Invisible Status in Gtalk using Desktop clients

It's been a long time since Google added an "invisible" status option in their Gmail chat box. However, no invisibility option is available through the desktop client Gtalk.

Read on ;)

Since, most of my blog is dedicated to Linux, let's start with Linux clients...

Pidgin, which is currently the default IM program in Gnome, supports this tweak.
First, through -->Tools|Plugins enable the XMPP console.
Next, access the console through Tools|XMPP console.
and paste the following code

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

Voila! You are now invisible through a desktop client!
You can change back to other statuses the usual way...

XMPP protocol is basically XML code , which you can easily make out.

The only problem is that every time you need to go invisible, you have to go through the process of pasting the XML code again. I don't know if this feature will be integrated in future versions of Pidgin, I sure wish they do!

Now coming to Windows, Pidgin for windows doesn't come with the XMPP console. You need to build pidgin from source for it to appear. The same procedure for invisibility can then be followed.

EDIT : Newer versions of Pidgin for Windows now include an XMPP console. Good news for those with Windows :)

Psi is another IM client for Windows which can support "invisibility".
After installing Psi, add an ID, enter any name for account.

Jabber ID : your gtalk ID
Password : your gtalk password

In the Connections tab, tick all options and enter the host as : talk.google.com
You are done now.
To go Invisible, right-click on the name of the account and select the XML console, paste the code and you are invisible!

However, I really wish that Google would add and Invisibility option to their desktop client just like Yahoo!. But, first things first and I think they should really release a Gtalk client for Linux, although Pidgin isn't doing a bad job at all!

Signing Off!
Cheers! And Happy IMing! :)