "iChat Mobile," developers will compete to produce the IM solution for the iPhone. So far, we've considered JiveTalk and Meebo. The former was definitely better than the latter, but neither was perfect. Today, we're looking at FlickIM. FlickIM supports AIM only, which is a drawback (JiveTalk allows simultaneous connections to AIM, MSN, Yahoo!, GoogleTalk, ICQ, and Jabber), but has the nicest UI of the three. Simple "chat balloon" icons keep tabs on multiple conversations, and your contact list is displayed as a dial selection tool. I did notice one oddity: After I thought I had logged out, iChat on my Mac complained that I was logged in at two locations. Again, it's not perfect, but it's still nice.
An AppleScript for selecting the iChat menubar item
I understand if this might sound kinda weird, but hear me out: As an iChat user, I love the flexibility of its UI and the clever menubar item that displays all available contacts. Since I've found myself flying without displaying the buddy list more and more often lately, I've been wishing for a way to select iChat's menubar item with a simple keyboard shortcut, giving me quick access for viewing who's online no matter what app I may be using at the moment. Thinking out loud this morning, I even posted this wish on Twitter - only to find Daniel Jalkut of Red Sweater Software (makers of MarsEdit, FastScripts and more) coming to my rescue moments later! Demonstrating the wonders of AppleScript, Daniel quickly whipped up a script that does exactly what I want. To make the script painlessly easy to use, it can be tied to a shortcut with his excellent FastScripts or a Quicksilver trigger, providing instant access that selects and displays the iChat menubar item and all available buddies. Easy breezy iChatting, without needing to keep my buddy list always visible.If you want the script, head over to Daniel's Twitter post that contains the tinyURL download link. Toss the script you download into your ~/Library/Scripts folder (or anywhere else you like to store them), and then point your favorite keyboard shortcut utility at it to make your iChat life a bit easier. Thanks Daniel!
AT&T survey hints at iChat application for iPhone
AT&T recently sent out a round of surveys to iPhone users, asking people about their experiences using the phone in different contexts. One of the slides asks about EDGE performance, with one subsection asking how well users rate performance whilst using "iChat," next to other features of the iPhone. Does this mean Apple is planning an iChat application, or did AT&T make a whoopsie? It's certainly not beyond the realm of possibility that Apple is working on iChat for the iPhone, and IM is definitely an improvement that we'd welcome.[Via PhazerBlast]
Trillian Astra chat / IM software for iPhone
Those hankering to get your chat on with that shiny new iPhone now have an option other than waiting 'til who knows when for a (potential) Apple update -- if you're cool with alpha software invading your handset, that is. According to Cerulean Studios', the Trillian Astra application has actually been "designed for iPhone, it doesn't just happen to work with it." The result is a polished interface that is "compact" and fit to the screen, meaning that you won't be dragging and moving windows in order to hold a decent text-based conversation. Currently, the software updates your contact list and message windows, and enables the sending and receiving of messages so long as your browser window is open. Interested? Curb your enthusiasm a bit, sign up to be an alpha tester, and exercise your patience "for the next few weeks."[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Send SMS officially in Leopard's iChat
Reader CrazyRower sends word of something small, but cool coming to iChat in Leopard. According to screenshots from an account named after Apple's favorite designer, sending a message to an SMS number is now builtin to the iChat File menu.As we've reported before, this is hardly a new feature-- you can do it with your iChat (or any other AIM enabled program; I did it on Adium) right now. All you have to do is go up to File, then New Chat, and instead of the AIM account name, just type "+1" and then any SMS enabled number. And whoever you message can even reply from the phone, and their reply will appear right back in your chat window.But it is cool that it will be built right in to iChat's menu. You'll be able to send driving directions to your non-iPhone (or just bother your girlfriend with text messages while chatting online at work) that much easier.
Experimental web app could bring AIM chat to iPhone
While the jury will of course be out until June 29th as to whether web-based chat apps like Meebo could be used on the iPhone to work around the lack of a true, built-in chat app, David Cann has developed an experimental web interface that might bring AIM to next week's highly-anticipated gadget. The service is up and running already, allowing users to log into AIM using Cann's page, but the adjective 'experimental' is used for a reason. First, it's suffering some rocky performance due, in part, to being dugg, but it's also based simply on some JavaScript that Cann is running with his own servers (while this might scare some privacy advocates, Cann promises users that he isn't harvesting any information or chats. Do with that what you will).Cann's iChat for iPhone service, as it's called, is also fairly limited in functionality, at least for now; this definitely isn't your Mac's iChat. Right now there are no groups, no buddy icons and opening more than 4 chats apparently is not recommended. Usage is also limited to only 10 minutes per session also, probably to help Cann sleep at night while he's tinkering with polishing this.Still, if at least some form of iChat is strongly desired or simply a necessity for some iPhone users, this iChat for iPhone could overcome the hurdle for at least a few potential customers. Of course, we're all expecting Apple to provide a more serious solution at some point, but as with so many other Apple-related offerings, we'll just have to play the waiting game.
The Departed: 'Made by a Mac' gets new meaning
The Departed finally netted Martin Scorsese an Academy Award that many felt was long overdue. I personally haven't seen it yet (I know, I know), but the film has just become notable for another reason: Scorsese used iChat to direct one of its final shots. As the monstrous Macenstein tells the summarized story from a Blackmagic Design case study on the film, filming had wrapped in LA, but Scorsese called for a re-shoot of one scene. The only problem was: he was in NY, and the crew was still in LA. The solution? The crew set up a Mac and "aimed iChat at the video tap on the camera" so Scorsese could view the action in NY (note the interesting use of calling the iSight + iChat setup as simply 'iChat'). A microphone and speaker system were also set up so Scorsese could call the shots as he was viewing footage in real time.[via digg]
iChat screen sharing now a Finder feature
Quite a few of you have noticed that the iChat screen-sharing feature introduced at last year's WWDC seems to have gone missing in the refresh of the Leopard feature pages on Apple's site. This would have been so helpful for the family tech support and whatnot, and probably easy to implement under the Apple Remote Desktop/VNC stack; why would Apple drop it? Turns out it's not dropped so much as relocated. The Finder feature page now indicates that "[by] clicking on a connected Mac, you can see and control that computer (if authorized, of course) as if you were sitting in front of it." Sounds like what iChat loseth, the Finder picketh up and runneth with...eth.
Bruce Willis iChats
Our blog buddies over at Engadget put us onto this funny little tidbit. Apparently annoyed at some fans who doubted his identity (as "Walter B") while trolling a discussion forum on his forthcoming movie, Mr. Die Hard put up rather than shut up. Challenged to prove his identity Bruce Willis offered to video iChat one of the biggest doubters, who duly posted the evidence for everyone to see. Well it's good to see that when he's not saving the planet from terrorists, asteroids, or other baddies, Willis is willing to defend his artistic integrity in online forums with his Mac.
Bruce Willis: iChat user, forum troll
What do you when you've got millions of dollars, no steady day job, and plenty of vocal critics that do their best to berate you knowing full well that they could never do your job if given the chance? We might just ask Bruce Willis that very question, but thankfully for all us, he's already responded. Apparently, Mr. Willis not only finds his way around internet message boards that focus on his films, but he doesn't hesitate to join in on the oftentimes testy conversations and give users his platinum-laced two cents. In a recent go 'round in regard to Die Hard 4, Bruce was caught mouthing off to disbelievers and carpers alike, and while a select few were adamant that this so-called Walter B. was little more than an overzealous fanboy, Bruce did the honorary thing and offered to prove it. The actor actually requested that a fellow iChat / Mac user hit him up for a momentary video chat in order to show his face, and sure enough, the most vocal doubter was indeed put in place rather quickly. Big fan of the ego, Bruce.[Via Switched]
Leopard's iChat Theater could change the way we do... well, everything
It's things like the iChat Theater page at Apple's Developer site that make me just fine with the delay of Mac OS X Leopard. They say 'good things come to those who wait,' but from what I'm reading at the iChat Theater page, that phrase is more like 'fantastic, amazing and mind-blowing things come to those who wait' when applied to the new technologies coming in Leopard. While most of that page is geared towards developers, offering things like code snippets to get them excited and motivated to build their apps to work with Leopard's iChat, the first two paragraphs are enough for 'the rest of us' to get a mouth-watering glimpse of just how much the new iChat could change the way we work and play once Leopard does arrive.In short, iChat Theater is a new feature that will allow the broadcast of, and collaboration on, just about anything we do on our Mac. Of course, a developer will have to design their app specifically to incorporate these new features (hint: submitting feedback and feature requests is a good thing), but just consider the possibilities: instead of having to jam pack all your tech support calls into that once-or-twice-a-year family holiday trip, you can fire up Leopard's iChat and show mom and dad how to make a slideshow in iPhoto over the web, with both video and audio of yourself and iPhoto. Now expand a little: is your job on the verge of granting you telecommuting privileges? Or perhaps you're a teacher or a technology scout for an educational organization? This new Leopard feature opens doors much larger than the one for mom and pop; with iChat Theater, teachers and businessmen alike will be able to work their magic in entirely new ways, and not just with the tools Apple provides. The beauty of iChat Theater is that it's an open platform, so to speak; want to brainstorm in OmniGraffle with a colleague on the opposite side of the country? Need to teach a last-minute digital art class in Lineform for a friend halfway across the world? No sweat. Although I have no idea whether The Omni Group or Freeverse have already hopped on the iChat Theater bandwagon, plenty of comments and requests from their users could probably ensure they do.iChat Theater is gonna be a big'un boys and girls, and I already have a couple handfuls of reasons as to why I can wait for Apple to take their time and (hopefully) get it right.
iChat Borderless mod
We're a little late picking up on this one, but that doesn't make it any less cool: a Backpack user I know only as 'myobie' has posted a small installer called iChat Borderless that modifies the appearance of iChat to give it a more updated, near-Unified look. Fortunately, it downloads as a simple disk image with an installer that does all the heavy lifting for you, and it should look good on Mac OS X 10.4, 10.3 and even 10.2. On my 10.4.9 system though, I get the borderless look, but brushed metal is still around, whereas iChat Borderless's screenshots clearly show the dark grey Unified look. Anyone else care to chime in?Personally, I still prefer the old iChat mod that Dave Caolo found last summer. Sadly, the post at MacThemes Forums where this mod apparently lived exists no longer. Still, if the Leopard delay means you're jonesing that much worse for an update to iChat's aging UI, iChat Borderless should tide you over. Thanks, Shain.
The Little Things: Drag and drop
TUAW reader Chris Roberts was right: it's been far too long since our last post in The Little Things series, so I figured I'd pick up the slack with a really handy feature of Mac OS X: drag and drop. Sure, most OSes these days can drag and drop at least some things, but Apple has gone to great lengths to build this workflow-enhancing feature into so many facets of Mac OS X's experience, I don't really have time to cover them all (and there's no doubt that I don't even know about them all). Take my screenshot for example: I'm dragging an image of our puppy out of iPhoto on the left into iChat's icon well on the right. A simple gesture, sure, but a tiny example of how powerful this functionality can become. Try a few of these other drag and drop operations on for size: Drag a file onto an app's icon in the Finder or Dock; its icon should darken, signifying that it can handle whatever you're throwing at it. Hold the Command key to force an app to open a file if it isn't initially cooperating. Drag images from a browser (except Firefox and Camino) into a Mail message or iChat window to easily share them; no clunky 'right-click, Save, Open' workflows here. Pause a QuickTime movie, click on the video and drag out to the desktop to create an instant snapshot of the frame you paused on (this might only work in QuickTime Pro - can anyone verify?). Drag a file onto a Terminal window to instantly create a path. Highlight text in most apps, then click and drag it to the desktop to create a text snippet, or into another window (Mail, iChat and Yojimbo are great examples) for a drag 'n drop take on copy/paste. I'm sure there's a ton more where this came from, so try it on for size or stay tuned to the comments on this post where readers can share their own tricks and tips for dragging and dropping one's way to productive bliss.
TUAW Tip: Pixadex can set icons as iChat user pictures
Pixadex from Panic and The Iconfactory is truly the iPhoto for icon junkies; it allows you to organize icons into sets, preview them in virtually any size and even turn regular images into icons with a simple drag and drop. One of its coolest features, however, especially for the iChat junkies in the crowd, is the ability to turn any icon into one's iChat user picture from a right click contextual menu. After a short delay, the icon should appear atop your buddy list in the image well, but be warned: iChat won't remember the pic in the popup menu that is accessible from clicking that image well, but you can simply drag and drop the icon up there to give it a home amongst your other selections.If this trick ends up causing some of you to develop Compulsive iChat Picture Disorder, we apologize in advance and urge you to send your therapy bills to spam@tuaw.com. We'll, uh, get right back to you on those.If you're still merely interested in what Pixadex can offer your icon downloading habits, a 15 day/25 uses of the Apply button demo is available from The Iconfactory, and a full license costs $18.95.
iChat video now cross-platform in 10.4.9?
Loyal reader Nik spotted this interesting tidbit on the .Mac tips page last week:You can also chat with anyone who has an AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) screen name and uses a chat client that supports AIM, whether on a Mac or PC. (For audio or video chats with PC users, you need Mac OS X v10.4.9 installed on your computer.)Cross-platform video chats without using the AIM client? Eeeeexcellent. (Of course, Skype video is free and quite good, but this is cool too.) If you can, try it out and let us know what you see; we'll post screenshots if we get it working.Update: Some clarifications coming in via the comments now. iChat <-> AIM video and audio was working with versions of AIM prior to v6, but not since. The 10.4.9 updates to iChat may restore the video functionality for the newer AIM clients. For a very, VERY thorough walkthrough of the cross-platform video chat config (including links to download AIM 5.9 if needed), check out this page at MVL Design.Thanks, Nik!
DuckCall
DuckCall is a nifty little utility that is a one-trick pony, but it's a pretty cool trick. Every 30 seconds it takes a snapshot with your iSight camera and sets that picture as your iChat or Adium buddy picture. The author notes that it's "very crude, and consists of a PyObjC wrapper round a stand-alone binary (to get the picture from the iSight) and a bunch of AppleScript (to set the picture into iChat / Adium)." As you can see to the right (behold my thoroughly unattractive office bookshelves), it works fine on my MacBook with iChat (I didn't test it with Adium). This is a pretty neat idea for personalizing your iChats when a full video chat is not an option.[Via FreeMacWare]
iChat 4.0 Voicemail
A trusted source has provided TUAW with a screen-capture of an iChat 4.0 preference pane which hints at an as-yet-unannounced new feature– voicemail. Such a feature would round out the programs VoIP offerings and create a more complete communication experience for users.Now if only iChat could integrate with Skype and SIP, I wouldn't need a phone at all!Update: Can it be exclusive if Mac Rumors covered it in Dec? Ah well, here's hope we both don't get matching nastygrams from Apple legal (hey, we love your work!).
iChatUSBCam hits version 2.2
Ecamm Network has updated its popular iChatUSBCam software to version 2.2. The updated iChatUSBCam, which allows you to plug a USB webcam into your Mac and use it in iChat, includes support for many new USB cameras and a bunch of fixes and enhancements. For just ten bucks, the software lets you bypass having to track down a now non-existent iSight, and use an inexpensive camera from your local CompUSA or Walmart instead. You can pick up a Logitech Notebook QuickCam, for example, starting at under forty bucks.
SeeEyE2Eye Webcam Periscope and Teleprompter
SeeEyE2EyE is an strange, but sort of cool hardware device that hooks up to your Mac to serve double duty as a teleprompter or iChat (Skype, etc.) video chat assistant. Basically, it's a kind of periscope arrangement that will project a small part of your screen to an angled transparent surface in front of your iSight. So if you position your iChat window right below the SeeEyE2EyE, it will project your interlocutor in front your iSight, allowing you to make more natural eye contact. You can also use it with teleprompting software like Videocue 2 or ProPrompter LCD to turn it into a teleprompter for making a video blog, etc.It comes in two models both for $99: one for built-in iSights (e.g. on the MacBook (Pro)) and another for external iSights and other webcams. Despite the slightly unclear website, the company did confirm to me that the "built-in laptop cams" model does work with the MacBook (Pro). Unfortunately, they also say that the same model does not work on iMacs with built-in iSights as they are apparently too thick. It ships January 22.
