This latest version includes a fix for a sign-in issue that some users have been experiencing. When we tested this latest version with some of those users, they found that it did correct their problem.

Download Yahoo! Messenger for Mac 3.0

Sarah Bacon
Product Manager

One problem we did find is the video software called CamCamX directly conflicts with our latest version of Yahoo! Messenger for the Mac. If this video mixing software is installed on your Mac, your Yahoo! Messenger will no longer work because of a software conflict.

To get Yahoo! Messenger working again, you’ll need to uninstall the CamCamX software.

We realize this particular fix will not solve everyone’s sign-in problems, so we’ll continue troubleshooting the issue and update you here on the blog when we have additional news or workarounds.

Thanks for your patience,

Sarah Bacon
Product Manager

This latest version includes a couple of new features and many bug fixes to help enhance overall stability and performance. Other changes were made to ensure compatibility with Apple’s latest version of OS X, Snow Leopard.

For the first time, Insider is now available in Yahoo! Messenger for Mac. The new version of Insider offers quick access to the latest news, including local news for U.S. locations. You can also check the weather, see what awaits you in your Yahoo! Mail inbox, or easily search the web, images or video.

This latest version also includes a “Report a Problem” feature to make it easier for Mac users to report technical issues they’re experiencing. To access it, click on the Help menu and select “Report a Problem to Yahoo!”.

From there you can select the feature area that relates to your issue (sign in, messaging, webcam etc.), and then describe the problem you’re having. We really appreciate it when you submit your problems this way as the diagnostic information that’s included helps us better troubleshoot the issue.

Download Yahoo! Messenger for Mac 3.0 Beta

As always, we appreciate your feedback which you can submit by going to the Help menu in the Mac version and selecting “Send Feedback”.

We hope you enjoy this latest version!

Sarah Bacon
Product Manager

Download Yahoo! Messenger for Mac Beta 3.0

Thanks for your patience while we worked out the bugs.

Sarah Bacon
Product Manager

We’ve identified the problems causing the chat room crash and the sign-in problem* (see potential workaround below), and will be releasing those fixes in a new build soon. So stay tuned to the blog; we’ll let you know as soon it’s available. Thanks for your patience.

On an Apple-related note, we’re smiling this week because we hit the 1 million download mark for our Yahoo! Messenger for the iPhone app. Thanks to all of our users for giving it a try and providing their feedback. We really appreciate it.

Sarah Bacon
Product Manager

* Here’s a workaround if you are having trouble signing in since you updated to 10.5.7 (and are using a “behind the firewall” connection setting): Try disabling auto-login. To do that, click on the Yahoo! Messenger menu, select “Preferences”, then click on the “General” tab. Uncheck the box that says “Automatically start Yahoo! Messenger”. Quit Yahoo! Messenger completely and relaunch it again. If this fixes the issue, please hold off on turning auto-login back on until we release the new build.

Webcam display image: Use your webcam to take a display image picture. Pose for your shot, hit the “Take Snapshot” button and wait for the counter to get to 1 – then smile! To use this feature, go to the Yahoo! Messenger menu, select “Preferences” and then click the Display Image icon in the toolbar. Click on the “Image” option in the center, then click “Webcam” to take your pic.

Hide display images in your contact list: On some days, it can seem like none of my friends have a display image. There’s only so often I can look at an anonymous grey head. So if you like to keep things simple, or just don’t like your friend’s display images, you can hide them on your contact list.

Go to the Yahoo! Messenger menu, select “Preferences” and then click the Display Image icon in the toolbar. Then uncheck the “Show display images in my Messenger list” box.

Apple + n keyboard shortcut: This handy trick brings up a contact search box with auto-filtering, making it easy to find a friend in your list and start a new IM.

What’s your favorite tip or trick in Yahoo! Messenger for Mac?

Sarah Bacon
Product Manager

After 160,339 votes were cast, we won the following awards:

Best IM Client of the Year
Best Mac IM
Most Improved IM
Best Chat Rooms
Best Designed IM (GUI)

Thanks to everyone who voted for us – we really appreciate it!

Sarah Bacon
Product Manager

Click a category below and once on the page, click the Yahoo! Messenger listing to vote (you’ll also see current results after you vote).

1) Best Overall IM Experience

2) Best Mac IM – Yahoo! Messenger for Mac

3) Most Improved IM Client

4) Best IM Feature – Pingbox

5) Best IM (GUI) Design

Thanks!

Sarah Bacon
Product Manager

Here’s how to install the script which will work in conjunction with Yahoo! Messenger for Mac 3.0 Beta 4:

1) Download the zip file and unzip the contents (1 file entitled “Yahoo! Messenger.scpt”)

2) Double click the hard drive icon on your desktop, go to the Library folder, and find the folder entitled “Address Book Plug-ins” (~/Library/Address Book Plug-Ins/)

3) Drag and drop the Yahoo! Messenger.scpt file you downloaded into the Address Book Plug-ins folder. (You may be asked to authenticate the installation)

4) After restarting the Address Book, you will be able to right-click on anyone’s phone number and call them through Yahoo! Messenger.

Sarah Bacon
Product Manager

Click a category below and once on the page, click the Yahoo! Messenger listing to vote for us (you’ll also see current results after you vote).

1) Best Overall IM Experience

2) Best Mac IM – Yahoo! Messenger for Mac

3) Most Improved IM Client

4) Best IM Feature – Pingbox | (What’s Pingbox?)

5) Best IM (GUI) Design

Thanks to the About.com readers for nominating us in these categories and special thanks to those of you that cast a vote. Voting ends Sunday, March 15, 2009 at midnight EST.

Sarah Bacon
Product Manager