Today, Apple released a developer preview of their new OS X Mountain Lion. It’s set to bring some popular things from iOS to the Mac like Messages, Notes, Reminders, and the Notification Center.
That dev preview includes the all new Messages app which does away with iChat and allows for users to send and receive free messages, photos, and videos. Mac users will be able to communicate with iOS users, and Apple says that Messages will continue to support AIM, Jabber, Yahoo Messenger, and Google Talk.
Although you’ll have to wait for Mountain Lion for the finalized version of the Messages App, you can download a beta version of Massages today. Here’s what Apple says about it:
Download Messages Beta and get a taste of what’s coming in OS X Mountain Lion. When you install Messages, it replaces iChat. But iChat services will continue to work. And Messages brings iMessage to the Mac — just like on iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch running iOS 5. Here are the features you can expect with Messages:
- Send unlimited iMessages to any Mac, iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch.
- Start an iMessage conversation on your Mac and continue it on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch.
- Send photos, videos, attachments, contacts, locations, and more.
- Launch a FaceTime video call and bring the conversation face-to-face.
- Messages supports iMessage, AIM, Yahoo!, Google Talk, and Jabber accounts.
Mac users will get to upgrade to the new OS sometime in the late summer of this year.
UPDATE: Apple is currently (9:55 am EST) displaying this error message on the Messages Beta page:
Our apologies but there was an unexpected error with the application. This problem has been noted, and an email has been sent to the administrators. Please check back in a few hours to try the download again.
Hold tight, folks.
UPDATE 2: As of 11:30 am EST, the Messages app download is up and running.
WebProNews is an iEntry Publication