What is Digg?71 Comments
- yule, on 10/12/2007, -6/+44Too bad they aren't working on the linux version as hard as they do on the windows one:
Version: 1.2.0.18. Release date: October 25, 2005. - weareglass, on 10/12/2007, -4/+41Hm now when will they update Skype for OSX....
- hackwrench, on 10/12/2007, -6/+41you made that statistic up!
- danglerman, on 10/12/2007, -2/+30skype provides some of the best sounding audio over the internet.....get some hearing aids
- snugsoho, on 10/12/2007, -1/+28Did anyone else notice that prior to eBay acquiring Skype the Mac and Windows versions of Skype were near enough equal in terms of functionality but ever since then development for the Mac version as seemingly ground to a halt.
It's a real shame as it was one of the things that attracted me to Skype in the first place, the fact that i could communicate with people using Windows effortlessly and vice-versa but now it's a whole different matter, people wanting to video call me or whatever else the Windows version can do now are finding they can't because i am using the Mac version of the client which is really lagging behind in development and it's getting pretty tiresome explaining to people why i can't participate in activity other than audio calling.
Still, we're better off than the Linux users are... they're getting pretty raw deal from Skype these days. - stoanhart, on 10/12/2007, -2/+19@allthewhile
But linux is unix based, so any imporvement on it will be helpful to the OSX version, and vice versa. Linux and OSX together have at least a few percent. Over 5, probably.
It's not like we expect as much effort to be put into the linux version as the windows version, but a BIT more, maybe. We shouldn't have to use skype_dsp_hijacker (redirects skypes sound card access to ALSA) to get around their improper use of a deprecates sound system (OSS) just to be able to use skype . Quite frankly, I don't care about shiny new GUIs and webcam support - but decent telephony functionality would be nice for, you know, an internet phone. - ultiguy11, on 10/12/2007, -0/+15nope, you can call landlines and cell phones for free.
- sqrt7744, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14There are two open source (GNU licensed) Skype alternatives that have superior linux clients: Wengophone and Ekiga. They both support webcams (mine worked out of the box on Ubuntu Dapper - a creative NX), and a comparison of computer-to-landline rates shows that calls to Europe, for example, are about 1/3 the price with Wengophone as compared to Skype. There are also clients for Windows and Mac. The *ONLY* advantage to using Skype right now is that until the end of THIS YEAR ONLY skypeout to N.A. numbers is free.
- cyrix, on 10/12/2007, -3/+14Crappy sound?
I get great audio quality from skype from both my US Robotics usb phone, and my logitech headset. I have no problem at all hearing anyone. In fact the only issue I've ever had with Skype was dropped calls (when my room mates were killing the connection with torrents.) - noamsml, on 10/12/2007, -2/+13The Linux version is still 1.2.8 :-(
- BradIsaac, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11Don't forget, they are still doing the skype to landline phone for free too. This makes it worth the download in itself.
So Darth, you can call a normal Landline phone from skype - RandomSkratch, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9@hackwrench
79.3% of Internet statistics are made up on the spot. - yule, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11@allthewhile : there could be more people migrating to linux if they could find replacement tools for what they currently use
- cyrix, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10You download the skype software. You then use a phone or a headset to place a call. The person your calling gets the call on their home phone/cell phone just like if you called them from a normal phone of your own.
If you live in the United States all skype calls within the US (to land lines or cell phones) are free until the end of the year. - jk3us, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11They really need to release a version for linux that uses something more modern than OSS for audio... ALSA support would be great.
- MihaiM, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11Not updating the Linux version is disrespect for the users
Not even making it work with ALSA instead of OSS is absolutely not right - Tsuroerusu, on 10/12/2007, -9/+16@ allthewhile
"You do realize that 0.000005% of everyone on the net uses linux."
As far as I know, there are about 35 million Linux users out there, that number is a little old, so I'd say something close to 36 million.
Your number is largely incorrect, plus one of the strengths of Skype has for a long time been that it's cross platform.
There aren't that many Mac users out there either compared to the number of Windows users, so I could argue that "why should Skype even focus on them"? But I'm not gonna do that, because I think it's good that software is available to a wide arrange of people.
Also, in case you didn't know, both Linux and Mac users have a lot of early adopters, who try out new stuff, I would be one of them, so giving them the ability to use your software, helps getting the word out to more people. When I switched to Linux, I told a lot of my friends who use Windows about Skype, and to dump the voice feature in MSN Messenger, because Skype sounded a heck of a lot better, did NAT traversal plus was cross platform.
I personally (Flame me all you want, but this is my personal thinking) think that there are more Linux users than Mac users, because a Mac is VERY expensive, the cheapest costs 599 bucks and for 599 bucks, you can get a VERY nice PC, you could get a AMD X2 CPU, a nice nForce4 motherboard, maybe even two gigs of RAM etc. etc., or you could save some cash by just buying a cheaper Dell machine or even one of those random white boxes, and put Linux on it, and you'd have a great system. Installing Linux is eaisier than installing Windows, plus it's free. The reason I don't believe on the "0,xx" market share number for Linux that some people (Rob Enderle?) throws out, is because Linux is freely redistributeable you have no way of knowing how many people use it, sure I have neither, but with the popularity of distros like Ubuntu or SUSE, I think Linux has about the same amount of users as Apple does, plus it's a heck of a lot more available, especially when you bring in the LiveCDs that people can try and see if they like it. - timdorr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+71) It's version 2.5, not version 3.0. Don't expect massive changes from a minor version increment.
2) That's one shot of the interface. There are many other sections, menus, and dialogs that are not shown that also differ.
3) UI is only part of the program. Most of the code for any app is usually under the hood. - kingp, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Yeah, and when will they update Skype for Linux? We're still on 1.2.0-18 or something like that...WAY behind everyone else. The last update was October of 2005.
- schrags, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8Hey, at least they have cross-platform support in the first place.
- seanmac, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8Skype install on Linux (Debian-based) is very easy:
add this to /etc/apt/sources.list
deb http://download.skype.com/linux/repos/debian/ stable non-free
then
sudo apt-get install skype
There is a long delay when starting the program (~30 seconds or so during which you are not given any notification) so be patient. - yule, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6skype to landline phone for free is available in the US only...
- Raaben, on 10/12/2007, -5/+9Yeah, I'd like to see a new Linux version sometime...
- sdquirk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3…and Canada. Also you can often get free credit, which can be used to call other countries. Here's the schedule for 2006:
http://share.skype.com/sites/en/2006/06/skype_gift_days_schedule_in_ju.html - banjk, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Wow! The added functionality of NSA wiretapping!
That's a feature I can't pass up! - Sithlrd, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Is this the "US Facist Approved" version that'll let the government tap into your conversation? Or does it have the capability to encrypt the conversation?
- Macintosh, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5So a flag and new dial icon? That's some insane GUI improvements.
- agnoster, on 10/12/2007, -5/+7It feels good to make uninformed comments, doesn't it?
As ultiguy pointed out, you can call US/Canadian phones for free, and all around the world for a few cents a minute. You can get an actual phone number that other people without skype can call which goes to your skype line. No, it is not the old Net2phone. - gerkin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Ok windows fanboys mod me down now, don't even bother reading this post (I know you're going to).
It SUCKS to see companies that "support" cross platform in such a half assed way. Windows is NOT the only operating system that people use. OSX and Linux users are once again left with the old stuff while the windows crap moves ahead. They _used_ to release at the same time until eBay got in there, then all of sudden there's little to no more development for anything but windows. If you're going to "support" multiple platforms then get with the program and do it... I'm sure there's a budget to hire some coders to make this happen. - allthewhile, on 10/12/2007, -4/+6Guys, I'm being modded down and I think we probably all agree. Maybe I didn't state it clearly. I was responding to the person who said,
"Too bad they aren't working on the linux version as hard as they do on the windows one"
I'm all for cross-platform software. It DOES make sense. However, it also does make sense that they would put more effort into making sure that the Windows version is updating and working properly. Maybe they do need more of a focus on Linux and Apple support. However, as a business, they're going to go where the money is. - cam2009, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3not too many design improvements, but:
http://cam2009.googlepages.com/skype.JPG
(old/new) - macewan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2a skype developer asked on the skype forum if Linux users would really be interested in a Linux version that was beta
one without a warranty or official tech support - I kid you not - amoeba, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Skype always breaks up when I use it. Peoples voices start to sound fragmented and robotic - unusable.
It's a pity as I would like to use it.
//ADSL 12MB p/sec
//yes you can digg me down but I've had negative experiences with Skype. - neondiet, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@ Tsuroerusu
" As far as I know, there are about 35 million Linux users out there, that number is a little old, so I'd say something close to 36 million. "
Dude, where did you get that number from, did you just pull it out of your ass?
The number of Apple Mac units sold with OSX on them was at 19,190,000 at the end of Q2 2006. At least that number can be proven. - macewan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1digg is hosted on linux smart guy
- ecspike, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Wengo.com does currently simultaneously release to Win/Mac/Linux...Skype...get on the ball.
- gummih, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Listen up you 80 minus modding diggers you! (see top comment). How many of you have tried to use Skype for video calls? Because I have, and the audio quality with video sucks. Just audio between computers or computer/landline is fine but audio with video is seriously crippled. White noise and choppy audio with video are KNOWN issues.
This thread gives a fairly good idea about the situation, this thread isn't even specificly about the issue it's a general experience poll - try and find the happy video users! (and I didn't hunt for it, it's a sticky)
http://forum.skype.com/viewtopic.php?t=42549&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 - dogearedboy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I'm still waiting for video support for my new MacBook...
- BlueLaser, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3@BradIsaac: Free for a year. Then you pay for calls to landlines; skype to skype will remain free.
(Sorry the the dis-jointed reply; I forgot to hit the reply button.) - starsky51, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2avsa, i totally agree with you. I use Ubuntu on my laptop at home and I think parts of it still have a way to come to be considered user-friendly.
Klik [http://klik.atekon.de/] is a free system which, once set up (involves one command line operation), allows you to download software (including Skype) with a single click, making it even easier than a Windows install.
I don't think Klik is pushed onto linux newbies as much as it should be.
Sorry if this is off-topic! - pabster, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Linux Fanboy: I got Skype installed!
Have we gotten that pathetic around here? - turkdigle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The UI for the dial pad has been greatly improved in my opinion. You first select the country then you dial the number in the correct format. I would always dial out with 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx and forget that I have to enter 001, I would also have issues when calling Japan where I need to enter +81 rather that 81. It is a simple change, but in my opinion is a better interface.
- loginname, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I just want to be able to use my webcam on my windows 2000 box!
- Raveren, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Um I dunno, Skype was only good when it was the only one. Now every non-techie friend of mine has skype so they can CALL eachother! Thus I'm forced to use it too:/
I prefer google talk by far, no need for a separate app even, signing into a google account does the trick. However usually I use GT through trillian - another drawback comes to mind, the dumb API doesn't enable third-party clients to use the protocol unless skype is running alongside. AND it clutters the My Documents directory with two folders, "Skype recieved files" and "Skype content" - both of them are empty and are recreated once deleted. No settings to turn off that annoyance off either!.. - silic0n, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It's.... on the roadmap. Here, what about the new colours though?
- safepants, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0they have touch tone phone support for menu's now. Been waiting for this since skypeout was free
- DarthTurducken, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Thank you!
- Lee69, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I've always liked Skype, I think I'll install this new version and see if it's any good. Although I don't use it enough..
- kckman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"You're kidding me about the linux whining, right? You do realize that 0.000005% of everyone on the net uses linux."
alej744 writes:
That's correct. You should be happy that Skype even supports Linux. Linux isn't easy to use and has lots of annoyances. I even tried installing Skype on Ubuntu = IMPOSSIBLE. Oh, and Automatix = IMPOSSIBLE.
......
Ubuntu.. AutoMatix and Skype (latest Linux Version) all successfully installed on 3 seperate workstations here. There were some AutoMatix script issues with Dapper, but they've been corrected for the released version. -
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