The installer package didn't work out so well for a variety of reasons, so I'm going back to using a custom installer application. The installer should be a one-click process and will remove any old versions of Chax, including Chax 1.5 and the SIMBL-based betas and alphas of Chax 2.0. This version of Chax is entirely self-contained, as Chax 1.5 was, so SIMBL or PlugSuit is no longer required. Sorry to everyone that's been having all the random issues, this beta should clear up the problems that have been reported to me. The only change in this version is the installer; the functionality of Chax itself is identical.

25 comments:

Chris at 2007-11-14 21:21:05 -0500

is there something i have to do other than download and install, because it is not working

Grant at 2007-11-14 21:50:51 -0500

Ha! I was telling myself to wait until a stable release, but I eventually broke down and installed Beta 1 last night after doing a solo install of SIMBL first. It figures that the day after I futzed with it, a non-SIMBL installer would be released. Isn't that part of Murphy's law? ;) Anyway, it is great to be using Chax again. Thanks for your work.

Chris at 2007-11-15 02:23:20 -0500

Works great, thanks for the update! (I had trouble getting the SIMBL version working...) keep up the great work! If you'll let me plug my 3 feature requests, the one of which keeps me from using iChat over Adium: -Dockable/Autohide buddy list (this keeps me locked into Adium) -Auto-accept screen share requests (great for updating/logging into computers remotely) -Buddy list sorting by handle (iChat 4.0 only supports Last Name, First Name, Availability, and Manual) -BONUS: Brief chat history (2-5 messages) in chat windows (Also love this feature in Adium) Thanks! This plugin is GREAT!

Leeron at 2007-11-15 03:46:40 -0500

First of all, love your work... However, this version does not work on 10.5.1; it does not recognize it as leopard claiming at least 10.5 is needed...

Etan G at 2007-11-15 06:12:08 -0500

its great to have Chax back and it installed great. I see its a very stripped down version as compared to Tiger. I would however request the option to have the tabs at the bottom of the window (as opposed to the tabs being on the left side which is native in iChat - I really hate it on the side) Chax still remains a great addition to iChat - thanks g

Ty Miles at 2007-11-15 07:56:15 -0500

I am sure this has been asked 100 times but I am wondering why no one has worked to add Yahoo IM to IChat? Is it possible through plugin to add that function?

Turin55 at 2007-11-15 07:59:06 -0500

Hi, maybe there is a little bug - at last for me: With Chax 2.0b2 installed If i click on the microphone mute button it doesn't get illuminated to show it's muted. best, Turin55

D9 at 2007-11-15 11:16:41 -0500

Both betas have the same minor bug. When ever I open iChat, the "Automatically Check for Updates" message appears when I've instructed it NO previously. If I tell it YES, then the message window does not appear on subsequent iChat launches.

Thom at 2007-11-15 11:21:53 -0500

Its great, but I've hoped on a new version with intergrated logins for other messengers also MSN messenger, Yahoo, Google etc. Now im using adium too and I would like to intergrate them that you can use every function iChat/iChax have not only chat (with jabber accaunt) So I hope this will be intergrate :P Thnx Thom

Glenn at 2007-11-15 18:44:22 -0500

I would echo what D9 says: "Both betas have the same minor bug. When ever I open iChat, the “Automatically Check for Updates” message appears when I’ve instructed it NO previously. If I tell it YES, then the message window does not appear on subsequent iChat launches." This is especially important for users on my Mac who are regular users and not admin users. Non admin users should not be prompted to automatically check for updates. And for sure, when a users responds to the prompt with a 'No' then that preference should be remembered forever. Please fix :-) Thanks!

chris at 2007-11-15 19:43:43 -0500

This version doesnt have tabbed windows?

Nate at 2007-11-15 19:55:22 -0500

I couldn't find anywhere else to post it, so here is a feature request that I think will be very useful. I think it would be a great addition to an already great program if Chax could at least have a "Always on top" option for video chat windows. Another feature that would be considerably harder to implement would be to be able to make the video chat window transparent. An even greater challenge would be to have a full screen / always on top window that is transparent, but still be able to control other applications. I know there was an old windows TV app that had similar capabilities (with the full screen transparency), but I'm not sure exactly how that would work on Mac. Thanks again for a great program! PS- Chris, if you are using Leopard you can already have tabbed windows (Prefs>Messages>Collect chats into a single window)

Keith at 2007-11-15 20:36:38 -0500

I hate to sound like another demanding user of your software for feature X, Y or X - so take this as a suggestion b/c I can't find it anywhere on the site FAQ etc. Have you considered adding in OTR support? hhttp://www.cypherpunks.ca/otr/ I don't know how possible it would be but would be great to have. Oh, and good work. You've made iChat usable to me again.

roy at 2007-11-15 22:20:54 -0500

dont see the always on top feature ?

Matt at 2007-11-15 23:44:49 -0500

It works great for me, however I've got one feature request, is it possible to make all the account windows show up in one window instead of requiring multiple windows for each account?

Noble at 2007-11-16 05:24:02 -0500

Ok, first off, Chax is AMAZING and I love it. Two suggestions: -Auto accept chats should not make you jump to the new chat. It should just open a new chat that can be accessed whenever. -Id LOVE to see a keyboard shortcut for moving from tab to tab. Anyway, thank you very much AGAIN for Chax. Looking forward to any and all updates. It always keeps getting better and better.

Adrian at 2007-11-16 09:01:17 -0500

This is probably asked a lot, but do you think you could integrate the MSN messenger service into Chax? Jabber doesn't work anymore and it is too annoying. For me, it isn't THAT important to have Video/Audio chat but it would be nice. All I am really looking for, though, is to have my friends in iChat (none have an AIM or .Mac account...). Anyway, great addition to iChat nonetheless.

Clyde Cohen at 2007-11-16 11:20:59 -0500

I installed Chax 2.0 Beta 2, and was surprised that it doesn't offer tabs, which was my most liked aspect of version 1. Then I tried to uninstall it but it won't allow me to uninstall it. Despite the fact that I am running Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.1 (the latest) on my MacBook (first gen Intel), it keeps giving me a message that says "INCOMPATIBLE SYSTEM VERSION - Chax requires at least Mac OS X 10.5.0 to run and will not run on non-Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5) systems." Well, I am running Mac OS X 10.5.1 as I've said, and I can't uninstall it. Furthermore, in an attempt to post something to your blog, I subscribed to the Chax RSS by mistake in Apple's Mail, and now I can't figure out how to unsubscribe!!! This is really really frustrating!!!

Rod at 2007-11-16 13:36:36 -0500

Hello. Very good work on your past product. I just installed the new version since I upgraded to Leopard, but I don't see a "Tabs" option in the Preferences. Therefore, I can't use tabs. Am I missing something?

John Robinson at 2007-11-16 14:15:35 -0500

Chris, Clyde, Rod: iChat AV 4.0 has tabbed chats built in already. Therefore, Chax doesn't need to offer the option. That said, alas, it was working great in 10.5, and 10.5.1 has broken it. :(

slotcarBob at 2007-11-16 14:20:41 -0500

I have but one feature request, and that is to auto download from a selected group in AddressBook. Thanks for this great product.

Scott at 2007-11-16 14:55:31 -0500

Would be great to get the auto hide feature back! Main reason I use CHAX

ignite at 2007-11-16 17:02:02 -0500

Where is the Auto-hide feature that was in 1.5? I want ichat to hide when it's not active. (I agree with scott)

EvilOne at 2007-11-16 17:51:47 -0500

I'm glad CHAX is BACK!!! I couldn't live without it ;) I noticed - though, in this beta 2 - that the Auto-Accept file transfers feature is no longer there, and honestly, that was my favorite feature since I transfer a lot of files between co-workers. I had asked, not too far ago, if some day there would be a message or note as to who sent the file and was told maybe but not sure, and Apple did a great job on it. Could you bring the Auto-Accept File Tranfers feature back? pleeeease! iChat looks and behaves great, but Chax makes it look and behave even better.

islash420 at 2007-11-16 23:44:27 -0500

the options for tabs are not available anymore- just updated to leopard and there is no option for tabs