Screen sharing on Mac's through Messages (remotely) ?

Question

Hi,
I'm visiting my in-laws and have just helped them set up their new iMac. I expect they will from time to time need me to assist them remotely (we live app. 1200 km apart), so now I am trying to get screen sharing in Messages to work (all Macs are running latest Mountain Lion).
Using my MBPro on their local WiFi network, I noticed that the screen sharing commands remain grayed out in Messages when chatting between the two iCloud accounts. By playing around a bit I noticed that when activating Bonjour on both Macs it appears to work. On my own Mac I noticed an AIM account which should also do the trick according to what I can find on the web ... but I don't recall ever creating an AIM account and wouldn't know how to do so for my in-laws.
So here are a couple of questions I am struggling with (and given my departure date later this week would like to resolve quickly) :
- Does screensharing work in Messages between iCloud accounts ?
- What is Bonjour ? Why do I need it ? (seems a bit of blurry on the web as far as I can find)
- What do I need an AIM account for ? Was this created automatically on my own Mac at SnowLeopard time ? Should I create one for my in-laws and if so how ?
- Is chatting over bonjour / AIM possible on iPad / iPhone ? or will the conversations re

Answer 1

Hi
- Does screensharing work in Messages between iCloud accounts ?
Yes and No
The No is as an iMessage account.
If the Apple ID is an Apple Issued one (@Mac.com and @me.com) then it can be added as an AIM account and will Screen Share
- What is Bonjour ? Why do I need it ? (seems a bit of blurry on the web as far as I can find)
Bonjour is Apple's Zero configuration method of finding other Macs, Bonjour enabled items like Printers and some PCs running Bonjour enabled apps.
These show up in the Share in the Finders Side bar.
This shows up as the Computer name (See System Preference > Sharing)
Within iChat/Messages (if Enabled) then you can see other people with Bonjour Enabled on their iChat or Messages.
In iChat or Message the Buddy Name is taken from the Address Book (Contacts in Mountain Lion) My Card.
You will see what other people call themselves in their Card, they will see what you call yourself.
It will do all that a AIM or Jabber accounts can do except Group Text chats.
- What do I need an AIM account for ? Was this created automatically on my own Mac at SnowLeopard time ? Should I create one for my in-laws and if so how ?
Messages added iMessages to iChat to create an iChat+ type app
Before in iChat AIM and Jabber were the main services that you could use to send messages to other people.
Some Apple IDs ending with @mac.com or @me.com are valid AIM names
(You do have to keep the password to 16 characters or less (AIM Server limit)
iCLoud issues @me.com names will not work in iChat 5 or earlier
iChat 6 and Messages have a Dual login to AIM and Me.com that allows AIM to "see" the password.
It might be the case that you had or have an email valid Apple ID from earlier that now appears in System Preferences > Mail, Contacts and Calendars and has been marked as valid for Messages when you only previously used it for Mail.
You could create your relatives an Apple ID (keep the password to 16 characters or less) from iCloud and both use "AIM" to then do the Screen Sharing.
You can also register a Name with AIM themselves.
Creating the Apple ID tends to Hard Code an external to Apple Email address to that Account but the name is then a valid Email.
AIM can use an email as the name.  You can create a name with AIM without listing an email as the name and you then enter this as a plain Username in the Add section of Messages.
You realistically still need to list a separate email for Verification and Password Recovery but you can use the same email over and over and create as many names as you like.
- Is chatting over Bonjour / AIM possible on iPad / iPhone ? or will the conversations re
Bonjour is only used on a LAN (Local chats in the same premisses)
iPad and  iPhones are not Bonjour Enabled.
AIM text chat are possible on an iPad/iPhone to a Computer.
The simplest is the iPad logs in with  an AIM name via a web Browser and use AIM Express.
The Name used would have to be either @mac.com or an AIM one as an @me.com from iCloud could not get the password checked this way.
The Mac uses Messages/iChat depending on OS and iChat version.
However between iPhones/iPads and a computer the iMessages account is easier.
9:36 PM      Monday; September 17, 2012
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