AOL announces AIM for Mac public beta
updated 10:15 am EDT, Tue September 30, 2008
AIM for Mac public beta
AOL has released the first public beta of a new AIM for Mac client, the first major update since February of 2004. In the new software, users have access to AIM Expressions, allowing them to customize their AIM sounds, wallpaper, emoticon set and Buddy Icon. AOL is also looking to implement some of the more popular features from other versions of AIM, such as file transfers, tabbed conversations, AIM Groups, and AIM Blast.
The beta can be downloaded through AOL's website, where users can also comment on messageboards or report any bugs. Currently there are only two known issues, which include long status messages getting cut off, and a problem in which sending an offline IM causes the recipient to get multiple copies.












iChat replacement?
09/30, 08:04am reply
Does anyone really imagine that this will get us to replace our connections through iChat?
Grendel2501
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2003
re: iChat
09/30, 10:30am reply
Or Adium for that matter. Both iChat and Adium are lightweight and fast. I doubt I will ever go back to having any type of AOL program on my computer. Last time I used an AOL anything program was back during the AOL 2.0 days on System 7
FastAMX79
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2000
seriously?
09/30, 10:32am reply
Why do they waste their time?
Fishtank22
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2001
What he said ^
09/30, 10:32am reply
But replace "iChat" with "Adium."
phillymjs
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2000
4.5 years too late...
09/30, 10:51am reply
And yet, they still use an installer package for an app that should be drag and drop. Viewing the package in pacifist just shows this being installed in the Applications folder and nowhere else. Viva Adium!
64stang06
Mac Elite
Joined: Aug 2007
Re: seriously
09/30, 11:15am (1 reply) reply
They probably waste their time because if they said "We're not doing a mac version", people on Mac boards would hang them for not supporting the Macintosh platform. So, they're in a no-win situation.
And, who knows, maybe there's someone out there who likes AIM. I mean, there are people who like the Zune.
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
negativity
09/30, 01:14pm reply
I love the negativity on these boards, even free mac software isn't good enough for people - who knows maybe one day they'll actually put out an AIM client that is better than iChat?
But delusion aside, can anyone get videochats to work between iChat (any version) and AIM for windows - there are still some people I can't persuade to leave their PC's behind, but I really don't want to quit using iChat just because of them (they'd prefer I used Skype)...
If anyone knows any tricks - would love to hear them
chucker
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Mar 2007
iChat sucks
10/01, 08:19am reply
I've never liked iChat, especially the interface. I've always liked the old AIM, so I'm glad to see them finally updating it.
apple4ever
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2001