News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

December 26, 2007

tips

Detect data in iChat

Posted Dec. 26, ’07, 8:40 AM PT by Dan Moren
Category | Tips

Data DetectorsMail.app’s data detectors are one of my favorite new features. Finally, computer gets smart enough to recognize the kind of information that I’ve been able to recognize since at least last year. But wouldn’t it be nice if you could use data detectors in other applications too?

A tip from a Mac OS X Hints reader points out that Mail.app isn’t alone in its ability to take advantage of data detectors: iChat can use them too, if you’re willing to journey into the command-line. Just input this string:

defaults write com.apple.iChat EnableDataDetectors 1
and blamo, there you are. Note, however, that this is disabled for a reason: it doesn’t always work perfectly. If you decide that it’s more annoyance than help, just re-enter the command and change “1” to “0.” I’m looking forward to this being a little more fine-tuned and data detectors finding their way into other apps, like Safari, and, er Photo Booth. Yeah.


1 Comments

Data detector fan said:

The data detector thing in Mail rocks. I'm planning a vacation and the confirmation e-mails I got from the airline, hotel, and car rental places all came with convenient dates and times and addresses that data detect oh-so-nicely into iCal events.

Really, how did we ever live before things like this?

December 27, 2007 10:24 AM

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