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Skype 1.0 For Windows Released, Updated Linux Beta
egjertse writes "Today Skype launches its free Skype for Windows Version 1.0 software, which includes SkypeOut, enabling Skype users to pre-pay and call any phone number in the world at highly competitive local rates. Also included in Skype 1.0 is a new file transfer feature and other software enhancements. New beta versions of Skype for Linux (Previous Slashdot Story) and Skype for Pocket PC with the SkypeOut feature are also available. Here are the release notes."
But doesn't work on Windows 98/ME
Candle burns its brightest in the dark
Has anyone tried this? If so, is the sound quality high enough to bother with? Does it ever miss words or anything?
I've had problems with other services like this in the past, but maybe they have gotten better.
Boxing Equipment Reviews
...someone develops a phone that looks and feels like a regular household portable phone, but uses Skype via your home wifi network?
I can see it now, the new spyware will work like this:
..
When you make a voice call, the spyware will listen to your conversation, then start producing popups on what you say
for example:
Me: "Hi Mom"
Spyware: *incest p0rn popups*
It's Windows 98/ME that doesn't work
You could think of us as the big, free Internet telephony company. We prefer to think of ourselves as a big group hug, even a present. Yes... that's it... we're a present... but without the ribbon.
..can't ...hold ...back ...sounds like ...project kickoff meeting.
:-@~~~~*
*wharf ralf barf*
"I knew it was over when I downloaded Skype," Michael Powell, chairman, Federal Communications Commission, explained. "When the inventors of KaZaA are distributing for free a little program that you can use to talk to anybody else, and the quality is fantastic, and it's free - it's over. The world will change now inevitably."
Fortune Magazine, 16th February 2004
I don't see a 2/16/2004 edition of Fortune according to their archives but I did find an article on 2/9/2004 which I cannot see in its entirety (see here for more bitching about that topic).
I've been using Skype at home for a few days now; the sound quality is adequate, and I haven't had any problems with it; its probably equal or better than the POTS.
:)
Plus you can log into Skype onto multiple machines, if someone tries to contact you they both ring. I'm not sure about messaging yet though!
Still, I'll be downloading this and upgrading. I like it! Its definately worth a try out if you're interested in making phone calls. I've only tried the IP2IP connections btw, and have no idea of IP2POTS
Dug
P.S. I often make up words due to psudeoapathy.
Until someone does, Skype, a proprietary closed protocol, but the only "zero configuration" VoIP application I know of, is likely to continue to acquire users.
27.07.2004 Skype for Windows 1.0.0.9 * change: new EULA * change: minor text changes * change: changed progressbar colors
Yes, there is a new EULA http://www.skype.com/eula.html, but unless I'm seriously mistaken, it does not forbid you to make worldwide calls; it says: "Please note that you are not allowed to use the Skype Software and the Services in territories where offering or using such services is forbidden by law. By agreeing to this End User License Agreement, you will explicitly state that you have verified in your own territory if the offering and use of such services is allowed." That's usual. If I'm wrong though, please correct me! Dug
Yesterday on macbidouille, they reported on this:
"On June 16, 2004, there was an internal demonstration at Skype of the alpha version of Skype for MacOS. The alpha version worked well and the development team is working towards a beta launch of Skype for Mac. It will likely take about 2-3 months until release. When Skype for Mac is available, an email will be sent to you through Public Mind to let you know. Thanks for your patience."
Not yet, which is the beauty of it all. Friends of mine were all hyped up about this a few months back, but when I saw who was behind it I chose not to go with the flow. There are lots of provisions in licenses and texts that says they are allowed to add third party stuff later on under certain circumstances. They do say you have to agree, but couple that with provisions that say that they don't need to provide you with the next version and that new versions need not be compatible I think we all see where it is heading. Add in the fact that most users simply agree to anything, and we're already there.
I might well be wrong and they've seen the errors of their ways, but I doubt it. I'll just wait and see. It is quite possible I'll not support it simply because they've been *really* bad before and people who behave badly should not get away with it by just starting over.
As I understood it, these guys operated a "clean" Kazaa, and the malware only came in when Sharman Networks, or whatever it was called, took over. Am I misinformed?
As of Skype for Linux version 0.9.0.14, the options to configure the soundcard settings from inside the program are still missing.
:)
For those (like me) who use two different soundcards (webcam microphone + internal soundcard) for sound input and output, there's something called skype_dsp_hijacker, which uses an LD_PRELOAD trick to redirect sound I/O to another device. I wrote a small patch for this useful wrapper to enable use of separate devices.
It's located at http://195.38.3.142/skype/
Do tell me if you find it useful!
Nope, you are not misinformed. According to a Dutch television documentary the programmers did not want that to happen. A collegue, who handled the commercial part more or less, sold the program to an Australian company, without them knowing. Basically they were conned out of their business. After that the ads came in.
This out the top of my head, since I don't have the documentary lying around. It was shown to me at the Copy=Right? festival of my ISP, XS4ALL (.nl).