Use Pidgin instead of empathy?

[beastrace91]

So I really dislike empathy - I think it was a poor move replacing pidgin with it as the default in Gnome 2.28 (it lacks features) - but that is a different rant entirely ;)

Anywho - I installed Pidgin on UMR and I was wondering if there is a way I can set it up so it uses my Pidgin buddy list instead of Empathy in the "people" tab?

Anyone know if this can be done and how I would set it up?

Thanks,
~Jeff

[igknighted]

So I really dislike empathy - I think it was a poor move replacing pidgin with it as the default in Gnome 2.28 (it lacks features) - but that is a different rant entirely ;)

Anywho - I installed Pidgin on UMR and I was wondering if there is a way I can set it up so it uses my Pidgin buddy list instead of Empathy in the "people" tab?

Anyone know if this can be done and how I would set it up?

Thanks,
~Jeff

I would doubt it would be easy if it is possible... even switching the browser requires some trickery. I would post this to their mailing list, the Moblin devs would have the best idea of how this might be possible.

[twright]

So I really dislike empathy - I think it was a poor move replacing pidgin with it as the default in Gnome 2.28 (it lacks features) - but that is a different rant entirely ;)

Anywho - I installed Pidgin on UMR and I was wondering if there is a way I can set it up so it uses my Pidgin buddy list instead of Empathy in the "people" tab?

Anyone know if this can be done and how I would set it up?

Thanks,
~Jeff
Some how I don't think so...

One of the main reasons that Ubuntu switched to empathy was that they provide an awesome library which makes stuff like the Moblin integration possible, adding pidgin support would just be an uphill struggle and something that pidgins developers (as far as I know) are not in the least interested in supporting.

The only way that Empathy is going to get these features is with a larger user base developing plugins for it and being the default in Ubuntu, providing everyone with an easy framework for adding cool, integrated communications features such as those in Moblin, Banshee's music sharing and remote desktop.

Besides when it comes to actual features Empathy has loads that Pidgin does not such as remote desktop, Adium themes, full audio/video support for Google Talk and MSN coming in the next version as well as a much nicer, friendlier user interface. What Empathy does not have is the plugins and customizability of Pidgin, but those things come with time.

[beastrace91]

Yea... The one feature I really need for empathy is it supporting showing when people are online via their mobile phone. I have friends that are always online but I don't like to message to their phone unless it is urgent...

~Jeff

[twright]

Yea... The one feature I really need for empathy is it supporting showing when people are online via their mobile phone. I have friends that are always online but I don't like to message to their phone unless it is urgent...

~Jeff
Wow, that sounds really obscure yet really useful :-)

Perhaps you could put in a request (I might have a go if I ever have any free time).