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Contributor forteller on Pidgin Internet Messenger

Easy screen-sharing and audio-chat for instant messengers  
Written by jaenz the 7 Jan 09 at 15:49. Already implemented
Yesterday a friend of mine asked for help in Photoshop. And instead of configuring my router, care for my IP or dyndns-stuff, he just called me via Jabber on iChat in OS X. That was - awesome -! One of the big, big time-saving things, Apple serves.

To cut a long story short: we definitely need an audio-chat possibility (at least for XMPP) in Pidgin or Empathy (speaking of gnome). Bundled with screen-sharing it's just perfect to solve problems over the internet.


767
votes
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Solution #1: Use vino
Written by jaenz the 7 Jan 09 at 15:49.
You might say "this exists and is called ekiga". You're right, but it's complicated to run two programs, register a SIP-account AND (!) convert all your friends to ekiga. Ekiga is simply too unkown, to use it outside of the open-source world.

I actually don't know how much time the implementation would take. But I believe, vino offers an option to grab the screen and gstreamer doubtlessly provides streaming of audio and video.


Finally such a "bling-bling"-functionality is a great way to win new Ubuntu-users.
226
votes
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Solution #2: Use empathy by default in Ubuntu
Written by torkiano the 14 Jan 09 at 06:15.
Empathy can do audio AND video calls to other XMPP/GTalk users.

It has support for SIP too, and for the most important IM protocols: msn, AIM ...

Also, VNC over XMPP tunnels has been done with empathy.

I think use empathy by default is the first step to implement this idea
-460
votes
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Solution #3: Use Skype
Written by znupi the 14 Jan 09 at 18:13.
Why not use Skype? It's cross-platform, provides audio and video chatting and a lot of people use it (including me, my brother and quite a few other people I know). Although Skype isn't open source, that doesn't mean you shouldn't use it. It is still free, and it is well known for its high quality sound and video transmission even on poor bandwidths.

Personally, I really think Skype is the best option for audio and video chatting.
438
votes
closed
Solution #4: Add audio/video and screen sharing support to Pidgin
Written by amrhassan the 14 Jan 09 at 19:40.
Since most of us are already using it. I don't wanna have pidgin running for text, empathy for voice and another app for screen sharing.
80
votes
closed
Solution #5: remote-help-assistant
Written by _sebastian_ the 17 Jan 09 at 02:31.
86
votes
closed
Solution #6: Gitso
Written by Baggers the 19 Jan 09 at 11:57.
Single click reverse ssh tunnel using VNC.
Works on Mac, Linux, and Windows
The non geek being assisted doesn't need to worry about opening ports or what their IP is, that is down to person giving the assistance.
Open Source, small and simple.
Obviously it would be great if it could be initiated by the popular IM clients though.
http://code.google.com/p/gitso/
2
votes
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Solution #9: use gitso + mid-way server
Written by fdetienn the 12 May 09 at 10:24.
I work in tech support for a major. We use webex and webex is a bandwidth hog => not always good.

The problem with VNC (and hence Vino) is the initiation from support engineer -> customer as the customer would have to allow incoming connections. Most of the time, you do not have time to punch the holes or the customer's infosec department will not allow you or the customer will be too lazy/ignorant and will hide behind his infosec department. Pick one.

The problem with reverse VNC (Gitso) alone is the same on the support engineer side. Most IT departments in large enterprises like to justify their presence by blocking traffic, preventing engineers to work, make engineer yell so IT can look protective :-D. In a word: incoming reverse vnc sessions won't work.

What we all really need is this:

[engineer]---[ent fw>]--mws--[

See the 32 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 30 Nov 10 at 10:51) >>

too difficult to select bluetooth headset via pulseaudio interface  
Written by suoko the 21 Dec 09 at 22:09. New
i need a faster way to select it in case of incoming call
45
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Solution #1: fast bluetooth headset chooser
Written by suoko the 21 Dec 09 at 22:09.
i'd suggest a fast bluetooth headset chooser maybe in gnome panel to use it when a skype/empathy call arrives.
actually it could be automatic with empathy by asking to switch the headset on in case it's off

Add a comment or propose a solution >>

Window to instantly message contacts  
Written by BooBo the 28 Sep 08 at 11:15. New
This is the idea: Press a key, and a small window comes up in the upper-right listing all your contacts. Click one, and it comes up with a text box. Type in some text, click send and they get your message.
17
votes
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Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #13816
Written by BooBo the 28 Sep 08 at 11:15.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #13816 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

See the 3 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 30 Sep 08 at 21:44) >>

Make "about me" and Pidgin communicate  
Written by pepperpupper the 24 Sep 08 at 15:15. New
So if I add an msn, icq or some other adress in pidgin, this could be displayed in about me and the other way around as well.
53
votes
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Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #13643
Written by pepperpupper the 24 Sep 08 at 15:15.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #13643 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

See the 6 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 25 Sep 08 at 18:44) >>

Coordinate with Pidgin developers team to support voice calling feature.  
Written by onenalone the 4 Aug 08 at 05:04. New
I am sure that this feature will lead ubuntu to move forward in desktop arena.
131
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Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #11808
Written by onenalone the 4 Aug 08 at 05:04.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #11808 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!
33
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up equal down
Solution #2: canonical to pay pidgin developers
Written by lolren the 4 Mar 09 at 10:36.
the ideea is simple. Pidgin is as default multiprotocol for chatting. it ubuntu uses pidgin, why not pidgin to ``use`` ubuntu?

See the 13 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 14 Aug 08 at 09:55) >>