Power User Monday Tip of the Week
Supercharge your instant messaging
These days, instant messages are as common as email. I don't have to explain the benefits (speed namely), but I can share some of the tips I have picked up over the years of being an IM user. A previous PowerUser Monday article touched on some iChat tips and tricks--we'll be covering other tips in this space.
First a little background. There are 4 major IM networks:
- AIM - Owned and operated by AOL. Was the first network and is still the most popular [by far]. iChat uses the AIM network.
- ICQ - (I Seek You) - Owned and operated by AOL. Popular with long time IM users because it has been around a while. Also popular over seas.
- Yahoo! IM - Another popular network run by Yahoo. Has a large registered user base due to the number of free @yahoo.com email addresses.
- MSN Messenger - Run by Microsoft, and has a massive registered user base due to the popularity of @hotmail.com and @msn.com email addresses.
Groups
Groups are now a part of iChat, but the support is weak. If you've used the official AIM client from AOL, or something like Adium, you know what groups are supposed to be. In iChat, it's more of a "buddy filter" than a group feature. If you're using iChat, stay away from groups. If you're using something else, use groups--they are quite handy.
Give your buddies a name
Unless you like thinking of your friends as "gogodude12" and the like, it's best to give your buddies names. This can be done in most popular clients that aren't made by AOL (iChat, Proteus, Adium...). In iChat, just select a buddy by clicking on their name, press Command-I, and type in their info. "Address Card" should be selected in the pull down menu at the top of the Info window. iChat actually ties in with Address Book, so you're killing two birds with one stone by inputting their names in iChat.
Turn on logging
By turning on logs, you're able to save your conversations. You wouldn't believe how many times this has saved me. I have recovered many addresses and phone numbers that I needed by searching my IM logs. To activate logs in iChat, go to iChat > Preferences and select Messages. At the bottom, check the box next to Automatically save chat transcripts. iChat saves each conversation in a separate file. To search your logs quickly, download something like chatSearch.
Update your iSight
If you have an iSight, Apple recently (as in this weekend) updated its software. Just run Software Update by going to the Apple Menu and selecting Software Update.
Leave iChat on after you quit
If you always like being online, you can set iChat to stay online after you quit. You'll be able to log-off via a menu bar widget, but it's a handy feature for IM power users. Combined with Away messages, it's really powerful. To turn on the feature, head to Preferences and select General if it is not already selected. Make sure "Show status in menu bar" is checked, and then uncheck "When I quit iChat, set my status to offline".
All personal comments should be sent to the author. All other discussion should be done in the Forums
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