What is Digg?172 Comments
- sloppychris, on 03/14/2008, -19/+67"As you may already know, the best things in life are often free and now you can make (and receive) free, great quality video calls on Linux."
Too bad it isn't really free. - sirdaz, on 03/14/2008, -3/+371 step closer to using Linux fulltime
- YodaJones, on 03/14/2008, -6/+32Most people who have trouble with Linux are gamers with limited computer skills. Those folks think adding a water cooler is the ultimate in computing.
- jdhore1, on 03/14/2008, -22/+46Sorry that we all can't be like RMS with only using 100% GNU software...I'll gladly use OSS if it gets the job done, but if it horribly fails in some cases (3D accelerated drivers for nVidia and ATI, Flash, Java, etc). With Skype, all the people i talk to on Skype only use Skype and they're not on any other "voip" system so i have a choice...Use Skype which is non-OSS (but free as in beer) software and talk to my friends, or use Gizmo or WengoPhone or SIP and not be able to talk to my friends...hmm...I'll still take Skype.
- Wootery, on 03/14/2008, -0/+16"Unless you actually make changes to the source (or read it all, and compile it yourself), there's really no benefit to having an application be open-source."
Err, no. You fail at FOSS philosophy.
The Skype application is closed-source, which means no-one really knows if it's secure, or how it really works/what it does on your computer (Skype's network activity is regarded by some as suspicious).
The Skype protocol is proprietary, which again means no-one really knows if it's secure (there could be intentional back-doors), and no-one can write an alternative implementation; Skype have lock-in, and could (for example) start charging for their Skype application or drop support for Linux. It's a step back from POTS.
Just because you don't look at the code doesn't mean you aren't benefited by it being available. - MeneerR, on 03/14/2008, -2/+17The blue screen of death?
- mvent2, on 03/14/2008, -2/+17Most of them have alternatives, and in most cases the Linux alternatives are superior.
- Giga, on 03/14/2008, -1/+13Flash does not run "more than perfectly" on Linux. Period.
- invidious, on 03/14/2008, -2/+13When I first gave Linux a try, I was frequently disappointed (and frustrated) at all the things that I couldn't do in Linux that I could so easily do in Windows. My entire mindset was based around trying to figure out how to best replicate the "Windows XPerience." To achieve this end, I tried Wine, virtualization, and dual booting. Each had their strengths, but I remained largely dissatisfied with Linux.
In retrospect, I realize that I was so unhappy because I hadn't adopted a Linux mindset. There are some things that are easier to do in Windows, and you'll probably lose some functionality if you switch to Ubuntu. However, realize that there are some things that Ubuntu does better than Windows. If you can accept this change in your computing paradigm, then you'll be a much happier camper. To butcher a quote from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, "I don't like to think that I've lost a son, but rather, that I've gained a daughter."
Of course, there are some situations in which a loss in Windows functionality is unacceptable. These people will be stuck with Windows, and I don't suppose there's any shame in that. However, if that's not you, then I encourage you to stretch a bit and look for the positives in Linux. You might find yourself pleasantly surprised; I know I did. - mmmiiikkkeee, on 03/14/2008, -3/+12Happy to see this developed for Linux, but really I would rather see there secret protocol be disclosed. Or at least make a linux API so that others can develop there own custom 'skype' to work with there network(will there be a kde version??? not with this... jsut there propitiatory version.. :( lame... ). But what ever I use SIP to make my phone calls...
- usingpond, on 03/14/2008, -4/+13Now Linux users just need camera drivers!
- mossblaser, on 03/14/2008, -0/+8Dunno, maybe some really obscure people, like Google.
- maliath, on 03/14/2008, -4/+12Error: ATI makes crappy drivers for their cards, and linux support for their cards is absolutely horrendous, especially for their mobile cards.
- MacParrot, on 03/14/2008, -0/+8uziko, why do you care? OH, I get it. The only way people will talk to you is by being an annoying twit on the webs. Being anonymous makes it convenient so people can't hit you for talking like an ass.
- rollerboy, on 03/14/2008, -0/+8This should really help the EeePC.
- caulktel, on 03/14/2008, -0/+7Now maybe we Nokia N800 users will be able to use our built in cameras with Skype.
- chubbstar, on 03/14/2008, -1/+8oh i dont know, maybe because there no good quality programs that offer video chat that are inter-OS capable? maybe thats why? yea. i think so.
- MacParrot, on 03/14/2008, -1/+8Are you really complaining that quality software by a major player is being brought to Linux? Just because they didn't publish their source code? Why not just be happy that they're bringing to the table?
- jdhore1, on 03/14/2008, -0/+7Probably because deb packages that support older versions always support newer versions and they didn't want to leave a version with full Canonical support (6.06 doesn't count...did 6.06 even have a compatible version of qt4?) out in the cold. The only problem with doing that is that Skype doesn't fully support the new features in the version of qt4 in Gutsy as well as GCC, libc6, etc...Basically, if it even says it's a deb for Ubuntu 5.04, it'll probably still work with 7.10 or 8.04
- Rekzai, on 03/14/2008, -0/+7skype.com stole your content about their own product?
- MacParrot, on 03/14/2008, -0/+6Seems to still be alive and kicking it multi-platform. We use it all the time for podcasting.
- emblemparade, on 03/14/2008, -0/+6I second that. Workable web chat was a sad limitation for me for a long time. None of the SIP-based software worked for me, and boy did I try. I've been running the beta of Skype 2 since it's been available, and haven't booted Windows since.
By the way, I even got it running on my 64bit operating system. (Skype doesn't provide 64bit binaries for Linux, and we can't make them even though we really want to, because it's not open source.) See this amazingly brainless script/guide for Ubuntu, which could probably be modified for any Linux-based operating system:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=4512915#p ... - felderado, on 03/14/2008, -0/+6are you guys serious? there's hundreds of 100% working cameras for Linux...
This 60 year old dude wrote drivers that work with over 230 webcams. http://mxhaard.free.fr/spca5xx.html
Don't tell me we don't have support. - abhiroop, on 03/14/2008, -0/+5I know. I was flabbergasted by this inane comment. Not everything is going to be "open". This is a quality program, if you want to use it, just shut up and use it. Otherwise make your own!
- trenchfever, on 03/14/2008, -0/+4@TheKrillr:
Flash is a CPU hog, refer system monitor when playing flash under linux. It sucks. - Zaggynl, on 03/14/2008, -1/+5Did you mean 9,999?
- adoran, on 03/14/2008, -0/+4No, not unless a PPC version is released
- b166er01, on 03/14/2008, -0/+4no 64bit yet?
- minorthreat, on 03/14/2008, -0/+4amen
- BladeMelbourne, on 03/14/2008, -5/+9Where's Skype for PPC Linux? Still waiting...
- abhiroop, on 03/14/2008, -0/+4(sorry but...) quicker answer its 7.04+
- n3tfury, on 03/14/2008, -0/+4idiot.
- DJRicey, on 03/14/2008, -1/+5I actually really did LOL at that - I totally agree - UVC is good - but come on webcam manufacturers pull your fingers out and support your hardware in Linux!
cheers - rmtatum, on 03/14/2008, -1/+4It's a spam post!
- Remmy, on 03/14/2008, -10/+13Free as in beer. Remember, beer impairs your judgment. If these projects would open up, we wouldn't have to reverse engineer them to make free alternatives. This is the new threat to GNU/Linux. The more GNU you take out of it, the less free (as in Freedom) it becomes.
- TheRealToma, on 03/14/2008, -1/+4Spam it up, sally.
- vyralinfection, on 03/14/2008, -0/+3Momma said we don't need none o' that fancy book lurnin' stuff, hyuck!
- Lypsis, on 03/14/2008, -0/+3what are you saying / meaning ?!?
- bradpitcher, on 03/14/2008, -0/+3I am not a genius, but I do understand the difference. I just think "free as in speech" is more important.
- kimme, on 03/14/2008, -0/+3Here's the solution to your needs.
http://jonramvi.wordpress.com/2008/03/11/62/#digg_ ... - willfe, on 03/14/2008, -0/+3This 2.0 release links to the QT4 libraries (same as KDE uses) -- isn't there KDE integration in this build? (I dunno for sure; I don't use KDE) I know what libraries it whines about since it's not "officially" supported on amd64, so I had to hand it some 32-bit libraries by hand before it would play. qt4-gui and qt4-core were among them. So was dbus (something Gnome and KDE both use if memory serves).
- lovekudu, on 03/14/2008, -0/+3It is, just not in the sense you mean.
- lonniebiz, on 03/14/2008, -1/+4I prefer Ekiga to Skype. It is not a polished, but it is cross platform, open source, and free. I advocate we all start using it instead of skype (even though I digg skype too), and encourage its developers with praise and financial donations. It will be better than Skype in the long run, but I hope they change the name of it to something I can pronounce!
http://www.gnomemeeting.org/
http://www.hotubuntunews.com/blog_9.shtml - inactive, on 03/14/2008, -1/+4I assume it will work on PS3 now?
- deformation, on 03/14/2008, -0/+3it means GTK integration, you know.. for gnome and Xfce
- h0ly, on 03/14/2008, -1/+4Better yet, just release a libskype and let everyone write GUIs on top of it.
- inactive, on 03/14/2008, -1/+4I am using Skype from a long time and this is a great news...
- Wootery, on 03/14/2008, -1/+3@SSUK
Paranoid? I've already provided an example of an existing screws-the-consumer lock-in: MS Word. It's much more difficult to switch to an alternative than it ought to be, because of MS's closed format.
Let's not let the same thing happen with VOIP as has already happened with office software. - Wootery, on 03/14/2008, -0/+2@abhiroop
"BUt at the same time if someone makes perfectly good software that does the job EXACTLY as I want, and there is no other comparable software (for my needs), then whats wrong with using it."
I'm not saying the existence or use of closed-source software kills kittens, I'm saying vendor lock-in is a Bad Thing for the end-user.
Example of closed-source software that screws you with lock-in: Microsoft Word.
Example of closed-source software that doesn't screw you with lock-in: UT2004.
"It is utility and nothing more."
A response to "Computer software is a TOOL, not an issue of
human rights." - http://talkback.zdnet.com/5208-11048-0.html?forumI ...
"I don't drive a car to figure out the meaning of why the wheels turn"
The workings of both car and software may indeed be of no concern to the end-user. The difference is that there's no such thing as a Toyota-only road.
@h0ly
I'm not sure about your analogy; where computers have security issues, cars have safety issues. The issue here is lock-in. If Toyota start making crashy cars, you switch to one of their competitors. If Skype start releasing crashy clients, you're screwed. - h0ly, on 03/14/2008, -0/+2I don't think he said anything "elitist". Wootery is right. Computers are not cars. Your car does not store important information like your Social Security Number, or your passwords, private e-mails, documents, websites you have been accessing, the list goes on and on.
-
Show 51 - 100 of 170 discussions
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is