Messages for Mac is about to get a lot more useful

As 9to5Mac just pointed out, Apple has released OS X 10.8.2 build 12C50 to developers, and it packs quite a few useful features.

Most notably, in my opinion, is the new syncing ability between iMessages sent to a telephone number. Now, any iMessage can be sent and received from a Mac running OS X 10.8.2, regardless of whether or not it’s a phone number or an email address.

I don’t know about you, but this has always seemed like a glaring omission, and serves to make iMessage that much more of a relevant communication tool on the desktop.

Now anytime you receive a message on your iPhone, it syncs with your Mac, and vice versa. Everything is completely in tune as far as iMessage goes.

Along with that notable feature, comes single sign on for Facebook, and Game Center sharing.

Here is the full change log:

The 10.8.2 update is recommended for all OS X Mountain Lion users and includes new features and fixes. New features include:

Facebook
• Single sign on for Facebook
• Facebook as an option when sharing links and photos
• Facebook friends’ contact information and profile pictures in Contacts
• Facebook notifications in Notification Center

Game Center
• Share scores to Facebook, Twitter, Mail, or Messages
• Facebook friends are included in Game Center friend recommendations
• Facebook Like button for games
• Challenge friends to beat your score or achievement

Other new features
• Power Nap support for MacBook Air (Late 2010)
• iMessages sent to your phone number now appear in Messages on your Mac
• From Safari and Mail on your Mac you can add passes to Passbook on your iPhone or iPod touch running iOS 6
• New shared Reminders lists
• FaceTime now receives calls sent to your phone number
• New sort options allow you to sort notes by title, the date you edited them, and when you created them
• Dictation now supports Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, Korean, Canadian English, Canadian French, and Italian
• The Dictionary application now includes a French definition dictionary
• Sina Weibo profile photos can now be added to Contacts

The 10.8.2 update also includes general operating system fixes that improve the stability, compatibility and security of your Mac, including the following fixes:
• An option to discard the changes in the original document when choosing Save As
• Unsent drafts are opened automatically when launching Mail
• Receive Twitter notifications for mentions and replies from anyone
• URLs are shortened when sending tweets from Notification Center
• Notifications are disabled when AirPlay Mirroring is being used
• SSL support for Google searches from the Smart Search Field in Safari
• New preference to have Safari launch with previously open webpages

For detailed information on this update, please visit this website: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5460

For information on the security content of this update, please visit: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222

Needless to say, you should be fairly excited about this upcoming update. As you can see, some of the features, like Passbook support, correspond directly with the imminent iOS 6 release for mobile devices.

[9to5Mac]

Note: as many of you have pointed out, iMessage sync is not new to this particular build, but it is new to OS X 10.8.2, which we have just began covering. Hence, it was worth bringing out.