Gah! Another Mac -- PC Video Chat question

Question

Diagnosing the following:
A = AIM 6.8, Windows XP
B = iChat 4.0.5 (608)
C = iChat 4.0.7
A <--> B no problems video chat
B <--> C " "
A <--> C argh!
No connection can be established between A & C. As a quick work-around, C downloaded AIM 6.8 for PC onto a virtual PC (is that what it's called when a Mac runs Windows?). Then, A --> C video & audio, and A <-- C audio only, no video.
A downloaded AIM 5.9. Still no connection established with C.
Thanks in advance for your assistance.
-BW

Answer 1

HI,
EZ Jim (Another Level 4) once ran a Blog on iSight of which I now have a copy and keep somewhat updated.
The Page on this topic is Here
It contains the Quote that is linked to Above (In the "Welcome to Apple Discussions" post)
The whole page dates back to iChat 2 and using AIM 5.5 and AIM 5.9 in some cases.
At one time EZ Jim and I were answering a lot of Posts with "What If your Girlfriend Lives a Long Way Away" sorts of Questions.
This page contains two posts that have been somewhat edited to show Updates.
The first is from EZ Jim and covers all the things that should be done (although somewhat from an iChat 3ish starting point to AIM 5.9(ish) on XP)
The Second post is by another former Regular Poster, James A.Weston who posted on how to allow non Microsoft apps through the then new XP Service Pack 2 Firewall.
It now contains updates to refer to AIM 6.x
I run XP in Boot Camp.
I have a version of AIM for PCs at version 6.1
For me this works.
For my view point the AIM site then brought out AIM 6.5 next.
In the first link the EZ Jim page contains link to a site that you can download older versions of AIM for the PC from.
I have not tried some of these others.
Some I have not even seen posts here about either so I am not sure all were on General Release.
The Summary so far is.
Vista can only install an Version of AIM that uses the Real Time Codecs (AIM 6.5 and AIM 6.8 as far as we can tell)
The Real Time Codecs will not allow these versions of AIM to Video chat with Older versions of AIM (5.5 and 5.9 for certain) - or iChat on a Mac or Trillian (An AIM client for PCs) that all use the same or compatible codecs from the AIM 5.5 to AIM 5.9 (iChat 2,3 and 4)
Other Options.
This pages state a list of apps subdivided into various groups based on function.
Other Applictaions
The Panel on the left lists the items/apps
The Panel on the right give a bit more info
For Example 1-3 are text based only Third Party IM apps that in some case have Multiple service capabilities
4 Is AIM for Mac on its Own
5 through 8 are other apps that can video and need both ends to get their own Versions (Cross Platform Apps)
9 through 12 are Web browser base sites that do Video Chat by Allowing Flash access to the Camera (It is effectively a Cross Platform Solution)
13 Specifically mentions Trillian as an Alternative to PC users.
I have not heard whether this can be installed on Vista.
Triilian does for PC users what AdiumX and ProteusX do for Macs but does Video chats with the various services as well. (although not cross service chats (MSN to Jabber say) )
14 and 15 are the closest anyone has got to doing Video (No Audio) to an MSN Buddy.
Summary of Other Options.
It is a question of Cross Platform Apps or Web browser based options.
(Unfortunately NOT iChat)
In some areas of this I do not yet have complete info about things like Trillian on Vista for example.
Notes.
My G4/1Ghz Dual processor was bought in 2001 an came with Jaguar and OS 9 Installed.
It is currently running Leopard at 10.5.6
It will and does run PhotoShop CS.
This length of life it not likely to be found on PCs and therefore AIM may not have any real plans to get AIM 6.8+ to work with the Older versions of AIM, despite what the "What do I need for Real Time" message says.
So, Yes, I have some Info on this.
I hope this summary of what it contains helps
9:25 PM Wednesday; March 25, 2009
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