iChat AV is a simple video call service for the Mac users. With the usage of the latest H264 technology for sharp pictures, natural looking colors and a great three-dimensional view in their video calling service, they make you feel as if you are sitting and chatting with your friends around a table. If you are looking for audio chatting only, they have the facility of audio conferencing which can hold upto 10 people and the sound level meters will enable you to see and hear the speaker. Of course, it also has the regular instant messaging stuff with emoticons, text effects, etc which makes iChat AV a complete chatting solution from Apple.
The downsides of iChat AV is that they do not have chat rooms, they do not support pc-to-pc calls, interface is standard and cannot be changed according to your preferences and of course, they only run on Apple computers. If you are used to the Apple interface, the iChat AV interface will also be familiar to you. Navigation is easy and creating or joining either video or audio conferences can be done at the click of a button.
The unique three dimensional interface and the text effects and emoticons make your chatting experience truly awesome. Besides you can share your files, pictures and other stuff just by dragging them to your chat window. You can also contact your other friends using AOL IM or Jabber IM as they are compatible with iChat AV. Another great feature is the ‘no talking to strangers’ with which you can control the interactions of your kids by limiting them to approved contacts only.
Apple provides great support for all common problems faced by users. The forum provides a platform by which you can interact with other Apple users and find solution to your problems with their help. If not, you can always contact Apple online through the ‘contact us’ page.
In summary, the pros of the iChat AV are that it is a simple yet very effective video calling service for the Mac users. The cons of the iChat AV are that this service is limited to the Mac users only. If you are a Mac user and you want to contact other Mac users only then iChat AV may be for you. Overall, the iChat AV provides super video quality, file sharing capabilities, audio conferencing and other features. Since it is also compatible with AOL and Jabber, you can easily increase your access to more friends online.
