Filled with fun new features, iChat turns any mere video chat into an event. Video backdrops, Photo Booth effects, photo slideshows, Keynote presentations, or an entire Mac desktop — you can share it all with iChat in Mac OS X Leopard.

Chat from anywhere (or just look like it)

Set the scene for a chat with video backdrops in iChat. Drag and drop a picture or video from iPhoto, iMovie, or the Finder into the video preview window to create a backdrop that will fool your buddies into thinking you’re chatting from your living room, the beach, or the moon. Even buddies who don’t have Leopard will see your backdrop.

Chat for effect

Transform your iChat video using the nifty effects introduced in Photo Booth — a new standard feature in Leopard. Add Kapow! to a chat with the comic book effect. Get twisted with twirl. Or soften your image with glow. Just choose an effect and your video changes instantly.

Share and share alike

Remote control takes on a whole new meaning with iChat in Leopard. Thanks to iChat Screen Sharing, you and your buddy can observe and control a single desktop via iChat, making it a cinch to collaborate with colleagues, browse the Web with a friend, or pick the perfect plane seats with your spouse. Share your own desktop or share your buddy’s — you both have complete control at all times. And when you start a Screen Sharing session, iChat automatically initiates an audio chat so you can talk things through while you’re at it.

Show off (without showing up)

Why wait for a darkened room and a projector to present vacation photos or Keynote slides? With Leopard, you can do it all remotely, from the comfort of iChat. Use new iChat Theater to present photos from iPhoto, slides from Keynote, or content from any iChat-enabled application with any iChat or AOL AIM buddy. And do it in style — full-screen, accompanied by a video feed of you playing host. iChat’s virtual presentation room makes a big impact.

Pick up the tabs

With iChat for Leopard, you can keep tabs on your chats — with a new tabbed interface. Pull all your chats (even group ones) into one simple window, then toggle between them using tabs that display your buddy’s screen names. Text bubbles indicate when someone is typing, so you don’t miss a chat when a buddy’s tab isn’t at the front.

All features referenced in the Mac OS X Leopard Sneak Peek are subject to change.