OS X Messages App: A Beginner's Guide - Mountain Lion
Evaluating Apple’s OS X Mountain Lion: A Focus on Key Features
With the initial excitement surrounding the release of Apple’s OS X Mountain Lion subsiding, a thorough assessment of its advertised features is now warranted. Among the announcements made earlier this year, the new Messages application stood out as particularly compelling.
This application extends Apple’s proprietary iMessage service to desktop computers, a development that generated considerable anticipation.
The Appeal of Desktop iMessage
As a frequent iMessage user on my iPhone, the prospect of composing and sending text messages to contacts globally via the keyboard of my MacBook Pro was highly appealing.
Initial testing, as documented by Bakari’s evaluation of the Messages Beta in May, indicated that refinement was necessary. Therefore, following several weeks of public access, a detailed examination of the application’s core functionalities is now timely.
Availability and Access
It’s worth noting that a complimentary copy of OS X Mountain Lion is available to individuals who have recently purchased a Mac.
This provides an accessible entry point for users eager to experience the updated features firsthand.
A Unified Messaging Experience
Similar to the functionality offered by iChat – which was discontinued with Mountain Lion – the Messages application consolidates multiple accounts into a single hub for all your instant messaging communications. This includes support for popular services like AIM, Yahoo, Jabber, and Google Talk.
Local network chatting is also facilitated through Bonjour, which can be easily activated with a simple checkbox. This allows communication with others on the same network, provided they have also enabled the feature.
Streamlined Communication
The outcome is a simplified and organized method for connecting with friends and coworkers, surpassing the need to manage numerous individual IM applications. Users familiar with iChat will find this transition seamless, as existing accounts should be automatically transferred during the upgrade process.
The application’s design prioritizes a clean interface, reducing clutter and enhancing usability.
Interface Differences
While the iPhone version of Messages resembles a typical SMS application, the iPad iteration is more advanced. The desktop version largely mirrors the iPad’s layout.
Unlike iChat, where contacts were prominently displayed, Messages divides the screen into two distinct sections: a list of conversations and the message content itself. This design choice may not appeal to those accustomed to quickly checking the online status of their contacts.
Instead of a readily visible buddy list, users must either select a previous conversation to view the status indicator or initiate a new chat to determine availability.
This represents a shift in how online status is accessed within the Messages application.
Communicating with Messages: Sending and Receiving
Although the application presents a consolidated interface – one that becomes familiar within a minute – distinguishing between different instant messaging protocols remains straightforward. The text input field clearly indicates the protocol being used. This allows users to easily differentiate conversations even when communicating with the same contact across multiple platforms.
For instance, Google Talk messages are visually represented with green bubbles, while iMessages maintain their characteristic blue color, consistent with iOS devices.
File Sharing Capabilities
iMessage facilitates the transmission of various file types. Users can send images, plain text documents, PDF files, and even MP3 audio files. Recipients can listen to these MP3s, though saving them is not permitted.
Files can be shared by selecting Send File... from the Buddies menu or by simply dragging and dropping the desired file directly into the message composition area.
Notifications and System Integration
A key improvement over iChat is the automatic integration of alerts from all connected accounts into the Notification Center. This feature is active only when the Messages app is not the currently focused application.
Users have the option to customize this behavior through System Preferences > Notifications, should they prefer not to receive these alerts.
Limitations and Potential FrustrationsThe Messages application allows iPhone users to seamlessly continue conversations initiated on their Mac devices, and vice versa. While the integration between these platforms generally functions well, several issues were encountered during testing. Initially, the complete message history from my iPhone failed to synchronize to my Mac.
Consequently, initiating new conversations with contacts was necessary, or resending messages from the iPhone to trigger their appearance on the Mac. This wasn't a major inconvenience, but it occurred after a modification to my caller ID settings.
Previously, I opted to utilize my personal Apple ID email address as my caller ID, anticipating potential phone number changes. Users who haven't made this adjustment may find it necessary to set their iPhone's iMessage caller ID to their Apple ID to ensure proper conversation synchronization within Messages.
Developers have indicated that a resolution for this issue is planned for iOS 6. Currently, the caller ID can be modified on your iOS device by navigating to Settings > Messages > Receive At > Caller ID.
Notification Management
Another point to consider is the handling of notifications. Receiving an iMessage on your iPhone triggers notifications on your Mac and iPad, if you own one.
This can sometimes feel excessive, but Apple has implemented measures to mitigate this. Specifically, viewing a conversation on your Mac will clear any associated pending notifications from the Notification Center and lock screen on your other devices.
While not entirely foolproof, this system proved to be reasonably effective during testing, reducing notification clutter.
Final Thoughts
Apple’s initial implementation of this unified messaging system is notably successful, effectively merging the functionalities of mobile messaging and conventional instant messaging into a visually appealing and user-friendly experience. The convenience offered by having messages accessible across multiple devices is undeniably valuable.
For those deeply integrated into the iMessage ecosystem, the ability to seamlessly access messages on any of their Apple devices – including iPhones, iPads, and Macs – represents a significant advantage.
Share Your Experience
We are interested in your perspective on the Messages app. Do you find iMessage to be a beneficial service? Have you encountered any difficulties while using it?
Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below.
