OK.  There’s enough cool new features in Mac OS X “Leopard’s” version of the iChat instant messaging application that I’ll have to dispense with my usual witty repartee of introductory background information and “cut to the chase”.  (I can hear the collective sighs of relief).  Let’s begin.

With Leopard iChat you can participate in multiple text chats using multiple identities (login names) at the same time.  You can combine multiple chatting “partners” in one window and tab between them.  I know, I know.  Some kids can probably do it.  I can’t.

You can also cloak yourself in invisibility and lurk about, seeing who is online without them knowing you’re online.  You can send a text message to anyone with text messaging capability on their mobile phone from within iChat as well.

Not much changes on the audio chat side.  A clearer, higher-quality AAC audio codec is now used, and you can record an audio chat if you wish (and, yes, the person on the other end is informed of your intent to record and must consent).

Video chat gets the biggest makeover.  You can now place a video or still background behind you as you video chat, similar to the “green screens” used by TV weathermen.  iChat comes with some fun backgrounds – standing in front of the Eifel Tower, a waterfall at Yosemite National Park, a sunset beach, inside an aquarium full of fish, even a wild ride on a roller coaster.  You can also make backgrounds out of your own photos and videos by simply dropping them into iChat.  Plus, you can apply all the fun effects in Photo Booth to your visage. Chatters on the other end don’t have to have Leopard to see them.  Total waste of time, but fun nonetheless.

Leopard iChat also features “iChat Theater”.  Want to share photos, movies, documents, Keynote or PowerPoint presentations?  Just drag them onto your chat window.  Whatever you want to share fills the right side of the screen, while your face drops down to a lower corner so you can still be there and narrate.

Finally, iChat incorporates screen sharing, which lets you and your buddy see and control either of your Macs’ screens.  You can talk to each other while you collaborate on a project, surf the web, or provide a helping hand to a new Mac user who needs some friendly technical support.  All free in Leopard iChat.