Time flies. It's been a busy half a year!

Thanks, Berkus, I'll keep waiting anxiously for that planned update.

not possible!!

berkus, noooooooooOOOOOOO! you ruined it! the previous thread had become a second home for me! it was such a warm place, so many hours of fun and frustrated linux users.. i guess i will have to get used to the new place... goodbye old thread, you and your 400 posts will be sorely missed ...

On a more serious note, hope that everything works out well for you from now on! hope that you have better luck with pulse audio from now on!

And one more thing: I'm really looking forward for this release. I'm curious to see all the improvements after 1+ years without a single release of skype for linux. And i think the timing is juust about right: gspca cam drivers moved inside the kernel a while ago, and although other software works flawlessly, last time i check skype, i only got a green messed up.... mess. Since newer releases of kernel move into mainstream distributions sooner than later, skype had better take care of that issue.

Anyway, cheers!

It's great to see some motion here. Is there any chance of some screenshots of the UI changes? At least a brief description of what changes (at any level) there have been?

Very good news.
Now we're just waiting for it to become open source.
@ joss.wright, I also would like to see some preview.

Hey man...this is the new UI!
Didn't you see? The color has changed.
Isn't that enough for that short time of development?

I can't wait to video-chat with my family members spread all around the world using skype and unix

"UI work is finished for this release"
Worth a screenshot ?

Today there is a Skype for Linux blog update.
GNU Hurd will be realeased tomorrow.
The day after tomorrow we will play Duke Nukem Forever.
And then? Well, we should be prepared for end of the world.

Thanks for the update! I'm looking forward to the next version.

@berkus: Mind if I ask what kind of platform you use to install and uninstall all these different pulseaudio versions? It seems like that would wreak havoc on a system. Is it some flavor of Linux in a VM?

this is really appreciated, really.
but still, i have to say, this update didn't come a day too early.

ok, now we'll wait six months more?
Is it so hard to understand that we'll like to see the new release even if the video crashes ?
Release it has Alpha version, so nobody can complain if crashes and let us use that!

Berkus, you are saying that the new release is close since 23th of january.

Why don't you publish some trunk code to help you test different versions of the pulseaudio for example?? Share it and may be we all will accelerate the new version releasing

May be is better to work harder with SkypeMID and to make it the default linux version?

well, we all may see that the Windows and even MacOS audience are much bigger that then the linux one, so what we whant, eh?

Way to look professional: take six months for development and say: "can't make any promises about when it’ll be released". Great job, Skype Team. Me & my company was really excited about Skype for Linux, but all the problems it causes makes it useless. I myself try to use different clients since I can't depend on you & your release schedule.

Arrrgh! How's here?! Are you still alive?! Man, I was sure you were kidnapped by aliens half a year ago...

Thanks for the update! It's great to know something about what's going on with the next version of the Linux client.

@joss.wright I'll assemble some highlights after I cool down from coding rush and get some sleep.

@landtuna I'm using 64-bits ArchLinux. Works fine with all that zoo.

"The previous thread had become a second home for me!" Agree. Hope we see some beta soon.

@berkus Please tell me it won't NEED pulseaudio... I feel that if you support it, it is ok for those who want it to use it, but my notebook doesn't need another API layer to eat memory and increase latency.

@colinguthrie I just read your comment on the previous thread, and for me pulseaudio always felt slower on my AA1 than direct Alsa. As for Mandriva, I know of the checkbox - but I didn't want just to disable it, I really wanted to remove all the packages that I don't use, the 8GB SSD is small and every little bit helps.

Thank you, Berkus

Any comments ?

[Quote]
Skype under threat from eBay licence row

Parent company in legal battle with Joltid, owner of technology behind internet telephone service
The Guardian, Saturday 1 August 2009

Millions of internet users who use Skype could be forced to find other ways to make phone calls after parent company eBay said it did not own the underlying technology that powers the service, prompting fears of a shutdown.[/Quote]

I must disagre with @telefonchris, color has not changed, whata miracle.

The point now is: Which event causes a new post. 400 comments, oder all that time?.

To sum up: NOTHING TO SEE HERE, MOVE ALONG.

It has been ALMOST there for more than a year.

@ Berkus

I understand that are rying to make your work out and provide a new release for the Linux plataform, still we have just waited pretty too much, no to mention that we waited on 2.0 for some features to be fully implemented and never was.

Thank you for your work and efforts but sadly I am leaving Skype now and will work for Skype t be replaced at my work for alternatives, I am still unsure on which one, have until this Monday to decide, probably VMukti since the web-integration can be handy and we can work on our own products and derivatives, or probably wait on other options, still, it is a fact that we are moving not just for this reason but, hey, I am the last one they are going to ask. At home, I am switching my family programs and starting to move some friends and relatives away from Skype too, Skype will lose about 50 customers in general, most of they paying users.

Again, thank you for the work but I see that Skype Linux will always lack proper support.
My best wishes to you all, bye.

@ Skype directive body (heh, as if they would ever red this, but still)

Note that Linux users are a very small part of the share but that Linux users are influential to the decision of use and buy of many people, Both at home, and at enterprise level, a home Linux enthusiast would convince his girlfriend, parents friends and else to use Linux or at least, Linux friendly products.

I will make myself as an example, thanks to me there is 11 people using Skype because I recommended the software, none of them use Linux but still, they would be using something else if not for this Linux user. plus just check at the Linux market growth, Novell reported an increase of 25% in revenues JUST from their Desktop system, not even counting their server sells! Similarly, Red Hat reported 11% growth this year as well, no to mention the information about the growth in amount of users reported especially with Ubuntu. In Enterprise, you must know that Linux/UNIX admins usually take their decisions, secretly, based on their affinity to some provider or product.

In short, losing a Linux customer will usually cost a lose of several other customers not directly using Linux. a business advice: 'Listen to your customers'

EBay working on alternative software for Skype

http://www.physorg.com/news168280900.html

woohoo!

He hasn't even said that new Skype version will be released this year and you are getting excited about that?

I hope it's not another "stay tuned for half a year" post.

After more than year of developement and testing, the new version should be perfect. No bugs, perfect usability, lot of improvements... I think it'll be much better than Winodws version. Windows users will envy all new features, great stability, pure sound, hi-res video calls...

OK, back to reality...

I hope it's not another "stay tuned for half a year" post.

After more than year of developement and testing, the new version should be perfect. No bugs, perfect usability, lot of improvements... I think it'll be much better than Winodws version. Windows users will envy all new features, great stability, pure sound, hi-res video calls...

OK, back to reality...

@berkus yeah, 6 months of slacking off plus couple days of coding rush, right? Really, does group of full-time developpers need 6 months for next release?

Looking forward to hearing from you in 6 month again!

To all the impatient posters here: Why are you interested in blowing up this thread senselessly? All those sarcastic slogans as "Don't use Skype" and "I'm angry that you don't provide a preview" is just a waste of time, network bandwidth and disk space. The rules are clear. Use the stable version until there will be a new one. And instead of repeatedly push unimportant information here rather go walking in the park and cool down

is it still possible to get into the beta-team for testing purposes?
what will i have to do to get into?

Skype is intgral to my working from home, and as a result, it's the only things keeping me on WinXP. I have two instances of it open all the time. As soon there is a version that comes close to the current WinXP version, I'll start working on my Ubuntu installation.

I used to be happy when Skype 2.0.0.72 released. That time I started believing that Skype might be a good option for VOIP on Linux desktops and I stopped seeking for alternatives. I encouraged my doubting friends to abandon their SIP clients and move to Skype, taught my parents how to install and use it to keep in touch with me and their friends....

Time flies... Oh folks, what a HUGE mistake I did that time....!
Now a can see - Skype just sucks on Linux! Why should we wait for years for a piece of software that other OS users got long long time ego? Isn't it obvious that Skype don't really want us to be with them? We (Linux lovers) are not seemed to be a part of Skype's target audience.

Yes, many people are using Skype and many of my friends (actually almost all of them) as well. But I don't completely understand why should I continue depend on Skype and why not to return back to SIP? There are many pretty nice SIP clients for Linux. Me personally like ***link spam***
What can Skype do that ***other product*** can't? Skype has a huge audience and that's its only advantage. I am not about to believe Skype any longer and I'd better to move my friends (those who has not stuck on Skype too much yet) back to any of SIP based alternatives. At least I would be confident that I'm free in my choice, I can switch between dozens applications as often as I want. And I would NEVER sit tight begging anyone to FINALLY RELEASE THAT **** VERSION after those years of time just to keep me up with the rest of my happy windows using friends! I'm fed up. "Thx", Skype.

Can someone try ***link spam*** It is a Java application Win/mac/linux. Looks too good to be true.

@renekrell

+1 Completely agree with you

Furthermore, and I apologize if I am unknowingly completely misunderstanding the overall situation, but if you have an average middle of the line laptop or netbook, with an average middle of the line webcam, with an average middle of the line high speed connection, and if you are using either OpenSuse or Ubuntu which are if I am not mistaken 2 of the 3 most popular Linux distros, Skype 2.0.0.72 works quite well in as far as video and sound are concerned. Please correct me if I am wrong..

@jean-claudelorin

Let me disagree with you. Many months ago, may be a year it was exactly as you described above. But today it is not. I'm using F11 and in fact Skype is the only program among many dozens on my laptop which does not support pulseaudio - default sound layer in F11. My question is simple - what I would do - googling and reading tones of linux forums seeking for a solution how to downgrade to ALSA just because of one "black sheep" on my desktop, or rather simply get rid of that sheep?

If Skype is not capable to provide up-to-date versions of their software on time for the particular platform why don't just say people the truth and let them found a better alternative instead of giving them faint hopes and keeping in the dark.

Let's play fair.

There are many alternatives to skype. Kopete is really good. Furthermore, skype's rates are more expensive than most long distance providers. There are many voip providers that offer free calls to hundreds of countries for free. Examples: voip stunt, voipraider, lowratevoip, freecall, poketalk, and many many others. Why do you still use skype? It cannot be installed via wine whereas the above mentioned voip programs can easily be configured to work on linux with WINE. Why do you still use skype? They don't care about the linux users, thinking that we are a negligible percentage of their users. Indeed I have switched over a 120+ users to linux just in the past 4 months; most of them were paing skype for voip services. Now they have switched to the voip programs listed above.

Let us show skype that linux users have power over the skype's marked. Please encourage everyone you know, friends, family, and colleagues to switch to the cheaper and better and more compatible programs. Encourage everyone you know; windows, linux, and mac users.

I removed some advertising links. You can advertise somewhere else, on the forum perhaps.

@riessmi I need a bit of your background, ping me on skype.

@berkus
I wish you are that prompt in coding new Skype like you are in removing links to competition program that doesn't ignore its Linux user base. Program iz Qnext, everyone can google it. Guidelines are clear:

"If you can, link to other blogs or websites to illustrate your point. There’s a fine line between useful links and advertising, however, so if your comment is about another product, website, or service, make sure it’s relevant to the original post."

I dont see how another product "Qnext" in this case isn't relevant to original post? For us users is very relevant.

Let me understand. The skype linux developpers team, is a single man team? only berkus is coding the new version of skype?
Wasn't skype hiring new developpers 12 months ago?
It stinks.
I believe that this blog and the older one, are just an affair to keep the linux users using skype 2.0.0.72, trying to don't miss too much users, until... nobody knows what.

https://developer.skype.com/jira/browse/SCL

@hc_ftk

what does it says that link?
The only I see is that there are a lot of issues opened, and mr C. Jhonson is in charge of all of them (a single man team).
Anyway, I can prepare hundreds of flow chart showing dozens of people working on a project, but this doesn't mean that it is true.
The fact is that 2.0.0.72 is 16 months old, if really skype has a team of developpers they are playing cards not coding.
If the team is a single man team then it is obvious that he needs almost 24 months to develop the new version. If there is a new version cooking...

When did proprietary software on opensource ever really work?

For a long time I thought skype might be the exception to the rule, but alas. Most common problems on Linux seem related to proprietary software: Flash (mostly performance), ATI/nVidia drivers (features and performance).. Skype.

Thats not because these developers are any worse than OSS one's, but simply because the linux userbase is too small for these companies to invest the required resources (or at least more than a bare minimum to be able to say 'we support linux"), while at the same time, the huge opensource developer community is excluded from participating in the project. Its simply doomed to fail. Let's be serious, in the time Ubuntu has released 3 major new releases of their OS, Skype has produced.. 3 blog entries.

I don't understand why skype doesn't opensource its software, or at least 99% of it. If really needed, perhaps keep a tiny closed "skype kernel" that has the secret sauce, but for instance, all the UI stuff, really, why not let OSS developers help? Skype doesn't make money selling software, it sells services. Focus on that, and open/out source the rest. Or fail. As you have been for the past years, Im sorry to say.

I say - let's just wait and see. I'm using skype widely both on linux and windows and had no reasons to complain about it, though of course windows version has much more features in it, so what? Basically most users use chat/voice/video and both versions support it nicely, so I don't see any problem in waiting, just hope that it will be as good as windows version, if not better. So please stop trolling and be happy that we at least have current version to work with.

About opensource - yes, it would be good to release client under some open license (BSD/GPL/etc.) so people can involve themselves and help with development. Although of course there will be some geek who will write server for that - but basically it won't have any commercial drawback for skype, as it still sells only service and I doubt that _this_ wide community will leave main company for some unsupported servers (but again it will be good for some company to have internal servers just for internal use, but it just musings here, so don't take it too seriously), which mostly won't have external calling support and such.

@berkus
It was nice to get an update from you.
Can you please verify the the new version of skype on linux will have a functional call waiting?
On the pulseaudio issue I am glad skype will support it. It seems this is the future direction of linux. I hope skype will provide ample documentation to circumvent any problems that might arise.
Another issue that seems to be important is the creation of a proper software repository for skype. There is one but is not properly done. Documentation seems to be incomplete, authentication seems not be available. I only checked for Ubuntu but I assume that the same thing is true for the rest of the distros.
The whole idea is for a user to have a complete and functional product without having to be also a computer expert. Various linux distros (including Ubuntu) are trying to make it happen. Skype, as a commercial company, should be especially sensitive to these concerns.
Hope to hear from you soon

@arkstone.
Stop trolling???
Are you jocking? We are not trolling, we are explaining how disappointed we are.
Just wait and see?
Are you jocking??? What we have to wait, december 2012 and the end of the world?

@berkus:

If you need one more beta tester: I work in the IT-department of my university and we run around 100-150 Linux clients and there are alot of people using Skype there. I would be happy to package the Skype Beta as a Debian-package and install it on all machines, I surely will get some feedback because of the number of users that we have. Contact me on Skype if you're interested. Of course, the users don't have any root-priviliges and thus cannot fool around with the software except using it.

Adrian

Any chance of the promised screenshots?

@marko.martinovic71 I expected some response of such sort.

@luca.dgh No, linux team is not a single-man team. And I am not on that team, to make things clear. I hope you understand now.

@genki-adrian We use more personal approach during closed beta testing, this includes fooling around

@domialien Sir yes sir! Unfortunately I don't have much time for screenshooting atm.

@berkus

I too expected some response of such sort.

The Linux version really is the red headed stepchild version isnt it..

Contact Groups (active skype users need them).
SMS outbound (how is this not here already).

The UI changes.. Overdue already..

Its not like I dont plow money into Skype.. We are not asking for something for nothing here.

I don't want to critisize but I had to stop using Skype as it always pressured my CPU up to 100%, it's stupid that I have to explain such thing to customers trying to reach me.

And the screenshots... Seriously, how long does that take?

I'm very happy with the update, and knowing developing is active, but keep in mind all the above.

Some people here are crying like little kids who want their toy. The man thought he'd share some news, and the negativity he gets for a reply...It will be ready when it's ready!! Until then find an alternative! There's always a choice..

@hahampis

No there is not always a choice. Skype is considered as a standard here. I don't care much about the new features or new GUI, but I really need it to play nicely with pulseaudio.

First, I apologise for my previous comment, it is kind of insulting.. I was caught up in a moment of anger
About the choice thing..If you absolutely need Skype working in Linux, you could always use a little older distribution right? I mean, Skype worked great for me in Ubuntu 8.10 but not so well in 9.04. If I couldn't live without it I guess that's what I would do.

@hahampis

No hard feelings It is true that I could go back, but my external usb-audio card only works since 9.04... But thanks

@berkus: will the new version support call forwarding and voicemail?

Only the Skype static OSS works with Ubuntu Karmic.
My bluetooth headphones don't work with Skype/OSS, only Pulseaudio.
I have been a skype user since the beginning, and turned on many people to skype.
Because Skype doesn't work any more, I just switched to Ekiga and discovered that calls to Thailand cost about 1/5 as much as Skype.
Sorry Skype

@ verhack

Skype uses 100 % of cpu beause puolseaudio, in the audio device settings switch the 3 entries directly to you sound card, something like "HDA your_card (hw:your_card,0)". You will see that now cpu will not be stressed.
That is why all of us are asking for the new version, because pulseaudio is not in love with skype 2.0.0.72.

@luca.dgh

Thanks for the tip! But I already tried this before, and on the other side of the line, they complained that there was a terrible delay and stuttering (if that's even a word). I will try it again.

@awinkelbauer Yes, definitely.

I want to say thanks to people that making a linux version of Skype. You are doing really great job!:)

@krzysiek8844:
you sir win the internets. This might have been the best piece of irony I've come across so far in my entire life! seriously, for one moment I almost believed you!

Nice to see the thread growing again... gets me all warmed up and fuzzy inside ... cheers!

Still nothing? Berkus is waiting for 400 posts here, so he can write another "stay tuned" blogpost?

I realy hope that the new version (if there will be any) will work for me. I need to contact people from my contact list and give them backup mail or IM adress, because I can't rely on Skype... I can't do it now, because this SW just doesn't work

Skype - Take a deep breath -- Hehehe. It has new meaning now...

@astarothgr
No, that wasn't irony! My english is really bad, so maybe it that stupid sound. But I'm really happy that skype is developing linux version. I got now 2.0 and I don't need anything else. I got chat, sound chat, video chat and that's all I need. And everything works:)

Will the new version of Skype for linux feature call waiting as in versions for Windows

@vikbon No, this is not supported.

I've been asking for 64bit support for some years now... Will we get a 64bit version this release?

@tech2000 64-bit support is going to take a bit longer, so not for beta release.

@berkus any plans on releasing a beta? (even an alpha would be cool enough for now).
and if so, will it be publicly available? riessmi's post suggests you usually do closed betas?

@berkus
Call waiting is a basic feature that is expected on almost every telephony system. I hope you realize that the lack of such a feature is a serious omission especially at a time when players like Google Voice are entering the telephony arena.

Great to hear your going to support pulse audio, so far I've found skype on Linux unusable unless I use a USB headset.

Please look at releasing a beta soon there's a large community ready to test and help out.

@sergioluis_ Closed betas are continuous, but we do plan to release an open beta in quite short time from now.

@nkk001 Yes, I realize that. We could of course delay release by another couple of months and produce call waiting support. Or ignore it for now, go ahead and release. I choose second option, what about you?

@acathrow I'm not tired to repost this link for gazillionth time: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1238207 try it and your skype experience will be silky and nice.

Thanks Berkus.

I appreciate the effort you guys put in and your support of Linux.

From what I've seen of these posts you guys have to deal with a lot of criticism. But considering that many companies don't support linux because of the small market share I'm very happy with the support I'm getting from skype.

Of course I still dream about features like screensharing... etc

what is this???
Have you released this?
https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/skype-mid/3.0.0.93-3jaunty1/+build/1142466

@luca.dgh Read the description file carefully.

Description:
skype-mid - Skype for MIDs

This is a separate project. You can get it from Skype Garage.

Here are some screenshots I promised earlier.

We have contact groups finally (notice bookmarked chats are also there!).

We have a nicer tray icon (new one on the left, old one on the right).

Chat window has been improved with: day divider..

...typing indicator...

...controls to change picture...

...and nice picture zoom-on-mouseover.

More to come. Tell what you want to see.

Ok, I didn't care about the -mid, sorry. But anyway it works quite well on my eee.pc , the only problem is that there is no alarm sound for incoming call.
Actually it works as well on my desktop (both with Ubuntu 9.04).
Ok ok... unsense test.
Keep waiting for the beta release @#/z#!

luca.dgh: With regards this incoming call sound, just make sure the sound files are in /usr/share/skype/sounds and also, that you are not in Do Not Disturb mode.

If you are still having problems with sound files, let me know.

excelent!! i would to see screenshot of the main window skype, and will be there type options in the chat window?

@berkus: skype will be using Qt3 or Qt4 ?

@berkus: did it a year and 5 months used only for the changes?

i am afraiding: new nice modern systray icon + old qt3 horrid skype window user interface ?? (ouu damnit)

@hc_ftk: Firstly, "I am afraiding" is not a proper English. Secondly, you haven't seen anything yet so it is rather ignorant to comment on interface. Personally, I am satisfied with Skype 2.0 interface. What, do want to have oversized and crumbled with useless stuff interface like the Windows version of Skype does?? The lack of functionality is the main problem in old Skype.
@gizi_ch:You also need to improve on your English. Your sarcasm reflects the lack of maturity. It took long time for the new version of Skype to be ready because they had to rewrite big chunks of code, and also provide support for pulse audio and video.

time-trader

disculpa por favor mi inglés, mi lengua es eslovaco, vale? ... bla bla

that was only my question: a + b = c? its easy to understand

secondly: its no only about ui? it would be really nice have skype linux with eye appeal + stability. you want a car with old–fashioned auto body?? hm, maybe but i dont like ..

i think minimum is qt4 .. so i really hope this is a way of new ui skype linux. (ou damnit)

@hc_ftk: How do you come to the idea that the upcoming version of skype for linux could be written in Qt3?

Correct me if I am wrong, but as far as I can see the "current" version uses Qt4 (>= 4.2.1 I guess).

awinkelbauer

lets see kopete qt4 ..opera 10 qt4 .. dolphin qt4 .. kmail qt 4 ..amarok 2 qt4

and skype 2.0.0.72 qt4 .. hm ..ou yeah source qt4 maybe

the ui actual linux version is for GNOME user ... i use KDE4, and in my eyes this actual ui dont fit into KDE4 .. thats my opinion

in the screenshots i cant see another ui like in actual version AND FOR THAT i was asking for screenshot of main window skype .. "i am afraiding" aka to suspect: old face

awinkelbauer

A MATTER OF COURSE : I THINK QT 4.5

(sorry for my bad english)

@hc_ftk

I have a good and bad new for you

The bad news is that the current version of skype uses Qt4. The good one: try to run skype with

./skype --disable-cleanlooks

This way skype looks like other kde4 applications

@verhack

I had had the same problem. Skype pressured my CPU up to 100%.. The solution was to remove pulseaudio.. and it solve other problems too. It's sounds stupid but is the simplest way I found.

@berkus
I'm very happy to know that a new version of skype is being developed. However, I also understand the frustration of some people.

@h3speros
What you said is true. More than 10 people use skype today because of me. So it is not only the market share of linux that matter.

@andypoo
Thank you for your tip, I moved the sounds files in /usr/share/skype/sounds and now it works.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Me too I have moved all my family and my friends to skype, if I remember well it was 2005 when I used skype for the first time on windows, immediately I involverd my family and after all my fiends.
One year after I switched to Linux and skype as well, more or less because in 2006 and 2007 skype for linux was not very functional, but no matter I was using it.
Since one year I'm living 14.000 km from my family and friends and still skype is my favourite, but honestly is not very easy to justify this preference.
On my linux box I had to switch off pulseaudio, I had to buy an high quality webcam because skype hasn' t brightness/contrast settings.
In this last 2 months I dont't know why, suddenly, I can't see the caller cam and nor mine, but the caller can see my cam.

Definitely I'm doing my better effort to stay with skype, but it is not easy.
Please please please, release the new beta.

dadypt

thnx for posting it ... i use utility "qt4 settings" and there can modify ui .. i have to set gui style: oxygen

thats ok, but i am writing about ui, what is looking like some Gnome program .. so i dont mean: no color etc, but user interface - optiones, buttons, settings, etc ....i am rock KDE4 user, i wish to skype fit into KDE4 qt4.5 or higher ... and audio&video must be to improve of course

Just for people requiring full main window look:

Of course, this is qt4, I've no idea how you could've thought that 2.1 will use the same as 1.3 a _little_ while ago.

@gizi_ch Actually, it took us 1 year and 3 months to find that duck picture and then only 2 months to integrate it into existing skype UI.

@hc_ftk Skype fits nicely into KDE4 look and feel.

berkus

i accept that my english is no very good to something describe

the first: i have a respect to development and i am really lucky that comes new version

the second: the true is that i was awaiting complet new ui with qt4.5 of course something like a windows version: more menu click-buttons, more improvment, better colors of main window, and bla bla (we can see it on windows version screenshots)

but ok, the bad news for me is: ui with old "base-face" and the good news for me: ui isnt worse; better stability, rewritten audio etc ....

suma sumarum: i am using skype all the time, so there is no causa to change it

@berkus
Thanks for the screenshots. The UI of this new version is very similar to the current one. I could be wrong, but the worst part is to write the background code, like the audio code. The UI is relatively easy to code. Some additional changes could have been done with little work. However, I'm very happy to see the "typing indicator" and groups. However another feature is missing (in the current version). I'm unable to change the output and input volume directly from Skype. I can vary the volume by changing de system volume, which is very annoying. It would be nice to change the volume in the video window. Obviously, I'm also very glad to know that a lot of background code was improved. I would like to known if some changes have been done to the video library to support a better fullscreen communication? Thanks.

@berkus,

Thanks a lot for all this information. The GUI does not matter too much for me. It is already quite good. Sound quality is the first problem. I see it finally goes in the right direction

Can we have an idea of planning. What would be your target date for a first public beta release ? What would it be for a GA ?

Thank's a lot for your work and for your answer.

Bernard

@Berkus:
Although I understand that Skype for MID is a different product than Skype for Linux, the UI of Skype for MID is clearly comparable to the UI of Skype for Windows. Why is the UI of the new Skype for Linux not 'updated' to the common interface like the Windows-interface?
The old interface has its advantages, but the Windows-interface certainly has some great features...

@others:
Skype for MID has many limitations and I had to tweak that version as much as the good ol' Skype for Linux to work completely as I want. So, in my case, I (have to) stick to the official Skype for Linux 2.0.0.72.

@dadypt Yes, with the limited resources we have, we still try to improve the quality of audio and video. I believe that with little tweaking skype can be made to adjust almost any volume automatically, with no user intervention. I'd be glad however to see volume indicators in the new version of the UI, just like you.

@deterwangneb We have this "no dates" issue again. I can tell you Real Soon Now™, but this would be subject to more jokes, wouldn't it?

@wijgerden Skype for MID interface is targeted to finger-touch based devices, and particularly doesn't handle desktop environment too well. Besides, I'd rather have the great features of Win client in a nice "classic" Linux Skype look. This is all subject to change however. I myself am looking beyond Windows Skype interface towards something even more exotic.

@berkus Thanks for the screenshots!

@berkus
If truth must be said, Skype adjusts the audio volume quite well. I'm very happy with it in the current version. However, sometimes, it's nice to quickly adjust the volume of each application separately when using several programs with audio at the same time. Thanks for your time

" However, sometimes, it's nice to quickly adjust the volume of each application separately "

Totally agree with dadypt! And personally it's the only feature I'm looking forward to find in the new version. Except that, the current version has been working great for me.

Wow! more than 100 replies in about 15 days! Last post had about 400 in 6 months, I hope these numbers tell something to Skype direction!!!
I'm really waiting for the new version to come out and solve many issues. I personally don't care for the UI as for a solid and stable product, so keep up the good work, and I hope to se it really "Real Soon Now"

Very Nice! Thanks for the screen shots

@dadypt
Isn't this what they are trying to do with pulse-audio?
http://news.softpedia.com/news/How-to-Replace-the-Volume-Control-in-Ubuntu-9-04-with-the-PulseAudio-One-112786.shtml

Look at the screenshot in the bottom.

@verhack
Thanks for the tip I will try it.. but not now I have removed pulseaudio from my system.. Pulseaudio seems very nice, but some applications still have problems with it (hopefully, not skype 2.1 ). However, I think that controlling each application with system controls is not the optimal solution. It is far more easy to control it directly in the application. Nevertheless, the tip was very good: D Thanks

@Berkus

thx for the screenshots so far, could you pls send one with the cam window? is it bigger and better than the older one in stamp size?

when you need beta testers, give us a sign!

best regards

@berkus
I have to admit I am glad there is such an activity regarding skype on linux and you are doing a great job communicating with the community. Call waiting is an important feature on telephony today. Whether I am willing to wait two more months for it is not an issue since I am already waiting for the new version for a couple years. The question would not be important if skype was releasing regular updates to the linux software. My fear is that I might have to wait another two years to see call waiting on skype for linux and this is not good at all.

It's great that the interface is the same as it was before. I'm glad to hear that Skype is now able to work with PulseAudio. But I'm not using it in KDE4, and my sound quality is not great (it is much better in windows). Has the general audio part been improved in a new version?

@berkus

Will the new "silk" audio codec be part of Skype 2.1?

Btw. I'm happy that development of skype for linux is still going on!
Thanks for all your work on this!

@berkus

Considering how a lot of MID's are using an ARM processor are there any plans to write a version of Skype for this platform?

@miciinc Yes, SILK is definitely in 2.1.

@isaac702 There are skype implementations for arm, hopefully we'll have a MID-style version some time later, too.

@all I'll post video screenshots once I manage to make it work

just another linux user here glad to see some work happing on skype linux development! @berkus thanks for the updates! keep them coming!

It's nice to hear that something is going on ...
Unfortunately skype does not work with video for me since the last ubuntu/fedora I've installed and with none of my working cameras

Thanks to Berkus for updates, piccies and comments!

@midnightflare Perhaps note astarothgr's comment on gspca, but worth exploring in Video forum

@ivan_stetsenko Prev (Jan) blogpost noted audio had been completely rewritten. (The SILK news is obviously relevant too.)

@h3speros Interesting corporate P2P/cloud solution. With your home transition, consider FreeSWITCH (~like Asterisk) as apparently can be run cooperatively with Skype.

@midnightflare:
Have you tried the following command?

$LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l1compat.so skype

It works for me with Fedora 11.

@berkus: thanks for your comment. I'm looking forward to your ideas of the UI. But as far as it gets, first stop on the road is version 2.1. Just like many others, I'm trying to make Skype to work on different Linux-systems (and luckily, thanks to the patients and cooperation of most of my customers / friends) I get 2.0 to work, but it would be very nice to have a Skype that works out of the box.

Is the Jira-bugreporting still functioning in the development of Skype for Linux? The vast amount of open tickets hopefully don't reflect the development process of version 2.1...

To be honest, I'm not really interested in video's. Just make sure that the final blockers (any solved yet?) are solved asap!

It was the first time I noticed this link: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1238207
It enhances the sound and the CPU usages is down to almost nothing, but... then sound AND video in Flash (v. 10, 64 bit) doesn't work anymore. So, I prefer crappy sound and working flash apps.. (i must confess that I haven't checked for work arounds yet)

But, maybe I should just wait for the public beta

@letatcest
As I said before, the best solution I have found is to remove pulseaudio from the system.

>Is the Jira-bugreporting still functioning in the development of Skype for Linux? The vast amount of open tickets hopefully don't reflect the development process of version 2.1...

@wijgerden Yes, it is still functioning and we're going to go through and clean it up after the beta release.

Will there be a 64-bit version? In the last post you mentioned that it would be one of the tasks for 2009. I'm looking forward to it!

Forget my previous question about 64-bits. I've seen you already answered.

Berkus : First of all, thanks a lot to you and to Linux Development team for improving and updating Linux version. I have one question regarding to the forthcoming new skype version. Will there be a "High Quality Video Call" support or not ?

Thanks for your reply,by now.

Tarkan Erimer

@berkus: Nice to see some screenshots. Question: Will the api be available, just like with the current skype? I use the kopete skype plugin that talks to skype, so to use only 1 messenger. And if it is available, Will it require an update to the plugin or will it work with the one for the current skype version?

@tarkanerimer Yes, this will be supported.

@parena1979 Yes, it should work with current plugin version. Pali Rohár is maintaining it and I believe he will fix it asap if there are any problems. But there shouldn't be any.

2.1 beta !!! thanks! it just worked - no more booting to Windows

skype 2.1.0.47 -- no, i dont believe .. impossible ... nobody will tell me that new version is out ... NOBODY!! skype linux is only 2.0.0.72 its legend, so please, ..
lets downloading it !!

Beta has been released???? where is??????
Post the link!!!!!!!!

BAM!! Working great here, thanks!

got it!!!!

http://www.skype.com/intl/es/download/skype/linux/?cm_mmc=PAIDS|GAWS-_-AMERC|PE|ES-_-BD|SOFTW-_-zh01it&gclid=CPHjrPaLxJwCFdRS2godgmEbgA

Ok, finally, thanks for your job people.
Thanks a lot.

Skype 2.1 installed Thanks

It is such a relief to see this. None of the beta packages seem to work on 64-bit Fedora-11 though. Perhaps a 64-bit static or dynamic package would be a good idea, in addition to the one for Ubuntu?

@ phasmus - I am using Fedora 11 64bit, and the Skype 2.1 beta rpm is working fine. You need to "rpm -ivh skype-2.1.0.47-fc10.i586.rpm".

Pulseaudio is working flawlessly. For those who aren't familiar with the pulseaudio volume control, run "pavucontrol" and this offers right click functionality to move input and output streams from one device to another. Pulseaudio should then remember this setting for Skype.

@ Berkus - the only issue for me is video. When I click "test", I get a garbled green image. I still have to run skype via: "LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l1compat.so skype" to use the webcam successfully using the older V4L driver.

My webcam is a Logitech, USBID: 046d:08ad

thanks. It already seems a more solid release than 2.0 (no more forgetting my preferred input/output devices!!)

I've installed 2.1. The only audio device listed is PulseAudio Server [local]. I'm unable to select one soundcard for the incoming call ring sound and another for the microphone and playback through my headset. I can move the stream using the PulseAudio Volume Applet, but this affects all incoming and outgoing sound. I'm running Fedora 11 x86_64. Is there some work around this using an .asoundrec setting?

I've installed 2.1. The only audio device listed is PulseAudio Server [local]. I'm unable to select one soundcard for the incoming call ring sound and another for the microphone and playback through my headset. I can move the stream using the PulseAudio Volume Applet, but this affects all incoming and outgoing sound. I'm running Fedora 11 x86_64. Is there some work around this using an .asoundrc setting?

For the previous poster having problems on F11 x86_64, make sure you have these rpms installed:

alsa-plugins-pulseaudio-1.0.20-2.fc11.i586
pulseaudio-libs-0.9.15-14.fc11.i586

Thanks for the input, folks. I'm on a clean F11_64 with no 32 bit libs present. With the audio libs and dependencies installed I'm still getting a series of no such file or directory errors on various shared objects required by Skype (libXv, libXss, Xrandr, Xrendr, font stuff, etc). Is there a top level 32-bit dependency that might bring in all of this at once?

One suggestion: Uninstall skype and then reinstall it using yum localinstall [package name]. If the rpm is properly configured, this SHOULD pick up all the dependencies.

My webcam isn't working with 2.1. It did work with 2.0 until a few months ago. A kernel update probably did it in. When I press the test button, the webcam's light turns on, but nothing else happens. Here's the webcam ID:

Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0ac8:332d Z-Star Microelectronics Corp. Vega USB 2.0 Camera

There we go! yum deplist on the rpm turned up qt4-x11 which did the trick. It looks like it brought in the 64-bit version on install even though it needed 32. I also had to bring in libXScrnSaver-1.1.3-2.fc11.i586 for some reason. It launches now. Not getting audio activity after the ring-tone on a call though... I'll play with it a bit.

@parena1979
Skype protocol in kopete works fine with new beta version.

In svn version of kopete-skype is support to disable all skype notification events, hide skype call dialog (and use only kopete call dialog) and code for moving incomming webcam stream widget to other window (using Xlib). In future webcam video will be show in kopete call dialog and no skype window will be shown. System status icon is possible hide on plasma.

I'm creating new connection api to skype with mutliaccount support (with differerent --dbpath and pipelogin). It will use DBus and X11 messaging (for static version). In skype beta version is fixed --pipelogin, so in future it is possible to store account name and password in kwallet.

@rob_stewart57: exactly the same problem for me! The only difference is the brand of the webcam...

Berkus, nice job! Sound is working great with pulseaudio!

Why is my Rhythmbox paused everytime i get chat message? I understand this is "feature", not bug, but I don't want to chat in silence how can I disable this for chat messages and leave this feature for incoming calls?

Hi,

@berkus:

Thanks for the beta release. It runs fine on Ubuntu 9.10, however whenever I start a call, sound stops working after the connection is established. I can call the Skype Test Call, it gives me the dial-sound, it rings but after that sound is dead. Skype won't output any sound anymore, even "Make Test Sound" doesn't work. I have to restart Skype, then the sound comes back. I cannot call anybody.

My Ubuntu version is 9.10 (current updates as of 08/27/09) with pulseaudio 0.9.16, kernel 2.6.31.

Adrian

Let me add:

- the call itself works, I can use video, just no audio
- sometimes I cannot quit skype after this and I have to end it with killall -9
- pulseaudio itself works, I can use other applications
- Skype does not appear in the Applications tab in "Sound Preferences"

Adrian

@genki-adrian:
I was having similar issues after I finally got Skype running. Then I restarted my system and everything suddenly worked. I haven't had any problems since. Ubuntu and Fedora may have different sets of issues, but a restart may be worth a shot if you haven't tried it yet.

@genki-adrian:
I was having similar issues after I finally got Skype running. Then I restarted my system and everything suddenly worked. I haven't had any problems since. Ubuntu and Fedora may have different sets of issues, but a restart may be worth a shot if you haven't tried it yet.

Great to finally have a new Skype release! PulseAudio seems to work fine on Fedora 10.
I have a Logitech Quickcam Pro for Notebooks (046d:08c3) webcam, which works with the uvc driver. This webcam has YUYV colormodes only for the resolutions 1024*576 and 1280*960, since all lower resolutions use MJPEG format. Skype 2.0.0.72 was able to automatically pick up the 1024*576 YUYV mode, but the video crashed after about a minute or so.

Skype 2.1.0.47 is not able to find a working YUYV mode for my webcam, so I added to config.xml in the section the lines
576
1024
This made my webcam work and now it seems to work stably for the first time with Skype for Linux, which is great!

Will there be support for other colormodes than YUYV in Skype for Linux?

The beta version over the link is incorrect, that is the old version 2.1 ??

http://www.skype.com/intl/es-world/download/skype/linux/

@phasmus and @berkus:

I just did a softupdate and it replaced my installed version of pulseaudio, it's still 0.9.16 but another Ubuntu patchlevel, it works like a charm now. I'll keep on testing.

Adrian

The xml tags were removed from my previous post. These are the lines I added to config.xml
<Video>
<CaptureHeight>576</CaptureHeight>
<CaptureWidth>1024</CaptureWidth>
<Fps>5</Fps>
</Video>

Finally I have a clear mic sound - ever since i went linux i have been missing my skype.
Thanks to all in volved
D

Finally I have a clear mic sound - ever since i went linux i have been missing my skype.
Thanks to all involved
D

Gr8 news. I almost got a heart attack this morning
Seriously thank you very much for all your hard work. I installed it on my i386 Fedora but i am yet to test it properly. Any chance releasing F10+ 64-bit package. My main systems run F1 64-bit.

Thanks

Hi,

Beta running smooth, using only 1% CPU in background. Thanks!

Only is my mic not working, but I think it's something wrong in the hideous ALSA mixer. (Probably will install the PulseAudio mixer)

It crashes whenever I try to start a video call.
When I try my webcam in the video-device settings, it works fine, but it crashes when I start my own video during a call.

Please put back a link to download the older version. With that version the webcam worked fine.

@genki-adrian
@phasmus

Same issue like you guys. Seems to be fixed now though. First i installed new Skype 2.1 over existing 2.0.0.72 and i had the same issue. Then i removed skype completely and then installed skype 2.1 again. Now calls are working.
F11 x86_64 + Gnome + Logitech USB headset. No video cam on this desktop. Hope this helps someone else.
BTW is there a better place to be posting this?

Thanks

All I can say is: at last! An update!
I had been using Skype4Pidgin because I was finding Skype's GUI incredibly frustrating. At least Skype 2.1 beta has mood messages next to the contact names now.
Skype4Py doesn't seem to work with this version. The quick example found in the following link doesn't work: http://skype4py.sourceforge.net/doc/html/

@ BERKUS

Again I have to ask to put back a link for the previous version of skype for linux... The video in the current one does not work!!!

@danielle_biella

http://download.skype.com/linux/skype-2.0.0.72-fc5.i586.rpm

Thanks mate!

I can use my webcam again!!

I tried installing Ubuntu 9.04 and Skype 2.0.0.74 on my Dell Mini 9. I could make a test call but the Microphone did not work. Tried all the solutions I could find and still nothing. After reloading the OS 3 times, I gave up and switched back the the Dell Ubuntu 8.04 factory DVD. I never got my microphone to work with Ubuntu 9.04.

After one year everything finally works for me on Jaunty (with Pulseaudio updated to 0.9.15 via PPA for Luke Yelavich https://launchpad.net/~themuso/+archive/ppa). Thanks Skype. Great release.

Please release a beta!!! Is more than one year that Linux users don't get an updaate. That's start to be ridiculous!!! A software (not open source) one year old in Linux is just ridiculous....

Bluetooth works and that's is the only thing I need! Thanks a lot to developers!!!

Will there ever be an RPM installer for Mandriva?.

I have help a lot of friends move from Windows to Mandriva and they are people who are more of a point and click users.

In the mean time I will send them instructions on how to install the .TAR file.

Fedora & SUSE .RPM installers complain about not having qt1 >= 4.2.

Regards
Ezekiel

Is it so diffucult to make a working version for Linux? Especially 64bit and Video????

But this doesn't care the developers because we are only the Linux community.
Really stupid!!!

All said and done I used to think skype supported all platforms well. What I see now is pretty disgusting. You should really consider Linux users out there who're on 64bit machines. There was a time when skype would work out of the box. Now, its simply BS!

In my Fedora 11 x86_64 the Beta works quite okey. Audio works fine with PA, but reciving video sometimes stops. (I dont know why and some cameras doesn't seem to work at all)

Developers, please focus on:

1.) Bug fixing
2.) Give us 64 bit versions for more (all) distos.

Is the next stable skype far away?

Hi，

I got skype-2.1.0.47-fc10.i586.rpm installed into 2 moblin devices, but I cannot hear sound from skype peers, while I can hear sound from Ubuntu-9.10 with skype-2.1.0.47.

I think there are some package lacked in Moblin, can you tell me?

thx

Dongpo