Improve iChat with Chax

• Unified contact list shows all contacts from all accounts in one window
• Growl notifications for new messages and users changing status
• Automatically resize the contact list to fit the number of visible users
• Powerful, searchable log viewer that can also browse images and URLs from past conversations
• Activity log that displays your contacts’ status changes
• Auto-accept file transfers, AV chats, and screen sharing requests
• Always on top option for contact list, message windows and AV chats
• Set font of names, status messages, and group separators
• Option to immediately display new messages, skipping the notification window
• Show status changes directly in the message window
• Additional unread message notifications in the Dock
• Automatically hide chat windows and contact lists when iChat is inactive
• Toggle text status visibility of users
• Properly use ICQ accounts without sending text formatting in messages

Chax installs itself within iChat and gives you an additional preference panel in the iChat preferences where you can control all of the features of Chax. An option we love in Chax is the ability to auto-accept video chat’s, which is great if you wish to use your Mac as a security camera when your not at home. Of course be aware that anyone that sends you a request to video chat would instantly be granted access as well. The best way to do the security camera method would be to create an AIM account that no one else knows about but you and enable it when you are going to be away from your computer.