Skype for Linux: a status update
A quick status update for all of you out there longing for news:
- I’ve been struggling with getting PulseAudio support to work on a range of different server versions – it wasn’t that simple. Suffice to say, different pulseaudio versions fail differently. We’re planning to support down to 0.9.10, but my suggestion is: if you want good sound – upgrade to 0.9.15 at least.
- The video is now working, but there are a few corner cases we want to weed out before releasing.
- UI work is finished for this release and no additional work is planned in this area so far.
I know many of you have been waiting for a while for this news – I can’t make any promises about when it’ll be released, but watch this blog for further updates.
@arkstone.
Stop trolling???
Are you jocking? We are not trolling, we are explaining how disappointed we are.
Just wait and see?
Are you jocking??? What we have to wait, december 2012 and the end of the world?
@berkus:
If you need one more beta tester: I work in the IT-department of my university and we run around 100-150 Linux clients and there are alot of people using Skype there. I would be happy to package the Skype Beta as a Debian-package and install it on all machines, I surely will get some feedback because of the number of users that we have. Contact me on Skype if you’re interested. Of course, the users don’t have any root-priviliges and thus cannot fool around with the software except using it.
Adrian
Any chance of the promised screenshots?
@marko.martinovic71 I expected some response of such sort.
@luca.dgh No, linux team is not a single-man team. And I am not on that team, to make things clear. I hope you understand now.
@genki-adrian We use more personal approach during closed beta testing, this includes fooling around
@domialien Sir yes sir! Unfortunately I don’t have much time for screenshooting atm.
@berkus
I too expected some response of such sort.
The Linux version really is the red headed stepchild version isnt it..
Contact Groups (active skype users need them).
SMS outbound (how is this not here already).
The UI changes.. Overdue already..
Its not like I dont plow money into Skype.. We are not asking for something for nothing here.
I don’t want to critisize but I had to stop using Skype as it always pressured my CPU up to 100%, it’s stupid that I have to explain such thing to customers trying to reach me.
And the screenshots… Seriously, how long does that take?
I’m very happy with the update, and knowing developing is active, but keep in mind all the above.
Some people here are crying like little kids who want their toy. The man thought he’d share some news, and the negativity he gets for a reply…It will be ready when it’s ready!! Until then find an alternative! There’s always a choice..
@hahampis
No there is not always a choice. Skype is considered as a standard here. I don’t care much about the new features or new GUI, but I really need it to play nicely with pulseaudio.
First, I apologise for my previous comment, it is kind of insulting.. I was caught up in a moment of anger
About the choice thing..If you absolutely need Skype working in Linux, you could always use a little older distribution right? I mean, Skype worked great for me in Ubuntu 8.10 but not so well in 9.04. If I couldn’t live without it I guess that’s what I would do.
@hahampis
No hard feelings It is true that I could go back, but my external usb-audio card only works since 9.04… But thanks
@berkus: will the new version support call forwarding and voicemail?
Only the Skype static OSS works with Ubuntu Karmic.
My bluetooth headphones don’t work with Skype/OSS, only Pulseaudio.
I have been a skype user since the beginning, and turned on many people to skype.
Because Skype doesn’t work any more, I just switched to Ekiga and discovered that calls to Thailand cost about 1/5 as much as Skype.
Sorry Skype
@ verhack
Skype uses 100 % of cpu beause puolseaudio, in the audio device settings switch the 3 entries directly to you sound card, something like “HDA your_card (hw:your_card,0)”. You will see that now cpu will not be stressed.
That is why all of us are asking for the new version, because pulseaudio is not in love with skype 2.0.0.72.
@luca.dgh
Thanks for the tip! But I already tried this before, and on the other side of the line, they complained that there was a terrible delay and stuttering (if that’s even a word). I will try it again.
@awinkelbauer Yes, definitely.
I want to say thanks to people that making a linux version of Skype. You are doing really great job!:)
@krzysiek8844:
you sir win the internets. This might have been the best piece of irony I’ve come across so far in my entire life! seriously, for one moment I almost believed you!
Nice to see the thread growing again… gets me all warmed up and fuzzy inside … cheers!
Still nothing? Berkus is waiting for 400 posts here, so he can write another “stay tuned” blogpost?
I realy hope that the new version (if there will be any) will work for me. I need to contact people from my contact list and give them backup mail or IM adress, because I can’t rely on Skype… I can’t do it now, because this SW just doesn’t work
Skype – Take a deep breath — Hehehe. It has new meaning now…
@astarothgr
No, that wasn’t irony! My english is really bad, so maybe it that stupid sound. But I’m really happy that skype is developing linux version. I got now 2.0 and I don’t need anything else. I got chat, sound chat, video chat and that’s all I need. And everything works:)
Will the new version of Skype for linux feature call waiting as in versions for Windows
@vikbon No, this is not supported.
I’ve been asking for 64bit support for some years now… Will we get a 64bit version this release?
@tech2000 64-bit support is going to take a bit longer, so not for beta release.
@berkus any plans on releasing a beta? (even an alpha would be cool enough for now).
and if so, will it be publicly available? riessmi’s post suggests you usually do closed betas?
@berkus
Call waiting is a basic feature that is expected on almost every telephony system. I hope you realize that the lack of such a feature is a serious omission especially at a time when players like Google Voice are entering the telephony arena.
Great to hear your going to support pulse audio, so far I’ve found skype on Linux unusable unless I use a USB headset.
Please look at releasing a beta soon there’s a large community ready to test and help out.
@sergioluis_ Closed betas are continuous, but we do plan to release an open beta in quite short time from now.
@nkk001 Yes, I realize that. We could of course delay release by another couple of months and produce call waiting support. Or ignore it for now, go ahead and release. I choose second option, what about you?
@acathrow I’m not tired to repost this link for gazillionth time: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1238207 try it and your skype experience will be silky and nice.
Thanks Berkus.
I appreciate the effort you guys put in and your support of Linux.
From what I’ve seen of these posts you guys have to deal with a lot of criticism. But considering that many companies don’t support linux because of the small market share I’m very happy with the support I’m getting from skype.
Of course I still dream about features like screensharing… etc
what is this???
Have you released this?
https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/skype-mid/3.0.0.93-3jaunty1/+build/1142466
@luca.dgh Read the description file carefully.
Description:
skype-mid – Skype for MIDs
This is a separate project. You can get it from Skype Garage.
Here are some screenshots I promised earlier.
We have contact groups finally (notice bookmarked chats are also there!).
We have a nicer tray icon (new one on the left, old one on the right).
Chat window has been improved with: day divider..
…typing indicator…
…controls to change picture…
…and nice picture zoom-on-mouseover.
More to come. Tell what you want to see.
Ok, I didn’t care about the -mid, sorry. But anyway it works quite well on my eee.pc , the only problem is that there is no alarm sound for incoming call.
Actually it works as well on my desktop (both with Ubuntu 9.04).
Ok ok… unsense test.
Keep waiting for the beta release @#/z#!
luca.dgh: With regards this incoming call sound, just make sure the sound files are in /usr/share/skype/sounds and also, that you are not in Do Not Disturb mode.
If you are still having problems with sound files, let me know.
excelent!! i would to see screenshot of the main window skype, and will be there type options in the chat window?
@berkus: skype will be using Qt3 or Qt4 ?
@berkus: did it a year and 5 months used only for the changes?
i am afraiding: new nice modern systray icon + old qt3 horrid skype window user interface ?? (ouu damnit)
@hc_ftk: Firstly, “I am afraiding” is not a proper English. Secondly, you haven’t seen anything yet so it is rather ignorant to comment on interface. Personally, I am satisfied with Skype 2.0 interface. What, do want to have oversized and crumbled with useless stuff interface like the Windows version of Skype does?? The lack of functionality is the main problem in old Skype.
@gizi_ch:You also need to improve on your English. Your sarcasm reflects the lack of maturity. It took long time for the new version of Skype to be ready because they had to rewrite big chunks of code, and also provide support for pulse audio and video.
time-trader
disculpa por favor mi inglés, mi lengua es eslovaco, vale? … bla bla
that was only my question: a + b = c? its easy to understand
secondly: its no only about ui? it would be really nice have skype linux with eye appeal + stability. you want a car with old–fashioned auto body?? hm, maybe but i dont like ..
i think minimum is qt4 .. so i really hope this is a way of new ui skype linux. (ou damnit)
@hc_ftk: How do you come to the idea that the upcoming version of skype for linux could be written in Qt3?
Correct me if I am wrong, but as far as I can see the “current” version uses Qt4 (>= 4.2.1 I guess).
awinkelbauer
lets see kopete qt4 ..opera 10 qt4 .. dolphin qt4 .. kmail qt 4 ..amarok 2 qt4
and skype 2.0.0.72 qt4 .. hm ..ou yeah source qt4 maybe
the ui actual linux version is for GNOME user … i use KDE4, and in my eyes this actual ui dont fit into KDE4 .. thats my opinion
in the screenshots i cant see another ui like in actual version AND FOR THAT i was asking for screenshot of main window skype .. “i am afraiding” aka to suspect: old face
awinkelbauer
A MATTER OF COURSE : I THINK QT 4.5
(sorry for my bad english)
@hc_ftk
I have a good and bad new for you
The bad news is that the current version of skype uses Qt4. The good one: try to run skype with
./skype –disable-cleanlooks
This way skype looks like other kde4 applications
@verhack
I had had the same problem. Skype pressured my CPU up to 100%.. The solution was to remove pulseaudio.. and it solve other problems too. It’s sounds stupid but is the simplest way I found.
@berkus
I’m very happy to know that a new version of skype is being developed. However, I also understand the frustration of some people.
@h3speros
What you said is true. More than 10 people use skype today because of me. So it is not only the market share of linux that matter.
@andypoo
Thank you for your tip, I moved the sounds files in /usr/share/skype/sounds and now it works.
—————————————————————————
Me too I have moved all my family and my friends to skype, if I remember well it was 2005 when I used skype for the first time on windows, immediately I involverd my family and after all my fiends.
One year after I switched to Linux and skype as well, more or less because in 2006 and 2007 skype for linux was not very functional, but no matter I was using it.
Since one year I’m living 14.000 km from my family and friends and still skype is my favourite, but honestly is not very easy to justify this preference.
On my linux box I had to switch off pulseaudio, I had to buy an high quality webcam because skype hasn’ t brightness/contrast settings.
In this last 2 months I dont’t know why, suddenly, I can’t see the caller cam and nor mine, but the caller can see my cam.
Definitely I’m doing my better effort to stay with skype, but it is not easy.
Please please please, release the new beta.
dadypt
thnx for posting it … i use utility “qt4 settings” and there can modify ui .. i have to set gui style: oxygen
thats ok, but i am writing about ui, what is looking like some Gnome program .. so i dont mean: no color etc, but user interface – optiones, buttons, settings, etc ….i am rock KDE4 user, i wish to skype fit into KDE4 qt4.5 or higher … and audio&video must be to improve of course
Just for people requiring full main window look:
Of course, this is qt4, I’ve no idea how you could’ve thought that 2.1 will use the same as 1.3 a _little_ while ago.
@gizi_ch Actually, it took us 1 year and 3 months to find that duck picture and then only 2 months to integrate it into existing skype UI.
@hc_ftk Skype fits nicely into KDE4 look and feel.
berkus
i accept that my english is no very good to something describe
the first: i have a respect to development and i am really lucky that comes new version
the second: the true is that i was awaiting complet new ui with qt4.5 of course something like a windows version: more menu click-buttons, more improvment, better colors of main window, and bla bla (we can see it on windows version screenshots)
but ok, the bad news for me is: ui with old “base-face” and the good news for me: ui isnt worse; better stability, rewritten audio etc ….
suma sumarum: i am using skype all the time, so there is no causa to change it
@berkus
Thanks for the screenshots. The UI of this new version is very similar to the current one. I could be wrong, but the worst part is to write the background code, like the audio code. The UI is relatively easy to code. Some additional changes could have been done with little work. However, I’m very happy to see the “typing indicator” and groups. However another feature is missing (in the current version). I’m unable to change the output and input volume directly from Skype. I can vary the volume by changing de system volume, which is very annoying. It would be nice to change the volume in the video window. Obviously, I’m also very glad to know that a lot of background code was improved. I would like to known if some changes have been done to the video library to support a better fullscreen communication? Thanks.