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Apple’s iMessage is about to become even cooler once Yosemite arrives

Updated Dec 19th, 2018 8:50PM EST
Yosemite iMessage Screen Sharing
Image: Apple Inc.

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Apple’s cross-platform chatting application is about to get even better once OS X Yosemite launches, as the iMessage desktop version will receive a handy screen sharing feature akin to the one that’s already available in the old iChat Mac application. 9to5Mac has found the new functionality enabled in the latest Yosemite beta release (Developer Preview 6), which was seeded to developers earlier this week.

FROM EARLIER: Apple will pay huge money to give you faster iOS 8 and Yosemite downloads

In Yosemite, iMessage users will have new buttons available to start a screen sharing experience or to ask the other person in a conversation to share their screen – blocking certain users from screen sharing is also possible.

Once screen sharing starts, users will be able to further customize their experience, by selecting whether the other person can control the screen or just view it, and they’ll be able to disable audio chat and to pause screen sharing.

According to 9to5Mac, the iMessage screen sharing feature currently works “inconsistently and unreliably” in this Yosemite beta release, but it should get better once Apple finally rolls out the final build of Yosemite this fall.

An image showing iMessage’s new screen sharing menu options follows below.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.