Apple Releases Public Beta of New Messages App for OS X
Alongside today's OS X Mountain Lion news, Apple released a public beta version of its new Messages app for OS X for existing users. Set to replace iChat in OS X Mountain Lion, the new Messages app integrates features of iChat and FaceTime and adds compatibility with the iMessages service introduced for iOS last year.
Update: Apple's servers appear to be overwhelmed at the moment, with the download button for the Messages beta showing an error message. The app is, however, still available via direct download (63.8 MB).
Update 2: The Messages download button is now operating properly.
Download Messages Beta and get a taste of what’s coming in OS X Mountain Lion. When you install Messages, it replaces iChat. But iChat services will continue to work. And Messages brings iMessage to the Mac — just like on iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch running iOS 5. Here are the features you can expect with Messages:
- Send unlimited iMessages to any Mac, iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch.
- Start an iMessage conversation on your Mac and continue it on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch.
- Send photos, videos, attachments, contacts, locations, and more.
- Launch a FaceTime video call and bring the conversation face-to-face.
- Messages supports iMessage, AIM, Yahoo!, Google Talk, and Jabber accounts.
Update: Apple's servers appear to be overwhelmed at the moment, with the download button for the Messages beta showing an error message. The app is, however, still available via direct download (63.8 MB).
Update 2: The Messages download button is now operating properly.
Top Rated Comments
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24 months ago
WOW!!! AWESOME!!! :cool::cool::cool::cool::cool:
Direct link:
http://appldnld.apple.com/MessagesBeta/041-4274.20120216.z5km/MessagesBeta.dmg
Direct link:
http://appldnld.apple.com/MessagesBeta/041-4274.20120216.z5km/MessagesBeta.dmg
24 months ago
When a friend iMessages me, the iMessage my phone number, NOT my Apple ID.
With Messages for Mac, you don't have a choice but to send from your Apple ID, creating two separate conversations or threads in Messages on iOS.
If you're iMessaging somebody on a Mac from your iPhone, and you lose your 3G or WiFi data connection (every so often you'll see that message that says "Sent as text message") you're screwed. Without a data connection, you can't reply to somebody using Messages for Mac, because it goes through the iMessage protocol.
Apple should find a way to integrate your phone number in iMessage for Mac (and iPad and iPod touch provided the user has an iPhone) so there are no double-conversations in the iOS version of Messages.
With Messages for Mac, you don't have a choice but to send from your Apple ID, creating two separate conversations or threads in Messages on iOS.
If you're iMessaging somebody on a Mac from your iPhone, and you lose your 3G or WiFi data connection (every so often you'll see that message that says "Sent as text message") you're screwed. Without a data connection, you can't reply to somebody using Messages for Mac, because it goes through the iMessage protocol.
Apple should find a way to integrate your phone number in iMessage for Mac (and iPad and iPod touch provided the user has an iPhone) so there are no double-conversations in the iOS version of Messages.
24 months ago
Didn't we just recently get lion? A sort of not quite finished, slightly buggy OS.....and now for another one? Overtaking microsoft in more ways than just revenue maybe?
24 months ago
I posted this in the Mac OS X board but it's relevant here...
Unfortunately, in my field of work I'm forced to use a PC in the office. By making Messages a standalone app, I won't be able to iMessage with my friends and colleagues on my computer and will still have to use my iPhone.
It would have been awesome if Apple included iMessage as part of their iCloud web interface (even if they also created the standalone app for Macs). This would have allowed people using any computer in the world (even as a guest) to interact with their iMessage contacts. I thought this was the route Apple was going to take so I'm a little disappointed with the news this morning.
Unfortunately, in my field of work I'm forced to use a PC in the office. By making Messages a standalone app, I won't be able to iMessage with my friends and colleagues on my computer and will still have to use my iPhone.
It would have been awesome if Apple included iMessage as part of their iCloud web interface (even if they also created the standalone app for Macs). This would have allowed people using any computer in the world (even as a guest) to interact with their iMessage contacts. I thought this was the route Apple was going to take so I'm a little disappointed with the news this morning.
24 months ago
Now can someone please reverse engineer the iMessage protocol, and give us a client on Windows?
Thanks!
Thanks!
24 months ago
I'm so excited for this!!! (which makes me kinda sad to think about it.. )
24 months ago
It doesnt work from mac to send to non iphone users... they must be iphone users with imessage...
I just tried to send to friend and doesnt have iphone and I got an error message
What did you expect?
24 months ago
Anyone notice that on Apple's OSX Mountain Lion page, there's not a single picture of a Mac Pro?
Clearly, "trucks" will play little (or no) role in Apple's future.
Clearly, "trucks" will play little (or no) role in Apple's future.
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