Connect to Facebook with iChat
If your friends and family are anything like mine, they are no longer using most instant messaging programs, but they are almost all on Facebook. I love that I can connect with everyone via Facebook, but I’m not keen on the chat interface. Instead, I’ve set up my Mac’s iChat application to connect to all my Facebook friends.
Instructions…
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…if you’ve never opened iChat before
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…if you already use iChat but don’t know how to add a new account
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…if you’re an expert and just want the login info and know what to do with it
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…More tips for a clean and organized Friend list
Newbie Instructions (If you’ve never opened iChat before):
Click on the iChat icon either in your dock or in your Applications folder.
You will be greeted with a Welcome Screen. Click on Continue.
Next is the Account Setup screen. Choose "Jabber" for the Account Type. Then enter your Screen Name (yourname@chat.facebook.com) and Facebook password. You can verify your Facebook Screen Name by logging into Facebook and then clicking on Profile. The URL should be http://www.facebook.com/yourname. Click Continue.
Click Done and start chatting!
User Instructions (you already use iChat but don’t know how to add a new account):
Launch iChat and type ⌘, (Command and Comma) or click on iChat and then Preferences. On the Preferences screen, choose Accounts. Click on the + in the bottom left of the screen.
Next you will see the Account Setup screen. Choose "Jabber" for the Account Type. Then enter your Screen Name (yourname@chat.facebook.com) and Facebook password. You can verify your Facebook Screen Name by logging into Facebook and then clicking on Profile. The URL should be http://www.facebook.com/yourname. Click Done and start chatting!
Expert Tips (you just want the login info and you know what to do with it):
Account type: Jabber
Screen Name: yourname@chat.facebook.com
Password: your Facebook password
More Tips
Account Descriptions
If you use several accounts on iChat, you will see at the top of your chat list the name of the account you are currently using. I like to name mine by the service I’m connecting to. To change this setting, go to iChat Preferences and click Accounts. Click on the Account you want to change and then type the new name where it says Description. You can also choose which accounts to log in automatically on this screen.
Organized List
You probably have a lot of friends on Facebook. I think it’s a lot easier to use this chat if you only show people who are online, forget the groupings and list everyone by availability. In order to do that, you need to be logged in to your account in iChat. Then click on View and uncheck Show Offline Buddies and Use Groups. Then click Sort Buddies By Availability.
Once you change the description and list preferences you will see it the description on the top of your chat list and a simplified, organized list, like this:
