Status Symbol 1.2 (Donationware)
If Then Software

iChat takes the most popular instant messaging system, AOL Instant Messenger, and adds a bit of style as only Apple can do. For example, the official AIM client on the Mac only shows very basic user status information. To read extended status information, you have to either send a message, or dig through multiple dialog boxes. iChat shows this information by default. With this in mind, the fixed status messages are cool, but wouldn't it be great if there was a way to make them dynamic?

Status Symbol is a nifty little program based on AppleScript that can dynamically change the status message that other iChat users see when you are logged in. One group of messages tells users when you'll be away, why you are away, and when you'll return. You can select from eating, sleeping, working, meeting, gym or errands for the reason you'll be away, and choose a time period from 15 minutes to 12 hours for your return time.

Lots of Different Options to Liven Up iChat

Another set of messages is more dynamic, and they change based on what you're doing with your machine, or what's happening in the world. To let others know what you're doing with your Mac, you can display what you're playing in iTunes, what you're doing in iChat, or general system information. To let others know what's going on in the world, you can display current news, stock quotes, or weather information. You can also pick a random module for Status Symbol to run on your behalf.

So liven up your iChat status information, and give Status Symbol a try today.

Have any other gadgets that make your Mac more interesting? Send an e-mail to John, and he'll try to grok it.