One of my favorite little features of iChat is that I can broadcast my current song to the world using the “Current iTunes Track” status option. It provides a level of interaction and personality which is otherwise forgotten in iChat. It’s almost like you were in that person’s very room, listening to music with them.
Well I just so happen to like the iTunes Track option in iChat so much, that I think Apple should add another: Current iCal Status. This is a fairly simple proposition. iChat will look at your iCal events for the day, and based on what time it is, set your current appointment as your away message. For example, at 4PM when you leave the “Board meeting” and head off to “Bio class,” iChat will automatically update your status based on your calendar. That way people can track you down and know why you’re not answering your phone (or something of the like).
Then, of course, if that’s a little to big brother-ish for you, you can always opt-out of broadcasting your iCal status, just the same as you can with the Current iTunes Track. What do you think—is this something you can see Apple doing? Does it intrigue you? I’ve got my hopes set on Leopard.
Update: Dan points out in the comments that Doug (of the ever-famous Doug’s Apple Scripts) has an applet available for download called iCal Calling iChat. While this AppleScript provides basic iCal to iChat functionality, in my opinion it lacks ease of use. For example, it requires a specific calendar in iCal titled “iChat,” has some incompatibilities with the current 3.0 version of iChat, and won’t set your away message to current iCal status—only your status message. A great free download, but I’m still waiting for Apple to do it right!
Seems like you could do this with AppleScript, perhaps. Or maybe a little program; there was one that made the iTunes - iChat link before Apple added it, iChat Status. Hasn't been updated in 3 years, of course.
Why not turn ichat into a front-end for an "apple-centric" "myspace"? Just taking the idea one step further.
I'd love the same functionality.
Back when I first got my Mac, I considered writing AppleScripts to do this. I never got around to it. I do, however, have a special calendar for AppleScripts, though (for example, my phone syncs via Bluetooth every night automatically so I don't forget).
I think this is a wonderful idea. I have often wish for the same thing with other IM clients I use (Google Talk). Corporate IM clients such as Lotus Sametime could also benefit from such a feature.