软件更新：Pidgin v2.5.4，多合一即时通讯，迅速修复MSN连接问题，msn-pecan很好用
Pidgin在2009-01-12放出了v2.5.4版本，我猜想可能是因为这几天出现的MSN大面积连接不上的问题，进行了及时的修正。
2009-01-12，MSN服务器出现一些问题和变化，估计是升级造成的。结果是Pidgin无法连接上，Pidgin网站有很多Tickets投诉，例如这个Ticket。根据他人推荐，下载msn-pecan并安装，在Pidgin出现WLM协议，把MSN账号改为WLM协议，连接成功。
Close IMs immediately when the tab is closed
另外，最近发现Pidgin一个有趣的设置：
Tools > Perferences > Conversations > Close IMs immediately when the tab is closed
这个选项确实是勾上的，表示用户关掉聊天窗口以后，就等同于关闭对话。关闭对话在即时通讯中是有确实含义的，就是发送一个“GONE”的提示消息到对方。Pidgin是一个比较老实的软件，就会老老实实显示出“XXX has left the conversation.”这样的信息出来。
可是，有一些人会有这样的习惯，发送完一条信息，他就把窗口关了，他并不是真的想结束谈话，只是不喜欢桌面上有好多窗口而已。可是这样，对方用Pidgin就会收到源源不断的“XXX has left the conversation.”。
经过用户的要求，上述设置出现了，如果不勾选这个选项，关闭窗口不会结束对话，更加有趣的是，在这种模式下面，再次打开对话窗口，会看到先前的对话，这我很需要，我已经勾掉了这个选项。我还把它推荐给了某人，某人特别喜欢关窗口。
msn-pecan
msn-pecan是个有趣的插件。作者是一个Pidgin爱好者，但是觉得Pidgin的MSN协议做得不好，索性自己写了一个，Pidgin也很友好的把这个插件列为推荐插件。协议名称WLM的意思估计是Windows Live Messenger。
作者列出的功能列表如下：
- Faster log-in
- Fewer connection issues
- Fewer crashes
- Experimental direct connection support (fast file transfers)
- Server-side storage for display names (private alias)
- Support for handwritten messages (read-only)
- Support for personal status messages
- Support for offline messaging (read-only)
- Send custom emoticons (Pidgin >= 2.5)
更新日志
libpurple
- Fix a connection timeout with empty Gadu-Gady buddy lists. (Martin Rosinski)
- Don't ignore namespace information when parsing XMPP data. (Michal Witkowski)
- Fix a crash that occurred when retrieving certain Offline Messages on MSN.
- Extended purple-url-handler to handle "gtalk" URI's. (Paul Aurich)
- Fix the hang on exit in Network Location Awareness for Windows XP and Windows Vista. (Paul Aurich)
MSN
- Change Contact Server to temporarily fix connection problems. (Thanks to Youness Alaoui)
XMPP
- Support for XEP-0191 blocking. (Vijay Raghunathan)
- Don't put SASL PLAIN or IQ Auth passwords in debug logs. (Paul Aurich)
- Fix removal of avatars (both PEP and vCard), we weren't removing them correctly before. (Paul Aurich)
Pidgin
- Fix a crash in the Add Account dialog when changing protocols under certain circumstances.
Finch
- Redirect stderr outputs to the debug window.
- Fix rebinding actions with the arrow-keys and tab.
Windows-specific changes
- Fix the "Hang on Exit" issue that a number of users encountered.
- Updated GTK+ to 2.14.6
