can I change screen names in iChat?

neutrino23 · 03-07-2003, 02:49 PM

My son would like to be able to use a different screen name in iChat than his .mac address. Is that possible?

Paul · 03-07-2003, 03:34 PM

yes
iChat(menu)--->preferences--->screen name (need to be signed off) you can use any one you want

hth

-Paul

neutrino23 · 03-08-2003, 01:19 PM

Yes, but not quite. Changing this screen name is the same as changing the account. What we want to do is log in to iChat using his .Mac email address then set a screen name that will appear that is different from his email account.

Paul · 03-08-2003, 03:49 PM

[quote]Originally posted by neutrino23:
Yes, but not quite. Changing this screen name is the same as changing the account. What we want to do is log in to iChat using his .Mac email address then set a screen name that will appear that is different from his email account.<hr></blockquote>

you lost me.... if you dont want his .mac account to be on AIM, then dont use it for iChat....
what is the advantage of having the .mac in the account settings and not using the .mac name for AIM.... that is the only use for iChat anyway... :confused:

please explain

Quarem · 03-08-2003, 06:30 PM

What he wants to do is log into the AIM network with iChat using his .Mac account. But he wants iChat to advertise his screenname as something else. For example, on iChat with my .Mac account I am advertised as quarem@mac.com, but I may want iChat to advertise me by my first name, Josh.

In affect when I joined an AIM group chat instead of people seeing me as quarem@mac.com, they would see Josh instead, although I would still be logged in using my .Mac account.

As far as I know there is no way to do this right now. I believe that other applications like Fire can accomplish this, but I can't say for sure. Hopefully this is one of the many things that will be included in the next version of iChat. We can only hope.

You might want to send some feedback to Apple at
<a href="http://www.apple.com/macosx/feedback" target="_blank">www.apple.com/macosx/feedback</a>

neutrino23 · 03-09-2003, 11:38 AM

You got it exactly right. My 12 year old son's .mac email address is fairly bland. But when he chats with his friends he wants to go by the handle ScreamingGuts or some such appellation.

Paul · 03-09-2003, 02:10 PM

why doesnt he just create a new screen name :confused: its free...
he doesn't HAVE to use his .mac name...

neutrino23 · 03-10-2003, 08:38 PM

[quote]Originally posted by Paul:
why doesnt he just create a new screen name :confused: its free...
he doesn't HAVE to use his .mac name...<hr></blockquote>

Maybe we are missing something but it seems that you do have to use either your .mac address or an AIM name. If we change the screen name to something else it then asks for a password. If we use the .mac password it says it can't log in.

Paul · 03-10-2003, 09:30 PM

<a href="http://aim.aol.com/aimnew/Aim/register.adp?pageset=Aim&client=no" target="_blank">Click here</a>
that will get you started
make the new screen name, wait for the email confirmation and then sign on with iChat
YOU DO NOT NEED TO DOWNLOAD AIM
the reason this is so complicated is because A) apple wants to push .Mac and B) AOL probably didn't want apple to make it possible to make a new AIM name w/o jumping through some hoops so they get some ad revenue...

[ 03-10-2003: Message edited by: Paul ]

midwinter · 03-10-2003, 09:56 PM

[quote]Originally posted by neutrino23:
My son would like to be able to use a different screen name in iChat than his .mac address. Is that possible?<hr></blockquote>

Not that I know of. The best thing for your son to do is to use something like Proteus or Fire, both of which will allow him to change his screen name.

Cheers
Scott

neutrino23 · 03-12-2003, 02:50 PM

[quote]Originally posted by Paul:
<a href="http://aim.aol.com/aimnew/Aim/register.adp?pageset=Aim&client=no" target="_blank">Click here</a>
that will get you started
make the new screen name, wait for the email confirmation and then sign on with iChat
YOU DO NOT NEED TO DOWNLOAD AIM
the reason this is so complicated is because A) apple wants to push .Mac and B) AOL probably didn't want apple to make it possible to make a new AIM name w/o jumping through some hoops so they get some ad revenue...

[ 03-10-2003: Message edited by: Paul ]<hr></blockquote>

This is the solution. We made a new AIM screen name and now he is happy. My wife and I only use iChat on occasion we weren't very familiar with it.

I have to say iChat was really useful during my last overseas trip. It was the easiest way to transfer a large file (about 40MB).

kraig911 · 03-12-2003, 11:37 PM

I think that if he is talking to people on his aol account and yet his .mac says his name, it should show his actual aim screenname instead of his .mac name. That funcion only works I hear with other .mac users, not aol people. So Screamingguts should show up on the other computer, regardless of what his textbox is saying. But I could be mistaken.

03-07-2003, 02:49 PM	#1
neutrino23 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: San Francisco Bay Region Posts: 1,455	can I change screen names in iChat? My son would like to be able to use a different screen name in iChat than his .mac address. Is that possible? Unofficial AppleScript Studio Lobbyist

03-07-2003, 03:34 PM	#2
Paul Roast Beef Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: NYC/Chestnut Hill Posts: 5,257	yes iChat(menu)--->preferences--->screen name (need to be signed off) you can use any one you want hth -Paul 125/51041 (top .2449%)-Amie Street - awesome independent DRM-free music People really have got to stop thinking there is only one operating system, one economic system, one religion, and one business model. -EvilTwinSkippy (/.)

03-08-2003, 01:19 PM	#3
neutrino23 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: San Francisco Bay Region Posts: 1,455	Yes, but not quite. Changing this screen name is the same as changing the account. What we want to do is log in to iChat using his .Mac email address then set a screen name that will appear that is different from his email account. Unofficial AppleScript Studio Lobbyist

03-08-2003, 03:49 PM	#4
Paul Roast Beef Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: NYC/Chestnut Hill Posts: 5,257	[quote]Originally posted by neutrino23: <strong>Yes, but not quite. Changing this screen name is the same as changing the account. What we want to do is log in to iChat using his .Mac email address then set a screen name that will appear that is different from his email account.</strong><hr></blockquote> you lost me.... if you dont want his .mac account to be on AIM, then dont use it for iChat.... what is the advantage of having the .mac in the account settings and not using the .mac name for AIM.... that is the only use for iChat anyway... :confused: please explain 125/51041 (top .2449%)-Amie Street - awesome independent DRM-free music People really have got to stop thinking there is only one operating system, one economic system, one religion, and one business model. -EvilTwinSkippy (/.)

03-09-2003, 11:38 AM	#6
neutrino23 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: San Francisco Bay Region Posts: 1,455	You got it exactly right. My 12 year old son's .mac email address is fairly bland. But when he chats with his friends he wants to go by the handle ScreamingGuts or some such appellation. Unofficial AppleScript Studio Lobbyist

03-08-2003, 06:30 PM	#5
Quarem Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: 2 gametes Posts: 254	What he wants to do is log into the AIM network with iChat using his .Mac account. But he wants iChat to advertise his screenname as something else. For example, on iChat with my .Mac account I am advertised as quarem@mac.com, but I may want iChat to advertise me by my first name, Josh. In affect when I joined an AIM group chat instead of people seeing me as quarem@mac.com, they would see Josh instead, although I would still be logged in using my .Mac account. As far as I know there is no way to do this right now. I believe that other applications like Fire can accomplish this, but I can't say for sure. Hopefully this is one of the many things that will be included in the next version of iChat. We can only hope. You might want to send some feedback to Apple at <a href="http://www.apple.com/macosx/feedback" target="_blank">www.apple.com/macosx/feedback</a>

03-09-2003, 02:10 PM	#7
Paul Roast Beef Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: NYC/Chestnut Hill Posts: 5,257	why doesnt he just create a new screen name :confused: its free... he doesn't HAVE to use his .mac name... 125/51041 (top .2449%)-Amie Street - awesome independent DRM-free music People really have got to stop thinking there is only one operating system, one economic system, one religion, and one business model. -EvilTwinSkippy (/.)

03-10-2003, 08:38 PM	#8
neutrino23 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: San Francisco Bay Region Posts: 1,455	[quote]Originally posted by Paul: <strong>why doesnt he just create a new screen name :confused: its free... he doesn't HAVE to use his .mac name...</strong><hr></blockquote> Maybe we are missing something but it seems that you do have to use either your .mac address or an AIM name. If we change the screen name to something else it then asks for a password. If we use the .mac password it says it can't log in. Unofficial AppleScript Studio Lobbyist

03-10-2003, 09:30 PM	#9
Paul Roast Beef Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: NYC/Chestnut Hill Posts: 5,257	<a href="http://aim.aol.com/aimnew/Aim/register.adp?pageset=Aim&client=no" target="_blank">Click here</a> that will get you started make the new screen name, wait for the email confirmation and then sign on with iChat YOU DO NOT NEED TO DOWNLOAD AIM the reason this is so complicated is because A) apple wants to push .Mac and B) AOL probably didn't want apple to make it possible to make a new AIM name w/o jumping through some hoops so they get some ad revenue... [ 03-10-2003: Message edited by: Paul ]</p> 125/51041 (top .2449%)-Amie Street - awesome independent DRM-free music People really have got to stop thinking there is only one operating system, one economic system, one religion, and one business model. -EvilTwinSkippy (/.)

03-10-2003, 09:56 PM	#10
midwinter Regietserd Uesr Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: UT Posts: 9,944	[quote]Originally posted by neutrino23: <strong>My son would like to be able to use a different screen name in iChat than his .mac address. Is that possible?</strong><hr></blockquote> Not that I know of. The best thing for your son to do is to use something like Proteus or Fire, both of which will allow him to change his screen name. Cheers Scott Gangs are not seen as legitimate, because they don't have control over public schools.

03-12-2003, 02:50 PM	#11
neutrino23 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: San Francisco Bay Region Posts: 1,455	[quote]Originally posted by Paul: <strong><a href="http://aim.aol.com/aimnew/Aim/register.adp?pageset=Aim&client=no" target="_blank">Click here</a> that will get you started make the new screen name, wait for the email confirmation and then sign on with iChat YOU DO NOT NEED TO DOWNLOAD AIM the reason this is so complicated is because A) apple wants to push .Mac and B) AOL probably didn't want apple to make it possible to make a new AIM name w/o jumping through some hoops so they get some ad revenue... [ 03-10-2003: Message edited by: Paul ]</strong><hr></blockquote> This is the solution. We made a new AIM screen name and now he is happy. My wife and I only use iChat on occasion we weren't very familiar with it. I have to say iChat was really useful during my last overseas trip. It was the easiest way to transfer a large file (about 40MB). Unofficial AppleScript Studio Lobbyist

03-12-2003, 11:37 PM	#12
kraig911 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: austin tx Posts: 906	I think that if he is talking to people on his aol account and yet his .mac says his name, it should show his actual aim screenname instead of his .mac name. That funcion only works I hear with other .mac users, not aol people. So Screamingguts should show up on the other computer, regardless of what his textbox is saying. But I could be mistaken. _ _____________________ _ 1ghz Powerbook SuperDrive yippeeee!!!!

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