When we will have a Beta release to test?

Thanks very much for the update! Of course a beta would be nice, but for my own part I'm very happy that you are making an effort to keep your customers informed. Keep it up!

This is cool news, thks I was really thinking that Linux development had stopped...

I hope you folks get around to improving video quality on linux as well.

using the average news posted in the forum... we might have a beta version in 2011... the hope never die... let's continue pray

Yeah ... we have been so much time in the dark that we will find another light around.

What about PulseAudio support?

A beautiful thing would be the ability to send SMSs. It is incredible that the relevant functionality is already there in skype for linux (skysentials can make use of that, but it's a semi-working hack). Functionality is only lacking in the interface, come on, it can't be so hard.

...so you hope to add 64-bit support in 2009?
Nice to hear the year when you think about trying to do something.

There are so many things not working properly. One single guy can fix most of them
within a month.

I have no words any more...

I'm also much in favor of SMS. Otherwise the whole software needs a lot of work. I would also be much in favor of more frequent updates rather than these huge version leaps.

It would be nice if you updated video4linux support to use v4l version 2. That way we dont have to play funny ld tricks to get video working at all. Thanks for supporting Linux and UNIX versions anyway, this is the platforms I use.

I would like to be able to find people on skype by using an addressbook upload. The windows version is able to do this, but it is slow and poorly solved. It only shows the skype names it found and not to whom they belong.
I would also like to see more support for apps using the api. Kopete does well know, but not everything is supported by the api. Search is one of the things.

I have to admit the current version works perfectly for me, I am very pleased with it (some audio troubles but not due to Skype I think).

I do much prefer the simpler mac style UI that you have adopted after leaving the unnecessarily complicated Windows style so I hope there isn't going to be a return to that state.

Pulse audio seems to have caused a few audio problems with the Linux audio stack or at least my distro has had a few regressions after that was added. Such a pity everything was fine in the last release.

We have (internally) working SMS windows and some basic support for pulseaudio (able to make calls with it, but it's still a bit crashy). Stay tuned for new releases.

@behavedave, many people got frustrated with latest pulseaudio updates on Ubuntu and/or Fedora. It's a pity.

The UI is not going to copy windows entirely, at least I hope it won't, but there are some nice things we don't want to miss.

@markwege there are a couple addressbook import plugins lying around since 1.3 times. Addressbook import was dropped when rewriting for 1.4, I don't really know why. I have a couple wild wild ideas about addressbooks, maybe there will be some fun with kde4 when its akonadi backend is ready to rock.

Good to hear more improvements are coming. Tabs are an absolute essential to me, I'm getting frustrated with all the windows. Looking forward to a next (beta?) version.

BTW, from what I've read, PulseAudio is a complete drama (example here: http://aseigo.blogspot.com/2009/01/i-will-not-drink-koolaide.html ). Summary of that blog entry: with phonon everything worked, with pulseaudio it stopped working.

Phonon is a much better solution. If you can connect to Phonon, it doesn't matter what sound system you're using. alsa, gstreamer, jack, whatever. Plug your application into phonon and it'll work.

thx for great news !

Effort of communication most appreciated.
Now waiting for an rpm or deb package (most recent bug fix dating back to 16/06/2008)...

@parena1979:
Here is what the PulseAudio webpage says:
"The PulseAudio daemon and utilities are still under heavy development. Although they are generally considered stable, they haven't seen enough testing to warrant a first completely stable release."
So indeed it wasn't a good idea to put it in Ubuntu (Fedora users on the other hand are used to be on the bleeding edge), but this is a big enough project and most likely a must feature from now on. We are not talking about KDE-specific APIs here.

I am looking forward to these bluetooth improvement because so far I have never been able to get my BT set to work properly with Skype.
Meanwhile, I would be curious to know when we finally get an update that just works along politely with PulseAudio.

@berkus: good to her that ideas working with akonadi. Would be good, if you work together with the guy who works on skype integration via api into kopete. Would be good if this addressbook search would be also provided via api, so that kopete can use it. Currently I enjoy kopete integration of skype very much and only use skype very function are not and can not be integrated. Would be greet if this improves.

@xinoef:
Phonon is not KDE-specific. It was created by KDE developers mainly, yes, but any application can use it and if I'm not mistaken, phonon doesn't depend on the general KDE libs either. Guess time will tell which one will be the most popular.

Help! Am trying to install skype-debian_2.0.0.72-1_i386.deb. Running Ubuntu 8.04. Package installer says "Error: Wrong architecture 'i386'" Suggestions?

@jeffrey.alves

A very important suggestion: Post at the right place like there
http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showforum=18
or there
http://ubuntuforums.org/

Another very important suggestion: Google BEFORE posting, which would lead you to solutions such as this:
sudo apt-get install ia32-libs
which might help you !

A beta would be good. How long has the current version been out there?

A beta would be good. How long has the current version been out there?

@erwinfeldhaus It's been there for too long without any updates. We're looking into releasing at least some updated version ASAP.

Very very cool, I am glad that it is still in development.
I would love to see Skype work with Asterisk, Trixbox or FreeSwitch.
For now I would love to see a new version of skype
Thanks for all the hard work

Any tips for getting the best audio out of the Linux version of Skype?

@michaelvail 2.0 is trickier, but usually you can solve most of the problems by adding an .asoundrc file in your home directory with extra devices, which map to real devices through some sort of software filter (e.g. routing sound through plughw: device instead of raw hw: is most probably going to produce better sound). There are a lot of solutions described in our forums @ http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showforum=18 - take a look there.
With 2.1 things seem to work, at least for many betatesters it Just Works(tm) most of the time.

Hi !

As a paying Skype user, let me tell you first how I love Skype, it allows me to contact many friends all over the world, many of which I just couldn't afford to call.

I would have a few recommendations.

Please, add the "volume mixer" directly in the conversation window for every other participant and the user him/herself. I've been missing that a LOT. When doing multiple person conversation it's a mess to get everyone's microphone to the same level.

And also, please adhere to the new Phonon system and please make sure it's tied to the proper type of application. I have multiple soundcards and different headsets between home and job and it's really annoying to keep switching between all devices.

Otherwise, everything's fine for me. If you seek for beta testers, I'd happily help you.

I am very happy. Here Italy. In my class all use Linux.

@plucauclair Unfortunately, volume controls have always been a mess in linux, alsa is just too flexible to be adequately usable. I'm looking into improving situation with skype application in this regard, but have no time estimates at this point.

Thanks for skype on linux, I talk to my girlfriend everyday with it and most of the time it works perfectly expect for the odd time there is a crash.

Thanks for skype on linux, I talk to my girlfriend everyday with it and most of the time it works perfectly except for the odd time there is a crash.

-1 for Phono, unless Wikipedia is wrong:
"Phonon is the multimedia API for KDE 4."

Thank you guys. Its good to see updates for my beloved OS.
keep up the good work!

I'm very glad to hear that you keep working on Skype for linux! Even though it essentially works fine for me, the interface is far behind, compared to the latest MacOS version.... Can wait for a new release....

Will the new skype for linux version include the silk codec? I've been looking for a audio over ip software that provide near cd quality audio. The new silk codec sounds great and without all the
strange pops and clicks that previous skype codecs had.

I look forward to the new version of skype for linux

Very good news indeed to know for sure that things are moving and congrats to Berkus and his team for working hard. Waiting for a long time is not too bad in as much as we are not kept in the dark

I would love to see the new Skype for Linux come closer to Skype for windows version 3.8. What I particularly lack is the ability to take snapshot screen pictures when using Skype for Linux 2.0.0.72

It could had been more helpful to open the Skype protocol and let the community to develop other applications using some APIs or else, without needing to lose anything: e.g., lots of GNU/*/Linux users chat with the MSN protocol, even if the client is closed-source. I thought it should have increased the amount of paying calls too, because VoIP (although cross-platform) alternatives are not so widespread. I know that Skype answered that it'll never be possible, but I constantly think that it's a bad choice! BTW, the main development goal of 2009 should be to port the client to 64-bit (and, maybe, LPIA and ARM devices?): I've experienced very few errors with 32-bit libraries and the latest GNU/*/Linux client... and this is very appreciable — I don't really need a more amazing interface. So, good job: waiting for other interesting news from you (and thanks for your work on this porting)!

Absolutely right fedmore - c'mon Skype, hand over to open source and you'll win our support. You're not able to keep up, so let us help you.

Yes, it has been a long time since we had a working Skype.
I use Ubuntu (the most popular distro), but I have been using 64-bit, and I haven't had a working skype on most machines (I manage quite a few) for about a year. No 64-bit support? How many 32-bit main stream PC's are 32-bit's anymore? Not many.
According to this post http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2007/12/first-look-qt-4-4-0-with-phonon-and-webkit.ars

Phonon was originally developed by the open source software community for KDE 4, but has also been adopted by Trolltech for inclusion in Qt. Trolltech created several new backends for Phonon and has contributed the source code to KDE with the intention of continuing all Phonon development under the aegis of the KDE projec

Sounds like it should be in line with Skype's direction.

The one BIG feature I want/need, that skype continues to not have is multi-party video conference.

Without sound working Skype can't get any revenue from me. I just use it as a chat program. Without multi-party video conference, Skype is not my first choice to make sure my friends and business associates have. As a result, we mostly use Mac's, alghough I do run Ubuntu native on the Mac.

I am glad that Linux isn't dead on Skype, I thought it was. I still have a hundred dollars in my account waiting to share with my users when we can use it.

Thanks to the Skype Linux team.

I am using Skype both on Windows and Linux, and I really feared that Skype on Linux was dead.

Hopefully you never kill Skype for Linux.

This is probably the wrong place to post this, but maybe this can be fixed in one of the upcomming releases

iḿ on Ubuntu 8.10
using skype 2.0.0.72

(paste from syslog)

michel-desktop x-session-manager[5918]: EggSMClient-WARNING: Desktop file '/home/michel/.config/autostart/skype.desktop' has malformed Icon key 'skype.png'(should not include extension)

michel-desktop kernel: [ 147.392599] process `skype' is using obsolete setsockopt SO_BSDCOMPAT

( end paste )

Regards Michel

Thank you for the continued work on the audio system! After reading your list of goals, etc, I must admit that I believe 64-bit support is easily the most important.

Thanks again!

@berkus -- thanks for your reply ! I know it's hard to do on ALSA, but I believe it must be possible to do with not much efforts. The way I assume Skype works, it has an internal mixer that puts all incoming streams into one and outputs that.

You could probably do a transform on different channels to boost them (let's say someone talks consistently at a peak of 70%). It could be as simple as having a slider under each person icon with a way to go over 100%.

Typically the problem is that people can hear me well (we need a way to see volume like in Win!), but I can't. Raising the volume from the DE mixer works for that when I talk to only one person (although system sounds get too strong then), but in conference calls, some people are being called over landline and they cannot fix their volume. This makes for very annoying conference calls.

Again, on the topic of seeing your own sound, it would be very useful to also show what my volume is. I could stop asking people if they can hear me well.

Keep up the good work ! Can't wait to see what the next Skype will be like

Can't wait for the new skype on linux. 4.0 on windows looks sweet. Hopefully something that nice will be avail on linux soon. I wanna beta test!!!

Well, I think I'm definitely a luckly skype user, because on my linux boxes I don't have any problem in using skype. Presently I'm heavy using the video call between Italy and Peru (both pcs with ubuntu 8.10) and even if in Peru the internet speed is only 1 Mb the video and sound quality are close to perfect.
Even I can listen to my music while the video call is in progress!
I only have an issue with my BT headset, but as I read here probably it has been fixed(I HOPE).
I just complain with these major rewritings of the code: you made one per year!!!
Ok, I understand that you improve the quality of the service, better sound, better video, but this means that there is not a good planning of the development.
These big resets of the code, obviously, make impossible to release beta versions because the whole code is under rewritng so beta version in unreleaseble.
I hope this time the code will get a definitive shape and for the future we will have regularily beta releases that are so important because the bug fix is done step by step, and in cases like mine the user has not to wait one year for a bug fix in BT headset management.
Anyway, I think you are doing a great job, I hope to see soon a new beta, please please please

@luca.dgh Previous rewrite was GUI, which happened because of switch to Qt4. We just took the chance to clean up old code. Now it was audio library, and while it was rewritten, it took quite a little time and reused most of the code from the old one, the rewrite was changing the interface mostly.

I really love and need your work but I think it's incredibile that such a software like Skype is 4.0 for Windows and 2.0.0.72 for GNU/Linux.
Skype team should invest something more for GNU/Linux devices, the world doesn't end with windows...

Will new version support "SET SILENT MODE" in public dbus api?

@berkus - Do you have plans to integrate Skype into current KDE (use Phonon, Kopete, etc.)?
I think development with people witch coding KDE can be much more efficient.
Also you can get more broader audience and better code quality.

@davideboh I think you missed something here. Version numbers don't mean anything. Skype for Linux 4.0 will not be like Skype for Windows 4.0 in any way. So comparing version numbers is pointless. For comparing features better point out exact features you're missing, there are several polls on skype for linux forums just for that.

@palirohar Probably not in this release.

@jarekh1 Yes, this was planned at some point, but no further developments happened yet.

@jarekh1 - I'm doing skype protocol for Kopete KDE4. It use public skype api. More info on http://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=90946

@berkus - "SET SILENT MODE" is important for hide any skype events. When will it work?

@palirohar - I can't say at this moment. Theoretically, it should be very simple change.

Thank you for your fantastic program. I use it in WinXP and Linux 32 and 64 bit. It works. If it would work better it would not harm. Even Win Mob 6.0 Phone works with it.
Sometimes there is bad connection, but regarding number of people on line and stage of development of this technology it very impressive!
I am personally missing only spread of the service to all european countries.
It was impressive last october when we were in Tonga and Samoa - WiFi skype on Windows Mobile was the only connection which worked without problems all the time.
Thank you.

This is great news! I'm just wondering how quick ASAP will be?

I've heard some stories about skype 4 for windows not playing nice with skype 2 for Linux on account of audio and video codecs and what not.
I haven't myself encountered any problems yet, but that could be because most of the people I know haven't updated yet, I think.....
If there's any ground to the rumors of codec incompatibility then an update would be very highly appreciated as soon as possible.
So keep up the good work and please let us know a bit more often that Skype for Linux hasn't died!

@mfdegroot - I'm not aware of the incompatibilities, but the sound quality will be degraded compared to 4.0-to-4.0 call, because 2.0 does not have all codecs that 4,0 has, and they will fall to least common denominator when establishing call. I think it will be back to win3.8 quality. Which is not that bad at all.

Ok Ok. Wonderful. Skype for linux is not dead. Approx one month ago you said that news are coming (after 4 month since last announcement and approx 8 months from last release)...
PLEASE, tell us when we will see a new beta. PLEASE speak about a schedule or something similar. PLEASE. We a little bored about announcement, give us something.

Have a small bug report: After finding a webcam that finally works wonderfully with Skype on Ubuntu 8.10 (Creative Live! Cam Optia Pro), I noticed that you can't see your own video, even though the other party can, and you have the option "Show my video" enabled.

Does this happen with all cameras? And have other people observed this bug?

Thanks!

Will this version support GET / SET AVATAR in public api?
And will new static linked version support public api via dbus?

Ok, let me amend my last post, this only happens when I start my video before the other party, otherwise I can see my own. Any chance you can fix this before the next release?

Thanks again.

Good to know about the 64-bit version.

I have a question: I read that on the Windows version there will be a switch to enable/disable UPnP; will you put it in the Linux version as well? I ask this because I have issues with my Siemens router which are unlikely to be fixed by firmware updates.

Thanks

@ahmed_omran This is not related to your camera, but to your video driver. Check xvinfo for amount of available Xv ports. You probably have 1, so skype can open only one. In new version there should be a workaround for this, on old version you may try using more recent video drivers or open source drivers instead of proprietary ones.

@palirohar - Presumably, yes.

@shin_megami_tensei - So far there is no such option.

@ahmed_omran, @berkus
No, that is not a video driver issue, is a skype issue.
The problem is that if you open first your cam you obtain your little monitor window, but after, if the other switch on his cam, yours disappears because the program covers yours. To see again your cam view, you must double click the cam window to obtain a full screen view, then wait a few seconds (otherwise skype crashes) and double click again to shrink the cam window. Now yu will see a little grey square in the place where there should be your cam. Now right click on the cam button and you will find among the options "show my cam". Click on it to switch off your cam view and then click on it to switch it on again and you will see your cam.

@berkus - did you ignore my post in which I was asking to give us something?

This is really excellent news!

Thank you for a brilliant product! And I can't wait for the next version!

Yours sincerely,
--

Please do not emulate linux 4.0 for windows. that full screen view is horrible and bloated. at least run a poll on the linux forums! i like how skype is inconspicuous!!

OpenSolaris and FreeBSD? you must be joking... work on linux pleeeaaassssse!

Yeah! Linux is VERY important for many as I can see. I'm looking forward to the new Linux Skype version 32/64 bit even if it's a testing version!!! It would be nice to release a beta version in the next few months! Concentrating only on Windows and Mac leaves behind a big chunk - the Linux users who are increasing day by day. Please do a BETA release!

@berkus

Okay, I can sure live with the current sound quality, don't get me wrong, better is better, sure, but good will do.

Thanks a lot for your work!
waiting for a beta release too for testing...

yes, that's what we are doing: waiting and waiting and waiting...

This is indeed great news.

Phonon is wonderful - I'm sure, but Pulse Audio is the default sound service in Ubuntu, so in my view Pulse has got to work. It does work now in fact, the only problem I run into is hot-plugging my USB headphones with Skype.

IMO, the two most important things I am looking for is a 64-bit version, and solid support for Pulse. Skype is the only app I use that has any trouble with Pulse on my Linux machines.

I am less interested in new features.

-Ron

Add me to the bottom of a long list patiently waiting for a Linux update. My company is considering moving our phone system to Skype, but the Linux version is missing features that makes me worry about the move.

Well - the download page says "Windows 2000, XP or Vista is required to run Skype". So I guess that's true.

What would be the best alternative for setting up a video conference to the grand parents?

Don't lose. More news in the next summer....

Please devs, we are in the dark about a NEW version since 2007. Webcams are barely supported right now, and 1 post after 3 months?
You can say that is not dead, but looks like it moves because someone kicks it once in a while.
Shame.

Another vote for linux!
Let us download/test a new version even in alpha stage...

Great to see some movement on the Skype for Linux side of things.. This whole mess really goes to show that the idea of developing 3 independent UIs for the same program is just a recipe for disaster. Now we're stuck with essentially three completely different programs with completely different interfaces and in vastly different stages of development. If Skype would have been smart they would have used Qt for all three versions and just added the necessary platform specific code. Cross platform suppport would be far from free, but at least they would all be on a common basis and Skype devs wouldn't be so stretched trying to make the Mac/Linux ports catch up to the windows version.

Oh please please please please PLEASE do not make the linux interface like that of Skype 4.0 for Windows. The current linux interface and the windows skype 3.8 interface are great, 4.0 is very very very bad (in my opinion). Please at least leave an option to switch between the old and the new interface.

Ok folks, the story repeated again... one week of silence from berkus. And in the last week we was asking for an alpha or a beta or a date. Not a casualty I think...

@luca.dgh - No, I didn't ignore your post. You should be aware that Skype's policy is "No dates", I cannot tell you any dates.

@bjornar.moltubakk - Probably, you are trying to download Windows version, that's why. 1-to-1 video calls are supported in Linux version as well as all other desktop Skype versions.

@pherthyl - Totally agree with you.

@stoiko.hakerski, mdillich - I believe there will be no exact win4.0-alike interface, at least not without an option to switch it off.

NB! To all people asking about an alpha or beta - we are running a closed beta testing program and you may join it if you feel technical enough to actually test new software, report bugs and help us improve this product.

Good to hear they're actually still working on the linux version. A native 64-bit version is long overdue and I really hope this actually happens some time soon. Overall, skype for linux is in pretty dire need of a polished, feature rich release.

@berkus
Happy to know that you are running a closed beta testing program.
I wish to help you in testing it, tell me how can I do. You can find me online about all day long if needed.

A native 64-bit version would be great!
I can help test it, if needed.

Regards
Marco

Hi Berkus,

I'm running Fedora, so have the benefit of using the latest spins of pulseaudio, linux kernels etc.. (normally more recent releases than ubuntu anyway!), and so could be beneficial to you. I run 64bit Fedora, with a webcam supported by the gspca module in 2.6.25.*+, and a USB "Skype" phone, that I use with Skype, running pulseaudio. So with pulseaudio, 64bit OS and a gspca webcam, am I suitable to be testing the closed beta?

I'm keen to, as I was keen to try out the MID release, which I was using for a while on my desktop.

So how do I get involved?

With regards to "no dates" policy. That's fine, but how about a "we're x% done". I.e we're 85% done, with all new features now in beta test build ?

I'd consider myself a techy user, and depending on the level of depth you may need during your beta testing I would be interested in helping you out.

If you have enough already, then fair enough. If not, I'm ready and willing!
Daniel

People willing to participate in closed beta testing, please contact me on skype and I'll forward you to our closed beta program manager.

I would like to participate in the beta program - I have an HP 2133 with SuSE 11 which I am having problems with. As you have written in the past you want to focus on UMPCs, I think I would be a valuable testing asset.

How do I add you on skype? The link doesnt work on Linux..

Yep, i'd like to participate beta too. I'm a long time linuxer (currently using Ubuntu Intrepid Ibex 8.10 and Jaunty). I'm not sure if you are "Banana Cowboy from Buttfreezeapolis"... which would be the result when i search for "berkus" inside the Skype contacts...

Berkus, how about headless API? Any chances we'll see it in 2009?

Me ofrezco para probar la version beta para linux de skype, que lo pide urgentemente!!!
I would like to participate with the beta version for linux, we need it!!!
SO Linux Ubuntu 8.10

Thanks.

@iwantflashcards

For skype intergation in Kopete I'm doing support for this skype links (or button - url action handler).

@jdmpower - Can't tell now, it all depends on the roadmap now, which is in the works. Hopefully we'll have it for the sake of Kopete integration.

@iwantflashcards, christoph.langner - Think of it as a test. Ones who get though become beta testers. Don't forget to specify that you are from the blog post and want to become a beta tester in your auth request - I generally reject auth requests from total strangers.

@berkus, i don't want to rant, but is this childsplay or business? If you are "Banana Cowboy from Buttfreezeapolis" you should consider a change of your skype details. I excpect from an skype employee more seriousness. I tried to get in touch with you, but you leave a chat as soon as i open it. Well, I don't have to waist my time on this. Good luck for Skype on Linux.

@christoph.langner - Sorry to hear that. You should've known that I have strict privacy settings and will not see your chats or calls or anything until you've requested authorization. Good luck to you, too.

And what about this bug: https://developer.skype.com/jira/browse/SCL-327 ?
Since I 've the 2.0.72 version, I don't have video anymore. There was no problem for video in the precedent version (the 2.0...).

@yanlot Looks to me like a problem with format conversion code, we addressed this partly in the video code update mentioned in the blog post above.

Okay, folks, we are staffed up on the closed beta testers and accept no more people unfortunately. Please do not contact me anymore about closed beta testing, as I could not fulfill your requests. This is not the last time we hire some betatesters, so you'll have your chance later, do not despair

OpenSolaris or *BSD shouldn't be hard if you assume "portability" is more than just "Ubuntu AND Red Hat".

I'm more than happy to beta an OpenSolaris version, but according to your last comment, you're closed for beta testers.

Thanks anyway,
Daniel L. McDonald -- {,Open}Solaris Engineering

Can't wait to see x86_64 port of Skype and brand new interface!

Thank you a lot!

I understand that the closed beta will be released when it is ready for the public. Can we at least see some screenshots from the new interface and the new options?

WoW!!! 100 posts and only one mentioned v4l2!! Of course 64bit version is also another must...

WoW!!! 100 posts and only one mentioned v4l2!! Of course 64bit version is also another must...

Happy birthday Skype !
One Year ago the latest Gold was out.
Skype 2.0.0.63 followed by 2 minor updates.
A great support for Linux users.
No comment

I just discovered this blog and read up on the posts. Too bad that there are already so many closed beta people that Skype won't accept more. I hack on Linux audio as a matter of profession; I use both x86 and x86_64 architectures; I'm frequently running different distributions; I have a webcam; I experiment with different audio backends (dmix, pulseaudio, OSSv4, etc); I am more than willing to go out of my way to provide detailed diagnoses and debugging info on problems, including stepping through the backend's code to figure out why Skype isn't working quite right.

I strongly suspect that many of the closed beta testers are just trying to get "more features sooner rather than later" and are really just users who are not going to provide you this sort of meaningful feedback. The fact that you more or less accept anyone who wishes to join the beta, and then close it off to all future requests, means that you are foregoing the potential help of a Linux-focused system-level software engineer who is willing to overlook the license policies of your company and help you anyway.

As a closed beta tester, my goal would be to provide detailed, implementation-focused suggestions for how Skype can better accommodate the various audio stacks that people want to use, be it dmix, pulseaudio, OSSv4, or something else entirely. The nature of the Linux audio stack is inherently choice-based; I feel the only way for Skype to really gain acceptance on Linux is to simply do whatever it takes to be compatible with these various setups. There are two kinds of audio-using programs on Linux: those for which the user must re-engineer their audio stack to accommodate, and those which are so flexible that they "just work" no matter which audio stack the user chooses. Skype is an example of the former; gstreamer is an example of the latter. The problem with the former type is that, if you have two programs of this type and they each require different, incompatible audio setups (for example, one only works with dmix and the other only works with PulseAudio), you can't have a single audio stack setup that works with both. This is a terrible situation, but it happens all the time. I would like Skype to move from the former category to the latter, and I am willing to make that happen as much as feasible without seeing your source code (although that, in particular, would help a great deal.)

If you want my help, I am happy to provide it for free. If you think you can hastily and significantly improve your product without my help, that's great too. OTOH, if the product does not improve _and_ your company disallows me to contribute, I will have to re-evaluate my choice of VOIP solution. As a technology evangelist and blogger, that might mean bringing some of my friends along with me to... oh I don't know, maybe Gizmo5?

you can use skype on ubuntu 8.10 64-bit, I'm using it and I only had a few problems with the audio
look at: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=432295
to view the how-to

Just one question for curiosity: Why don't you fully port Skype to something like Qt. You will have *one* codebase for Windows, Mac, Linux and even *BSD. And I bet Qt 4.5.x provides all kind of libraries for interface, input, file i/o, audio and video and so on (if the multimedia isn't sufficient, add something like SDL). You can always release a current version for all supported platforms at the same time and you even can easily make new ports to systems which Qt supports. And to get it to 64 bits you'd certainly only need to rebuild it with some minor build fixes.

Seriously, different codebases for diffferent operating systems/architectures should be history, who wants to code things like native Win32 and DirectX/DirectShow nowadays. Look at the open source community, nearly every desktop application you have there runs smoothly on whatever your favourite operating system is. Even KDE4 runs on Windows, thanks to Qt 4.x. So, Skype should be as well, too.

Adrian

How about improving the installation procedure and documentation for RPM users, as I described in

http://forum.skype.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=240691&view=findpost&p=1292381

It would probably take one person one day. It's poor practice to make people google third-party sites to find Skype's GPG key or set up its yum repo.

Hi, from the things allquixotic says about himself, I'd like to doubly recommend that you take him on as a beta-tester -- his sort of experience with the audio stack is just what you absolutely need to make a robust Linux release of Skype.

Think about this: Audio IO, the core technology of Skype's core business, is the *single biggest* non-working component of Skype on Linux. It's the one area that Skype cannot afford to have broken, and yet it's broken.

Thanks for the recent blog updates! All the best with the next few weeks of beta-testing.

PLEASE... make 64-bit Skype release as the first priority.unlike windows ,GNU/Linux works well with 64-bit distros like Ubuntu,Fedora,Debian etc you know.We need a 64-bit native version of Skype.oh developers,please have some mercy on us skype addicts on 64-bit GNU/Linux/*BSD platforms.

Thanks ,
Prakash

[b]PLEASE... make 64-bit Skype release as the first priority.unlike windows ,GNU/Linux works well with 64-bit distros like Ubuntu,Fedora,Debian etc you know.We need a 64-bit native version of Skype.oh developers,please have some mercy on us skype addicts on 64-bit GNU/Linux/*BSD platforms.

Thanks ,
Prakash [/b]

I really hope you will make these little changes to Linux-Skype like
* seeing another person writing
* arrow-up to edit last post

Those are minor details, but they're irritating when they are missing from conversations.

@allquixotic - Looks like we have something to talk about, I pinged you on skype.

@genki-adrian - Skype for Linux runs fine on Windows and Mac, since it's Qt. The choice of different development platforms is purely historic, and, in my opinion, highly unfortunate. I'd be glad if that change any time soon. Not entirely my choice to make, however.

@arobatino - This is a big problem, and during dark times when Skype for Linux had no real steering, the website has changed a few times, I myself cannot find those instructions anymore. With the new team in charge this shall be soon fixed.

@bryhoyt - Thank you, but I fixed that a lot lately. Even if allquixotic doesn't get into closed beta, we'll arrange something (maybe let him review the source code under an NDA).

@prakash.j.k - My personal position, is there's no reason for desktop end users nowadays to use 64-bit OS, because it brings more hassle than joy. Problem with 64-bit support is that UI is ready for it - all we need is a recompile for x86_64 target. But there are other teams that need to get their act together, and it becomes not so easy to orchestrate with more than 1 variable involved.

@dotmrt - These are implemented already.

genki-adrian: Everything except the audio path could be done using functionality that's built-in to the Qt framework. Unfortunately, even in Qt 4.5, Phonon is a bit limited. Its major drawback is that it can't do audio capture _at all_. For playback only, its capabilities should be sufficient for Skype, but any codecs they use now would have to be revised significantly to interface with Phonon. That's a bit of a waste without the ability to turn on audio capture.

I agree that, ideally, the entire Skype codebase should be "one source base, compile anywhere". They could use the MinGW toolset on Windows and Fink on Mac, and the built-in tools of distributions for Linux.

Qt is a great trade-off between the high performance of C++ and the platform independence of Java. You don't have to tote around a virtual machine like Java, and you get the benefit of optimized native code.

For the audio path, I would actually recommend OpenAL. That library has made huge strides torward being a good citizen of the Linux audio stack recently. Look up something called "OpenAL Soft". This is the default on Linux Mint, at least. It is better than the reference implementation because it is very friendly to software PCMs in ALSA, for example dmix and the ALSAPulseAudio plugin.

I have done some minor OpenAL coding myself, and the API is pretty clean. They support both capture and playback, although they do provide a whole slew of playback features that we don't need. You can set up a self-contained audio loopback test (i.e. play in the speakers what's coming from the mic) in less than 100 lines of code. They could eliminate the Skype Call Testing Service and make it 100% clientside.

OpenAL is sufficiently low-level to give them the fine-grained control they need for PCM I/O with codecs. They could very easily build a little filter graph of codecs, volume control, etc. on top of OpenAL and use it as their lone I/O backend.

And the nice thing? A Qt + OpenAL application is just as cross-platform as a pure Qt application. One of OpenAL's biggest goals is to maintain cross platform functionality and semantics.

There would be very few system integration/deployment issues with this platform. Qt can be made static if Skype wants to provide their own theme engine; or, they can use the system's Qt libraries. OpenAL can be shipped as a shared library that is loaded in preference to others on the system, via LD_LIBRARY_PATH.

I don't know how powerful the cross-platform drum beats within the Skype corporate structure, but when I used the latest Win, Mac, and Linux versions of Skype all in the same day, my head was spinning by the time I was finished. I think I'd rather have a single uniform UI built on a solid foundation like Qt + OpenAL. And it would be nice to have a single development team that introduces every feature in a cross-platform way. In reality, you really only need platform-specific build, test, and deploy teams -- not development.

bryhoyt: Thanks for supporting me. I'm still what I'd consider a junior developer, but I do have experience in the field.

@allquixotic and @berkus: thanks very much, good to see top quality stuff happening here.

I'll make this one short:

Where is your X86_64 version of skype Linux?

You've told us years ago that this was coming.

You have X86_64 computers at the office. Usually, porting codes from a Linux 32 bits to 64 bits takes the time... of compiling it once.

And, don't be cheap. Ubuntu is not the only Linux out there. Maybe the most widespread, but there are many others that need the packages too.

You've been able to compile RPMs once, you're able to do it again.

@allquixotic - I tend to disagree with your slightly idealistic look, but lets take this discussion online (to skype chat).

@karboneater - There are things like highly optimized assembly code which relies on 32-bits architecture and has to be substantially reworked for 64 bits to stay on-par with its 32-bit counterpart. This cannot be solved simply by "compiling it once" as you say.

@berkus: As a software developer myself, I've got but 1 question:

Are you kidding us?

"Highly optimized assembly code" (if hand-coded) is tantamount to building a sandcastle 1 grain at a time. In the end, you've spent an exceeding amount of time producing something that is very likely easily generated using the old bucket & shovel (optimizing compiler).

It's not my intent to try and insult the developers. I'm just wondering if it was a shortage of C experts or something truly unique that is not possible using C that caused the developers to resort to raw assembly language.

In all fairness, in the past 10 years, I have yet to see hand-optimized (or even assembler optimized) assembly code that exceeds the optimizations performed by a modern optimizing compiler. So, if you can, without giving away confidential info, tell us why someone dropped to assembly and made porting the software a ridiculous nightmare.

If you can get the "Linksys CIT200 Cordless Internet Telephony Kit for Skype" work with new Skype for Linux, that would be great.

Thanks for the laughs you have given me folks, skype for linux and this blog has become a joke. It seems the skype for linux developers are writing a 'super program' each line of code checked numerous times by a hundred little code monkeys and then tested by hundreds of code monkey pc's before they risk sending a beta out to us 4 linux users.

@junglistmaster

I totally aggree with you.
The answers we can read in this blog are a joke.
I always come here when I want to read something funny.
I am not waiting any more for a new version because if I would do this I would become
angry.

Yep, seems apt works ok. Skype doesn't release anything for Linux, just horrible screenshots taken in Windows.

@arkainrdk - Audio and video processing.

@ramon.parada - "just horrible screenshots taken in Windows." that is interesting, can you elaborate a bit more what did you mean?

I would just like to repost a message that was in the comment section of the previous blog post... to give an answer to it now that it is possible.

"Yes, I realise the next version is grossly overdue, and this has been a pattern previously with Skype for Linux releases. And I fully appreciate your frustration with it.

We haven't had a new release (ie. new major version) since November 2007 (the video release was already being wrapped up at this time), so it's not like we've been blindly ignoring PulseAudio. As I mentioned, it's a focus for the next release - so just hang in there Hopefully we can make you happy again soon.

andypoo My status | Tuesday, Jan 13"

Well, no you could not. Maybe you will make me happy again, but it was not, is not and will never be nowhere near "soon".
Again, please fully appreciate your linux users' frustration.
"News
* 16th June 2008 - Skype 2.0 for Linux hotfix
* 27th March 2008 - Skype 2.0 for Linux hotfix
* 13th March 2008 - Skype 2.0 for Linux Gold
* 6th February 2008 - Skype 2.0 Beta for Linux update
* 5th December 2007 - Skype 2.0 Beta for Linux update"

Can't wait Let us have it SKYPE !!! The linux geeks are hungry lol

As i said before if Skype is not considerate and they definitely have not been, Linux users will go elsewhere. I know it would be easy to persuade my friends and family to use Google Video as they all know and use Gmail already. Google Video will arrive for Linux shortly and if it's anything like gmail, it will be many times more reliable than Skype.
End of story.

Well because Skype can use Alsa, it works just fine with PulseAudio. You can make Alsa apps use PuilseAudio.

PulseAudio works wery well on Debian 5.0 'Lenny', it did work wery well on Debian 4.0 'Etch' too. I use it on all of my computers. I have no problems at all with current Skype and PulseAudio.

"It seems the skype for linux developers are writing a 'super program' each line of code checked numerous times by a hundred little code monkeys and then tested by hundreds of code monkey pc's before they risk sending a beta out to us 4 linux users."

Well actually testing is wery important part of the software develoöpment. Testing takes time. I rather wait longer than get unfinished crashy Skype version with lots of bugs. This is not any different issue than it that I rather use well tested Debian instead of Ubuntu which is buggy as hell. Eg. some guys whine how badly Pulseaudio works on Ubuntu, well it works wery well on Debian. So usually waiting a bit longer is worth it.

But ofcourse I want a new Skype release as much as anyone else here... I hopethere will be new version available soon... But it's better to take time to fix bugs than release unfinished buggy version...

Mah, the only reason why we are waiting some release is because the closed protocol done by skype does not allow to be used by other program. The day somebody will succeed to make skype work with another software, nobody will care anymore about the skype for linux, as other voip soft are much better developed. Unfortunately many people are using skype so we need to use it, but people are tired to wait and are starting to use other softwares that are opensource, cheaper and with a software better developed.
I am sorry to say that, but this is not a professional way to develop a program. One release 2 year ago, no new release, one news once a year. Moreover this is not a project in which people are developing software for free people are paid.

@matteosgasi: there is an API that other programmes can use. Yes, you need to have skype running, but using a good window manager can solve these problems. I had kopete running with the skype plugin (will be part of KDE 4.3) in a very nice way. Skype system tray icon was hidden an I used kwin's Application/Window settings to hide the chat windows. Works really well, looking forward to having it by default instead of from SVN (which is no longer available for KDE 4.2 ).

Just another interested party, how is progress? Convinced anyone at skype that open sourcing might not actually be a bad thing, convinced yourself?

@parena - as you say that API requires skype to be running. That isn't a workable solution in many cases.

Unfortunately not every non-64bit linux is x86. Take the multitude of old iBooks with their ppc cores, they run ubuntu and almost every package in the normal repository fine.
The only programs that I cannot use that could be helpful are virtual-box, skype, wine and flash.

I would like to know if anyone has skype working on a ppc based gnu/linux system? Or any success using qemu? The only way I can even text message people on skype is using imo.im

@berkus With your plans to support 64bit arch would that extend to other architectures? (please please say "yes of course" cause it is frustrating getting my overseas contacts to install and use ekiga when everyone knows skype...)

@berkus regarding the highly optimized assembler code... is the truth that this "highly optimized code" is made entirely to prevent seeing what the rest of the (unoptimized) code is doing? Why it is so impossible to debug the program....?

I sound far more bitter than I really am, the fact that skype is making the effort to support the growing number of linux users is great, thank you!

@parena1979 with silent mode api implemented in skype it will be even better.

@thorneynz we're getting there, given our very limited resources we first do what has biggest impact. i'm not even sure current code is capable of voice/video calls on a g5 mac. And no, this "optimized code" is not limited to code that makes debugging harder. 64 bits will most probably come on x86-64 first, since this is again where the biggest impact is.

Well, it may be a stupid question, but... AFAIK, the codec part of Skype - Silk - is now opened or at least is free for use. Keeping this information in mind, is it possible to separate the audio I/O part from the Skype core, i.e. make it accessible via API? In this case, the Skype itself will be responsible only for connection to server and data transfer, and all system-specific work may be done by a third-party software. It should solve the majority of problems with sound systems ant stuff like that for many years...

I would strongly appreciate Phonon support in newer Qt4 versions to get it automatically integrated into KDE4.
Ideally it would be to have several Skype frontends in future, GTK + Qt4 + Console + ...(?), including support for the audio interfaces of Gnome and KDE4 in common instead of only pure ALSA support.

They are more than three years that I use skype with Linux. Is ok for me to work with his interface, it is fast, light and clear.
Some my customers have installed the verisone 4.0 for Windows and all, all, about all, are complained!
The interface is a little clear, bulky and heavy, it is absolutely an useless thing and it risks to create confusion.
Not implement such interface for Linux, otherwise I am forced to work with the verisone 2.0 that it is very comfortable.
I don't absolutely succeed in understanding the folly to build a similar interface. Or at least I ask the possibility to be able to modify such interface to application level so that to be able to simplify it and to reduce to the really only useful funtions!

@ivan_stetsenko You're mixing up the soundcard interface and codec interface, but yes, integrating future versions into whatever soundcard interface you have will become much easier.

@renekrell I haven't checked if Phonon has VOIP low-latency interface already.

@abassign The new 4.0 interface has many subtle usability improvements. Some are so subtle you don't notice them, but they make life easier. Obviously, this interface is still very immature. Compare Skype 4.0 for Windows with KDE4 - this is something novel, but still very raw. My idea is that new Skype for Linux interface will remain almost the same. I personally see two possible improvements in the "window management" area - joining all chats into a single window with tabs, a-la Mac, and joining this window with main contact list a-la Windows. These two are almost opposites but I'm sure we could balance it in some way.

the interface on skype 4 Windows is absolutly MODERN FACE ... so the interfaceskype 2 LInux is absolutly "######" yes , the year 1981 ... o.k. we want theimprovments like in the skype windows - seeing typing, edit font, better and more size of video, hm why i am typing: just one 2 words: windows version - thats version is made great..... linux version is a face of mendicant , but windows version ,, hm face of prince .. developers developers developers go go go ... we need you ... ok... i am awaiting.. good luck boys

@berkus: I've experienced the 2 different windows (one contact list and one tabbed chat window) are the best option. I have this setup for kopete, where the list is hidden (click system tray icon to show) and my chat window (tabbed, of course, about 370px wide) is on the right, on all desktops. I have quick access to the people I'm talking to (I use skype and jabber daily for work, that's why I really want KDE 4.3 with the skype plugin) without any clutter (I disabled toolbars as well).

@berkus: I run my company on Ubuntu. often I have several chats in parallel. I need to be able to see them one next to the other, so my preferred way is clearly independent windows. Thanks for having a thick enough skin to interact with us! looking forward to the Linux beta .

@parena1979, marcoseiz - I'm sure there are valid use cases for all window arrangement styles. My preference would be an interface that can transform from one form into another seamlessly, by using for example drag-n-drop - some chats together with main window (and a valid use case would be to hide/show them together with main window from systray), while some chats are in separate tabbed window and yet some other chats are just side-by-side by themselves on the desktop.

where is the problem? Why won't you compile it for 64bit linux? I think that 32bit age is over... and who has a 64bit cpu has moved to 64bit already.. There is a bad bug that don't let me use video on my 64bit gentoo and my kde 4.2.1....

please do something... a beta! a workaround!

bye

please support x86_64 linux.,.
i dont wanna mess up my box with lib32, just to get skype 32bit working on my archlinux 64bit,

thx,

So glad to hear that development still continues!
Good luck with the development guys! I'll be looking forward to the beta release!

I did not know that talking about something is the same as developing it.
Until now I did not see anything, so for me is just a idle talk.

Hey guys, when is the new version comming out? Will it support contact groups? This feature was easily left behing, although many people use it. Come on, we can't wait any longer

I know this is whiny, and the kind of post that is discouraged, but I was wondering if anyone could comment on the reason(s) that the beta for this is still closed? Or maybe say whether or not the beta version is actually functioning in any meaningful way (does it connect, does it chat successfully, etc.)? I realize all the relevant people are probably under NDAs, but it would be nice to receive some tangible feedback about what's going on, even if it's a minimal acknowledgment about what's wrong.

@the_mouse1 - Yes, new version has groups support.
@gaelfx - There's nothing wrong, we just have this "Closed Beta Testing Programme" and it means, that the builds there in that programme are closed betas. That pretty much explains it. We do open betas when it's almost ready. I'll be glad once we change it to be more open, hopefully soon.

I just changed OS to Ubuntu and downloaded the appropriate skype immediately. I gotta tell you that I'm disappointed in the differences. The notifications are weak and I miss discussions. Chat notification settings for 'stalk words' are nowhere to be found. Preferences such as sounds seem to reset on their own. I have not yet used video but it will be an important use, and what I am reading from the rest of the posts I am in for some pain. Even simple things such as not seeing the pencil gets on my nerves and I cannot enable. That last one may sound silly, but hey you guys got me hooked on it and now your just another chat client in my eyes.

I am involved in a large and growing group of people and we are all leaning to making the move to open source. We constantly use skype and it's video/audio applications and promote new people flooding in to go ahead and get this program. But, if this is the best that skype has to offer on this platform then we'll just look for something different. Your choice skype guys. Ignore the linux crowd or become a standard.

@a_g1rla_g1rl Thanks for this feedback. However, if you could elaborate a little bit on some points, so that I could understand you, we can fix it then. First, did you use Linux Skype before, or are you switching from another OS? "The notifications are weak and I miss discussions." - what is your opinion, how the notifications should work? An example might do. "Chat notification settings for 'stalk words' are nowhere to be found." - what is that? An example might help as well. "Preferences such as sounds seem to reset on their own." - if that happens, it's clearly a bug and steps to reproduce are hightly welcome. Post them here or to our JIRA bugtracker. The typing notification ("the pencil") is already implemented and will be available in the next release.

I use skype just becouse other people do, and I am not the only one. Skype for linux is in just not usable in some situations. As much as i love the minimalism of linux version i hate:
1. Audio problems - skype should work out of the box for all the configurations - this is AUDIO application, it should be best at it, am I wrong?? . I had never had skype working out of the box - nor with my archlinux neither with fedora. After a few hours of work I managed it to work, after hours more - to work with other applications at the same time. Pulseaudio is not the case - never got it working, NEVER. Now I just lie that i don't have mic, becouse sound i get with pulseaudio is choppy and sometimes skype just crashes while calling.
2. Features from windows client - all mentioned above and one that i miss the most - custom notification settings per chat (per person would be awesom).
3. Desktop integration - Why do you need to write your own things when u can use already created and well fit into every desktop - for example notification daemon - what functionality did u miss that u created your own? there is no way i can adjust where i want to see notifications, what if my systray is in UPPER right corner?
4. Qt or Skype bugs (i don't know wich one is bad here) with Qt 4.4 - tray icon was always in a black background, now with Qt 4.5 - selecting text is a ploblem. Selected text background dont dissapear (it happens randomly)
5. Thanks God that I don't need to use video, becouse it's a pretty good chance to have more problems.

I wish your new version is much better at some parts and will land soon, becouse there are a few very good alternatives and you are winning just becouse you have monopoly in windows.
Just don't wait with beta too long

Well, as a full time Linux user and a user of Skype since 1.0 way way back, I am happy to see an update for Skype Linux. But, I think that the reason everyone is getting a bit testy here is that you promise all these great features in the next version, but have no alpha or beta for people to see. Even if you released a buggy version that was only meant as an alpha just for the public to see, I think everyone would be much happier. I personally don't care if there are issues in an alpha or beta release because those are expected, I just hate having the aggravating problems in the "stable" version that exists right now. All the changes that have been talked about here sound great and I have been waiting for some of the windows features in the Linux version for a long time.

So, in conclusion, perhaps a roadmap or alpha preview would make everyone happy and stop the whiners that keep saying that nothing is being developed and it is only talk here. Not to mention, bugs would be discovered much faster if you released an alpha to the public.

Thank you again berkus, and we always appreciate your hard work. Hopefully the Linux version can be on par again with the windows version like in the old days.

berkus ... i think we will more complacent if u give some release date .. i know, its impossible in development skype linux, but please at least circa ... month (or year ?) of the new skype release its psycho awaiting new release without any basic info about it .. please CIRCA

Skype discussion.

http://forum.ubuntu-tr.org/index.php/topic,8130.0.html

@berkus Thanks for your effort to make Skype for Linux work better!
As I'm Ubuntu Jaunty user, I have one small question: There is new notification guidelines for Ubuntu ( https://wiki.ubuntu.com/NotifyOSD ) and I wonder if it'd be possible in next Skype to have that kind of notification.

Good news! Waiting for it. Thanks...

Thanks for the update!

I'd like to second the https://wiki.ubuntu.com/NotifyOSD integration suggestion.

It is very nice to hear that there is continued development for Skype on Linux.
I am using Skype v 2.0.0.72 on Ubuntu 8.10 and I am a paying user. There are a few problems however I am hoping the new version will fix them. You are probably aware of the issues with PulseAudio. At least there should be instructions from Skype on how to work around it until there is a real fix. The other major problem I am experiencing is the lack of call waiting. It works on the Windows version but not on the Ubuntu version. I assume it does not work on any Linux version but I have only tested with Ubuntu. My target is to eliminate Windows and this is one of the very important and basic features missing.

Parts of the response to a_g1rla_g1rl I'd like to respond to: "The notifications are weak and I miss discussions." - what is your opinion, how the notifications should work? An example might do. "

I'm personally very fond of how Ubuntu does notifications in Jaunty, perhaps because they are visually appealing (minimal) and don't include action buttons (close, and the like). I suppose the point I'm driving at is that its a bit jarring to have every other program that uses some sort of pop-up notification appear nice and dapper, and then have skype show up to the party in a purple zoot-suit.

"Chat notification settings for 'stalk words' are nowhere to be found." - what is that? An example might help as well. "

I'm assuming this means something like Pidgin's ability to notify you if someone says your name, though perhaps extended to any chosen word or phrase. So, if you're chatting with your buddies and they happen to mention your favourite movie while you're preoccupied with another window, a notification pops up and/or sound plays to let you know you should be paying attention to some part of a conversation that interests you. Could be wrong about that being what a_g1rla_g1rl meant, but would be rather nifty if not mostly useless for my purposes.

""Preferences such as sounds seem to reset on their own." - if that happens, it's clearly a bug and steps to reproduce are hightly welcome. Post them here or to our JIRA bugtracker. The typing notification ("the pencil") is already implemented and will be available in the next release."

I'm glad to see that being implemented.

In addition, the obligatory echoes of sixty-four bit support (hey, I thought flash would be slower to the party than skype, lol) and a no vote on anything that looks too terribly much like the windows UI. Yes, I recognize some of the improvements, but it just feels so bloody clunky and hogging of screen real-estate. I love my contact lists on the minimal/clean side.

IMO 64 bit support is the most pressing issue.
Me (and I guess many others) don't really care too much about how fancy the chat window is or some full screen switch. Put the important stuff first! Skype (like any other application) is just supposed to work -- and all the 32 bit compatibility stuff is a burden, even if some people don't admit that.

Like someone else claimed before, I too think that it shouldn't be too much of a hassle to convert the code base to support 64 bit. When you do, your code will be clearer and probably more stable anyway! And for alpha or beta testers, I think you'll find enough around here.

Thanks God Skype for Linux isn't dead yet, I'm a pay user. I went back to the 2.0.0.68 version because the last one gave me some troubles, I tested it in FC8, FC9, Mandriva 2008 and it works fine, my primarily system is Slackware 12, also I'm using it in my notebook with Ubuntu 8.04, I believe the most important thing is that software must work fine, at this time I think it happens, but why not add the GUI stuff like MS windows? to be honest it would be so nice to have a version much fun like that, although obviously I'm not using a 64 bit OS you should work hard to compile it soon, the future is coming up! Right now to me the big question is When we will have a Beta version to test it? I'm sure you really don't need looking for beta testers so much, you'll find them here so fast

Please give us some news about this topic.

And of course, the Skype Prime support! I assumed it was there and today I thought I will test it out and alas it is not there.

I agree with the comment of kraymer.
Skype just needs to work. No one uses Skype because it has a fancy interface. It is not a toy, it's a tool to communicate and it just works no matter behind which kind of firewall you are sitting.

Therefore improvements on the sound (pulse) and the video functionality (possibility to adjust brightness, contrast,... ) are the important points.

If Skype for Linux isn't dead, can we get an update? Have you hit any goals, any new features that are actually completed? Are you rewriting it again? Are we closer to a new release? Are there plans for on open beta, or are you going from closed beta to gold?

@berkus on 4/8/09 Prior OS was Windows. My comparisons are based on Skype only and not to other programs. In a group or bookmarked chat on Windows you can set 'chat notifications' in which you can list words or names that will make that particular chat aggressively notify you or pop up in the taskbar when any of them on your list are used. If that particular chat is used yet not containing an 'important' word, the red flag is notification enough. It's a great feature that allows you to be on top of discussions without being pestered by casual comments that do not include any of your stalk words. On Ubuntu the feature of 'chat notification' word setting or 'stalking' isn't even available. The list of my bookmarked chats did not survive the transfer and therefore had to hunt them all down. I'm still not sure I have all of them back.

On to resetting of sounds and such. I have found this is only after a reboot but does it every time. But the hole has not gotten even deeper. Same headset used in USB works fine yet if direct plugs to soundcard are used (taking off usb) it never works. It is ONLY Skype that is not working as all other programs are heard fine. Yes, I've tried every single option in the 'sounds' area.

Video has been a bust so far. Yes, I am aware that video has been a problem throughout many programs and just here to let you know that Skype in Ubuntu is not working with my webcam. However, I have found that Ekiga finds it and uses it quite easily. Which brings me to another point. I thought perhaps that only during the times that I need to send video I would use Ekiga and use it's voip interface to do so to my Skype friends. Seems Skype doesn't play well with any SIP like ohr voips do. So now I have a choice to make as many others in my groups follow into the world of open source..... go ahead and clue them in to switching to an already working and easy Ekiga since the other 'goodies' on Skype aren't working anyway or perhaps hope that Skype for Linux catches up quickly so we don't all have to change communication software. Heck at this point even IRC is looking really good.

I know I just sound like I'm griping and maybe I am, but I think it is from pure frustration that a program I really liked and have converted many people to is not even close on the linux side where everyone seems to be moving to. Options and workarounds that I'm trying so that we can wait for a better version aren't even viable. Grrr. But yea, you're getting the pencil.

two suggestions:

1.- PulseAudio support needed !
2.- you can drop 80% of the bloatware with windows-skype, windows users love bloated, slow, buggy software (that's why they choose windows) - Linux users do not.

Is the fact that eBay is thinking of putting Skype on the market have anything to do with the slow development?

Just would like to reiterate my request for integrated SMS (no Python). The amount of money coming from me would probably triple...

Just found this blog while searching for some tweaks on my new 64-bit system. I wanted to stop in and thank you guys for the work you do in supporting Skype on Linux. Not that it's selfless, you wouldn't be getting my money if you didn't, but still I appreciate that the client continues to improve and adapt to the infrastucture changes that come with multiple OSes. Looking forward to the next release!

@chris.hunter - We're aiming for a hotfix soon, which will address PulseAudio issues. New developers are getting up to speed with the codebase.

@a_g1rla_g1rl - The words option is not in the UI on Linux, but it is supported. In the chat window you should type "/alertson words to notify on separated by whitespace". Similarly, you can disable notifications for a chat window completely by typing "/alertsoff", or enable them by typing "/alertson" (all without quotation marks).

On resetting sounds and problems with non-USB headsets - I belive since you've mentioned Ubuntu, you should be running PulseAudio (and this is a major culprit here). You might want to visit our forum and look for a temporary solution to PulseAudio "problem" there. Hopefully, after the hotfix is released you will not have to do that anymore.

For any help on your webcam problems I will need to know your webcam model and output of xvinfo. You can add me on skype and send this data directly or post it on the forum as well.

@dwriccardizhu - Sms support is implemented already. Here, a teaser screenshot:

@berkus: Do you have any idea how relieving it is just to see that screencap? THANK YOU SO MUCH!

So one question: Skype on linux seems to draw quite a bit of computational resources (anywhere from 40-50% of my cpu for video), does the upcoming version make some progress in this area? I'd be curious to beta-test it if possible, I'm fairly technically adept (just wrote a garbage collector for an existing runtime system), and have used linux for quite a while as well (first touched it 10 years ago).

@saynte This is a problem of Qt vs. X vs. video driver, painting many small regions for emoticons becomes real slow on some hardware. I'm sure we can futher optimize that a little bit, but still most of cpu consumption goes to X rendering those emoticons. Disabling animated emoticons should drop you to 2-7% cpu immediately.

Well, it's been three months since the last skype for linux update. Do the developers have any thoughts, here? Especially on the progress under 64 bit environments?

@berkus Sorry, by ``video'' I mean the video-chat portion. This is before any text-chat has even occurred, so in my case I don't think this would be the problem. Is there a typical expected CPU utilization for the video encoding/decoding? My memory is a little hazy, but I have some recollection that Skype under Linux tends to require more computational resources than under Windows, but it's been a few months since I used it under windows, so my recollection may be slightly hazy.

@saynte I don't have exact figures, but this very much depends on the webcam driver, Xv driver quality (and amount of hardware acceleration it provides), so may vary wildly. Generally, I believe, drawing anything in X requires more resources than in Windows.

@mlbottner Work on 64 bits support is in progress.

Berkus. Is the hotfix that is coming out soon going to support pulseaudio directly instead of the alsa plugin? Will other features like groups and SMS make it into this hotfix?

Do you have plans on using newer QT versions. Right now the skype ui/icon drawing seems a bit buggy to me and things like qgtkstyle theme doesn't work.

berkus said "Generally, I believe, drawing anything in X requires more resources than in Windows."

That's very odd, because ONE of the (MANY) reasons I entirely gave up Windows in favor of Linux is due to the VASTLY superior performance I get out of Linux as compared to Windows on the EXACT same hardware. I find it somewhat amusing that even the few Windows games that I still keep around and play (on rare occasion) perform BETTER in Wine than they do on ACTUAL Windows, and the two native Linux games that I have installed are also both more playable than those exact SAME two games were in Windows (again, on this SAME hardware).

I'm pretty sure that the amount of effort required for X to perform drawing operations depends quite heavily on a rather wide variety of factors, including: hardware, drivers, configuration, desktop choice, and the software DOING the drawing operation. All these things in combination when all working together PROPERLY can result in phenomenal performance gains OR losses depending on whether or not any ONE (or more) of these factors manages to "drop the ball" along the way.

Since my permanent switch to Linux, I have seen both ends of the stick on that issue. I've seen the phenomenal performance that can be had when everything is all working together flawlessly and every point in the chain is doing it's job, and I have also seen just how bad it can get when software somewhere along that chain is either badly written, or simply has a bug that causes a performance breakdown or bottleneck. So far, the BEST performing software I have seen in Linux has all been Open Source, but to be honest, some of the WORST I've seen has ALSO been Open Source, so I will not go so far as to instantly point the finger at closed source proprietary software being "bad" from a coding standpoint. It is my firm belief that the quality of software depends ENTIRELY upon the quality of the programmers WRITING the software in question, and on how much those programmers actually CARE about their project, and NOT so much dependent on the licensing model under which it is developed.

That having been said, I would like to point out that I must add my thanks to the thanks posted by others here. I appreciate the effort to release a version of Skype for Linux (even if it IS somewhat buggy and behind the times) and I also look forward to seeing what the next version will bring (hopefully mostly bugfixes). I personally tend to fall into the camp of folks who are willing to WAIT for new features in favor of seeing the EXISTING features made more reliable and stable FIRST. Although, of course, it would be nice to see a few minor UI improvements (such as contact groupings instead of one huge flat list of contacts, for one example).

I thank the Skype Linux team for their efforts thus far and wish them all the very best luck on all their future efforts regarding Skype for Linux.

(P.S.: I second and third the motion to avoid adding Windows-style bloat "features" to Linux Skype.)

@silverknightutah I am very well aware of the fact that games generally perform better. But this is mostly due to better scheduling in Linux than in Windows. For graphics they all use DRI and that means almost no X involvement in the actual gameplay rendering.

I sincerely hope we will not step on the path of adding more pointless bloat to Skype client on Linux. I am actually pondering the idea of cleaning up the Options dialog and reducing the number of choices you have to make, so your pointers to what can and should be removed as "unused/pointless settings" are appreciated.

its possible get here some screenshots of the new version ?

Now that Ubuntu 9.04 is out, what version would you reccomend to download and install for that OS?

The Feisty Fawn 7.04 version, or the Static, or Static-oss version?

Thanks!

I just wanted to say thanks for supporting Linux!

I really hope other companies get the drift. If we could just get the game companies to get on board too that would be great. I heard recently ID software is going to stop writing it's games for Linux. Anyone who tries Linux especially these days would be pleasantly surprised at the ease of use ( especially Ubuntu ) even if they didn't know the shell. I have converted almost all my friends to using Linux, usually it's just fear or not knowing there is an option which prevents them from switching. Linux Rocks... Windows Blows... and Macs cost too much... tell everyone spread the Linux virus

Dear Berkus,
I would like to thank you for your work on Linux version of Skype....I would like to point out that a fully integrated skype in a Kde or Gnome enviroment would use Telepathy framework...Have you ever thought to develope a connection manager for that framework???Thank you very much and keep up rocking!:D

@nous82 I started looking at Telepathy 2 years ago while it still was in its infancy. Now it's relatively mature, we shall make use of it soon. Especially on mobile devices.

Hello people!

Observing mathematics, I have a good news! In less then 30 days, we will have one morepost about skype! Do not lose it! Feb -> March -> Sept -> Feb ->....

Well, march 2009 has passed way, as weel april, hum... maybe May is the month!

A lot of people testing skype, and no more news?

Oh , please, what in the @#$% makes me come back here waiting some REALLY news? Has anyone have any explanation?

Hi Berkus,

that screenshot looks promising. Any chances for a soon public beta ? There are definitely dozens of people willing to test everything. I was just frustrated by the current Linux-version on Ubuntu 9.04 again, which took me almost half an hour until I got a Skype-connection to my father who is using the Windows version. Sound keeps on causing trouble, the dialog for the sound devices sometimes freezes for 1-2 minutes when Skype searches for audio-device available.

Please release the beta, I want to test the new audio-stack :/.

Adrian

Hi Berkus,

Firstly thank you to the skype on linux development team for their hard work.

In developing any application there are inevitably shortcomings and bugs, especially initially. I would suggest that rather than attempting to add features, the timely release of a stable application that addresses the most common problems should be the immediate target. New functionality can be added subsequently.

Based on searches of the net, without a doubt the most common problems are related to essential functionality, namely sound and video and not functional shortcomings. Under linux apparently that means support for Pulse for the audio issue. The video issue would seem to be more complex.

A release of skype has been awaited by the linux community for some time now. A public roadmap, would help to reassure users that skype has made a commitment to linux and possibly alleviate some of the pressure on you to reply to these postings by providing basic information about the functionality of the next release.

Regards,
Antony

It is good to hear what is going on, but I still do not understand why Skype is not changing its development strategy towards platform independence? There are loads of more or less platform independent development frameworks out there (including Qt). You would not need to re-invent the wheel for every operating system. With the core (e.g. user interface, networking, codecs, SMS, chat,...) being the same for all operating systems your operating system specialists could focus on evening out the OS and hardware specific stuff like video and audio.

regards, Mark

Thanks, Berkus, great to see the screenshot.

With regards to options, what do you mean clean up? I feel like I use almost all the options available right now.

@mark_dammer "why Skype is not changing its development strategy towards platform independence?" - I did not say this

@dwriccardizhu If you play with notification settings a bit you will see they are not too friendly to configure. So there's at least one cleanup there. Some options can be probably moved out of dialogs and backed up by using sensible defaults from the start.

Hallo!
I'm happy to read about a coming soon update for LinuxSkype... Let me only say that I really find not nice at all he WindowsSkype 4.0 user's interface, everything so compact and small! I'd love LinuxSkype user's interface to remain as it is, or to be like WindowsSkype 3.x, but please, not like 4.0!!!

Hi!
I'm glad to see that Skype for Linux is not dead at all!
I use paid Skype in a daily bases (me linux to my girl linux / me linux to my boss MacOsX / me linux to my mommy Win).
Today I have installed the new Mandriva Linux 2009.1 (Spring) and my Skype sounds like it is under the water... the rest of the system and apps works normal.
The screenshot up there is a BIG relief... be let in the dark is too uncomfortable!
Aside pulseaudio and v4l2 support, one thing I miss a lot in Skype is a panel to control the brightness and contrast of my webcam. My Acer Crystal Eye webcam is configured (by acer) to get a good image in low light environment, but when I'm in the day light my buddys in skype can see only a blank white video, so definitely wold be very useful to get control over my webcam in skype.

Now the big questions... There is a way to get involved with Skype closed beta test?
There is some ETA for Skype 2.1 for Linux? (Can be a quarter estimative )

Thanks!

Ohh of course, the desktop sharing wold be very appreciate too in the Linux version!

pls release some alpha ot pre-alpha of new skype.
linux users don't fear too much of alpha software
and it can help improving it.
And make it soon. It's almost year since last version!!!!

tnx

I decided not to spend any money for Skype calls until decent version of Skype for Linux is released. The 2.0 is old and ugly. It's an insult to Linux community.

@berkus @mark_dammer "I did not say this " re: platform independence
You set my heart racing with comments like this berkus! Is there a remote possibility of skype on ppc-linux?

The http://imo.im interface is limited (by crappy flash support) to text only skype conversations which is really missing the point of skype...

a lot of people are stating the 64 bit support is the most important thing, and complaining that installing 32-bit libraries is a ridiculous work-around (which I agree).
But I have 64-bit Ubuntu 9.04 and am running 64-bit skype without an issue. Got it from here: http://www.skype.com/go/getskype-linux-ubuntu-amd64
Did I miss something (won't skype support 64-bit linux in the future ... or does skype only support 64-bit ubuntu)?

@ethraza1
I agree. Skype sound on Mandriva 2009.1 is just not usable. Your way of describing the sound like hearing voice bubbles from below the water is quite right.
It works if one switches off Pulse completely, but then many other applications e.g. Firefox do not play any sound any more.

vilius-n:
"I decided not to spend any money for Skype calls until decent version of Skype for Linux is released. The 2.0 is old and ugly. It's an insult to Linux community."

I completely agree. The longer it takes to get a working version of Skype for Linux (and I mean Linux, NOT just ubuntu), the less I'll be inclined to spend any money on Skype.

I know the devs are sick and tired of hearing people complain, but we have a right. You should have opened the beta testing to everyone. Releasing one sad screenshot isn't going to cut it.

Berkus, I've never played with the script stuff, but I have used the other notification options (sounds/messages). Have you ever used Pidgin? I don't use it anymore, but it was without a doubt the best client I'd used-- exactly because of the customizability. I understand the desire to keep the application lightweight and simple, but my input would definitely be against removing customizability. It's why I could never bring myself to use GNOME, and hated the early version of KDE4.

Please throw us a bone soon! Skype 2.0 is ancient and Ekiga crashes all the time.

We're working on some remaining critical bugs. It will be out Real Soon Now(tm).

@dwriccardizhu Second this opinion. My main reason for using Linux is customizability. Keeping the application light is one thing but having to live with presets goes against the trend.

@berkus
My two cents...A sensible alternative might be using a Xine configuration style where the user can select how granular the configuration should be. Newbies won't be confused and geeks won't be confined.

IMHO, given the poor state of the Linux Skype compared to its Windows cousin, configuration verbosity should hardly be a priority and to a certain extent, neither should the interface. Perhaps I am a dinosaur but adding parties to a call without disconnecting, transferring a call/conference to an external number landline are much more vital for day to day business.

@palirohar
This is great news. Kudos!

After a week of tearing my hair out over sound problems with Skype under Mandriva 2009.1 64 bit, I finally came over here to see what's going on. I'm very happy to see that a new version will be out "Real Soon Now", as this is a dark stain on my otherwise very positive experience with 2009.1.

I wish that Skype would adopt an 'issue little & often" strategy in the future; fix the really urgent stuff like sound first and issue updates later according to the priorities.

@berkus
Is there some alpha release available for download?

@samuel.james.cole
Same with me

it is prefect linux opereting sistem have skypi chat room

1. What the new version number will be?

2. There's only one precious item in Skype 4.0: SILK. The rests are optional. Give me the SILK, and reject the rest!

3. When will you new program come out for business users? There're hundreds of business users blocked out every week because they need and subscribe the unlimited program. The business users are sick off to be treated as animals in comparison with the consumers.It's very strange for a company that is going to IPO to take such strategy.

Hi,

I think its time to give to the growing linux community a new version of Skype. More and more of my friends and people i know are turning to some kind of linux distribution. I think open source is the future, and if skype doesn't take this mind i think its going to loose some money, because for example, i'm a paying user but i won't recharge my credit until there's a new version for linux at the same level as the ones for windows or mac.

I wish you all the best for the new version. I hope it to be launched soon.

Linux 64bit version of Skype in 2009 ?
Its been years since they promise it.
I bet for my laptop they made mistake during writing and forgot to add one zero at the end of date!!!

Btw, thanks to people using this crappy product instead of switching for open protocol, other people must suffer and use it to communicate... This is like with Windows, lots of people use it.

I will NEVER ever pay skype a single cent, even if they ever make 64bit version.
I will NEVER use it to communicate because everyone else uses it.
I will ALWAYS use open protocols and open source software.

I thought, I'd check out what's the latest with Skype for Linux as I moved away from Skype for Linux about two years ago, tired of waiting for updates that were never coming and seriously offended by the attitudes of the development team that behaved totally autistic to users demands.

It is very sad to see how little progress has been made over these two years. Users are basically still begging for the same stuff to be implemented or supported (64 bit, video that actually works, etc). The last version is over a year old and is not usable for loads of people because of a variety of bugs or incompatibilities that are not being addressed. The same small development team report approximately twice a year on their progress, saying that the next version is around the corner (how many times have we heard that before?), but never actually deliver. Yet, when people stand up and ask where the hell that new version actually is, or when people try to make a case for a different development model, the Skype people act as if stung by a bee and tell you off.
Really, really sad, all the more when you realize that this development-drama is taking place within the confines of a multibillion dollar company.
I can't believe the cheek of Skype to treat it's customers like this. And I even paid for that bloody Skype credit.

Berkus, looking the size of this page, I had a wonderful idea!
Start a new blog post saying: "It's been REALLY a while...."
After that, insert some more new miraculous ideas, something like "Mind read support","Cooking", "support for 64 os","video working", and start this thread again.
It is growing ridiculous big, 80% of it is about complains, and the linux skype team has absolutely nothing to show.
At least, a new thread wouldn't put you in such embarrassing situation.

This blog is hilarious, i compare it to 'days of our lives' the awful American soap opera that comes out with terrible, unbelievable one liners. You are making yourself look very silly by basically lying to paying customers.
For those that are interested: If you would like to be notified
when a version of Voice and Video Chat in Gmail (for Linux) is available for testing, please sign up at

https://spreadsheets.google.com/a/google.com/viewform?key=0Am_1hJhQWY-4cFlaT1M2V0V3ZmQyZGhsWkkybV9iUlE
I suspect it will be available before Skype wakes up.

Sorry i cant share the happy thoughts with you. Linux Windows is on v4, and on Linux we still have to use the "crappy" v2.

I think its a must for skype to get an upgrade done. Specially for customers who pay for your product and use it for business.

Skype is making money with us. With us i mean people, who is it for more than just a free messenger/Voip. Shall i calculate a bill the states how much i actually have to spend to just keep one must running application alive on a different OS, to keep my business running? You guys should think about that. Instead of speaking its done soon. Get it done before Skype Win v5 hits the net, and please your customers.

I agree with junglistmaster. This blog is hilarious. I have it bookmarked and come here everyday for a good laugh.

A few notes:

1) threatening not to spend money on skypeout: I can see why it makes you all feel good, but this is ridiculous. We all wish linux would have better market share, and while it is said to be around 1% now (which is a good sign), the linux+skype combination will be lower than that, so skype management will not give a damn.

2) threatening not to use skype-free-calls anymore: First, since it is free nobody gives a damn, and then we have to use it anyway because our (window$) friends use it, and we have to live with it.

3) whining about version numbers: our friend Berkus has repeatedly said the version numbers between the different OSes have nothing to do with each other. Can I suggest to call the next release 100000000.1 to make you all feel good?

4) beta/alpha testing and release date: the management has decided there would be no open alpha testing, no release dates given. Can't you read?

Finally, skype is a (big) company, Berkus is a pawn (no offense) in that company. Screaming at him is useless at best, might even be counterproductive. From the looks of his post, he seems nice, however torn between an angry user base and a management that does not give a damn (and for good reasons, unfortunately). I pity him...

@berkus I'd be very interested in how you are approaching the bluetooth support in combination with pulseaudio.

As you will probably be aware, pulseaudio has seen extensive development in the area of bluetooth devices and I would strongly suggest using that as a conduit for your bluetooth support.

Pulse still has some way to do to become a universally accepted and fully capable part of the linux audio stack but I firmly believe that it will ultimately reach that goal and it would be in Skypes best interests to join that party with bluetooth support.

The policy and routing decisions will not have to be implemented in skype directly if it just exposes the information needed (e.g. to mark it's streams as VOIP streams, routing logic built in to pulse can automatically switch the call to the BT headset when it's activated - no need for any complicated logic in skype!) and a centralised system that plays nice with other VOIP apps - users have a single point of config, not random, differently designed options pages in lots of different apps.

I've read some of the comments here about not getting pulseaudio working, and while I appreciate peoples annoyance here, this is to a very large degree a reflection of how your distro packages it up. Pulse is not a simple application that you just drop in - it requires a degree of effort to make sure different configurations are supported and requires tools and GUIs to allow users to configure things properly. While I don't want to badmouth certain distros, it has to be said that Ubuntu had a *shocking* rollout of pulse. This is very annoying for me as I am involved with pulse upstream and this poor implementation reflects badly on us when other distros (like my own Mandriva) did a very good job of integrating pulse. You cannot enable pulse by default but *not* route alsa apps. You *must* provide a tools to control pulse - (pavucontrol is the upstream one, more welcome!) otherwise it's rather pointless. Ubuntu has learned from this although as far as I know pavucontrol is *still* not installed by default! Anyway, all I want to say is that please do not think badly about pulse if you've had a bad experience. Do some soul searching and think about the issues involved. And when you think about it, it's remarkable that some distros have had such a smooth transition considering the number of applications that do, in fact, "just work".

Anyway, berkus, as I am involved in upstream pulse, I would welcome it if you and your linux developer colleagues at skype would join us in the pulse development IRC channel so we can help you make Skype work with pulse in the best way possible. Please come along

And to the people who compare Phonon with Pulse? Yeah your car may be OK, but my elephant kicks ass. Try comparing like for like. The two things are not comparable! It's not even close! They are both to do with "sound" and it ends about there.

@colinguthrie: I read your plea, and while I understand a developer of pulseaudio calling for more support, I must tell you the first thing I do in kubuntu after a clean install is "sudo aptitude remove pulseaudio", and that mandriva frustrates me in not allowing me to do anything similar.
Why? Because I have yet to find what pulseaudio will do for me besides eating memory and cpu cycles; everything I need to do with sound works with kde and phonon and alsa. I also don't have jack installed. I just need something that lets me play music, make voice calls, and little more. And preferably that won't bring my netbook to its knees. That is why for me pulseaudio is way overkill.
Maybe there is a must have use for pulseaudio for non-gnome users. But I've yet to find it.

I read the hold thing. What a waste. It would seem that the powers that be have little or no commitment to Linux. Do the Terrible Hardware Twins even make a 32 bit x86 processor any more. I wouldn't know it's been so long since I used one. To PulseAudio or not to PulseAudio that is the question. But only to someone not wanting to support Linux. The rest of us using Linux know the answer. And last but not least where is SIP?

@jim_metz: Um, there are still a lot of 32-bit processors out there, and a lot of them still being made, such as those for netbooks. There will probably continue to be MANY made for embedded/mobile devices in the future since power is such a big issue for those devices, so continuing development on 32-bit app seems to be a very good use of one's time. Besides, it's much easier to run a 32-bit app on a 64-bit processor than to do it the other way around.

@pippo_fluca
1. U right about blaiming the dev team is kind of the wrong person to blame, but when we dont say it here, where to say it than? email? dont think they will ever reach

2. The market share of OS shouldnt matter. As Skype should take care of their paying customers who use there product. No matter what OS they. Win Mac Linux, are common used and should all be provided in the same way. Specially for when you have people using skype for business and using Skype`s paid services.

3. Perhaps the version numbers between different OSs have nothing to do with each other. But did you ever look at Skype v4 Win. Its not the number, its the functions that make the difference. Not even talking about the GUI. In skype linux i cant even have my contact groups.

Glad to read about the ongoing process. Hope I'm in-time for some questions/suggestions:

First I miss some options. I just installed a new notebook with Kubuntu LTS (8.04), and Skype is not able to open web links - it simply pops-up a message which disappears that fast I cannot read it. What does it call to open links usually? This specific notebook has no Gnome desktop installed - maybe that's the reason. An option to specify the desired browser would fix this.

Next: I already installed Skype on a lot of Linux systems. Only one time it worked out of the box - all the other times the (mostly) only thing to fail is the microphone - which then always is very difficult to get to work. But I guess that's focussed already.

Third (and last for now): Berkus, you already mentioned many settings are there, just not in the GUI:

The words option is not in the UI on Linux, but it is supported. In the chat window you should type "/alertson words to notify on separated by whitespace". Similarly, you can disable notifications for a chat window completely by typing "/alertsoff", or enable them by typing "/alertson" (all without quotation marks).

@Berkus: Forget about question #3 - I just found it: "/help" (in the chat) and then following the URL it gives at the end of that list.

I was hoping for an option to solve #1 along (something like "/set browser /usr/bin/firefox" or the like) - unfortunately there wasn't. So I keep looking forwards to a hint

@izzysoft: Locate the file shared.xml in ~/.Skype
Search for the UrlHandler tags and type the location of your favorite browser between them.
Works for me.

@spienk: Could not find the mentioned tags in that file. But your post indeed points me to something: It's the notebook of my wife, and on her old notebook she was running Windows XP. I just copied the entire Skype folder to ~/.Skype on the new Linux notebook (found that suggestion in some forum, don't remember where). So it could in fact be some "Windows specifics" causing the problem. Any other hint what I could look for?

@spienk: Found that tag in my ~/.Skype config and copied it to the one of my wife (of course while Skype was closed - and yes, I took care to copy it into the right block). Did not help, unfortunately. Also tried it in the config.xml of the skype account with no success.

Hmm. I found that Skype does not work in Linux.

OTOH, Ekiga (http://ekiga.net) seems to work perfectly.
There is even an Ekiga for windows.

Some organizations have forbidden Skype because of security concerns.
FYI: "Skype: A practical security analysis"
http://www.sans.org/reading_room/whitepapers/voip/skype_a_practical_security_analysis_32918

hey! thanks for update... keep up the good work, and remember linux

and by the way... any chance for skype-linux being open source

@paul.blackburn:
From the document you referred to:
"Conclusions
Skype stands alone among VOIP applications due to its Peer-To-Peer network
architecture and its extensive use of strong encryption of not only communications content but signaling traffic as well. The application itself and its network communications are extremely resistant to reverse engineering, making Skype activity difficult to detect and its communications impossible to decipher. For networks that are subject to strict legal or administrative regulations, Skype should be banned to prevent unauthorized communications."

IMHO companies decide to forbid it mainly for forcing employees not to waste time with chatting, but not so often due to security issues. But this is subject to another discussion than this one.

To all the people doing negative agitation here kind of "Don't use Skype on Linux, use program XYZ": This is not really helpful and not even objective, is it? I've been using Linux for many years and possibly tried all kind of VOIP applications - and I'm sure there can be found issues everywhere. Skype is a complement to other applications, not more, but also not less. Use the bug tracker in case of bugs you find, Skype does also have one, even though I don't know at them moment whether the developers look there
If a company decides not publish its code it is its decision, not your's. If you don't agree don't use close-source software. I can't see an unfair competition between open and closed source software, no one forces someone else to use some tool or product.

Very nice to read this. I think Linux Skype really needs a update.

@renekrell: Well said. I'm an advocate for FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) - but that does not mean to damn closed source just because it's not FOSS. And aside from that, even if I would, this is the wrong place to do.

Same applies to all the "demands" - h*ll, you get it for free! Sure you may have wishes, suggestions, and may be even (polite) complaints. But it's always a question of striking the right note.

Nuff said - eagerly waiting for the next release as well And for a solution to my problem above...

The original post is now nearly four months old. Can you give us any idea as to when the next release might become available?

@izzysoft: You're right, it doesn't work. Apparently it was just a coincidence, the setting in the shared.xml file and the actual starting of the right browser. Probably the setting was something needed by an earlier version of Skype. Setting the UrlHandler in a fresh .Skype/ folder had no effect at all.
Skype probably started the preferred browser. And indeed, when I changed the preferred browser it started that one. You're using Kubuntu so I guess the setting of preferred applications is about the same as with Ubuntu (which I'm using).

Go to System->Preferences->Preferred Applications. Choose the Internet tab and choose your browser. If you want to start one that isn't listed, choose 'Custom' and enter the appropriate command in the text field. Make sure your venerable browser is installed ;o)

That should do the trick.

@spienk: You are my hero! Exactly that was set differently on my wifes machine (though on KDE it's found at a slightly different place: K -> Systemsettings -> Applications -> Browser - translated back from German - didn't want to post the Russian stuff from my wifes machine *grin*). On her laptop there was no app specified (which means something like "let the system find it"). I specified firefox - et voila! Thank you for the hint (to the almost obvious - but as you know, the most obvious things are sometimes the hardest to find).

Can we protest? 4 months and nothing.

Create an account ending with ".skype4linux"
and post here, saying just "I want a decent skype 4 linux".

You dont have to use your account, just create it and post here.

4 months late, and no progress.
Let's protest.

A: If u have a better idea to protest, post it, please.

letsprotest.skype4linux, you are acting like a child?
Thank you, 'skype guys' for trying to reborn skype4linux. I am seeing this post for a first time though it's 4 months old and I will be more than happy when the beta releases.

I vote for deleting all the "just protesting" notes (at least those without anything constructive inside, and those just using harsh words). Besides the are inconvenient, wrong placed, and unpolite - the entire blog gets better readable and more useful without them...

Im not one to usually complain, and i agree the protesting is childish and stupid.

We have waited a long time for this update but tbh i thought skype for linux was dead and wasn't expecting an update anyway. I was looking for an alternative but really, skype is just better for my usage (talking with skype friends).

Still it would be really great if we could have a hint as to how much longer we will have to wait. Its been 16 days since we were told it will be out "really soon". I just would like an idea of how much longer there is before we get the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Berkus sounds like a great guy, and id like to thank the Skype team for not giving up on your loyal penguin friends. We all wait with bulging eyes.

I second firecraker 180. It would be nice to have an idea as to when it should be out. "Real Soon" does not sound like after half a month to me...

I second firecraker 180. It would be nice to have an idea as to when it should be out. "Real Soon" does not sound like after half a month to me...

Hey Skype Pinguins what's up? What about a Beta release? I didn't get Skype 2.0 voice running anymore using Ubuntu Jaunty and a Dell Studio 17
I'm really eager about your rewritten audio support. Please bring up some light into the darkness of hope. Thank you for supporting Linux.

"I want a decent skype 4 linux"

@firecracker180
I also agree that the protest could be stupid.
BUT skype is doing something worse. In the last two years, a lot of things have "improved", vista, windows 7 beta, gnome, kde, skype for windows. Linux version of Skype has not. In September they told us that they were working on it. They said that were sorry about keeping us in the dark in January. I got a feel that nothing is moving, and they are just sending a "keep alive" signal.
So, I would move "childish" over Skype.
To sum up, how long must we wait? Or, must we just stay quiet, saying that all of us are totally happy about the dedication that skype is giving for linux folks?
Thanks

Can we protest? 4 months and nothing.

Create an account ending with ".skype4linux"
and post here, saying just "I want a decent skype 4 linux".

You dont have to use your account, just create it and post here.

4 months late, and no progress.
Let's protest.

@area42
if you don't get Skype 2.0 voice running with Ubuntu Jaunty 9.04 it could come from your internal mic not working under Ubuntu Jaunty. Try updating your Alsa driver to version 1.0.20. It worked for me (you have to update and compile alsa-driver, alsa-lib, and alsa-utils). The problem does not always come from the Skype version

@berkus
as an employee of Skype I cannot believe that you have not been given goal objectives with regards to the release of the new Skype for Linux. Why not share some of it with us? I do not agree with the harsh criticisms that have been made (I don't believe they are constructive in the end) and I fully support and appreciate the efforts of the Linux Skype team, but please could you be a little more specific than Real Soon ..

Thank you very much!!!

I'd really love to see new version of Skype for Linux before the anniversary of this post...
@berkus, please, enlighten us on the progress!

Ahw c'mon! 4 months and no new information!
It would be great if a new version of skype for linux was released just before, or at the same time of KDE4.3 (wich I'm anxiously waiting).

Hello, I'm perfectly fine forgetting that there will ever be the 4.0 for linux. And if there finally be one, well who cares about all the bells & whistles.. But what I personaly do care, is that the video is broken on my pc with the currently available version (either the skype immediately crashes after I do "test" the video, or with different user account and settings I see the green screen). Please make some bugfix release in the 2.0 line, for better hardware support. All the other video applications (ekiga, flash sites..) do work with my webcam, only the skype breaks on it.. It's a pitty.. My system is provided with the most up-to-date software libraries, kernel, but no luck for skype anyway...

@area42 try running the "killall pulse-audio" in the terminal before you open up skype. Then make a call. It is a pain but its the only solution that works for me since the jaunty update.

@roberto_r its their product in the end though. We should be lucky they updated v1. When linux becomes mainstream then we'll be sorted. Till then we are but a grain of sand on a seashore.

A minor update for 2.0.xx that just adds a feature to auto-select the "country" (United States) that I am am calling would be nice. It's a little annoying to have to do that every time I call a number that I am not adding to my contacts.

As far as 64-bit version: We can just install our distro's 32-bit compatibility libraries, so that isn't really a big deal. Once the majority of GNU/Linux boxes are 64-bit, then it would be nice.

Of course it's nice to here about Linux again. If your a Linux user and need help with anything (even non-skype related), feel free to skype me (even just to BS about GNU/Linux) =)

I'll add my voice to please update us on when you'll release the new version. Please give priority to your Linux users. I am a paying customer, but have been frustrated with the lack of support on the Linux Skype.

Hi there.

I was on vacation pretty much without internet access, but looks like there was some interesting stuff going on there.

For people trying to protest I would suggest http://www.petitiononline.com - they have some nice facilities for protesting and petitioning and whatnot.

For the serious bunch - yeah, I find it ridiculous myself, been already 4 months since my original post in January and we've still not released anything. There are a couple of blockers we didn't resolve yet and they are mostly the reason for not putting up a new version. Unfortunately for us all, one is PulseAudio issue which blocks releasing 2.0 hotfix and another is video issue which blocks release of a shiny new next version. Once either of these is fixed we will have something to show you.

@izzysoft The preferred browser is used via the xdg-open command from xdg-utils package. Glad you figured the chat commands help. I'm aware of Mic input problems and work on fixing these, too.

#berkus
Personally I think that any petition to protest is idiotic, but I would like to sign in for BETA if possible. Is there any way to do it?

@berkus: Thanx for your reply! I also added this solution to the forums, so it can be found easier if somebody else bumps into the browser issue. Maybe it's not a bad idea to add that to the FAQ, as well as to have an option in Skype itself to configure a browser (maybe like "x use system default | specify different browser: ___". The funny thing about the issue is that Skype seemed to be the only program so far not finding a browser - maybe the others automatically look for Firefox? Which would also be a good idea for a fallback (if there's no system default): Look for Firefox first and, if not found, for Safari (on Mac), then MSIE (Mac/Win)? Which would make that working out of the box again

Glad to hear you're also on the microphone issue! Looking forward to the results (plus my webcam, which works with all other apps, to be working with Skype). Good luck with all the work, I really appreciate it! Thank you for your engagement!

Hey berkus is back...

Welcome back, as it seems you must be the only employee that is actually interested in linux and care enough to interact with us. Since we are almost in June i believe some here have the right to be angry but not the right to act immature.
Anyway, i have two questions :
1st. Are you in position to explain why is it that it takes so long for a public beta and will we see it before September?
2nd. Just curious, do you (berkus) actually use Linux or are you acting as PR buffer (no offence) and if you do what do you do for VoIP (given the fact that on most new distros it is useless since it doesn't work with the sound server) ?

As for the green screen on webcams, there is a simple fix. On Ubuntu (what I use) do in a terminal sudo nano /usr/local/bin/skype and enter

#!/bin/bash
LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l1compat.so /usr/bin/skype

And Save it. Now skype will load with that and no more green monsters on your cam =P

@berkus
nice to have you back. Hope you had a good vacation. Like anyone else I am impatient for a new release but at the same time when I look at my own situation, things are not that bad. On my Acer D150 netbook I have installed Ubuntu Netbook Remix 9.04 and Skype works fine with the integrated webcam. I had some problems with the internal mic but updating to Alsa 1.0.20 (for alsa-driver, alsa-lib, and alsa-utils) fixed everything. On my main PC an Acer Travelmate 7720 the integrated webcam is not recognized, but with an external Logitech webcam and Open Suse 11.1 everything works fine as well. At least I am able to contact regularly my family in France (I live in Canada) on a nearly daily basis and the connection (sound and video) is good. It probably could be better if I used Skype 4.0 on Windows but as a matter of principle (I could even say ethics) I made the switch to Linux and I am glad I did.

Let's be a little bit more patient. Keep the good work Berkus and don't forget that a tentative release date would do a lot to appease the sometimes impatient ones like myself

@jushuaklar: Sorry to let you know, but this LD_PRELOAD thingy does not always work. I'm still on Hardy (8.04 - the current LTS), and there the required v4l libs are not in the repos (it comes with Jaunty and up). Even when installed manually, it had no effect for me. My Webcam works fine (even without that) in all apps - except for Skype, where it only gives that green stuff regardless what. Still hoping it will work somehow (some day), but could not yet find a solution.

It's really sad to hear about bugs in such a critical elements of Skype. Hope you'll be able to fix at least PulseAudio part during the next one or two month... I have to switch to Windows Seven because of Skype-pulseaudio interactions.

@berkus Thanks for keeping the lines of communication open between Skype and the Linux community. I understand you can't give a release date, but please keep up the updates on how the new version is progressing; I can wait if I know things haven't stopped.

Even with all it's limitations, Skype 2.0 for Linux has one big advantage over Skype on Vista, for me, ... it doesn't totally lock up my system! Ciao Vista. I have not the patience.

I agree with whichpaul. If I'm given some idea about where things are at and when they'll be ready, I'm much more likely to stay put and wait. I don't understand why this can't be done-- many huge, complex projects have fixed dates and live up to them, so why can't it be done for a Skype _client_? The lack of a release date only keeps us doubting-- considering how much time has passed-- that none or very little work has been done. How many people are on this team anyway? The longer this takes, the more our frustrations feel as if they are given not enough priority.

Personally, throughout this time Skype has been losing money to my phone company. What is an inconvenience to me is actual loss to Skype. Frankly, if things continue this way, it's only a matter of time until people start looking into alternatives/competitors...

dimmu299792458: berkus and myself are developers, and are both primarily Linux users. We're not officially handling PR, and our comments shouldn't really been seen as such - we're just here (in this thread) because we care

As for your question on which VoIP software we use, it still is Skype. Personally, I'm not running PulseAudio, so the 2.0 version is still suitable for me.

As for development, I can only offer my word, but development is continuing (despite the lack of public releases). Frustrating for everybody, us included, not to see releases. Especially since we're active here - so we want to get things out to you aswell.

As for release dates, schedules, plans, roadmaps, etc - as usual, we can't discuss such things. But I would like to say that berkus' comments earlier (saying that it was going to be released soon, in January) was the plan, just that PulseAudio issues really prevented us from having a release stable enough, even to release as beta at that time.

Andy.

@jbbandos, Mandriva has a very big and obvious ticky box to disable pulseaudio in the Control Center. You don't need to mess about with uninstalling random packages and generally getting your system into a bit of a mess (the random repositories and Ubuntu user's general desire to install packages from random sources seem to cause this problem quite often and has already lead to many, "Oh I just reinstalled it" quotes that really make me cringe!).

Also, while I also use KDE, the phonon settings are completely pointless. I know phonon and I know it's limitations, but I also have to support users who don't. The fact that they have preferred a device in System Settings and it's not honoured by e.g. Flash content in web pages confuses users and I understand why! I'm currently hacking on Phonon to make it more pulse aware so that the settings configured in System Settings works *System Wide* not just in a handful of apps. You'll always find people whose little bubble of software will work, but I'm a big picture guy and I want things to work for *all* software, not just phonon-aware software.

Also, pulse should not be getting in your way if it's setup right. For many people it uses *less* CPU than straight alsa does due to the way pulse can disable alsa interrupts causing far fewer CPU wakeups. While I appreciate you and others have had bad experiences with pulse, this is not the typical scenario. Ubuntu seriously messed up their pulse roll out and it's only now being rectified. The distros have a large part to play in the roll out and that simple was not appreciated by the folks over at canonical. I play an active part in the pulse IRC and mailing lists and Ubuntu are rarely there (TheMuso does do a good job these days tho'): Redhat, Mandriva and Debian are the most involved distros and Nokia and Intel are the most active corporates.

@berkus, I got your contact request... feel free to get in touch any time, but email is probably best starting point

@colinguthrie I'm using skype almost exclusively for all communication, besides I already have your skypename but not your email.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
It seems skype is the only user friendly VoIP software/chat program for windows and linux. I'm very happy there is now a 64-bit version So is my grandma, haha.

I have a Acer Aspire One with Linpus lite. This has the 1.6Ghz Atom processor and 1.536 GB RAM. I downloaded skype.sh.zip (Version: 2.0.0.72) from http://www.acer.com/aspireone/aspireone_8_9/support/files/connect.html#002 and tried to make a video call over my 12MB download / 0.6MB upload connection and I just can't get it to work properly. I only use Skype for Video, so unless this is going to be fixed, I am just going to stop using it. Is there another updated version of Skype that I can download where the video actually works or do I have to forget about Skype and get everyone I know to download a Linux friendly video soft phone that works?

@andypoo ( && berkus)
It is great that you two are Linux users and that fact tells you how much of a loss it is to have to choose between skype and pulseAudio.
I will take your word and very happily that is.
But i have to ask, what about those issues maybe we can help (even though usually beta is the most productive way to help! That is why open source is more reliable *pun intended* )

@wispabite

I suggest you go to the Acer Aspire One User Forum at http://www.aspireoneuser.com and explain your problem. I have an Acer Aspire One D150 with Ubuntu Netbook Remix 9.04 installed (you could try that too) and Skype 2.0.0.72 for Linux works perfectly ( I only had to upgrade the Alsa driver to Alsa 1.0.20 to get the internal mic to work) I also have friends who have the Acer Aspire One 8.9 and Skype works perfectly too. If you go to the forum you will find that people are very friendly and really committed to help others. Good luck

@jean-claudelorin thanks, yes I will do this, but will also have submitted a bug report as it was the first app I installed on a new machine, then after I recovered it, then after I changed the set-up of it, (and repeated it on another identical machine that we have) so it's definitely a problem with this version of the software and seeing as they all come with this Linpus setup, it has to be a bug in the software. Thanks and I'll head over to the Acer Aspire One User Forum now!

Hi berkus ,
i'm very courious how many linux skypes checks for update daily:))
do you have such stats and can you publish it?:)))

I have used Skype for Linux for two years, and version 2.0.0.72 since it was released a year ago. It works well for me under Gentoo/Sabayon Linux (x86_64), both in PC-to-PC and PC-to-land line or mobile intercontinental calls. The audio is clear and my Webcam works too.

Just to echo some of the other posters, please don't mimic the Skype for Windows UI: I much prefer the simple, clean look and feel of the Linux version.

I have just discovered the SkySentials app, but SMS support built-in to Skype would be an excellent addition.

My thanks to the Skype for Linux developers, and keep up the good work -- you can be sure it's appreciated.

@william.james.hill

"UI: I much prefer the and feel of the Linux version."

I much prefer the powerfull, mostly configured look and feel of the Linux version, because i am living in the 21th century.

ps: the simple, clean look is for grandmom and grandpapa. thats all

Hi, would it be possible to also support video tilt/pan with libwebcam (I have a Logitech Quickcam Sphere AF, but if it's possible to support other devices too - all the better )?

Thank you,
K

I don't want to sound overly rude, so thanks for *having* Skype on Linux in the first place.

I find all this inacceptable from a customer's perspective however. How difficult would it be to post at least a monthly update on what is going on/wrong in development? I am checking this one post *daily* hoping to find a new comment from the developers below the actual post.

This is a disgrace. No way to spin it. Are you expecting new customers looking for info to wade through all that? It seems you can't commit yourself to your loyal user base. I am very saddened about the state of affairs here. Sorry for putting it bluntly, but this is a shame.

I would like to refine my statement. I'm not blaming the developers and the few that actually post here. I blame the company, Skype, for not having an open approach to Open Source. If they don't care, sorry, then just leave it. This is like waiting for a coffee in a Starbucks, and every few hours someone says that the coffee machine needs a new valve or something.

@berkus: as Fedora 11 was released today, please make sure that the upcoming release of skype for linux works well on a default install of F11 (i386 and x86_64) before you actually release. Thanks!

I have just signed up to trial the google video chat for linux seeing as we haven't heard anything from the devlopers in 6 months on the progress of improving skype for linux video -maybe anyone else who is having problems should do the same https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=pYZOS6WEwfd2dhlZI2m_bRQ ...

I was wondering if the development team could post a plan schedule please, the last meaningful update was 6 months ago. Reviewing the comments on this site and others it would appear the community feels abandoned.

Some users, with some versions, seam to have a better experience than others but it is fair to say Linux has moved on a great deal since version 2 was released yet Skype doesn't appear to have moved at all.

There was a time when Skype was the only game in town ..... I have to tell you boys there are many providers out there competing for my business. My current contract expires in the next quarter and I would appreciate an update so I can select an appropriate business provider who recognises the value of Linux users as a client base.

Thank you in advance.

@donsqueak1981, +1
This page is really really long, so instead of saying all these things about the status in the comments, why don't you post a couple of news? I know that there are no major updates, and you still have problems with PulseAudio and some webcams, so why does any Linux user who supports Skype, has to look through that awful bunch of comments searching for the news?

Anyway, I'm pretty sure you are working hard on the new version of Skype, and I guess there are a lot of problems to be solved. Thanks for the work you do and for the work you've done by now. Looking forward to installing the new version of Skype on my Linux desktop as soon as it possible. Thanks a lot.

the January 23, 2009 yes, yes, my brothers and sisters, that was a datum of the last "skype for linux" -screem, before he died.

but i really believe in da zombies i have for you just three words: de-ve-lo-p-e-rs de-ve-lo-pe-rs de-ve-lo-pe-rs...

the January 23, 2009 yes, yes, my brothers and sisters, that was a datum of the last "skype for linux" -screem, before he died.

but i really want to believe in da zombies

@king.graham Interesting post. If you can point to some provider with better Linux support I would love to switch when my subscription expires. The problem really is that I have not found any other provider with similar features.

Don't think it is courteous to post competitors information here but it would be great if someone could post a page out there. The linux community is quite an outspoken one and news can be spread like fire accross the community.

But again, this all depends on whether a viable alternative exists.

Are you guys aware of this issue ? http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showtopic=306381

Skype is not working well at all on Jaunty.

Is Skype already accessible with Ubuntu and Orca, the screen reader for blind people? I was thinking about running away from Windows, but not before I have this information, since I, as a blind user, depend on accessibility, and Skype for Windows, at least version 3.8, does a good job at it. I know that in 4.0, they have moved a few steps backwards, and have taken away some of the keyboard's accessibility, but at least they plan to readd it. I have not heard a single word about accessibility in the posts about Skype for Linux.

Thanks,
André.

@field.tim
Skype won't work with PulseAudio, it was already said a long long time ago. Just uninstall PulseAudio and use ALSA instead.

Sorry, @gbabcockhome I removed your comment. If you want to report long information related to a bug, please attach it as a file to a relevant bug report in our JIRA system.

Sorry, guys and hopefully girls, I've been pretty busy in the past couple of weeks. I'll try to answer all remaining questions as soon as I get a little bit time to type them in. Thank you for understanding.

There's only a question that's to be answered. When We will see a new version? Please don't say "Real Soon Now(tm)"! I wish you happy birthday a year has passed since the last hotfix update!

+1 to question of pajomiami, it would be better if you could make new skype public so we could test it instead you will never get those bugs fixed.

let's make a bet, whether they will release a new version prior to the anniversary of skype for linux version 2.0.0.72 (which was released on 16th of june 2008)

ahah. Was it really 16 june 2008? Generally speaking in the OSS world, 1 year of nothing means the software is obsolete. Is skype an obsolete software? I'll let you people decide.

Anyways skype company is a joke when talking about Skype & Linux. A joke.

* 16th June - Skype 2.0 for Linux hotfix
* 27th March - Skype 2.0 for Linux hotfix
* 13th March - Skype 2.0 for Linux Gold
* 6th February - Skype 2.0 Beta for Linux update
* 5th December - Skype 2.0 Beta for Linux update
Happy Birthday!
@bulletfx, obsolete? Skype for linux has been obsolete since the end of 2007 when major distributions decided to use pulseaudio as there default audio server...
I will quote Andypoo on the second time with his post from January 13th: "I realise the next version is grossly overdue".
Skype for linux was a joke a year ago, now it feels more and more like an insult.

happy birthday skype for linux version 2.0.0.72

I have no words any more...
They are playing with us.
One year of saying it will come soon, real soon, ...
I guess it will need one more year to release anything.

Could the developers at least give us a birthday post?

Know anybody where is birthsday party?

Happy Birthday Skype for Linux 2.0.0.72!!!

I take it back. You guys are a pretty poor excuse for a development team. I don't know whether management has pulled support and threatened to fire anyone who informs your user base, or you can't develop your way out of a paper bag, or you are dedicated perfectionists, but you should be ashamed of this part of your careers.

I'm following this blog & comments for several months now and I do understand all the complaints about the long expected update / upgrade of Skype for Linux: a '1-year-celebration' of the current version of Skype for Linux is an embarrassing 'milestone'.

On the other hand, I do not understand several things:
- @berkus: although the developers are not obliged to keep us informed, the information you gave, gave us hope for a new version in a *very short period*. It would be at least a polite gesture to write a new report why it is taking so long or to apologise for the fact that you gave the wrong impression of the development of Skype for Linux.
- Nevertheless, the developers cannot be hold responsible for the fact that there's no beta-release. As one already explained: the developers don't have/give information on the releasedates of Skype. In stead of complaining on this site, I'd like to know to whom we can send our complaints. I've searched the whole Skype-site, but where ever I find complaints or bugreports on Skype for Linux, I don't have the impression that those complaints are taken seriously. If the developers aren't responsible for the releasedates or official announcements, who is/are?

@wijgerden I think you are completely right.

Unfortunately no one at skype seems to cares. The clients protesting have been openly dismissed by Berkus and asked to go complaint at http://www.petitiononline.com (check Berkus' posts earlier in this page).

Seeing people with legitimate complaints dismissed as childish jokers was pretty blunt coming after what now seems to be a "mature" promise dating from January.

Linux can be a difficult development environment at times especially when a company is working in close source. The hurdles are understandable but the whole careless promises and attitudes is not.

It does not take a businessman to appreciate that people complaining are expressing their eagerness for a better ( to avoid saying acceptable ) product. These people are genuinly faithful to skype and looking for ways to spend money on subscriptions and calls. The lack of appreciation alone speaks loudly about how invaluable the community is to skype.

I would like to refer to @andypoo 's post of Sunday May 31st quote: " berkus and myself are developers, and are both primarily Linux users. We're not officially handling PR, and our comments shouldn't really been seen as such - we're just here (in this thread) because we care " unquote It does not say if they are Skype employees (may be not) but it certainly says that they do not provide an "official" response from Skype. I agree that we have all rights to be critical of the company (and may be search for other channels of communication), but I personnally think we should apply restraint in the way we respond to a thread which has been originated by someone who is primarily a Linux user and who care. Let's be a little bit more positive. I have one laptop under Open Suse 11.1 and one netbook under Ubuntu Netbook Remix 9.04. With both Skype 2.0.72 works quite well (sound and video) although I would like to see a more elaborated Skype version. Keep up the good work Berkus

@jean-claudelorin:
I totally agree, but in terms of "we're just here, because we care", they are aware of our expectations (they even created them!) and they also choose themselves to keep us informed. I do not hold them responsible for the fact that there hasn't been a beta-release last year.
I'm very happy that berkus and andypoo give their reaction once in a while, but why do they keep the expectations high by reacting that a beta will be released Really Soon, while after weeks / months nothing seems to happen? I pity berkus for all the apologies he made, but it's just because his information makes us think that there's something in the air.
Therefore, I'd like to know where we can drop our complaints, other than this thread. I know it doesn't do any good to berkus / andypoo to rush them, but they at least know how the organization 'works' (even if they're not employees). Besides that, I don't think something like petitiononline will have any impact on the business-strategy of Skype.

Oh, and by the way, I'm happy to hear that Skyp 2.0.72 is working great for you. Nevertheless, the group of Linux-users with Skype working as it should be, is getting smaller...

@jean-claudelorin
I apologize for the reaction but sending people to petition-online.com and dismissing them as a "not-serious" bunch was what prompted my comment. I understand it was probably meant as a joke, but given the situation, it was not very well placed.

As a programmer myself, I understand that things may get wrong sometimes and probably skype's policy of not giving dates (it is a closed source product after all) is intended to avoid such situations.

Skype ( as a company ) rather than the devels is the one not caring about the community. Such a long cycle can only be the result of poor funding/interest. While the Linux community is always growing, it still is unfortunately small enough to neglect at times. There are countless examples out there; and it seems skype is just another company to add to the list.

@wijgerden is right. Venting out in this thread is doing no good. The page is starting to stall my browser.

btw, have you compared the size difference between this thread and the previous Linux related ones? The growth is phenomenal!

@wijgerden
@hedgy102

After reading your reactions, I must say that overall I agree with both of you and my initial post was not directed at all at what you had said before but at some previous postings. I must also say that I don't agree either with Berkus's reaction to send us to petition online (which probably was meant as a (bad?) joke) but at the same time, reading again the whole thread (which is so long now as to be meaningless) you will notice that some posts have been so harsh (and again I am not at all referring to yours) as to become counterproductive which is not what we want, isn't it?

I have looked through all the blogs on skype.com (or at least those that are linked in the upper right corner of this page) and I realized that in all the other blogs there is no post that is older than 31th of march (2009, of course).

I am sorry to say, but it seems as others would care more about their users. At least it is fact that the linux blog is the one with the oldest post and it is also updated less frequently than all the other blogs.

All this does not really make me feel as if people at skype would really care about linux users.

I am going to break some copyright law: I am going to use the "Real Soon Now" moniker. It has worked so well for Skype (considering the amount of people salivating for even a hot fix), that I am sure it will work just as successfully with my boss and my customers for the time being. Thanks Skype, a great lesson of customer relations.

First, shame on me. Happy deathday Skype!!!!!
Come on people, the show is over. I do not believe that anybody is working in a new skype release. At the beginning it was nice, I help them to spread, but now, we are useless. Nothing to see here... go, go, go.....
Berkus already said "Sorry, guys and hopefully girls, I've been pretty busy in the past couple of weeks. I'll try to answer all remaining questions as soon as I get a little bit time to type them in. Thank you for understanding." and nothing after that.
Nothing to answer, nothing to say. It is sad, but it is the truth.
Skype for linux is dead. MOVE ALONG!

Shame on linux skype dev team...

Skype on Linux for Desktop users is not a priority for the Skype company as a whole for the following reasons:

- The "Linux on Desktop" crowd who use Skype is probably less than 0.1% of total Skype users.
- Linux is all about open software and Skype is very closed (closed to the point that even details about the way it works have not been released by Skype). Linux users would ideally prefer something other than closed-Skype for their VOIP needs but are forced to use Skype because of its popularity (much like Windows).
- There is a difference between Skype on Linux on the Desktop and Skype on Linux in general. Skype has been released for other linux kernals such as for Android and I believe the Skype team has got higher priorities to release Skype suitable for netbooks (i.e. more suitable for a netbook GUI). In fact I would go as far as saying that the only reason they are dealing with Linux at the moment is for the netbook crowd using Linux. Hence I would dismiss any 'Skype for linux is dead' rhetoric.

Regards,
Alex

@jean-claudelorin
You are spot on. Totally agree about the counter productivity part. None of use wants that.

IMHO, we are all barking at the wrong tree. Many suggested moving on, however there are no real equivalent solutions I am aware of.

Perhaps someone can post a wiki somewhere and we could all contribute to the research instead of lurking in here. Whether Skype pulls its act together in the right time or not is a different story and should not prevent further research anyway. Based on previous experiences, it is always a matter of time and it is best to keep our options open until such time the community is financially relevant enough to warrant respect.

@alexkcyp:
I partially agree, although I would organize your points differently.
- Desktop Linux is nothing but a niche of the OS-market. As far as I know only 2% of all desktops are using Linux as the default operating system. Skype has about 300.000.000 registered users. Not every Linux-user would use Skype, so let's assume that only 20% of all Linux-users download Skype. That would mean that of all those 300.000.000 registered users still about 1.000.000 users would use Skype for Linux (a considerable high number of users). So, even if Linux-users are nothing but a little spot on the map, from commercial perspective it still is an interesting group.
- The open source/closed source-discussion is only debated by the specialist and geeks. The majority of Linux-users is just a group of advanced PC-users, who want to try/use an interesting alternative for Windows. Not to talk about the group of Linux-users, who just happen to have a flavour of Linux, because they bought a netbook. As far as they are familiar with Skype, they'd like to have a working package of Skype in order to be able to do exactly the same as they do with their Windows-box.
- The difference that you see between Linux on a desktop and Linux on a netbook is not that big... Whether you program Skype for MID or Skype for Linux, in both cases you'll have to find a proper way to the same known blockers, e.g. PulseAudio. In both cases the GUI is programmed in Qt4. In some topics the developers encourage the users to build Skype for MID on their Linux desktop if version 2.0.0.72 doesn't work, but the current version of Skype for MID has many limitations.

@hedgy102 & jean-claudelorin:
It is all about communication. Our comments in this thread only show our eagerness for a new version, formulated in different ways (i.e. positive or negative). Meanwhile, the bugreports pile up and no official information or announcements are given. For that reason I'd like to know where to address my complaints.

About contribution: to set up a wiki won't help anymore, because almost every bug of version 2.0,0.72 is reported. I don't think adding more bugs or problems will be of any use, because 2.0.0.72 is simply out of date.
The only way we could have contributed is to be subscribed to the closed-beta-group some time ago. Although no new testers are needed at the moment, the only way of contributing to the research for me is to let the developers know that I'm available as a beta-tester.

ok ... any release date to know?

so please let give us some progress bar of work on skype linux ..

Opinion:

Closed-source Software is dead, not today, not next way, but certainly it will be.

Why? Companies like Skype, Microsoft & Co are carrying their once great ideas to the grave protecting, hiding, sustaining and distributing their now antiquated, user-unfriendly, innovation-blocking, short - retarded - closed software.

All of you should take a screenshot of that "blog" reminding you in in ten years that there was something like closed-source Skype.

Happy Birthday Skype@Linux

@wijgerden
Seems I explained myself wrong. The wiki I was suggesting was just for listing alternatives not for bugs.

I too think the comments here, both good and bad show the eagerness to a product. But when the company just does not care enough, it is time to start looking for better solutions, hence the wiki idea.

I am very lucky to have Skype working on Linux - and like everyone, it is far from being perfect. However, I won't complain here about the lack of support and updates since everything has already been said in the previous comments.

I am not a Skype expert and I certainly don't know about how development is being handled on the inside since I don't work there, but from what I understand, Linux, Mac OS and Windows versions are being developed separately (correct me if I am wrong).

Before continuing, Please don't take the following suggestion as "This is how Skype should do it!" - I am not here to tell anybody how development should be handled. I am a bit curious about why the Linux version is trailing so much behind the others. Maybe the following suggestion and its feedback, should it have such, would enlighten us a bit. Who knows, maybe it could sprout some interesting ideas? After all, the best way to improve a program is not to whine about it constantly but trying to find solutions to make it better. So here goes!

Since QT4 is available on Linux, Mac OS and Windows, wouldn't it be more strategic to have only one cross-platform Skype version instead of having separate ones? The core and GUI could be constantly developed across platforms and OS-specific teams could care only about integration details.

OPEN SOURCE ALTERNATIVES TO SKYPE
http://www.voip-info.org/wiki/view/Open+Source+VOIP+Software#Linuxclients

probably none as good as Skype - but certainly not as frustrating to deal with

@alexander_family_2537 Thanks for sharing.

Tomorrow will be what, five months? Again, development would be a lot faster if this were an open source project. I'm going to wait a little more-- but really it's starting to look like I'll be switching over to Ekiga+Diamondcard in the near future...

I guess that I am done with waiting. Ekiga is the way to go. Maybe these folks with get their act together before everyone leaves.

I'm done with waiting, too.

eBAY, DO NOT MAKE A FOOL OF YOURSELF.

Release a beta or help the Wine team in order we to use an emulated Windows version.

True, today is five month after the latest blog post. Unbelievable.

Maybe berkus will post something on his blog (http://nodalpoint.madfire.net/) where he told us in his latest blog that he very eagerly installing different linux distributions. well... that's a perfect prerequisite for developing linux applications.

As for the alternatives, I also agree with the others that ekiga is making good progress, with regular binary and source releases. Furthermore it has really outstanding SIP compatibility, something that the consumer versions of skype are lacking completely.

Another good piece of software is Empathy (http://live.gnome.org/Empathy) which will be the default IM client for Fedora 12 (https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Features/Empathy) and also for future version of ubuntu. Empathy also supports SIP and G. Talk voice calls.

I think if skype won't change the way how development is done and if they do not quickly add proper SIP support then skype's days are numbered. Today many mobile phone providers already start offering SIP gateway services and also many independent SIP gateway offerings are available, e.g. sipgate.

Bye bye!

Berkus & Andypoo,

If we got at least a regular update (say, on the last Friday of every month), that would go a long way...
particularly if it *did* include folks who could speak for Skype officially.

How about live panel / community discussion sometime?

Here's my laundry list of features:

[0] A native amd64 port.
Even if you just support chat & voice at first, that would be great. Incremental releases like this are incredibly helpful.

[1] A wide chat text entry area
For us folks who cut/paste bits of code, logfiles, etc., please allow the GUI some mode of operation that:
* Offers a wide text entry area (unlike the new & awful Windows 4.x client)
* Has a horizontal scrollbar (rather than wrapping) for both entry & display
* Supports a fixed-width font nicely
* Doesn't inject any characters into whatever is pasted (e.g.: wrapping newlines)

[2] Deletable, but non-editable chats
I really dislike the editable chat history in the Windows 4.x client -- it's confusing.

[3] Pluggable text entry widget
This would allow for nice integration with the key bindings we use in other programs.

[4] More transparency & community involvement
It would be nice to see more release candidates, projected dates, etc.
It would also be great to see candidate feature lists & voting/tabulated feedback stats.
Most of us want Skype to succeed -- it's a great program. Help us help!

Thanks for all your hard work!

I never thought this day would come but I ended up installing and booting Win xp just to use Skype. My g/f is horrified everytime I tell her to boot into Vista because Skype for Linux is so bad. Seriously sort it out!

I remember reading sometime *ages* back when you released Skype 4 for Windows that the SILK audio stack was released for other clients. Can someone not built an open source version of Skype with this stack inside it somehow? If we can just get text, audio and video (perhaps SMS too) working then it will be suitable for everyday needs....

I hope someone will fire up his/her IDA Pro Advanced disassembler and reverse-engineer the Skype protocol so that some developers taking their job more serious will write a plugin for pidgin or similar. This what you see here has always been the culprit of closed-source software, we're all at the mercy of a few developers and we have to beg them for new releases. If the Skype client was an open source project, somebody would have forked it already and pushed development far ahead like it happened to projects like XFree86 and cdrecord.

Unfortunately Skype is not open source.

Adrian

OK, it's been 6 months and no updates? Where's at least a beta we can try?

I'm a volunteer for the beta version !!

Well, it's dead. Deal with it. Try another program

@berkus & andypoo

After reading through all of these comments, I really think you guys should really put up another update and a beta build, because this is simply ridiculous. The worst part is that Skype is the only easily maintainable VoIP service out there with decent call quality on both voice and video

crickets crickets crickets...

One day Skype installed seamlessly in Linux and I loved it, started to use and recommend recommend it, to pay and have a phone number,

One other day several months later I had to work hard tweaking my system to get it to work, finally did.

Many many many months later, I am finally not able to use Skype at all.

I am waiting just 1 month more, 29 July for a new release, and if I go, about 50 customers go with me, along with a bunch of people that I know have been slowly looking for/using alternatives.

We need timelines, we can be flexible but still give us a clue.

Some new info would be great. 2.0.0.72 is more than year old.

I seriously doubt there is ANY developement on Linux version. No blog updates, no betas,l nothing.

Linux community means nothing, Linux customers means nothing! That's the right attitude... keep going, i hope it's the straight way to the hell )

There is nowhere to go, Skype is the only one choice and Skype knows it. That's bad. They don't care about community and we can't do anything with it

Not even money can change it (paying Linux users).

@stenliqs Can you please stop the panic?

I was too busy for a proper update on things, but it's coming, as well as a new release.

> berkus

It's not panic, it's how things look for people around. But if there is an update pending - great. I'm looking forward...

Berkus, I hope you can understand how hard it is to have faith in that by this point. Personally, even with a new version my trust in Skype is severely shaken. What happens after this release if/when it comes? Is it still going to be year-long development cycles?

I've been researching alternatives. It's clear that much has to be done until FOSS clients catch up to Skype-- especially on KDE so much work needs to be done on Telepathy/Decibel/KCall. It seems to me, though, that once those systems catch up, they will be far more capable, robust, integrated, and flexible than Skype.

What I'm trying to say is that at this point, it's not just a new client that Skype has to provide, but some radical changes need to be made in its development and interaction with the user/customer community. Double subscription costs if you have to, but maintain some semblance of quality as a service!

Today might be the last time I add credit to my Skype account; I'm likely canceling my subscription by August. The only thing stopping me from switching over now is the fact that Ekiga does not have an easy way to record calls. Once I sort that out, though, there is little holding me to Skype. Besides, Diamondcard offers the same set of services as Skype and even allows purchasing toll-free numbers, which is another bonus for me. Switching over is a hassle but things like that make alternatives even more inviting.

It did not have to go this way. Good luck.

We are nothing in skype guys eyes. We are 0.99% of their user base. They pray for the decent open sauce solution to remove us from their perfect money making world. Open source just dont fit in.

Real Soon the "Real Soon Now (TM)" will take place.

You know what? I come to this post DAILY, not necessarily to check on Skype's updates..

I come here for the drama , the soap-opera, that the linux version of skype has become. Seeing people being pissed off towards the developers, threatening that the will stop using skype, "skype is dead" etc, is too much good fun to pass up to.

I'm lucky enough to have an extra mac notebook, and use skype on the mac. On the same internet connection, I get high quality video (640*480@closeto 30fps) on mac, while on linux i have to be "satisfied" with 320*640@around 10fps(BEST CASE scenario -obviously my cam cam/pc handle more than that). If I solely depended on the linux version of skype... I would have been really pissed off...

Still, i think there is no use blaming "skype's linux developers". I have a sense that the linux team must be really undercut in terms of funds/resources/personnel, hence the super-slow rate of development. It's not as if berkus has sole responsibility for the linux version of skype, he is probably just a hired employee in the Ebay conglomerate - no need to get angry at him.

:) anyway, still looking forward for a new skype version on linux (hopefully with improved video/audio quality, and improved compatibility)

Lastly, I am really glad to see berkus commenting again, he had only posted twice since the beginning of June. Who knows, we might get a new version to play with "Really Soon Now"

sorry for double-posting, I meant 240*320@10fps in linux case. peace out!

I am pleased too to see Berkus posting again. I agree with @astarothgr that there is no need to be angry with "skype's linux developers". As I indicated before it is counterproductive to be so harsh in the critics. And after all the whining and bitching of the past few weeks I really thought Berkus had given up. To be told that "you should be ashamed of this part of your careers" is no fun at all to say the least, in addition to being completely unfair (is he responsible for all the difficulties resulting from the use of pulse audio?). I know that personally I would have given up. Thanks Berkus for letting that glimpse of hope live...

Jabber will officially support voice conversation next week. Not sure if Kopete support will come with KDE 4.3 or KDE 4.4 but it seems a good replacement.

Right: to say "you should be ashamed of this part of your careers" is not fun. But it isn't unfair either. Just look at the Skype for Linux development. And believe me i am saying this as a friend: You should be ashamed of this part of your careers. It's not butt kickin'. It is the reality. Sorry Berkus and Andypoo.

@sonux78 There is really no need to be rude.

Of the other news: PulseAudio support is working. I have one crash report which I couldn't reproduce right now, so this delays us again. With this in mind, I encourage you to vote in this little poll http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showtopic=373081

I didn't mean to be rude. You can read it in 342 comments above mine, why i am saying that. It is not fun, not rude and not unfair. And above all: It is from a friend not from some angry customer. Sigh...

#berkus

What about x86_64 support?

Of course if the good Skype folks would provide an open Beta it would speed the resolution of hard to find bugs and surface others. At home, I use Ubuntu daily with Skype on three of my 6 computers at home. I as many other Beta users could give knowledgeable technical details on each computer's setup in order to pin point problems. I am a real time programmer but have written a little in embedded Linux.
It would be nice to have support like the kb2kskype code for external USB boxes integrated into Skype. My wife often will turn down manually the computer speaker's volume which needless to say prevents her my hearing me ringing her on Skype. Using the external USB box that rings a physical telephone fixes that.
I just want Skype to work as reliable as in Windows with no audio blocking or delay problems.
Again even Microsoft does not a few public Betas.

Can we at least feast our eyes watching some screenshots (or maybe screencaps) of the new version? Please?

@oleg.caraivan Yes, I will post a selection of screenshots in my next blog.

@sonux78

I certainly don't want to put oil on the fire in a discussion thread which has heated somehow too much lately, but a comment such as "you should be ashamed of this part of your careers" is a very rude comment, period. Check up your definition of rude if you feel otherwise

Thanks Berkus

Great news Berkus! Its time to create a new "thread" :- )

Best,

Igor Gomes

@Berkus

Hopefuly the next Blog will be the "Boys (and girls) its done now (TM)!" - Blog

Dark Greetz to my beloved Skype Linux Development Team (forunatly two people can be called a team ...

I feel sorry for berkus.. Pulseaudio is a disaster, and I imagine it is especially so for an app like skype that can't tolerate latency in that department. Everyone is blaming the SKype linux devs, but really a big chunk of the blame should go to the wreck that is pulseaudio.

well I'm not familar with Pulseaudio because i just disabled it after I install my latest linux. Instead I just compiled the Kernel with realtimesupport, tweakt my .alsarc and routed everything to the world famous Jack Audio Deamon ... and everything is running just fine!
O.k. My Skype is running satisfying in audiobelongings, but there is an ugly bug when switching to fullscreen while a duplex videosession is running ... the videobox covering me just vanishes and I have to do some hacks to get it back running !

From that point of view a new Version gets my warm welcome !

so don't blame the dev`s ... blame Linuz T. for inveting such a wonderfull OS...(and don't stop dreaming of a better world...)

berkus
Can you please tell us if the new Skype for Linux version will have call waiting?
The current version does not seem to have a functional call waiting.

Please let us know a ETA on the new version release.

Thanks,

Carl

Hi, I'm sorry but I have to say that I've been waiting and waiting and waiting, and I'm still waiting...like many others, I eventually decided to write here to express my feelings. I'm not asking to have a new version right here and now, but just two or three lines every now and then, saying "today we've tried implementing this" "today we fixed theese bugs, we are almost 80% done", or why not, even "hey guys, we are not going on, so please stop waiting". Just something to know what's going on, 'cause to see that there are so many news and new releases for every other kind of platform imaginable and nothing but old 2.0 version for linux, it is frustrating and makes people change their minds about their choice on their voip soft (since there are other good ones).

Sorry, I have my little update post ready, but as a part of "It's great being a part of a big corp" programme it needs approvals here and there. It will be up soon, itmt please cast your vote on this poll: http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showtopic=373081

Eagerly waiting a new version of Skype but watch as no one working on it ... work on all Windows versions, but nobody thinks about us

I apologize for my bad English

Linux 4ever !

I hope I'm not seeing a clue in that this blog has not been updated in about half a year. I have skype on my Ubuntu 9.04 64-bit system, and:

1. It will not connect with a telephone (yes, I've paid a full year's service.) but only rings the call-ee and hears them answering a dead line.

2., The screen refreshes very badly if at all, so anything older the last line posted on the IM screen is so much scrambled mess.

Is there a fix in the works, or am I barking up the wrong tree again?

I would be delighted to see a new version of Skype, but due to the lack of updates, I have completely lost hope in ever seeing a new version. I am happy that v2.0 somewhat works (but with horrible video support and less than attractive sound quality) but since Ekiga now is available for Windows, I'll start working on migrating most of my Skype contacts (both Linux and Windows) to a software with an active development. I would prefer not to, but this extreme lack of interest for the Linux platform is getting painfully old and it leaves me with no other option. Very unfortunate

For ubuntu 9.04 64bits the best things is just to remove pulseaudio. The only interesting things with this program for what I know is the capacity to connect easily to bluetooth headset but that's it and as the version 0.9.14, the one in Jaunty, cannot do it. PA is just a pain in the ass. I delete it last week and ALL my sound problem disappear. It's miraculous. I can listen musique AND have skype in background at the same time and more impressive it's still working when I am using skype. Something I forget a long time ago ... since PA has been by default in ubuntu.

I tried to use Fedora 11 (without removing PA) and skype is not working at all even the classical workaround. Clearly for my point of view PA is a big mistake, perhaps and it's not even sure in the futur that will be good but it was too soon to put it by default. It's seems that a sort of "putsh" has been done to avoid a simpler solution as phonon...

There's a good howto on Pardus forums on how to make PulseAudio a good citizen, co-existing nicely with other applications that might live on the same box, unaware of PulseAudio and not working well with it, here's the link:
http://worldforum.pardus-linux.nl/index.php?topic=1763.0

Should solve a lot of PA problems without removing PA support.

berkus, can't understand just why aren't you able to give us just a deadline or something like when you think a new beta (or alpha or whtever) will be ready for download. Whithout being rude....I am just asking for information

Thanks in advance for your kind answer.

@giorgiosalamanca It's because of the company policy which says "no dates". It doesn't mean I'm forbidden to date anyone, it means I cannot say anything that defines the timeline, due dates etcetc. I'd be glad if we change it soon, but so far my hands are tied and my mouth shut.

moment .. berkus.. the words "real soon now" means: real soon now of alpha/beta/theta/eta, or stable release ... ?

First goes the open beta of course.

ok .. i am quitly awaiting ... i think it no bad idea to write -ok, no release date, - but for us the news what the next version has in this time (22:48:38 9.7.2009), some progress of work what was made... or berkus just waiting the day when the new skype beta will releasing? and after this release date it will be there with info?? yes it can be so, but i think much people would be happy to some pre-release news, the actual situation of work, actual features, what was changed etc, what we have to awaiting in new version, what no, simple know the progress of hard work on it.

berkus say please: no news before release date, or i"ll write some news.

@berkus. I don't like and don't agree with the "company policy". Neither do I understand the reason of such a choice. Anyway, I just hope new release comin soon and I am sorry to say that "no date policy" has not been 100% implemented since you promised a new version in 2009 (hehehe). Hopefully earlier than 31th december. Finally we (I think I can say WE) would very much appreciate if you could kindly say to "the company" that its choice is not the best one and ask them to change it. Thanks

and what about releasing a public pre-alpha?????

Berkus: Thank you for all the work. I want to comment that on my Ubuntu 9.04 installation Skype is working. Yet, not all notification sounds were installed. Are they not in the install package? One sound not installed, for example, was the Incoming Chat .wav file.

Hope this helps!

Luis

It's funny, really. We're not even waiting for the next release of Skype. We're now waiting for the next POST about the next release of Skype

yeah, how hard would it be to post about the progress. it's not really hard to write a few paragraphs. maybe outlining the remaining obstacles, calming people down, listing the progress. the last update was in January!! January!

Hehe, actually we are waiting for a response about the question about the next POST about the next release of Skype....hehe

Hey berkus, it is very nice that you share some messages of doubtful value with us on twitter, http://twitter.com/berkus, and obviously you even can do so by using "Skype for Linux". Certainly a nice feature.

Personally I don't care about twitter and support for it, but I guess many people would care about a new version of skype for linux released to the public. Do you really want to add all features of skype for windows/mac to the linux client before even cutting a beta release?

I guess nobody would be angry if you would release a version without support for some not-so-necessary features but I _know_ that people _are_ angry because within more than a year you were unable to release an update and deliver reasonable sound and video quality on recent linux distributions.

Furthermore a release would also speed up development again because you get _valuable_ bug reports against a recent code base. How valuable are current bug reports against skype for linux 2.0.0.72, against a code base that is more than a year old? Such reports are of no value, because the code has massively changed, and as a consequence you are not even interested in such bug reports.

BTW, how long does it take for you new blog post (the one that you announced on July 6th) to be approved and posted? I guess it will be posted "real soon now"

On July 6th (9 days ago) berkus said :"I have my little update post ready, but as a part of "It's great being a part of a big corp" programme it needs approvals here and there. It will be up soon."

It's funny, but from my 30 years experience in the public service I found that as far as "approvals here and there" are concerned, it's always the same incompetent middle managers who delay things most (that's the only way they can show their importance as they are by definition incompetent)... Looks as if it's the same in the private sector..

Still nothing? What a surprise...

As far as I've found out from the DevZone Jira-site for LinuxSkype, the Skype for Linuxteam has at least 4 members: Andrew Macks (presumably Andypoo), Berkus, Kristo Aav and Carlos Johnson. The last one, Carlos Johnson, is the program leader. I don't know how up to date this information is, because of the nearly 500 reports no less than 75% reports are still open. Most of the bugs are assigned to Carlos Johnson... Is he in charge of the whole program or is he just distributing all bug reports to the developers?
Berkus, even if you're a part in a 'big company' a developmentteam of less than 10 people communication can't be that hard. I don't know what's going on, but from the outside this team doesn't seem to function well.

For those of you, who want to look for information themselves: https://developer.skype.com/jira/browse/SCL

I don't want to be rude, but the poll you started a few weeks ago is rubbish in my eyes. What is the use of the information you get from about 150 to 200 users? If you want to have some useful information, please contact the leading Linuxdistributions (just as I have suggested in that topic). At the end of the day softwaredevelopment isn't about the way the enduser is tweaking his system, but about the standards that are used (in this case the choice for Pulseaudio by the leading Linuxdistributions). So, once again: what is the use of the results of the poll? The information that you ask for is more easily obtained by simply gather bugreports.

Berkus,

Please forward a big Thank You to the SkypeLinux team for all of their great work. I am an Ubuntu user and just discovered the "Skype Static OSS" package, and it works marvelously (I have had some ALSA and pulseaudio problems prior to using this package).

I have installed Skype on most of my Linux machines and have had great success with the software, and ironically, I find the Linux versions of Skype to be much less buggy than the Windows versions... I think Skype is the first program I can say that about. So please forward my thanks to the Linux developers responsible for the great work, and thank you all again.

JP

It also seems that the OSS-static build is significantly less CPU hungry on my OpenSUSE 11.1 system, both with video and audio, and all the Video bugs with QT 4.4+ (Video buttons disappearing and suchlike) seem to have gone away. The static build is definitely the way forward until the beta arrives.

Hopefully the new beta will be here soon - I'm looking forward to the better video/audio codec performance with win v4 users as well as the SMS capability. I just hope the interface isn't changed too much towards the win version; I actually like the simplicity and tear-off windows in the Linux version.

It would be nice to see a more proactive involvement of the Linux community in the Linux development effort of skype, by way of regular releases and communication. There is the sense of being 'held over a barrel' since a number of us committed to skype some years ago and find it difficult to move away, having said that there are other emerging voip/video platforms out there and skype needs to be careful to avoid user exodus. Complacency is the killer. Just my 2c.

Peace

[For a new way to understand the universe and our place in it check out the work of Nassim Haramein]

"Just to reassure you - Skype for Linux is definitely not dead. Stay tuned for more developments"

OK, that's it for me. I'm tuned for a long time and tired of monitoring this post for changes. Lets face the facts: LINUX USERS WERE ABANDONED. And by abandoned I'm not referring to the software itself, I mean the lack of communication and feedback to the whole FOSS community.

Here the dependency shows its scary face. We can't control or participate of nothing. Its all defined by a "company policy", and this policy can suddenly change to "we'll not provide more funds to the Linux development due to inexpressive user base".

Berkus, I do believe in your efforts. Communication is the key. Why not a post like "getting trouble with this!"? I'm sure it will be flooded of the best consulting possible in every field! From pulseaudio to codecs! For free! Those aren't included on the company policy, right?

Choices? Use the "badly-workarounded-Skype" for now, but strategically supporting a mid-term development like Ekiga for example.

Best,

Igor Gomes

"... but as a part of "It's great being a part of a big corp" programme it needs approvals here and there." 6-JUL-09

Something must be extremely wrong in Skype-world if it takes two weeks to get approval for a blog posting. A lot of us work for big corporations and understand the greatness, or otherwise, of being a part of them but two weeks from drafting and still no posting? Unless you're about to post investor-sensitive information such approvals should take no more than a day in a well-run organisation. Mind you, a well-run organisation also does publish target dates, and frequent news, and does aim to make sure that sufficient staff are on hand to cover the development work.

Sorry Berkus, not intended to be a swipe at you, but at the Skype organisation which still behaves like it's being run by a couple of students in a shed.

Well, not blaming any developer here, esp Berkus, but I think "IF" the google gmail video chat plugin for linux releases before we get a new skype (which seems possible after reading this (http://juberti.blogspot.com/2009/06/gmail-voice-and-video-v1010.html) , I am sure all linux users are going to move to over to that.

I just hope this does not happen due to some weird "company policy" as I am really a fan of skype.

aniketvb: Let's hope that the blogpost you linked is not like this one and gmail voice + video will work across all platforms without problems.

I'm following the conversation here for quite some time and have to say, that it is really funny to read it.
Some things from my point of view:
1. I do not see, why gmail voice and video should help to avoid skype? Since this two networks are not compatible with each other you need gmail voice and video if your friend have it. If your friends have skype i am quite sure, they will not change to gmail, just because the linux version is too old.

2. I do not understand how (at least) 2 full time developers need that much time to fix a software. As far as i could read from the posts here, the new version just brings some UI-improvements, better video and audio support. Well that is a work of at most 2 months if you really work full time on that project. I mean this project is by far not as big as for example KDE4 and KDE4 was fixed in not more than 3 months by hobby hackers. Come on you cannot tell me, that you need for every problem that much time to fix it. I cannot believe that.

That maybe sounds a bit hard, but this are just my 2 ct, to the incredible and unbelieveable long development time.

I am sure the developers are doing their best, but Skype's policy regarding Linux just sucks! Total estimates for the number of linux users are on the order of 30 million. Let's say that 5 million of these use Skype and have on average $15 of Skype credit on their account. That means an investment of $75 million by the linux community into a closed source application. With at best annual updates, this is outrageous. Google video chat has a large enough user base to move me away from Skype whenever a Linux version is available. My disappointment has nothing to do with the developers that have vested interest in getting Skype to work on Linux. It is the upper management that needs to listen to us and take us seriously. Otherwise, we'll all leave as soon as a better alternative is available.

I recomend everyone to use ekiga with "justvoip.com" or other SIP provider. It works well and is open source. No more excuses and lies.

@andreasfink85

All my skype friends have a google account too (who doesnt have one these days!). So I dont see any reason why skype userbase will stay same if google came out with a solid linux version.

Apparently I'm the first to mention "Duke Nukem Forever all over again" in this thread...

When will the beancounters at Skype/eBay HQ understand that the only way to "penetrate" into a market is to offer a solid and well-functional product? If they can't devote the necessary funds for a solid Linux development effort, then they don't deserve to have the customers. Period.

No offense to berkus, who I think is doing an OK job all things considered, but if the suits don't want to support their own product on "emerging platforms", then there are alternatives.

Hello,

To be honest, Skype 2.0.0.72 works very well on Ubuntu, one annoying bug I have is that after approx 45 minutes of video calling, the connection seems to be lost, I have to restart my Skype client. I also miss the SMS function, I know about the skysentials thing but this doesn't work right now on my Ubuntu 9.04 64bit version. So only 2 small thingy's I want here. How difficult can this be

Best Regards,

Hi berkus,

Do you have any updates for us?

Cheers
Feri

Hi krurucz_f

berkus is on holiday, and there's censored "update"

hasta la vista baby!

Ok, six months from the 23th of january, six months of words, no facts, just words.
AT the end of june Berkus said beta is coming soon (is repeating this since january...), but a single crash of pulseaudio has delayed everything, unbelievable.
It is one month that nobody says nothing.
I suppose that we'll never see this beta, nor the stable, because they are waiting to have a perfect software and is well known that perfect software can't exist.

Berkus,

I love Skype and as an Ubuntu user, I check this blog multiple times per week waiting and waiting for news of a new (beta, stable or other) release of Skype for Linux.

You posted screenshots of a new version almost a year ago and yourself state that a beta is very near completion. I ask you then, why should the innovators here in the Linux community be punished because you fear some people would confuse "Beta" and "Stable?" We know that what we get now might not be all we hoped for and will still have some bugs, but we ask that you allow us to test it at our own risk.

I respectfully ask you and the whole Skype team to respond to this group of passionate Linux users who only want the chance to enjoy your product as soon as possible.

I feel the same as a lot of the people posting here. I don't care if it's good news or bad news, but at least tell us what's happening.

Well, there does appear to be a bit of activity in the Developer Zone. Not much though, are the developers busy with other projects?

This blog has become quite a joke though. I keep checking it for updates but am always disappointed. I would just say that Skype should open the API and let the community run with it, but I know that we'll all be drinking frozen margaritas in hell before that happens.

hey all,

maybe the skype (all platforms) have really some exist-problems, check web about it ..

Just to break this nifty 400 comments bar, here's the long-awaited update - http://share.skype.com/sites/linux/2009/07/skype_for_linux_an_update.html

That long-awaited update just makes us to wait longer!

Is it possible that i can have the screen sharing option in Linux which i do have for my latest version of Skype4.1 for Windows

i really only want to be able to edit my messages, and when it show whos typing ATM

Hi

There is no Mandriva .RPM file yet?

The SUSE & Fedora versions won't install. They complain about needing qt4-x11 >= 4.2 which I do have. I am using Mandriva 2010 Beta. I installed the .tar version which works fine.

The only reason I ask is that I know some people using linux with are not that experienced installing non .RPM files. You know, .RPM files are just point and click files.

I'll send them a small script that will help them with the .TAR file on mandriva.

I am a PC technician that is helping users move to Mandriva or any other linux when they continually complain about windows.

Congratulatios for you new release.. Audio and my webcam works great except with my Logitech camera. I just get a green scabled screen and it works fine with Kopete & aMSN.

Regards,
Ezekiel

how can i import my email contact list into my linux beta skype, with out having to do one by one thanks

@medussa31 You shall ask this question on our forum and I'm sure some of our brave hearts will help you with a handy script. (hint for script writers: SEARCH USERS command)

Support for importing contacts is not part of the current release unfortunately.