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Desktop alternatives to MegauploadIf there's one thing that's still poorly supported on Macs by Instant Messenger clients, it's the iSight camera. You'd think by now, IM clients would have advanced enough to allow users to make video calls but even major ones such as Adium still don't. Biggest culprit of them all however is Microsoft Messenger for Mac which left one OnSoftware reader ruing the day he'd bought a Mac:
Hi, I am hoping that you can give me some assistance in how to get the webcam feature to work on MSN Messenger for Macs. I was assured that before I bought my Mac that MSN Messenger works as it does on my old PC. It mentions about being a corporate user and the webcam function working. How do I become a corporate user? If you could get back to me as soon as you can with a solution it would be much appreciated.
I really feel for this user because converting to Mac can be a frustrating experience at first and stupid things like this can really make you wonder whether it was worth all the bother. It's ridiculously unfair of Microsoft when PC users can use webcams and audio with MSN Live Messenger but Mac users can't.
Microsoft have obviously decided that, if you've got enough money to buy a Mac, then you should have enough to give them some too because as the user suspects, only Messenger for Mac corporate users can use a webcam. If you're in the same position you have two options. One is to pay hundreds (if not thousands depending on the license) of dollars and upgrade to the corporate edition which also requires Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007. The second, is to use pay nothing and use aMSN instead. Hmm, tough one.
aMSN is an open source MSN Messenger clone so its interface will feel familiar to Messenger for Mac users. The important thing however is that it's absolutely free and it supports webcams. Starting a webcam conversation is easy.
1. Open a chat dialog with the person you want to chat to:
2. Click on the webcam symbol:
That's it you're done! I was using an integrated iSight camera but it should work with any external webcam. Although you can't do audio conversations with aMSN, you can record and send sound bytes to other users. There are other advantages to aMSN over Messenger for Mac too including the possibility to sign-in to more than one account at once and conduct video conferences for free.
I am so p.... off with mac here we are moving into 2010 and still MSN does not have web cam. The main one . Its bloody US and upsetting when your friends come on line ask to go web cam and you cant. WHY WHY WHY . All that F Ing mony spent for just a graphic machine. Og crap
I understand your frustrations Gary. Only allowing corporate users to use the webcam on their Macs with MSN Messenger is typical of why Microsoft has alienated so many users over the years. Just encourage your friends to switch to aMSN and ditch MSN Messenger for Mac for good :)
Thanks for your advice, but it doesn't help me either. I was fed up with Vista and just bought a beautiful Mac, thinking that my frustrations would be over. In my case, too, the Apple reseller convinced me that I could continue chatting via aMSN, just like with Windows Live Messenger. Now I found out that NO, aMSN DOES NOT SUPPORT video+voice chat. You can just watch each other, but with no sound. What's the point? Hopefully, one day WLM will work with Mac, or aMSN will support voice/video chat. But until then, I will remain a frustrated new Mac owner, as I need to pull out my PC each time I want to chat :=(
Lars, have you tried Skype on the Mac yet? It allows you to chat with both video and audio: http://skype.en.softonic.com/mac
Thanks Nicholas for the hint. I agree Skype seems like the only viable option, but I can hardly convince all my chat contacts to switch from WLM to Skype. I guess I'll be sticking to my PC, after all. Cheers,
i just bougth a macbook and i download the aMSN but when i try to send the webcam to my sister that lives outside of the country it doesn't work. i also tried with someone else and it doesn't work either . so my question is . does the webcam in aMSN only works inside of the country?
Hi, I recently bought a MAC and as like all the other suckers realised web chat for msn isnt supportd. I learn about AMSN and downloaded it ... sweet i thought however like Ruth (comment above) it isnt working. Is there a reason for this and can I fit it. Thanks, hope to hear bck from you and can start web chat ASAP .
Hi Ruth and Chris, are you both using it with your built-in iSight camera? I will look into this and see if I can help.
Hi, I have a different problem. I have a MacBook (build-in camera), installed amsn and opened port 6891. When I start video chat I can see the person from the other pc but the other pc is seeing my desktop (with all opened maps, like a snapshot), not me. I tried mercury too, same problem. Does anyone know how to resolve this? Thanks.
Marcel, I'm not sure why you opened the port? The webcam works without the need to do that. Ruth and Chris, I've just tested aMSN again using my iSight webcam and it definitely works for me. Are you sure your iSight camera is working properly?
Hi , I've also just downloaded amsn, and although the isight camera works fine on my screen, my girlfriend in Brazil cannot see me, and I cannot see her either,(more important!) she is using a normal pc and we know that is working fine.
Hi Richard, I suggest that you send the error log to the developers at aMSN and they may be able to advise you on this like they did for this user: http://www.amsn-project.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2881
Hi, I have the same problem as Ruth and Chris. However, none of the people I have tried working webcam with live outside the country, let alone state. My webcam on aMSN only works with one person, who also lives inside the state. Whenever I try to do webcam with someone else, it starts working, and then suddenly it says the invite has been cancelled. Do you think you can help solve my problem? Much appreciated, Angel.
Hey, I also have the same problem as Ruth and Chris. My in-built camera for Macbook worked just fine in aMSN for some few hours and now when I start camera in a conversation, the person I am talking to just see a white picture and nothing more, and the camera invitation is cancelled. How can I make it work like it used to? Much appreciated, Kevin
Hey, Now I think I know my problem. It seems that I cannot transmit the web camera on aMSN because of a firewall, but I dont know to get around the firewall.
Hi Kevin, If you haven't been able to fix this yet, you might find some useful advice on this forum: http://forums.opensuse.org/network-internet/420112-how-enable-firewall-ports-use-amsn.html
i need toknow how can load the massenger
Hi, I have always been a Mac user and it has never worried me not being able to use webcam on MSN, untill my fiance was deported to Afgan for a 6 month tour. Im not worried that aMSN doesnt support an audio feature but i cannot get my webcam to work on Amsn at all. I can recieve cam but i nothing else. I have an iSight Webcam and i am using version 10.4.11 on the computer. However everytime i plug the webcam in, it comes up with an iChat icon on the desktop and asks for either and iChat, Jabber or AOL account. Is there anyway i can get around this and use the aMSN with this webcam?
Laura, i may know what to do for your problem, though im not totally sure. if you open ichat, in the menu bar click iChat>preferences>audio/video tab and look for "open iChat when external camera is connected". make sure it is not checked off and then plug in the camera, open aMSN and try to open a webcam chat. hope things work out and best of luck to your fiance in afgan.
For everyone that has resorted to using aMSN for Mac, note that Microsoft Messenger version 8 now supports webcams and audio so if you've had any problems with aMSN, you might be better trying it instead: http://microsoft-messenger8.en.softonic.com/mac
I have a macbook and during my yahoo messenger and skype chats with my wife my built in camera shuts off all the time. Is there something wrong with my camera or how can i fix his problem. I am in Kuwait right now so I can't take it to a computer shop. Thanks for your help!!!
@Matt, You should try Microsoft Messenger 8 which now officially supports webcams. If you have the same problem with that, then it's either a problem with your internet connection or your iSight camera: http://microsoft-messenger8.en.softonic.com/mac
I've never used such confusing technology in my life! i've tried so hard to get my webcam working on aMSN but no one can see me, i can see myself... yet when i click to type to the person... i dissapear.. which is stupid! they can't even see me! what you said does worlk.. yet THEY CAN'T SEE US! urgh!
I don't think there is much of a problem with the fact that Messenger for Mac doesn't support the iSight camera. It isn't Macs fault. I tried aMSN and it failed to work in every respect, to the extent that it completely destroyed one of my accounts so I had to register another email address! Not only that, Skype does support iSight and not only can you then see the person you want to send messages to, if you really want, you can express things vocally too!!
HI i am on Mac OS X and downloaded aMSN and like most people cant use cam , used to have yahoomessenger-3.0 i build35554.dmg used to cam and voice fine till it got coroupted i tried to download it again but when the download is completed and i click on it aMSN pops up cant log on to Yahoo messenger. Can someone help me please ?????? Nicco
Have just looked on here and read messages. Was thinking of investing in a webcam but dont think I will bother now, thought someone would be able to help but everyone seems to be having so much hassle. Will just stay on Yahoo Messenger without camera. Interesting reading tho.
hi
Hi, anybody know how to get the camera working for messenger, in the new ipad2.. Open to suggestions.. Thanks..
macbook is great but my problem is that there is no video chat and I use skype sometimes but its hard to tell everyone to use it. and I really need the MSN video chat. I think I'll start hate mac ,I had many problems . please APPLE we are in 2011 what are you waiting for????