Flowers become Screens
Our next logical step on the road to the open client is the update of the current beta.
This update not only brings much needed stability fixes, it also unveils a whole new era and brings Linux client much closer to what other desktop clients have to offer.
Enter “Talking Screens” – with screensharing. Now you can share your desktop with unprecedented ease. Share whole screen or a selected region – it’s just one click away!
In addition we addressed numerous smaller usability issues, such as a separate dialog for incoming authorization requests – now you can actually read long introductory texts from your soon-to-be-contacts. Chats are faster, UI supports switching styles on the fly, and audio is a lot better than before.
On behalf of the whole Linux team I thank you for patience and hope you stay with us to discover how much more surprises we have up our sleeve. Let’s talk!
Get new Skype here. And read the detailed changelog.
PS: This is how to enable screen sharing once you’re in a call.
Image by Kabatology.
Sound issue seems to be fixed. Problem: PCM input defaulted to zero gain in kmix!
@berkus I know there is another post, but it’s half a year old. if you’re working on so many new nice features and fixes, why not keep readers updated about these developments? or why not release another beta so people can enjoy some of the fixes while waiting for a release with new features added? I am always wondering if people are reporting the same bugs all over again because a new version with those bugs fixed isn’t released yet…
@sebastianh05 Even if the post is two years old, the comments to it are just as well landing into my mailbox, what’s the problem with that?
@blake_skype I expected something like this, yes.
Perhaps not the right place but I am really annoyed with Skype. I bought credit and used it a couple of years ago, some expired some about to expire if I don’t use it.
I wanted to call a land line, but the screen for call phones does not come up and clicking on call phones elsewhere elicits no response. My several messages to Skype through support elicited no response.
I have wasted a lot of time trying to use this.
@pomeroytom You know that if (for any obscure reason that might be) the call phones dialog doesn’t pop up you can just type in the full number starting with + into the quickfilter field and call from there?
@berkus it’s not necessarily a “problem”, however I find it unintuitive for one to comment on posts that are almost a year old, and then I think it’s not very 21st century for a company to post something on a product blog only twice a year or so. As it is right now, the blog just regularly looks dead and unattended for months, aside from the 10 or so people who check the comments regularly, a good third of which are complaints about skype’s public information policy. I love skype, but now you have a skype_linux twitter and there are no tweets on it, you know what I mean? Interact with your customers, 2010 style, it would make all the difference I think
I have been a skype user for several years now, and have now become a full time linux user also. I have installed Skype 2.1 Beta on this machine (Toshiba satellite A255D-S6930), My distro is Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Linx. I live in French Polynesia, and use skype as my main telephone connection to friends and family in the USA and around the world. I even use it here to call 800 numbers as they are blocked by our telephone exchange here. For the past week I have been trying to contact several businesses in the United States (Oregon) and I am told by the persons answering the calls that I am breaking up very badly and they cannot understand anything I am saying. This hasn’t been with only one or two businesses but well over a dozen. I am hearing their replies to me absolutely clear, but I have no idea on where to start looking on this end to see if I can solve the problem. All my Skype to Skype calls around the world are incredibly good so I don’t think that it is in the software part of Skype, at not in the Skype to Skype end… Any help that anyone might be able to provide would be greatly appreciated. Please be advised even though I have been in computers forever, I am very new to the Linux community and am just a learner here…. So there may require some hand holding to get me to the point of things going along normally. But I listen carefully, and follow directions and instructions to the letter and if I do not understand I will ask for clarification..
Thanks in advance,
Ken Jackson
CPO USN Ret.
Uturoa, Raiatea
I see that I probably should have said that I am running this on a 64 bit machine running the 64 bit version of Lucid. I never ran skype on my 9.10 box as I was using Windoze (I can’t see clearly) Vista
Skype is now an “official” partner of Ubuntu. I received an update from the ubuntu partner repository.
hye..
i would like to ask am using acer with Linpus Linux Lite, it seems that i cant download skype. can i know if it is posible and canyou guide me through?
@syahirahdin Linpus seems to be Fedora based, so either fedora rpm or generic tarball should work. If there’s no Qt on Linpus, generic static tarball should work.
In the future send your support inquiries to the Linux Skype forum, they should be able to help you faster.
for those who wants to use skype with JACK there is a nice solution without using of alsa-jack plugin from James Warden here: http://alsa.opensrc.org/index.php/Jack_and_Loopback_device_as_Alsa-to-Jack_bridge . It’s a bit complicated from first look, but really it’s very beautiful way to get any ALSA application work via JACK.
the release cycles and also the publication policy of skype on linux are just bad. even for years as a paying customer you will only
stalled. I´ve left linux after 13 years, skype was
also one of the reasons.
When is group video calls coming to linux? Or at least a more updated version. This one is very buggy (although completely functional)
@Berkus There was a comment posted by aliendude5300 on Thursday, Jan 21 regarding Skype opening in multiple instances. He said he was launching Skype from Docky. I too have Skype on my Docky and I launch it from there. However the problem he describes has nothing to do with Docky.
If I launch Skype from the normal Ubuntu Applications > Internet menu, Sign in, then close the Skype window so it minimizes to the notifications area. Then go back and launch Skype again from the Applications > Internet menu, it loads a new instance of Skype ready to sign in again, instead of bringing the already loaded Skype instance from the notification area back into view.
Surprisingly with a second or even third instance of Skype loaded it does allow me to sign into multiple Skype accounts at the same time. That is if I have multiple accounts This really should be fixed though. At least if/when you open source the window framework the developers for docks like Docky and Cairo can develop helper scripts that will interact with the Skype menus, such and placing a call, SMS, IM from right clicking on the Skype dock icon or something similar.
Please, may we have some updates about the progress status of the open source client?? The actual interface would be good to me but it is still buggy; the text inside information popups is not visible with most of Ubuntu Themes, and many webcams won’t work without preloading the V4L libraries first.
Sadly, outgoing sound doesn’t work and hasn’t worked for me since maybe January, so I guess it’s due to this beta, or due to some ubuntu update. Using Ubuntu 10.04, amd, 64bit.
Thanks alot for supporting linux, But i dont find the screen sharing?!, See the Picture here:
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/6899/skypenoscreensh.png
Iam Using Ubuntu 10.4 x64, updated as of 19.06.2010 and with the latest gpu drivers,
In the Picture above I was Calling a Windows Vista 32bit Skype version 4.1.0.179 witch have screen sharing button available. Iam blind or what ?
I dont have a webcam present in the ubuntu system if that has anything to help.
thanks.
Is “Import contacts” on the to-do list for the Linux client?
@Berkus It is some time since I commented about the performance of Linux Skype versus Windows Skype, eg. samdec.colegrove commented Monday, Apr 5. I have just changed my cable connection plan so that the upload speed is now 1Mbit/s instead of 128Kbits/s. That change has made all the difference in world. I can now totally agree with you that there is no significant difference in the image and sound quality between Windows and Linux Skype even though the former is version 4.2 and the olatter is 2.1.
I am now exceedingly happy with Linux Skype and would like to apologize for my previous negative comments. When I install the next version of Kubuntu 10.10, I will be deleting my Windows partition as Skype was the only reason for keeping Windows.
Thanks for a job well done.
Hello,
Iam using RHEL 5.2
Iam unable to install the latest version of of skype due to unresolved dependencies.
Could someone help me with dependencies or provide an older stable version ?
navneetbhandari1987 at gmail
Thanks
NB
I am probably not much help to you as I use Kubuntu, but I am wondering if you download the rpm file from the site:
http://www.skype.com/intl/en/get-skype/on-your-computer/linux/post-download/
As I use a debian based system I successfully used the deb file from this site prior to it entering the ubuntu repositories.
I have just checked the release date for RHEL 5.2 and it seems as though it was in May 2008. As Linux makes considerable progress in 2 years, your dependency problem may be resolved by getting a more recent version say RHEL 5.5. I have noticed that RHEL 6 is currently in beta so it will not be too long before this version is available.
Hope your problems are resolved by getting a more recent version.
My 2 cents…
This whole Linux branch is a shame.
When it’s not sound or video issue (isn’t it the core of your business ?), it the global stability (I think I can even speak on behalf of my colleagues under MacOSX as well), CPU consumption…
I am a Linux user for ages now, and I have been stuck with Skype because of the lack of alternative. It always more or less worked (see above statement), but nothing compared to the features and stability of the Windows version (not to enter the discussion of the lack of transparency, security by obscurity etc…).
After more than 15 years using Linux, Skype remained the only hack in my system.
Now I think you guys in Skype have to take seriously the fact that you are no more the only one in the area.
Some Linux-only soft were working very well for a long time now, but cross-OSes video sessions remained the real issue.
GoogleTalk with video now works like a charm with Empathy client out of the box in Ubuntu 10.04, thus the news spread and my WinFriends tend more and more to switch to it.
I think you have now the unique opportunity to release the too long expected version for both Linux and Mac in order to take the power back. And do not forget that the annoyance/frustration felt by Linux & Mac communities tend to snowball in the end to Windows users as they are our friends, families whatever… and we discuss together… by Skype… or other means.
Regards,
- Laurent -
You removed WM version, because it is “unstable and can’t give high enaugh quality of expirience”. It was (is) working a lot better, than linux version of skype.
Why does Linux and MacOS versions have interface similar to one, Windows version had 4 years ago? The only thing I really hate about linux is it’s skype version…
the version of Skype i have for Linux dies as soon as the video component is engaged.
I don’t get why it’s so hard to post a simple blog post every other week or so letting the community know what progress (or not) has been made, instead of duping the “fans” with a blog post that’s half a year old. Where’s the next beta? What’s the status of the open source GUI? Where’s skype linux headed? Why did you guys open a Twitter account if you’re not using it? I don’t have a business degree, but I can tell good corporate communications from bad one
Good corporate communication could happen only if the whining and complaining would get strong enough to threaten business.
Otherwise as Berkus once said – there will be new posts or comments only when there is something to announce. Well it seems nothing happens since May 24.
We are all frustrated with the current status of Skype for Linux but this is the way it works in the proprietary part of the universe…get used to it… and there’s nothing we can do except more whining and complaining.
As for my feature request – it would be very nice if in chat conversations in unfocused/minimized windows new messages are marked somehow (orange dots or whatever) and the scroll stays at the first new message. Just a copy of the Windows functionality.
The functionality in the windows version is splendid! It sucks that you treat your Linux costumers like crap. We use and pay for your program too, but we get shafted on the features. If your not going to at least provide us with updates on progress that you aren’t making on developing the next Skype for Linux, open up the code so it can be improved upon by the community.
I am not sure that Skype 2.1 for Ubuntu 64 bits proxy settings (under “options”, “advanced”) really works: I can set the HTTP or SOCKS host manually to anything I want and Skype still works….
The Skype Me button on a website I’m having built doesn’t work for my Ubuntu clients.
Will this be fixed before Skype 2.1 is released for Ubuntu?
is there any way to resize the recieved video image when we are calling somebody?
The video image in my skype stills really tiny…
ok, nevermind… just a double click in it lol, thank u anyways..
Does anyone can create a new version of Skype like Windows 4.2???
it is a shame that there is no replies for the comments about the Skype status under Linux, i call all the Linux users to boycott Skype.
hard to boycott something that so many people use you’re in touch with. and… as messaging client, it works at least.. it’s just a shame what sort of communication and release policy they have. at least i navigate to this website twice a day, for all it matters, a number in their visitor stats that says linux
if they don’t wake up, they’ll wake up to an alternate protocol and client and the game is over, or it’ll be reverse engineered
hello guys,
is there any good video chat alternative for linux out there, which I can recommend to my linux contacts, so at least a core group of close people can skip sitting on a poor skype client?
The skype for linux is pretty good and all, and I’m glad you guys even have it for linux. But still, I have Ubuntu 10.04 that’s come pretty far in graphical eye-candy and effects, so the whole kind of boxy look of the skype beta kind of looks out of place and old. It would be great if the next release could be slightly more sleek. Otherwise it’s great!
@bossmandominic If you install qt4-config and configure it a bit (like switch style from whatever is there by default), skype will look fine.
It is a known problem with Ubuntu that they do not like Qt applications.
Hi, I am having the following problem – whenever I try to call anyone after 10 seconds of conversation the sound output stops. From this point onward I am unable to call anyone, the call simply does not start. Skype becomes a lot slower. My sound card magically disappears from System>Preferences>Sound>Hardware. When I close the app and then try to shut down the PC it tells me that skype isn’t responding. If the PC is restarted however, everything goes back to normal.
Hi, I am having the following problem – whenever I try to call anyone after 10 seconds of conversation the sound output stops. From this point onward I am unable to call anyone, the call simply does not start. Skype becomes a lot slower. My sound card magically disappears from System>Preferences>Sound>Hardware. When I close the app and then try to shut down the PC it tells me that skype isn’t responding. If the PC is restarted however, everything goes back to normal.
I have an intel video, and F13, and there’s a bug in the X11 driver that causes X to crash when displaying video using xv.
Is there anyway to force skype to use opengl (command-line or config options maybe)
(I can force mplayer to use opengl, and then it can happily display the output from my Logitech Fusion camera)
Hi,
nice to have skype on ubuntu, but the look is really out of place and a new monochrome icon would be great.
Al fin Google Voice con llamadas a todo el mundo!!!, esperemos ahora las aplicaciones y plugins para existentes (Empathy por ejemplo).
Chau Skype, nos aburriste con tus cuentos, ahora si tenemos una alternativa comercial que con suerte dará respuesta a los usuarios que usan algo más que windows.
Up until recently the Linux client was downloadable without registration. Now it’s mandatory. Why is this?
Bah, now that google voice/video is available in linux, who cares anymore?
Hi there,
FYI there is currently a bug in Ubuntu Maverick that prevents installation of .deb packages.
Should be fixed before the final version; current workaround is
- to install via command-line: sudo dpkg -i .deb
- or to use the tarball
I think it’s only a lack of (real) alternatives.
Google Voice is becoming a viable solution, I think I will go for it as soon as it will be good enough
@berkus:
I was wondering what’s the status of the open source version of the Skype UI part. Can you share any new details with us? I was hoping to see that version of Skype being released soon so the community can help you guys sprucing up the UI and make it integrate better with KDE and GNOME. Also, I still have hopes that this might fix the remaining intermittent issues with PulseAudio and or webcam video, especially on 64 bit Linux versions.
Thanks,
Adrian