KDE 4.4 Feature: Drag to edge to Maximize

I do not like the new feature in KDE 4.4 for dragging a window to top of the screen to maximize it. Here is how to disable this feature.

Open System settings -> Workspace Behavior -> Screen Edges

Now deactivate:
* Maximize windows by dragging them to the top of the screen

Thanks to commentors for the updated info.

Fix Pidgin's Google IM "Lost Connection with server" error

(Please note this fix was some time ago with an older version of Pidgin, and older versions of Gtalk. Particularly the address 'talk.gmail.com' doesn't always work.)

Recently I encountered an old error in Pidgin, and here is my solution to it. While visiting a network at a local college, my Google IM account throws this error in Pidgin:

Lost connection with server: Connection reset by peer

Here is how to fix this.

1. From within the main Pidgin window, select the menu "Accounts"-> "Manage Acconts"
2. Select the Google IM account in question. Click the "Modify..." button.
3. Check the option: Force old (port 5223) SSL
4. Uncheck the option: Allow plaintext auth over unencrypted streams
5. Set Connect Port: 443
6. Set Connect Server: talk.google.com
7. Click the "Save" button and re-connect with your account.

Trouble Shooting
If you get a message asking you to accept a certificate, you have probably forgot to add the Connect Server address.

Ubuntu Linux software easy download support

This is mostly a thought piece or commentary. One reason to run a very popular distribution of Linux is that it tends to be widely supported. Ubuntu is certainly one of the most popular Linux Distributions in the world.

Just today, I checked out the www.pidgin.im website and to my delight I found, under the Downloads section, an explicit area for Ubuntu. It had easy to do instructions for adding automatic Pidgin updates into your Ubuntu system. These updates are made possible by members of the community running their own complimentary APT repositories (PPAs under the Launchpad website), which Ubuntu helps provide with bandwidth, tools, tutorials, etc.

The APT system is one of the greatest inventions in computer software management history, and one of the absolutely greatest features of Linux. Ubuntu has helped foster spreading of the marvel and ease of the APT system.

So, the one line conclusion: The APT system is great (if you didn't already know) and Ubuntu is continuing too expand and make great use of it.