Messages on Your Mac

Note: In order to run Messages you have to be running Lion 10.7.3 on your Mac. Click on the Apple and About This Mac on the top left to see which version you are running.

One of the new features of Mountain Lion (Apple's new operating system that's coming out soon) is called Messages. If you already have an iOS device you might have already used an app called iMessages (note the added 'i' meaning it's on an iOS device). You'll probably see many of the iOS features migrating over to the Mac as the two operating systems begin to become one.

One of the best features of iMessages is that it allows you to send text messages and photos without using your allotment from your cell provider as long as it's going to someone else on an iOS device (iPad, iPhone, iPod touch). But now...drumroll please...Apple is making a beta (test) version of Messages available for your Mac. What does this mean? Here's what Apple had to say on their site:

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 cool 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.

Grab it and give it a shot. It will be good for instant communication with other teachers, it will help out with troubleshooting and tech help, and it's just cool.