GAIM posts

Filed under: Internet, Windows, Linux, Open Source

Pidgin 2.2 flies the coop

by Brad Linder Sep 16th 2007

Multi-protocol instant messaging client Pidgin has hit version 2.2. And when they say multi-protocol, they mean it. Pidgin supports AIM, Bonjour, Gadu-Gadu, Google Talk, Groupwise, ICQ, IRC, MSN, MySpaceIM, QQ, SILC, SIMPLE, Sametime, XMPP, Yahoo!, and Zephyr.

In other words, there's a good chance this open-source program is the only instant messaging client you'll ever need to install on your Windows or Linux PC. There are a bunch of updates since the last release. One of our favorites is the return of optional protocol icons which make it easy to tell which of your friends are using MSN Messenger, and which are using AIM (and so on). Here are some of the other changes:

Yahoo! Chat is fixed
AIM file transfer issues fixed
Properly restore idle status time for AIM and ICQ accounts that reconnect after being disconnected
Remember "enable sounds" setting for a conversation

If you've got friends and family using 17 different instant messaging applications, Pidgin is a great way to keep in touch with everyone without installing 17 different programs. And the best thing is when you turn it off, they all go away. You know, unless they e-mail, call, or stop by your house for a visit.
[via Digg]

Tags: aim, chat-client, gaim, icq, instant-messaging, msn-messenger, multi-protocol, pidgin, pidgin-2.2

Filed under: Internet

Pidgin IM final beta out - final release due this week

by Brad Linder May 1st 2007

Chat client Pidgin IM (formerly known as Gaim) version 2.00 beta 7 is out, with a final 2.0 release scheduled for later this week.

The program performs very similarly to GAIM 2.00 beta 6, with some cosmetic changes, including a new Pidgin logo (which unsurprisingly looks like a pigeon). The redesign does include some under the hood changes as well, so the developers caution that this beta is actually less stable than earlier beta releases, and recommend backing up your Gaim directory before running Pidgin.

Some preferences may be lost, or buddy icons may not work, and some plugins may fail to work. In previous versions, you could easily tell whether your contacts were using AOL IM, MSN Messenger, IRC, or other chat protocols at a glance by looking at the color of their icons. Now you're presented with a green circle for each of your contacts. Hopefully this will be one of the items fixed before the final release.

Tags: aol im, AolIm, gaim, instant messenger, InstantMessenger, msn messenger, MsnMessenger, pidgin

Filed under: Internet

GAIM becomes Pidgin IM

by Brad Linder Apr 8th 2007

After a long and drawn out legal dispute with AOL over its name, the developers of the open-source instant messenger client GAIM have agreed to change the program's name.

The program, which allows users to send and receive message with AOL, MSN, Yahoo! and other IM services, began its life as GTK+ AOL Instant Messenger. AOL wasn't too happy with that, and the developers changed the name to AIM. After AOL trademarked the name AIM, GAIM heard from this blog's parent company again.

Thus the new name, Pidgin IM. The project is also moving from Sourceforge, and has a new developer page. The settlement also means that a non-beta version of Pidgin IM could be on its way soon.

[via Slashdot]

Tags: aol, gaim, pidgin im, PidginIm

Filed under: Internet, Text, Utilities, News, Windows, Linux, Web services, Social Software

GAIM 2.0 beta 4

by Ryan Carter Oct 23rd 2006

GAIM 2.0 is now in its beta 4 testing phase and I must say that it is simpler, a little easier, and seems to work a bit better. This version seems to be same as the last in most ways, though I do like the new system tray icon turned on by default. This keeps the GAIM program running instead of exiting when you click close, which brings GAIM to the level of many other IM clients. That's the thing, this new GAIM is a bit more standard, account setups are still easy, but seems to require less information to setup your account than past releases, partly due to the advanced features being moved to a new tab. The dialog is shorter because of this as well, helping to keep the app from overflowing your screen. As you might imagine the context menu has many helpful options like setting status and "show buddy list" among others. Like I said, not a ton of new features, but many things are simply more standard, making it a bit more usable. This is still a beta, so of course more may be added before GAIM 2.0 is officially released, so keep an eye out for that in the not too distant future.

Tags: 2.0, AIM, AOL, beta, GAIM, IM, instant messaging, InstantMessaging, jabber, messenger, MSN, YAHOO

Filed under: Internet, Windows, Office, Productivity, Open Source

Portable Apps Suite

by Jordan Running Feb 1st 2006

The fine folks at PortableApps.com have put together an excellent Portable Apps Suite that bundles eight essential Windows apps that you can take with you on a USB drive. The included apps are Firefox (web browser), Thunderbird (e-mail client), OpenOffice.org (office suite), AbiWord (word processor), NVU (web site editor), Sunbird (calendar and tasks manager), FileZilla (FTP client), and Gaim (IM). The suite comes in two flavors: Standard, which includes all of the above and fits on a 256MB drive, and Light, which omits OpenOffice.org and fits in 128MB. Brilliant.

Tags: abiword, filezilla, firefox, gaim, nvu, openoffice, openoffice.org, portable, portable apps, PortableApps, sunbird, thunderbird

Filed under: Internet, Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Open Source

Gaim 2.0 Beta 2

by Jordan Running Feb 1st 2006

I'm a bit behind the curve on this one, but on January 24 the Gaim team released Gaim 2.0 Beta 2, the latest cutting-edge release of the open source, cross-platform, multi-network IM app. 2.0 has a lot of improvements and added features since 1.5--so many, in fact, that I'm just going to refer you to the extensive changelog. If you're looking for a nice free multi-protocol IM client that'll work on just about any OS, I heartily recommend you give the beta a try.

Tags: aim, beta, gaim, im, jabber, msn, open soure, yahoo

Filed under: Internet, Open Source

Portable Gaim: Take your IM settings and contacts with you

by Jordan Running Jan 3rd 2006

Portable apps are really taking off. Portable Gaim is a version of the Gaim multi-protocol IM client that you can install onto a USB drive. That means you can take all of your contact, settings, and logs for AIM, MSN, Yahoo! IM, ICQ, and Jabber and keep them with you whether're on your own computer, a friend's, or one in an Internet cafe. Currently Portable Gaim is based on Gaim 1.5 for Windows, but maybe if we keep our fingers crossed we'll get a cross-platform version sometime soon.

Tags: gaim, im, instant messaging, portable, usb drive

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