diff --git a/IPython/platutils.py b/IPython/platutils.py
index 7f84769..6d1d94c 100644
--- a/IPython/platutils.py
+++ b/IPython/platutils.py
@@ -12,10 +12,6 @@ for your operation system, from platutils_PLATFORMNAME module.
 #  the file COPYING, distributed as part of this software.
 #*****************************************************************************
 
-from IPython import Release
-__author__  = '%s <%s>' % Release.authors['Ville']
-__license__ = Release.license
-
 import os
 import sys
 
@@ -35,8 +31,26 @@ else:
 # Functionality that's logically common to all platforms goes here, each
 # platform-specific module only provides the bits that are OS-dependent.
 
-def freeze_term_title():
-    _platutils.ignore_termtitle = True
+# XXX - I'm still not happy with a module global for this, but at least now
+# there is a public, cross-platform way of toggling the term title control on
+# and off.  We should make this a stateful object later on so that each user
+# can have its own instance if needed.
+def toggle_set_term_title(val):
+    """Control whether set_term_title is active or not.
+
+    set_term_title() allows writing to the console titlebar.  In embedded
+    widgets this can cause problems, so this call can be used to toggle it on
+    or off as needed.
+
+    The default state of the module is for the function to be disabled.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+      val : bool
+        If True, set_term_title() actually writes to the terminal (using the
+        appropriate platform-specific module).  If False, it is a no-op.
+    """
+    _platutils.ignore_termtitle = not(val)
 
 
 def set_term_title(title):
@@ -45,3 +59,12 @@ def set_term_title(title):
     if _platutils.ignore_termtitle:
         return
     _platutils.set_term_title(title)
+
+
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Deprecated functions
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+def freeze_term_title():
+    warnings.warn("This function is deprecated, use toggle_set_term_title()")
+    _platutils.ignore_termtitle = True
+
diff --git a/IPython/platutils_posix.py b/IPython/platutils_posix.py
index d0dbc0a..e4d162b 100644
--- a/IPython/platutils_posix.py
+++ b/IPython/platutils_posix.py
@@ -12,14 +12,10 @@ to use these functions in platform agnostic fashion.
 #  the file COPYING, distributed as part of this software.
 #*****************************************************************************
 
-from IPython import Release
-__author__  = '%s <%s>' % Release.authors['Ville']
-__license__ = Release.license
-
 import sys
 import os
 
-ignore_termtitle = False
+ignore_termtitle = True
 
 def _dummy_op(*a, **b):
     """ A no-op function """
@@ -27,7 +23,7 @@ def _dummy_op(*a, **b):
 def _set_term_title_xterm(title):
     """ Change virtual terminal title in xterm-workalikes """
 
-    sys.stdout.write('\033]%d;%s\007' % (0,title))
+    sys.stdout.write('\033]0;%s\007' % title)
 
 
 if os.environ.get('TERM','') == 'xterm':
diff --git a/IPython/platutils_win32.py b/IPython/platutils_win32.py
index 630a9ca..e732fb9 100644
--- a/IPython/platutils_win32.py
+++ b/IPython/platutils_win32.py
@@ -12,13 +12,10 @@ to use these functions in platform agnostic fashion.
 #  the file COPYING, distributed as part of this software.
 #*****************************************************************************
 
-from IPython import Release
-__author__  = '%s <%s>' % Release.authors['Ville']
-__license__ = Release.license
 
 import os
 
-ignore_termtitle = False
+ignore_termtitle = True
 
 try:
     import ctypes