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The next version of Apple's iChat messaging software that will ship with Mac OS X Tiger will likely offer tabbed messaging in addition to iTunes tie-ins.
The next major reversion of Apple Computer's popular iChat instant messenger software will play host to a plethora of new features, including some that have yet to appear in even the most recent builds of Mac OS X 10.4 "Tiger," AppleInsider has learned.
Mimicking third party applications like Status Symbol and iChat Status, recent builds of iChat 3.0 have exposed limited interactivity with the company's iTunes digital jukebox software. Via a new option in the iChat menu, users will be able to display the currently playing iTunes track as part of their iChat online status.
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Beyond this tie-in, it's unclear how much further the two digital lifestyle applications will gel. The aforementioned feature is new to iChat's ongoing development and is only partially functional in recent builds of the software.
Meanwhile, well placed sources have provided indubitable evidence that Apple will soon add an option to enable tabbed messaging. Although this feature has yet to surface in known builds of iChat 3.0, the foundation is reportedly in place for an implementation that will closely mirror the functionality and appearance of the tabbed browsing interface already present in the company's Safari web browser.
iChat 3.0 is due as part of Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger in the first half of 2005. The software will also reportedly deliver improved video quality, three-way video chat, extended audio conferencing, and Jabber support.
Christine McKee
Marko Zivkovic
Wesley Hilliard
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
159 Comments
I can confirm the iTunes integration. Hehehe. Although that tab bit is very disappointing.
so, what, the tabs will spearate the different simultaneous chat sessions? won't that make for an unnecessarily wide chat window, the more sessions you have going?
i know they hired proteus' programmer, justin wood, for the ichat team, which now explains the jabber support, but man, i really liked the way proteus handled multiple chats, using apple's drawer UI instead of tabs.
oh well, maybe apple will surprise me. i just wish they would license the msn protocol, because 85% of my friends are on msn messenger.
so, what, the tabs will spearate the different simultaneous chat sessions? won't that make for an unnecessarily wide chat window, the more sessions you have going?
i know they hired proteus' programmer for the ichat team, which now explains the jabber support, but man, i really liked the way proteus handled multiple chats, using apple's drawer UI.
Hopefully the tabs will come in Tiger Mail-like sidebar form.
I wouldn't mind a sidebar...chat text areas prefer being vertically-large...not horizontally-large.
But frankly...tabs are really stupid for a chat app. How many simultaneous conversations can one have at a time? If the answer is 'less than 5' then let the sessions be in separate windows and let Exposé do the rest.
Hopefully the tabs will come in Tiger Mail-like sidebar form.
I wouldn't mind a sidebar...chat text areas prefer being vertically-large...not horizontally-large.
But frankly...tabs are really stupid for a chat app. How many simultaneous conversations can one have at a time? If the answer is 'less than 5' then let the sessions be in separate windows and let Exposé do the rest.
But tabs still save space over that.
But tabs still save space over that.
Over what?
Space isn't all that precious anymore now that Exposé solves window clutter. I'm on 1024x768...this is pretty damn small compared to today's standard resolutions and I'm managing a shitload of windows just fine.
All the lucky SOBs with iMac 2s and iMac G5s and Cinema Displays are, well, lucky. I can't wait to have a 20" or 23" screen.