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Yahoo Messenger Mac 3 Beta 1 Review

Incase you missed it, Yahoo released beta version 1 of their Yahoo Messenger 3 for the Mac. Overall, it’s an excellent leap forward.

Now, most reviews you might read about Yahoo Messenger Mac 3.0 Beta 1 will end up saying that Adium rocks and is superior in most ways. Were as I can’t deny that, I can stick to reviewing just Yahoo Messenger.

The old messenger was just that, old. It looked like it was built in the 90’s and it was simply lacking in most ways. The new messenger however brings style and usability back.

It’s new look and feel very much matches the Mac OS. It’s sleek, elegant and easy on the eyes. All graphics, except the smilies, are now polished and ready to go. Even the message windows now have a nice chat bubble look and feel.

The only new feature I see is Buzz, but that may have been there before. I’m also excited to see nothing but chat. No stocks, no ads, no distractions. It’s focused on chat, as an instant messenger should be.

The only real missing feature is tabs. I have a hard time using Yahoo Messenger without tabs. Three conversations going and in separate windows while you are working on multiple projects and reading email is just hard to do. I feel that I’m going to forget about someone or loose a window.

Overall the new Yahoo Messenger 3.0 Beta 1 is very cool and worth the checkout. It’s a great facelift and I have been using it often. However, if they really want to keep me using it, they need to add tabs. They also say integrated MSN chat is coming but I’d rather see integrated AOL chat.

Good job Yahoo and I’m glad to see that you haven’t forgotten about us Mac fans!!

Yahoo Messenger Mac 3 Beta 1


23 Responses

  1. There are two major thing missing if you ask me. Firstly, wheres the voice capability? It is promised in the next Beta, but if the likes of SkyPE can manage to launch it from day one and after so much time, its very poor!

    Also it supports Firewire cams but not USB. Opposite to the last version now, it supported USB but not firewire.

    Overall a very good upgrade, especially the file transfer (finally works 100% of the time and much slicker) but hurry things along yahoo… you have a lot of catching up to do!

  2. Denny says:

    I can find no way to save conversations other than copy and paste. That seems to be a shortcoming that is hard to believe

  3. Thomas says:

    That one must not have made it yet either. They did say it’s beta. 😉

  4. Scott says:

    And almost a year since the last comment and we’re still in beta 1. Hurry up Yahoo!

  5. Thomas says:

    I totally agree. Yahoo is going so slow. In the right direction, but way to slow. The web version is going to out-do the Mac version soon. 😀

  6. Mindy says:

    They have now update to Beta 2 – and left all the Mac users that are still on 10.3 in the dark (10.4 is required for Beta 2). Any idea where I can download the Beta 1 version (it has been replaced on the Yahoo website with Beta 2) or do I have to go back to the old 90s style… Adium does rock, except you cant use webcams on it…

  7. Thomas says:

    That’s a good question Mindy and I’m unsure the answer. I think I may have beta 1 or beta 1 on one of my machines I could send you.

  8. sandy says:

    I miss some old features such as playing games with buddies within messenger, some plug-ins, IMVironments (doodle). Otherwise, it’s fine for chatting only.

  9. Thomas says:

    Sandy. Meebo has games in chat. 🙂 http://www.meebo.com

  10. Saurabh Nigam says:

    Yahoo messenger 3.0 beta 3 is better but two thing I am facing problems with are yahoo messenger keep on crashing on me atleast twice a day and the voice quality for pc to pc calls and pc to phone are ridiculously awful. Yahoo is way to slow………..

  11. Me says:

    Where is the message Archive capability? Thats a very important feature-to save conversations-where is it? Can I down grade to get it? Let me know…

  12. Thomas says:

    Yahoo says archiving is in the latest version.

  13. Me says:

    Well, how do I access it for Mac-because I dont see any option to do so and I searched pretty hard. Any instructions on where to look? Thanks.

  14. Me says:

    I have the latest version by the way and its not there…

  15. alleu says:

    how to download ym beta 2

  16. sandy says:

    I don’t have a problem archiving. Open Yahoo, click on Yahoo Messenger on the toolbar, click ‘Preferences’, click ‘messaging’. The option to archive is there – check the box.

    Once you enable archiving you can view conversations by clicking on ‘window’ along the top toolbar after opening messenger. Message Archive will be in the drop down menu.

  17. me says:

    What are you talking about? I dont even have a Preferences option on my yahoo IM menu. I have Add Contact, web cam, sign into mail, make phone calls, and send sms down @ the bottom and change status and pic @ the top. Nothing where it says Preferences or even how to get to Preferences.

    I have Beta 3 version. At first I thought maybe I didnt so I downloaded it again and I have the same thing. This is a brand new Macbook; only had it for two months.

    Can someone be more clear on where the Preferences option is if there is one, thanks.

  18. me says:

    Ok, now I see it on Messenger for the Web, but I dont use that. I use the pop-up box Messenger-you know the regular one and there is no Archive option on there. So, what to do…?

    By the way I appreciate the assistance Sandy. Hope I didnt come off rude…just frustrated @ Yahoo is all. Thanks!

  19. sandy says:

    Once you log in to Messenger, click on ‘Yahoo! Messenger’ on the top bar (beside the apple). ‘Preferences’ should be the 2nd item on the drop down menu from there.

    (It’s not in the actual messenger box, it’s along the top of the screen…the same toolbar area that you use for other applications such as safari, mail, etc)

  20. me says:

    Sigh-I feel slow ass heck now, Lol. I should’ve known that since most other programs Ive done the same thing-‘preferences by the Apple’.

    Its my first time using Mac-im really an Hp user/fan. But this was a gift since my old HP started giving out on me.

    Anyway, thanks a million Sandy. Appreciate it lots, cause it was really bugging me not being able to save my conversations. *(breathing a sigh of relief). You made my day, really! ;*

  21. sandy says:

    I’m glad! It’s a transition. All of this was accessible within the conversation box in Windows…We think outside the box now 😉

  22. silvina says:

    Can someone tell me what version of Yahoo messenger for MAC
    should I download to get the option of saving conversations?

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