invisible status does not work for google talk account

[Cameron Lane]

Binary package hint: pidgin

when I set my status to 'invisible' in pidgin 2.4.1 on Ubuntu 8.04.1, people from my friends list can still see me as signed on and initiate conversation. This is a highly undesirable outcome. Please help! It is not really a security bug, but it is quite annoying.

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: amd64
Date: Mon Jul 14 13:29:43 2008
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 8.04
ExecutablePath: /usr/bin/pidgin
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Package: pidgin 1:2.4.1-1ubuntu2.1
PackageArchitecture: amd64
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: pidgin
Uname: Linux 2.6.24-19-generic x86_64

[CoudCoud (coudertmatthieu)]

I confirm this bug,
I use Ubuntu 8.04 32bits with pidgin 2.4.1, and the Invisible status doesn't seem to work on XMPP/jabber accounts (and also on google talk accounts, which use XMPP protocol).
It works on my hotmail and yahoo accounts.

Perhaps an implementation problem ?

[Germán Pabón (ninboy)]

Confirm this in Pidgin 2.5.1 too

[Michael Rooney (mrooney)]

Confirming per comments. Let me see if this can be sent upstream.

[Michael Rooney (mrooney)]

Apparently XMPP (which GTalk uses) does not support invisible presence, so this is not an issue with pidgin, it just isn't possible with XMPP accounts. See http://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0018.html for more information.

However if someone thinks it should at least warn or mention this fact when going invisible, file another bug and link it here in the comments and I will triage it appropriately as a wishlist bug and see if upstream is interested.

[Cameron Lane (lane-cameron)]

With all due respect, this feature works natively in google chat. see the attached screenshot. if they use the same protocol, it should be available.

[Michael Rooney (mrooney)]

Okay, I've found and linked to the upstream pidgin report for this. I would recommend directing future comments and work there as that is where it needs to be addressed.

[Perito77 (perito77)]

To make oneself invisible on a google talk account, paste the following into the XMPP Console (Tools > Plugins >XMPP Consol (normally at the bottom) enable it:

<presence>
<priority>5</priority>
</presence>

<presence type="unavailable">
<priority>5</priority>
</presence>

<iq type='get'><query xmlns='google:mail:notify'/></iq>

Repeat the above step whenever you want to refresh the buddy list..
# The last line of the code causes the server to return Email Notifications. #

[doronb2 (doronba)]

Thanks a lot Perito77!
Is there a way to automatic do that every time I start the application?

[Perito77 (perito77)]

Not to my knowledge since I am no programmer or interested in the code either....
I guess we will have to wait till "SOMEBODY" implement it in an update or new version of Pidgin.

[doronb2 (doronba)]

Weird, I don't have time to read it all but it seems that it WON'T be implemented:

http://developer.pidgin.im/ticket/4509
http://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0186.html

[matteo landricina (matteolandricina)]

Perito 77 - workaround didn't work for me. Maybe I did something wrong, don't know...

[Perito77 (perito77)]

@ matteo landricina
What & where did it go wrong?

Take a look @ this blog:
http://aniketzamwar.blogspot.com/2009/03/invisible-in-pidgin.html

But there is hope:
http://www.digsby.com

Untill now they are still busy with the linux platform development but I will wait patiently.
Like I said in my previous post... if another all-in-one messenger come along with all the features that "normal" user are used to it will be bye bye Pidgin!

Have a nice weekend all
Perito77

[Asad (marshall-siddiqui)]

I guess Google itself is not providing that feature. Invisible mode works only if u sign into chat using gmail or orkut.
Even the Gtalk desktop application doesn't support invisible mode

[Germán Pabón (ninboy)]

@Asad... I thought the Google Talk Experimental, of Google Labs, supports this function. I think last time I've used it, it was there... In fact, the "stable" client doesn't have the Invisible status, but the experimental does.

BTW, anyone knows why this "feature" won't get implemented?

[Kemel Zaidan aka Legendario (kemelzaidan)]

I confirm this bug on Lucid. Still active.

[Kemel Zaidan aka Legendario (kemelzaidan)]

Since this gtalk uses an open protocol and this protocol supports invisible mode, my understanding is that it IS a bug.

[Sidney Ribeiro Júnior (srjsoftware)]

I have the same problem.

[Rémy (remy-garrigue)]

Problem still here on Pidgin 2.7.11, Ubuntu 10.10