Shark Bait

Knowledge Centers

Operating Systems

Networking & Internet

Mobile & Wireless

Security

Storage

Business Intelligence

Servers & Data Center

Computerworld Reports

Industry

See your link here

Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

Cyber Cynic

Pidgin 2.6.1: The best Linux IM client gets better

11 comments

TAGS:AIM, IM, instant messaging, MSN, Pidgin, Yahoo
IT TOPICS:Desktop Applications, Internet, Linux, Open Source, Software

IM (Instant Messaging) clients have become invisible. We use them all the time to 'talk' with co-workers, chat with friends, and 'text' with family members on their phone. I do, anyway, because my IM client, Pidgin, works with almost every IM client in creation, and it makes chatting with anyone, anywhere, mindlessly simple. The newest version sports limited voice and video support as well.

Pidgin's current VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) and video framework is rudimentary, but the promise is there. Today, you can only use voice and video over XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol), an open IM XML standard on Linux. However, what's important is that the framework is there. Adding voice and video to other IM protocols won't be easy, but the big first step had been taken now.

Pidgin already has the IM clients down pat: AIM, Google Talk, IRC, MSN, Sametime, et al. That said, I found that v2.6.1 has faster overall performance and fewer hiccups.

In particular, I noticed that Yahoo's IM has been greatly improved. Every now and again, I would lose connectivity with Yahoo using Pidgin -- and other IM clients -- but with this new version, my Yahoo connection is rock-solid.

I also have one friend I talk to in Japan with Yahoo. As it happens, Yahoo JAPAN isn't quite the same network as Yahoo in the States. With this new version, Pidgin has express support for the Yahoo JAPAN network and this new version has turned talking to my friend in Japan from a crapshoot to a sure thing.

This version also includes support for UTF-8 domain names, meaning Pidgin users will find it easier to talk to users from countries outside of the European language family.

This new edition also has primitive theme support. I'm not big into theming this, that, and the other thing, but those who will that sort of thing should keep an eye on Pidgin. I see big things ahead for this IM client. There's also a host of minor features such as the ability to receive voice clips and handwritten-ink messages on MSN and a TinyURL plug-in to let you easily turn long Web addresses into manageable IM-sized links. Pidgin 2.6.1 is available in source-code and is also ready to go versions for Windows, and the Ubuntu, Fedora, and Red Hat versions of Linux. I ran it on Fedora, Ubuntu, and had no trouble compiling it and running it on openSUSE. Clearly, Pidgin 2.6.1 is more about promises than delivery. Still, I still found the small changes to be more than enough to confirm to me that Pidgin is still the best multi-system IM client out there. And I'm really looking forward to see how the big changes work out in the next version. Pidgin is looking great, and it looks like it will be looking even better.

Email this

Digg this

What People Are Saying

Add new comment

webcam support

Submitted by Aristarkhos on August 25, 2009 - 4:26 A.M.

oh yes, and i forgot about webcam support. I do not use that feature at all but it would be a big plus for many out there. How can an IM not come with webcam support?

(I remember how i started using GAIM. I couldn't configure Kopete to work through a proxy address. GAIM was much simpler to configure in that respect.)

Reply | Report this comment

File Transfer?

Submitted by Aristarkhos on August 25, 2009 - 4:22 A.M.

I used to use Pidgin a lot. Interest started off when it was known as GAIM. I enjoyed the features and the built-in tabbed messaging. But the environment I worked in, required me to constantly transfer files. This where Pidgin choked. With terrible transfer speeds even for the smallest of Word files, I had to stop using the IM. You did not write about the transfer speeds. Has that issue been resolved already?

Reply | Report this comment

Pidgin is not the best for me

Submitted by Darryl on August 24, 2009 - 7:02 P.M.

When I first started out with Linux a few years ago I used Pidgin, but soon found out that it didn't support msn's webcam protocol.
Considering 80-90% of my friends use MSN I've found that now aMSN is the IM that I use most. Kopete was what I initially switched to because everything just worked, but with KDE4 Kopete hasn't got the msn and other features I need, implemented yet.

Reply | Report this comment

Kopete just works for me

Submitted by Vikram on August 24, 2009 - 6:06 P.M.

For me Pigdin didnt cut it as I needed web cam support so I have been using Kopete for years and it supports all the protocols you mentioned besides SMS support and good integration with the KAddressbook.

Reply | Report this comment

for me Pidgin is a non starter

Submitted by Anonymous on August 24, 2009 - 12:11 P.M.

I hate to say it but for me perhaps Pidgin is the best IM client if all you want to do is to type all day. For me if an IM client does not support the many other features of IM protocols for me it is a non starter and I do not even have it installed. When Pidgin begins to support webcams, voip, and file sharing then I may begin to use it, other wise as far as I am concerned it does not exist. And as far as I just do not understand everyone's fascination with texting every one on their phone's. HELLO! it is a Telephone, you know the funny device that has the capabilities of being able to actually talk with your family and friends.
Signed a Pidgin hater!

Reply | Report this comment

Pidgin has had file transfer

Submitted by Anonymous on August 24, 2009 - 4:10 P.M.

Pidgin has had file transfer support for years (at least for AIM and Yahoo as that's all i use pidgin for). Furthermore, this release signals the beginning of supporting webcams and voip. Did you read the article?

Signed someone literate.

Reply | Report this comment

Next stop for IM,

Submitted by motie38 on August 24, 2009 - 10:53 A.M.

a universal translator service. So people can IM in their own language and it get's translated real-time for the recipient. Or is there one?

Steven, is English your second language, or are you being translated? Because sometimes when I read sentences like "Still, I still found the small changes to be more than enough to confirm to me that Pidgin is still the best multi-system IM client out there." I wonder how it read in the original language.

Reply | Report this comment

Pidgin rocks

Submitted by Trapper John on August 24, 2009 - 8:16 A.M.

Just got it playing ball with Office Communicator via the SIPE plugin :-D

Reply | Report this comment

Video support

Submitted by rohit on August 24, 2009 - 6:40 A.M.

I haven't tried the newest version, but according to this:

http://lifehacker.com/5340632/pidgin-26-adds-google-talk-video-and-voice-support

Pidgin is now supposed to support talk.google.com voice and video and also Yahoo's. I just use it for IMs but if I can use pidgin to replace Skype that would be great.

Reply | Report this comment