ChatFX, iChat Theater

Following Apple's Leopard demo today during the keynote address at WWDC, some users questioned if Apple had copied ChatFX with iChat Theater. The developer of the iChat plug-in issued an answer in the form of a blog post. "ChatFX relies on Quartz Composer which is brilliant and created by Pierre-Olivier Latour, Apple gives it out free to developers," stated lead developer Julian Miller. "Also iChat was necessary and is free from Apple and part of the OS. We may have inspired Apple but Apple definitely inspired us." Miller, a recent video guest on the MacNN podcast, said that there are indeed new features planned for ChatFX including support for more video chat applications such as Gizmo, Skype, and Yahoo IM. Julian Miller also reminded readers that, "Leopard is not available till sometime next year but people can get ChatFX and use it right now."

by MacNN Staff