Slashdot Mirror


Skype For Mac OS X and Linux

Pablo Martinez-Almeida writes "Skype has just announced full versions of its software for Mac OS X and for Linux. Now I'm only waiting for some conversations recording feature. (via Om Malik on broadband)"

329 comments

  1. Conversation recording feature already included! by GMFTatsujin · · Score: 5, Funny

    All it takes is a moment to fill out the Freedom of Information Act forms.

    *rimshot*

  2. Isn't this the KaZaa people though? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Aren't they the spyware kings? Can I really actually trust these people with software I install on my computer?

    So far the Mac OS X world has been generally free of spyware and malware. Looking at this Skype release, I feel like the Native Americans watching the first wave of pilgrims coming off the boat, smiling and wanting to trade smallpox-infected blankets with us.

    1. Re:Isn't this the KaZaa people though? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Check it out: image
      NO spyware!
      Adware, malware.

      At least they use politically correct PNG files.

    2. Re:Isn't this the KaZaa people though? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      OK. Are they telling the truth?

    3. Re:Isn't this the KaZaa people though? by Grey+Ninja · · Score: 4, Informative

      yes. They make their money this time around by billing us for using the PC2Phone services that they offer. They charge about $0.02 per minute, which I am willing to pay.

    4. Re:Isn't this the KaZaa people though? by owlstead · · Score: 2, Informative

      It's the _original_ KaZaa people, before it was sold by a "partner" to the company that made the well known bugged version. So the chance of malware is neglectible.

    5. Re:Isn't this the KaZaa people though? by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 1
      Ouch! I pay $0.05 per minute for Qwest long distance with a $20.00 monthly cap, meaning that I generally end up paying around $0.03 per minute for full-fledged POTS with guaranteed E911 service.

      Five years ago, I would've jumped at $0.02 per minute of service. Today, it's not worth my time.

      --
      Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
    6. Re:Isn't this the KaZaa people though? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      neglectible? adverb?
      def: If you pay no heed to it, it probably won't screw with you very much?
      Don't misunderestimate© the spelling nazis.

    7. Re:Isn't this the KaZaa people though? by notthe9 · · Score: 1

      Meh. For the amount I use my cell phone, I pay anywhere from .9 to 3 cents/minute.

    8. Re:Isn't this the KaZaa people though? by Breakfast+Pants · · Score: 1

      Kazaa and fast track in general have always been bugged. Their main downfall was not fully hashing files to save speed--why hash at all? The result has been the network can be polluted extremely easily, they only check every other byte so you can insert random noise into 1 out of 2 bytes in a file.. ever downloaded an MP3 off of kazaa and get that loud hiss? You may even have downloaded one off another network and gotten one (it originated on kazaa, believe me).

      --

      --

      WHO ATE MY BREAKFAST PANTS?
    9. Re:Isn't this the KaZaa people though? by cg0def · · Score: 1

      I rarely have the chance or the need to say this but you are a pure bread moron. Sky is compleatelly spyware and adware free and if you took a moment before flaming you would know that. Also there is a whole lot of new things that the skype technology introduses like for example you can use a 33.1 dial up connection to achieve the same connection quality that you get from you land line and the distributed network that Skype uses.
      Skype will and is making money from the pc-2-phone service which is paid but still cheaper than any long distance plan that I have seen.
      Oh yeah and there is nothing full about a 1.0 release of a software. Just because Skype for linux and macos used to be at 0.94 did not by any means mean that it wasn't full. It was working just as well as the windows version and I have tested both of them. It nice to see free comercial grade software for linux.

    10. Re:Isn't this the KaZaa people though? by cg0def · · Score: 1

      If you would look up things before flaming you would have knows that it's an international calling plan and not a US based one. I live in the US and I love it but DUDE you gotta get it in you thick skull that the ocean is not the end of the world. Anyway, I rally don't care about your overpriced crappy calling plan. If you think about it for just a sec you would realize that you are also paying about $20 a month for a local phone plus whatever you end up paying for your long distance. Oh yeah and no one ever said that you should use Skype as a pc-2-phone provider. It's a free world, you know ...

    11. Re:Isn't this the KaZaa people though? by BlackHawk-666 · · Score: 1

      I've also been using the P2Phone service and it's really great! It's cheaper than all other phone services, offers terrific sound quality, and I can use my PC headset to do it. I'm calling from the UK to a crappy handset in Australia where the phone line (in Aus) can only support dial-up speeds of 28kbs, so you *know* it is a crappy line...and yet Skype sounds great on it.

      --
      All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.
    12. Re:Isn't this the KaZaa people though? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It nice to see free comercial grade software for linux.

      You mean it comes with built in BSODs, confusing error messages and no manual, just like other commercial grade software. No thanks mate, I'll wait for something that works.

      And how would I know that it is spyware free? Because they say so? Just like every spam mail says "this is not spam" these days... If anything, that's a sign that it IS.

    13. Re:Isn't this the KaZaa people though? by bcreane · · Score: 1

      I feel like the Native Americans watching the first wave of pilgrims coming off the boat, smiling and wanting to trade smallpox-infected blankets with us. Your comparison, while compelling, is historically inaccurate: The US government didn't give disease infested sleepware to Native American tribes until about 100 years later during the forced relocation of tribes to the "west."

    14. Re:Isn't this the KaZaa people though? by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 1
      I live in the US and I love it but DUDE you gotta get it in you thick skull that the ocean is not the end of the world.

      Slashdot is a US-centric website. I'm happy for your aggressive globalization, but don't apply it where it doesn't belong.

      you are also paying about $20 a month for a local phone plus whatever you end up paying for your long distance.

      How much are you paying for the bandwidth your "cheap" LD service runs through? If you're in college, then that's part of your tuition. If you're not, then you're paying for the POTS/cable/DSL/wireless to route your packets.

      --
      Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
    15. Re:Isn't this the KaZaa people though? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Slashdot is a US-centric website"

      just because everyone's posting in english, it doesn't mean that everyone's a US citizen on this site.

      go to a library, take a look at the world map, and you'll discover that the US is not the only country on this planet. i'll tell you an even bigger secret: other countries have internet connections, too.

  3. Clarification? by rackhamh · · Score: 1, Redundant

    In case the site gets Slashdotted and since the article doesn't clarify, can somebody explain what Skype is?

    1. Re:Clarification? by TekMonkey · · Score: 3, Informative

      Skype is a Voice-over-IP program that runs on your computer. It allows you to make phone calls over the internet to anywhere in the world for free.

    2. Re:Clarification? by WolfWithoutAClause · · Score: 4, Informative
      --

      -WolfWithoutAClause

      "Gravity is only a theory, not a fact!"
    3. Re:Clarification? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Skype is a technology hyped up sky high.

    4. Re:Clarification? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      You can tell an "IN SOVIET RUSSIA..." joke TO Russia! You might be killed after that, though.

    5. Re:Clarification? by b374 · · Score: 0

      I just took a look on the announcement and although it is dated on February 1st there seems to be no real news here.

      Same old features are announced that I have in Beta 0.92.0.12.

      So will we have announcements like this every time a software reaches 1.0 version?

    6. Re:Clarification? by rackhamh · · Score: 1

      Thanks. I don't know why it's taking so long to load over here...

    7. Re:Clarification? by SoupIsGoodFood_42 · · Score: 1

      Did you really expect the Slashdot editors to get off their asses and write an entire short description of what Skype is?! SHAME (on you)!

    8. Re:Clarification? by LordSnooty · · Score: 1

      What's taking long, Google?

  4. good step, almost there by Staplerh · · Score: 4, Informative

    Great move for Skype, anything that lets people on different platforms use the same software and interact freely with each other is a good thing. I speak from a the perspective of a Mac OS X user. However, the OS X port isn't all the way there - at least Skype admits it. From their FAQ page:

    I click on the links that say "Skype Me" but it does not seem to work?
    Sorry, in some cases SkypeMe links do not currently work with Skype for Mac OS X.

    Hopefully they can iron out that little quirk and we can get Skype everywhere. Now I'm going to have to check this thing out for myself!

    --
    "There's no success like failure, and failure's no success at all."
    - Bob Dylan
    1. Re:good step, almost there by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Also, you can't join a multiparty text chat yet (conference calling, on the other hand, works fine). But overall, Skype works well on Mac OS X. It looks and feels like a native Mac app, and--dare I say it?--it just feels cleaner than its Windows counterpart. YMMV.

  5. The site ISN'T slashdotted. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll
    1. Re:The site ISN'T slashdotted. by rackhamh · · Score: 1

      Well, from where I am, the site took a long time to load, which made me think, "Hey, if I'm having trouble, others might too -- maybe somebody can clarify for those of us who are having trouble accessing the site, since the article doesn't really say what the product is".

      You know what, you're right -- I guess that line of thinking DID merit a troll mod and your jackass reply. What was I thinking???

    2. Re:The site ISN'T slashdotted. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Google is never slashdotted. Just type in "Skype" and get the cached version of the page if you cant get to the website. Jesus.

    3. Re:The site ISN'T slashdotted. by rackhamh · · Score: 1

      You know what, you're right.

      Hey, you know what? Maybe all Slashdot articles should just list the name of the product from now on! Then users can go to Google News to find out what news is out there for the product!

      Think of the benefits!

      1) Slashdot bandwidth will be spared.
      2) Time to post new articles will be decreased significantly.
      3) Google traffic will increase, raising the stock price.

      Really, it would be a win-win situation! And nobody would ever feel justified asking for more info ever again!

  6. Spyware by _damnit_ · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Can anyone tell me if this is loaded with spyware? I'm up to my neck with a project and don't have the normal time to research this.

    My apologies for the lazy attitude today, but somebody had to ask.

    --


    _damnit_

    It's my job to freeze you. -- Logan's Run
    1. Re:Spyware by jxyama · · Score: 4, Insightful

      maybe i'm naive, but this news is about skype for Mac and Linux. are they *any* spyware for either platform?

    2. Re:Spyware by LinuxGeek · · Score: 4, Informative

      If you click on the linux link, it shows a graphic that says:
      NO
      Spyware
      Adware
      Malware

      --

      Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. - Mark Twain
    3. Re:Spyware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Can anyone tell me if this is loaded with spyware? I'm up to my neck with a project and don't have the normal time to research this.

      It's not. Really, trust me on this one. I um, looked it up. Yeah, really - I swear I did.

    4. Re:Spyware by cgranade · · Score: 4, Informative

      You're naive. OK, sorry. That was rude, but I couldn't resist. Anyway, the difference is that under MacOSX and Linux, you must opt to install spyware... it won't be installed by browsing the net. In fact, someone could create a fully open source spyware program! Then all you'd have to do is convince people to install it. That's the easy part. The other thing is that if one luser installs spyware, the other users are not adversely affected.

      --

      #define DRM chmod 000

    5. Re:Spyware by cgranade · · Score: 1

      What motivation do you have to trust them? I'm not saying it is spyware, but rather that to simply say that since they say it isn't it can't be is a tad naive. As far as things go, yes, they could get sued for false advertising if it is false, but I don't know how much that scares Sharman.

      --

      #define DRM chmod 000

    6. Re:Spyware by LinuxGeek · · Score: 2, Informative

      See my other post just above your last post.

      --

      Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. - Mark Twain
    7. Re:Spyware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Skype doesn't come with spyware.

    8. Re:Spyware by Bulln-Bulln · · Score: 1

      In fact, someone could create a fully open source spyware program! Then all you'd have to do is convince people to install it. That's the easy part.

      Install Adbar now! ;-)

    9. Re:Spyware by xouumalperxe · · Score: 1

      well, there's always a first. And a company KNOWN to do the spyware thing is a perfectly reasonable candidate for being the first. This said, I'm under the impression that skype is spyware-less, independently of the platform.

    10. Re:Spyware by Otter · · Score: 1
      You're naive.

      I don't think his point is that there couldn't be spyware on either platform; just that as a practical matter there isn't any (yet).

    11. Re:Spyware by lawpoop · · Score: 1

      Yes, everything you read on the internet is true, especially what manufacturers say about their own products.

      --
      Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.
      -- Pablo Picasso
    12. Re:Spyware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You didn't answer the parent question at all. He asked if there was any spyware available for either platform. Not how viable it would be to create it, or about the merits of open source, or if it's possible to have it installed automatically while browsing the net. The question was, does it exist? I've never seen spyware for either platform but I don't get a lot of OSX use in either.

    13. Re:Spyware by eyeball · · Score: 1

      If you click on the linux link, it shows a graphic that says:
      NO
      Spyware
      Adware
      Malware


      If you scroll down you'll see:

      ...yet

      --

      _______
      2B1ASK1
    14. Re:Spyware by rdx2 · · Score: 1

      Of course they are saying that it contains no spyware... Would a spy be a proper spy if it would shout ahead to everyone saying "Warning everybody, I'm coming to spy now, doing my secret little spy-stuff!" ? ;D

    15. Re:Spyware by kzadot · · Score: 1

      And no video capabilities either! Why is this piece of shit getting all the hype? MSN, NetMeeting and Gnomemeeting could do all this PLUS video chat for ages.

      Lame lame lame....

    16. Re:Spyware by mrjb · · Score: 1

      Translated into text that graphic looks more like NO O:-) Spyware Adware Malware And it is binary-only. Sorry but I think I'll pass for now.

      --
      Visit http://ringbreak.dnd.utwente.nl/~mrjb/growingbettersoftware to download your free copy of the book
    17. Re:Spyware by Val314 · · Score: 1

      the kazaa website says kazaa contains no spyware, so i wouldnt trust them

    18. Re:Spyware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You cannot use "there is no spyware for Mac/Linux" to argue that a new program is not spyware. One has to be the first, you know?

    19. Re:Spyware by RenatoRam · · Score: 1

      Uh... MSNMessenger, NetMeeting and GnomeMeeting traverse effortlessly NATs and proxies and permit PC2Phone calls?

      I was not aware of it! Stupid me!

      --
      Ciao, Renato
    20. Re:Spyware by kzadot · · Score: 1

      Yeah NetMeeting and GnomeMeeting can. AND with standard VOIP protocols, not with proprietry bullshit. Through NATs and proxies, no problem.

      Yeah you werent aware of it because Skype is a bit more highly marketed....

      Personally if I want to ring a telephone, I call from a telephone, its still cheaper than skype when I use an alternative distance carrier.

    21. Re:Spyware by golgotha007 · · Score: 1

      Personally if I want to ring a telephone, I call from a telephone, its still cheaper than skype when I use an alternative distance carrier.

      You may not be aware, but there's an entire world that exists outside of America.

      I use Skype to call from Russia to Europe and America. Skype is mostly designed for international travellers.

    22. Re:Spyware by kzadot · · Score: 1

      Its ok, I forgive you for jumping to assumptions. I am in Europe. In Germany. But I am from New Zealand. I call home for between 0.5 and 2.5 cents per minute with my phone.

    23. Re:Spyware by RenatoRam · · Score: 1

      Sure, you CAN configure NAT and proxy in the right way for SIP and similar. But is it easy? Is it EFFORTLESS? Then why there are dozens of pages of howtos and hundreds of people asking around "how can i make this netmeeting thingie work?"

      Skype works out of the box, without doing ANYTHING.

      As for the phone... well, duh.

      As another poster pointed out, there's a world outside the borders of your country. And in that world telephone could easily cost more.

      In MY country it would be cheaper to call with skype even when calling the same city, let alone calling long distance or abroad.

      And that is not taking in account that I DO NOT have a telephone contract, and don't want one. A telephone contract in italy means a contract with the incumbent ex-monopolist Telecom Italia, which translates in fixed monthly costs I personally don't want, thank you.

      --
      Ciao, Renato
    24. Re:Spyware by kzadot · · Score: 1

      I consider the fact that one needs permission / assistance from the firewall administrator a good thing! But if skype was good for you thats fine. I wasnt even comparing skype and the phone line for anyones purposes other than my own. But you have to admit, to leave out video conferencing in this day and age pretty much presents skype as an obselete product from day one.

    25. Re:Spyware by RenatoRam · · Score: 1

      Well, a lot of people here have leased ADSL routers they CANT configure (and the telco WON'T lift a finger, even if specifically asked), so configuring your router is sometimes not even an option.

      On video conferencing, I don't know... the technology has been there from the 70s (circa), but people were never really interested in video-calling. Maybe times are a-changing...

      --
      Ciao, Renato
    26. Re:Spyware by Jugalator · · Score: 1

      What motivation do you have to trust them?

      They haven't develop software with spyware? And they'd be in deep shit for saying it didn't contain stuff it did, with no disclaimers. These are the guys that developed the FastTrack network btw, not filled Kazaa with spyware, as is a common misunderstanding. ;-)

      --
      Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
    27. Re:Spyware by Jugalator · · Score: 1

      Why is this piece of shit getting all the hype? MSN, NetMeeting and Gnomemeeting could do all this PLUS video chat

      Because none of that exist for Windows, Linux, Mac OS, and Pocket PC? With ability to call regular phones and traverse NATs and firewalls without configuration?

      --
      Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
    28. Re:Spyware by Anonym1ty · · Score: 1
      But what about Vomitware?

      ;)

  7. UNFAIR MODERATION by Staplerh · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Oh give me a break, maybe his comment didn't deserve a moderation up, but he is NOT a troll. Oh well, hopefully some moderators will rectify this problem - and somebody can provide a nice concise answer of what exactly Skype is, and why we should care.

    --
    "There's no success like failure, and failure's no success at all."
    - Bob Dylan
  8. I Just Recorded A Skype Conversation Today by Alexander · · Score: 4, Informative

    With the latest release.

    use Wiretap. Worked like a charm, creates a nice .aiff file.

    --
    "oohhh... I didn't know Schopenhauer was a philosopher!" ..."uhhh yeah, he's the one that begins with
    1. Re:I Just Recorded A Skype Conversation Today by GlassHeart · · Score: 4, Informative

      Be careful with things like that. It's against the law in some places to record a telephone conversation without the knowledge of the other party. Linda Tripp, the infamous friend of Monica Lewinsky, faced criminal charges for that.

    2. Re:I Just Recorded A Skype Conversation Today by visgoth · · Score: 3, Interesting

      However, is Skype a phone conversation? What about logging IM messages, or irc conversations?

      --
      My patience is infinite, my time is not.
    3. Re:I Just Recorded A Skype Conversation Today by satanami69 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Take a look at the Tape Recording Laws at a Glance.
      http://www.rcfp.org/taping/quick.html

      --
      I really hate Dan Patrick.
    4. Re:I Just Recorded A Skype Conversation Today by Alexander · · Score: 1

      I had the full agreement of the person on the other end. But that's an interesting point.

      what about recording a video chat?

      --
      "oohhh... I didn't know Schopenhauer was a philosopher!" ..."uhhh yeah, he's the one that begins with
    5. Re:I Just Recorded A Skype Conversation Today by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If there're no phone lines involved is it a phone call?

    6. Re:I Just Recorded A Skype Conversation Today by TheHonestTruth · · Score: 2, Informative
      Well in Massachusetts, the fact it is not a phone does not matter.

      M.G.L 272, Section 99 (sorry if the format is wrong, don't have my bluebook handy)

      [Statute]
      Definitions
      1. The term "wire communication" means any communication made in whole or in part through the use of facilities for the transmission of communications by the aid of wire, cable, or other like connection between the point of origin and the point of reception.

      2. The term "oral communication" means speech, except such speech as is transmitted over the public air waves by radio or other similar device.

      3. The term "intercepting device" means any device or apparatus which is capable of transmitting, receiving, amplifying, or recording a wire or oral communication other than a hearing aid or similar device which is being used to correct subnormal hearing to normal and other than any telephone or telegraph instrument, equipment, facility, or a component thereof...

      [snip/]

      Prohibitions
      Except as otherwise specifically provided in this section any person who--

      willfully commits an interception, attempts to commit an interception, or procures any other person to commit an interception or to attempt to commit an interception of any wire or oral communication shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars, or imprisoned in the state prison for not more than five years, or imprisoned in a jail or house of correction for not more than two and one half years, or both so fined and given one such imprisonment.

      Proof of the installation of any intercepting device by any person under circumstances evincing an intent to commit an interception, which is not authorized or permitted by this section, shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this subparagraph.

      [/Statute]

      So it's any conversation capturing device when that conversation occurs over a wire (and it covers just recording a street conversation between you and I). MA, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Washington are all multiparty consent states where everyone potentially being recorded must consent. If I were the counsel opposing the recorder, I would definitely argue their communications are both oral and coming over a wire. For IM, you could even make the wire case there as well.

      -truth

      --

      I had a steady B+ in my AI class until I failed the Turing test...

    7. Re:I Just Recorded A Skype Conversation Today by Heywood+Jablonski · · Score: 1
      Be careful with things like that. It's against the law in some places to record a telephone conversation without the knowledge of the other party. Linda Tripp, the infamous friend of Monica Lewinsky, faced criminal charges for that.

      The charges against Linda Tripp were dropped after the court decided that Monica Lewinsky was not a credible witness to the crime. http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/0 5/24/trippcase.cnn/index.html

      Linda Tripp sued the Pentagon for the leaking of details in her personnel file. The Pentagon settled for $595,000, all of which apparently went to pay for Tripp's legal expenses. http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/12/02/tripp/index.html

      But I agree, you should be careful with that. Laws vary by state. http://www.rcfp.org/taping/states.html summarizes the law for each state.

    8. Re:I Just Recorded A Skype Conversation Today by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But in many states (I know for a fact this applies to Colorado), it is legal to record a conversation if only *one* of the participants is aware it's being recorded. So if you record a conversation between you and someone else (who doesn't know they're being recorded) - it's perfectly legal.

    9. Re:I Just Recorded A Skype Conversation Today by HeghmoH · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It's a phone conversation if you use SkypeOut to call another telephone. It may qualify as a phone conversation (or a recording-restricted conversation in general) even if it's just between Skype, however. The law is not nearly as stupid as everybody on slashdot seems to think, and these kinds of technicalities rarely matter.

      --
      Mod down posts with a "Free Mac Mini/iPod" sig, they're spam!
  9. re: recording feature by Mr.+Cancelled · · Score: 4, Informative

    Now I'm only waiting for some conversations recording feature. I'm not positive, as I haven't used Skype, but I think that Audio Hijack will likely record such items just fine. It wouldn't be automated, although it probably wouldn't be too hard to automate it with some Applescript, and maybe some Unix scripting on the backside.

    Just a thought...

  10. Nope.. by benjaminchoate · · Score: 2, Informative

    Not sure why you should believe me, but no it doesn't. :)

    I've been using it for over a year now and it's been spyware-free from the start.

  11. Conversation Recording... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    ... is always going to be problematic given the legal implications. Different states have different laws, and things only get worse once you factor in the international implications. (Come to the EU and you have to deal with data protection problems as well as interception of communications problems.) So I don't see Skype offering this anytime soon.

    The Reporters' Committee for Freedom of the Press has a superb guide ("Can we tape?") to state and federal laws: http://www.rcfp.org/taping/.

    1. Re:Conversation Recording... by josath · · Score: 1

      That doesn't make sense. Following your logic, you could say:
      "So I don't see Sony offering tape recorders anytime soon," and yet they do sell tape recorders, which could potentially be used to illegaly record converstations?

      I don't think Skype would be liable if someone did tape a conversation without consent and got in trouble.

      --
      sig? uhh, umm, ok
  12. What the hell? by Grey+Ninja · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I've been using Skype on Linux for months, and using it to talk to my girl who has a Mac. I really fail to see the newsworthiness of this?

    1. Re:What the hell? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      generic obligatory remark about geek with girl.

    2. Re:What the hell? by urbaneassault · · Score: 1

      Official 1.0 release for both platforms hit today, 2/1/05.

    3. Re:What the hell? by kannibal_klown · · Score: 1

      Up until now, the OS X version was in beta (I don't know about Linux). They released version 1.0 today (at least of OS X), so it's finally officially released.

    4. Re:What the hell? by Grey+Ninja · · Score: 1

      Ah, I see. Thanks for the info.

    5. Re:What the hell? by Stween · · Score: 5, Funny

      I fail to see the worthiness of your post; you only wanted to shout about having a "girl". As if such things exist...

    6. Re:What the hell? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Been using it with OS X for ages too (and it is a pretty good cocoa app, might I add), it's just out of beta now, i guess.

    7. Re:What the hell? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
      and using it to talk to my girl who has a Mac
      That gave it away, you're obviously lying ;)
    8. Re:What the hell? by Grey+Ninja · · Score: 1

      Nah, I was just trying to emphasize that it does exist for both platforms. Sorry, I completely orgot where I was. It won't happen again. =)

    9. Re:What the hell? by dcclark · · Score: 0

      I use Skype on my mac to talk to my girl too. It's great, because we're in different countries -- she in the US, me in Canada.

      Yes, girls exist.
      Yes, Canada isn't part of the US.

      Ain't it grand? :)

    10. Re:What the hell? by Otter · · Score: 1
      Nah, I was just trying to emphasize that it does exist for both platforms.

      Untrue, there are no girls on Linux.

    11. Re:What the hell? by Grey+Ninja · · Score: 1

      Yeah, she has a Mac. =) I use Linux. (But mind you, I am building her a new PC pretty soon... hehe)

    12. Re:What the hell? by adam31 · · Score: 2, Funny
      Not lying... just a typo. He meant to say,

      "and using it to talk to the girl on my Mac."

      the big deal is that in this version... she talks back!

    13. Re:What the hell? by bobscealy · · Score: 4, Funny

      It is true, there are "girls" out there to talk to. I regularly use Skype to talk to a girl I met online. Her name is Bruce. Her voice is just so husky from a throat infection. We are going to meet in real life one day real soon!

    14. Re:What the hell? by dr_dank · · Score: 1

      A real live girl? CmdrTaco, put down that dupe and put this on the front page pronto!

      --
      Where does the school board find them and why do they keep sending them to ME?
    15. Re:What the hell? by sessamoid · · Score: 2, Funny
      Yeah, she has a Mac. =) I use Linux. (But mind you, I am building her a new PC pretty soon... hehe)

      You're building her a new PC when she already uses a Mac? In that case, don't you mean your soon-to-be-former-girlfriend? :)

      --
      "No, no, no. Don't tug on that. You never know what it might be attached to."
    16. Re:What the hell? by prog-guru · · Score: 3, Funny
      the big deal is that in this version... she talks back!

      Hope they fix that in the next version ;)

      --

      chris@xanadu:~$ whatis /.
      /.: nothing appropriate.

    17. Re:What the hell? by MarkRose · · Score: 3, Funny

      I had a girlfriend once, but she was more maintenance than a Windows XP box, so I got rid of her.

      --
      Be relentless!
    18. Re:What the hell? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Yes, Canada isn't part of the US.

      Much like the rest of the blue states.

    19. Re:What the hell? by Bishop923 · · Score: 1

      I think he just wants to spend more time with her and sees the constant tech support as an "in". :-)

    20. Re:What the hell? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh I'm sure she'll just *love* that in place of her Mac.

    21. Re:What the hell? by Grey+Ninja · · Score: 1

      Nah, she hates the thing almost as much as I do. ;)

    22. Re:What the hell? by Grey+Ninja · · Score: 1

      Same situation with me... except I have the PC and she has the Mac. =)

    23. Re:What the hell? by Ziviyr · · Score: 1

      Does that oversized Tux pillow keep you warm at night?

      --

      Someone set us up the bomb, so shine we are!
    24. Re:What the hell? by bmxbandit · · Score: 1

      Now we know you're lying!!!

    25. Re:What the hell? by omahajim · · Score: 1

      I've been calling that girl on Skype at echo123 for quite a while now, but she doesn't shut up until near the end of the call, but then she plays everything I say back to me as if to suggest I shouldn't say anything incriminating. Maybe it's Tripp's new job?

  13. Re:Conversation recording feature already included by stephenisu · · Score: 1

    I hear when you do that, you get Director Commentary as an added bonus. (still trying to figure out what agency he is a director of though)

    Also, did you know that tin foil hats cause excessive sweating when hidden under a beanie?

    --
    Sigs? We don't need no stinking sigs!
  14. Skype box by Nik13 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Although I don't use it on Linux or Mac OS X, Skype works pretty well, voice quality is good, and the NAT traversal is nice - not so much with me, but it saves me from guiding technology-challenged family members and friends through opening ports in their firewall/router, having them read the screen out loud for you can't guess what options are on the screen (quite a pain).

    But the nicest thing I did is buy a Skype box (the kind that plugs in your RJ11 and phone "passing thru" the POTS, and the USB port plugs to your PC, allowing you to use a real phone on skype - including having the phone ring (don't have to leave your 5.1 channel set of speakers on in case the "phone" would ring, no need turn monitor on and fumble with all that to take the call). It lets one dial out skype contacts easily too (my 53yo mom can make skype calls with it without having the slightest idea of how it all works).

    It's great overall, however it's a bit more complicated, especially given that my "POTS" line is actually coming from a VoIP box. So I have an extra digit to dial on all numbers (1 then the number) for the VoIP box, and the Skype box has some buttons too. Not really hard, just slightly inconvenient, but great savings and features.

    I wonder if those USB Skype box thingies will also work with Linux or Mac OS X, they're worth it (unlike the USB Skype phones with a short cord that looks like from a dollar store).

    --
    ///<sig />
    1. Re:Skype box by bobscealy · · Score: 1

      I have been using Skype for a little over a month, and one feature (on the Linux version at least) that would be great is to manually set the port that it uses by default - I can get it to change for that session, but it picks a new one on restart, which makes setting up your ADSL modem so that you can have a direct route from caller to caller a bit of a pain. If they fixed that little problem, then I would have no complaints.

    2. Re:Skype box by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Mind if I ask where you got this adapter? I've seen a couple online, but they've been way overpriced.

    3. Re:Skype box by __aamkky7574 · · Score: 1

      > Although I don't use it on Linux or Mac OS X,
      > Skype works pretty well, voice quality is good

      With broadband and good-quality microphones, make that "fantastic". I was a slight skeptic 'til I used it first, and couldn't believe the sound quality, even with bog-standard stereo speakers and a desktop microphone. I invested in a proper USB noise-cancelling headset, and it's great being able to conference-call friends of mine in California and Belgium while playing "Day of Defeat" (the voice quality in Skype being far superior to anything offered by online games themselves).

      In fact, since I recently was able to get cable broadband, and since I hate my current phone company, I've even ditched our landline altogether, and use SkypeOut for outgoing calls to telephones. Cheap and the voice-quality isn't bad (not quite as good as a normal phone call, but quite usable).

      I'm not sure about the US, where I think landline rentals and calls tend to be a lot cheaper; certainly in Ireland, I think VOIP will be the killer app of the next few years.

      P.

  15. First thoughts... by Ghoser777 · · Score: 2, Informative

    - Nice interface for creating a new account
    - Password can't have characters (boo)
    - Birthdate has to be MM/DD/YY instead of MM/DD/YYYY

    Now... I have to find someone to call for free...

    --
    James Tiberius Kirk: "Spock, the women on your planet are logical. No other planet in the galaxy can make that claim."
    1. Re:First thoughts... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      My password is made up of characters. Unless you mean a unicode character 0x0b00?

      As for the birthdate, I'm not certain, but you'd think it goes by your OS'es regionnal settings (perhaps that might work on some platforms but not another?).

    2. Re:First thoughts... by generic-man · · Score: 1

      - Birthdate has to be MM/DD/YY instead of MM/DD/YYYY

      Now... I have to find someone to call for free...


      Well, try calling all the 13-year olds and then call the 113-year-olds. Since they only use two-digit years, expect a world of fun!

      --
      For more information, click here.
    3. Re:First thoughts... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The new Linux client it has yyyy for the birthdate?

      I can save characters in my password?

  16. Legal? (And, remember Google) by mlmitton · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Is it legal to record conversations on POTS? If not, is it legal on VoIP, since perhaps the Internet doesn't fall under regular wire-tapping laws? Oh BTW, maybe reference back to the /. story a few days back about Google apparently starting a VoIP product (at least in the UK, which was the source of the article) in the near future. I think we can assume that if Google doing VoIP is true, they'll have a way to record coversations.

    --
    "My girlfriend's got sodium laureth sulfate hair."
  17. I've had some small problems with 1.0 releases... by VValdo · · Score: 3, Informative

    Nope. Not that I've found, and I've been using the betas for both Linux and OS X up to the release today. Both work pretty well, and I get the feeling that Skype is pretty clueful as far as spyware goes. I mean, they encrypt communication by deafult.

    I have noticed some problems though with both the 1.0.0.1 release of Linux and OS X's 1.0.0.0. I would think it's my machine only, but testing Skype requires (okay there is that echo account for testing, but you know what I mean) others, and others ahve been having problems too.

    In Linux, I've had problems getting conferencing working properly, when using a USB headset (/dev/dsp1), rings are not heard on the /dev/dsp as set in the preferences. Also, I had a weird thing happen where the skype screen is only half-drawn.

    In the 1.0 Mac version, someone who I was talking to suddenly cut out. Turned out Skype crashed on 'em. I also had some conferencing issues on my mac.

    Overall however, skype is great. The fact that you can do conferencing + IMs and voice chat is encrypte is a big plus. the sound quality is great as well. Congrats Skype!

    Gentoo users-- 1.0 was in ~arch this morning!

    W

    --
    -------------------
    This is my SIG. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
  18. cmon by messias_bikini · · Score: 1

    should newsposters now link every word to dictionary?
    http://www.skype.com/

    http://www.google.com/search?q=skype

    for the 1% who doesn't heard of skype at all...

    1. Re:cmon by geoffspear · · Score: 1

      You misspelled "99%". Hope this helps.

      --
      Don't blame me; I'm never given mod points.
    2. Re:cmon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      for the 1% who doesn't heard of skype at all...

      I think you mean "The 99% who don't care what 'TEH HOOTEST NEW TREDN!!!!!11!' is"

  19. Spyware is Windows only... by LinuxGeek · · Score: 2, Informative

    According to several sources, spyware is still Windows only. That may someday change, but I haven't even been able to get the few viruses I have tried to install correctly inside of wine yet...

    --

    Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. - Mark Twain
  20. OK if your calling other skype users. by SpacePunk · · Score: 2, Informative

    Otherwise you pay for calls to a standard landline or cell user. You can get unlimited voip from at&t to calls in the U.S. (and I think canada) for a flat rate that's relatively low if you use it a lot.

    If you don't use it that much then Skype might be a better deal.

    1. Re:OK if your calling other skype users. by kannibal_klown · · Score: 1

      The other nice thing AT&T and other offer is the ability to call your Skype account from any regular phone.

      Skype is currently working on this feature (SkypeIn), but I don't know if I'd use it.

      I mostly got it for the occasional international call I have to make. They're not often (once every 2 or 3 months), but can last for 2 hours when they do occur. Skype lets me call them for dirt cheap and I don't need a monthly fee.

      If I needed it more, I'd consider someone else so I could get a phone number.

    2. Re:OK if your calling other skype users. by SpacePunk · · Score: 1

      Actually, considering that a call to Germany, for instance, costs 5 cents a minute using AT&T voip, and the same call using Skype would run 2 cents a minute. If you made a lot of international calls then Skype looks like the way to go. If you are in the U.S. and make a lot of domestic calls (more than 1500 minutes) then the AT&T solution would be better at $30 a month (probably not including taxes which would push the number of break-even minutes up). My only question about the Skype thing is the coverage. Would a person be able to call somewhere small and get a connection?

    3. Re:OK if your calling other skype users. by Nik13 · · Score: 1

      It all depends on your VoIP providers I suppose. My VoIP cost 15$ canadian per month (basic fee), plus 1.9 cents a minute for long distance (unlimited local, E911 and all). And I use skype "on the side", it cuts in the long distance bills a bit.

      Skype coverage? By that I assume you mean POTS coverage? Just check their calling rates, it should show which countries you can call to.

      From their FAQ:

      Can I call all numbers in all countries? SkypeOut offers calls to all standard fixed and mobile numbers in the world at extremely competitive prices. It might not be possible to access some premium service numbers or other special numbers in some countries.

      --
      ///<sig />
    4. Re:OK if your calling other skype users. by radish · · Score: 2, Informative

      If you want to use it like a regular phone, I have to recommend Vonage. Really easy to setup, my GF uses the phone just like normal without having to know the internet is even involved - you can call anyone in any country. $15 a month gets me some insane number of minutes I never get close to using and all the addons like voicemail etc. International calls are also cheap, and I have a virtual number in the UK which allows people there to call me (in the US) for the cost of a local call.

      Really great service, obviously not as cheap as skype, but from what I can see a lot more friendly if you're calling regular phones.

      --

      ---- Den ene knappen er powerknapp, den andre er Bender voice knapp "Bite My Shiny Metal Ass"

    5. Re:OK if your calling other skype users. by TheoMurpse · · Score: 1

      Skype is great for me. I call my girlfriend every day, and from Japan to Texas it costs approximately 1-2 USD per hour. VoIP is not an option, as I would need the consent of all the people I live with. Those people are technophobes who I routinely argue with because, in their opinions, the internet is a bad, scary place where people meet up to plan joint suicides.

    6. Re:OK if your calling other skype users. by JeffTL · · Score: 1

      If you want to use it like a regular phone I'd suggest you get a regular phone. Else you will find that unless you have a cell phone or a real landline from the local telco, when the cable or electricity is out you can't call the utilities ... or 911. Well, to be fair I think they have to give you a "soft" dial tone and 911-only service when you disconnect your land line, so I'd suggest you get an attractive phone and plug it into a PSTN jack if you are going down this route. I can see how something like this is cheaper for long distance, but it's not the best value for local at this time. You can pry my land line from my cold, dead hands. Let the phone companies mess with the IP stuff and what not, as long as they give me my electified copper quartet (of which I use only half) every month for a fair, predictable fee. And I know Qwest will be here in a couple years if I am, though they may be part of Ma Bell by then, what with the SBC expansionism lately.

    7. Re:OK if your calling other skype users. by radish · · Score: 1

      Obviously your experience differs from mine, but my "super reliable" landline was down twice, for a total of 3 days, over the last year. My cable (and thus my Vonage line) has been down for a grand total of about 1 hour. If your line is out, use a cell, find a payphone, even go see a neighbour and borrow their phone. As we all know from our experience with networks, the only way to get true reliability is to have no single point of failure, and to encourage diversity. If everyone relied on the local telco, well there's one big single point of failure right there.

      Seeing as Verizon wanted $60 to give me less than Vonage supplies for $15, well, it's a no brainer.

      --

      ---- Den ene knappen er powerknapp, den andre er Bender voice knapp "Bite My Shiny Metal Ass"

  21. BeOS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I use BeOS. How does this concern me?

    1. Re:BeOS by grolschie · · Score: 4, Funny

      If all 3 of you petition them, they might consider doing a port for BeOS. ;-)

    2. Re:BeOS by Atomizer · · Score: 3, Funny

      Make that both of them. I'm finally giving up BeOS. I'm going to get one of those fancy new Amigas.

    3. Re:BeOS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You wouldn't be able to handle it.

  22. Michael Sims? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Michael Sims appears to have been fired (contrast Slashdot editors page with Google cache). Can anyone confirm?

    1. Re:Michael Sims? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh I damn hope so.

    2. Re:Michael Sims? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Holy !@#@&#

      This is the best thing to happen to Slashdot in... well, ever.

    3. Re:Michael Sims? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh come on, ditching Jon Katz was the last best thing to happen to Slashdot...

  23. These are the early Kazaa people... by winkydink · · Score: 4, Informative

    that sold it to the Spyware weiners

    --

    "I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismometer." -Ken Kesey

    1. Re:These are the early Kazaa people... by owlstead · · Score: 2, Informative

      Nope, it was sold by somebody that they considered a partner and even a friend, but afaik these are the good people. There was a dutch documentory I've seen about it. Very interesting...

  24. Bluetooth? by hazzey · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Can I now get a bluetooth headset and have all the advantages of a cordless phone? The website mentions headsets, but there is nothing about bluetooth.

    1. Re:Bluetooth? by JohnnyGTO · · Score: 3, Informative

      Ya, I'm using a Logitech Freedom(?) Bluetooth headset with my Powerbook and it works great. Sound effects come through the Mac and Skype is setup to pipe its audio and mic through the headset. My office says it sounds very good.

      --
      Si vis pacem, para bellum! For evil to succeed good men need only do nothing!
    2. Re:Bluetooth? by piltdownman84 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Im using a Motorola HS820 headset and D-Link DBT-120 Bluetooth Adapter with my powerbook. Works great. Two very important things though if you are using OS X: 1)You MUST use either the D-Link DBT-120 Bluetooth Adapter or the Apple internal Bluetooth. Headsets are not supported with any other adapter but these. 2)You must upgrade the Bluetooth Firmware I wasted the better part of an afternoon with a iogear(?) bluetooth dogle before I was able to find it wasn't gong to work. Also I found that I had to turn the "Input level" all the way up in the Sound Preference pane, so other people can hear me. The output volume works with the buttons on the headset which is great. Good Luck

    3. Re:Bluetooth? by davesag · · Score: 1

      Yes. I was given a Jabra headset for my birthday and it works fine with Skype, iChat and my ancient Nokia phone. It's also very comfortable, tiny and sorta space-age. The only catch is you can't pair it to your phone and Mac at the same time and it's a slight pain to try to re-pair it in a hurry. I tend not to use it with my phone, and occasionaly use it at work if i want to Skype or iChat and not annoy my workmates any more than me talking on the phone would.

      --
      I used to have a better sig than this, but I got tired of it
    4. Re:Bluetooth? by Leo+McGarry · · Score: 1

      Only if you use a Mac.

    5. Re:Bluetooth? by stoney27 · · Score: 1

      Yes see the other post about what computer bluetooth adapter. I amd using the m2500 by Plantronics, the behind the ear head set and it works great. I can get about 25 feet if there are no walls in my way. About 15 feet if there are walls.

      -Scott

      --

      It is said that a child learns wisdom from the parent,
      but the truly wise parent learns joy from the child
  25. Bravo! by Micah · · Score: 4, Informative

    I just discovered Skype about a week ago. I was thrilled upon seeing that there was a Linux version, even if beta. I live in Ecuador and badly wanted a way to call the States cheap, but was unwilling to put Windows on my computer for that purpose.

    Experiences: Downloaded their version from skype.com. Ran it. It instantly hung on the registration screen. Ran it as root, and that worked.

    Then realized that it was in Gentoo's portage. Emerged it. It started OK, but crashed immediately upon trying to make a call.

    Went back to the first version I had downloaded, running as root, and everything worked fine!

    Normally, there's little I hate more than running closed-source software as root, but I'll forgive them this time since 1) it's a beta, 2) they're bringing a valuable service to Linux, and 3) from what I can tell, they are a reputable company with a reputation to tarnish if it did something bad to my box. (Also, my personal box isn't *that* important anyway, and could be re-installed worst case scenario.)

    I will try this new version tonight. If the issues are fixed and I can run as non-root, I'll be very happy! If not, I'll be mildly annoyed but still thankful.

    Thanks Skype.

    1. Re:Bravo! by Grey+Ninja · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Well, I'm on Ubuntu. But I've never had to run it as root. I just downloaded the dynamic binary, put it in my home folder, and ran it. It works fine. =)

    2. Re:Bravo! by markandrew · · Score: 2, Informative

      i emerged it a couple of days ago, used it, no problems (apart from it using Qt - ugly).

    3. Re:Bravo! by davesag · · Score: 1

      Almost unbelievably you said "Normally, there's little I hate more than running closed-source software as root, but I'll forgive them this time since 1) it's a beta...".

      ROTFL

      I'm not sure even your Jesus can help you.

      WATFME

      --
      I used to have a better sig than this, but I got tired of it
    4. Re:Bravo! by drxray · · Score: 1

      and 2: the authors have a known association with spyware.

      Format and reinstall, immediately. Your data is in the arms of your saviour now.

      --
      Slashdot - Mutual Assured Discussion
    5. Re:Bravo! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      It could be chocking because you can not open a sound device as a non-root user.

      I don't use gentoo (thus why I am posting as an Anonymous Coward)

      Ensure that any non-root user belongs to the audio group.

      It should appear under /dev as:

      lr-xr-xr-x 1 root root 9 Feb 20 11:16 dsp -> sound/dsp
      lr-xr-xr-x 1 root root 10 Feb 20 16:29 dsp1 -> sound/dsp1
      lr-xr-xr-x 1 root root 11 Feb 20 11:16 mixer -> sound/mixer
      lr-xr-xr-x 1 root root 12 Feb 20 16:29 mixer1 -> sound/mixer1
      lr-xr-xr-x 1 root root 12 Feb 20 16:29 mixer2 -> sound/mixer2

      And under /dev/sound as:

      crw-rw---- 1 peter audio 14, 3 Jan 1 1970 dsp
      crw-rw---- 1 root audio 14, 19 Jan 1 1970 dsp1
      crw-rw---- 1 peter audio 14, 0 Jan 1 1970 mixer
      crw-rw---- 1 root audio 14, 16 Jan 1 1970 mixer1
      crw-rw---- 1 root audio 14, 32 Jan 1 1970 mixer2
    6. Re:Bravo! by jlo · · Score: 3, Informative
      Better yet, download the Skype Fedora package, convert it with alien:
      alien --to-deb the-skype-fedora.pkg
      then
      sudo dpkg -i the-skype-fedora.deb
      This way you have it nicely integrated with gnome and apt.
      --
      To steal my idea you'd have to make me forget it. Otherwise you'd just be copying it.
    7. Re:Bravo! by Trejkaz · · Score: 1

      For what it's worth, I never had to run it as root on my Gentoo install, either.

      --
      Karma: It's all a bunch of tree-huggin' hippy crap!
    8. Re:Bravo! by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 1
      Normally, there's little I hate more than running closed-source software as root, but I'll forgive them this time...

      Skype brings Yet Another Voice Chat program to Linux, and people sing their praises. RealPlayer brings the first licensed proprietary video codec player to Linux, and people want them to die.

      Interesting.

      I'm not implying that you're one of the Real haters, but everyone here seems to be thrilled to be running this new closed app, but it'd require a shotgun to get them to install another one that's at least as unlikely to be loaded with spyware. Why is that?

      --
      Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
    9. Re:Bravo! by Leo+McGarry · · Score: 1

      Downloaded their version from skype.com. Ran it. It instantly hung on the registration screen. Ran it as root, and that worked. Then realized that it was in Gentoo's portage. Emerged it. It started OK, but crashed immediately upon trying to make a call.

      If you're wondering, this is why people prefer Macs. You know, if you're wondering.

    10. Re:Bravo! by Micah · · Score: 1

      > Skype brings Yet Another Voice Chat program to Linux

      The difference is that Skype is the first one that lets me call regular telephones in the States from Ecuador for 2.3 cents a minute. The competitors in that area only support 'Doze (and maybe Mac, dunno).

      I don't particularly hate Real, but they can be annoying at times.

    11. Re:Bravo! by Cid+Highwind · · Score: 1

      If you're wondering, this is why people prefer Macs.

      If you're going to make a half-hearted attempt at trolling for Apple, pretend I posted the standard long-winded polemic about vendor lock-in, overpriced hardware, and one button mice here.

      Mention Macs on Slashdot, get flamed by bitter ex-Mac-users who remember System 7.5. It Just Works (tm).

      --
      0 1 - just my two bits
    12. Re:Bravo! by Grey+Ninja · · Score: 1

      Yeah, never really thought of that, as I dislike RPMs for the most part. I'll definitely give that a try.

    13. Re:Bravo! by andersa · · Score: 1

      Me2. I am on Debian Unstable, which of course is pretty much the same thing.

      The thing that disappointed me though, is that it requires OSS or OSS emulation on ALSA for sound input and output. I haven't compiled in any of this in my kernel, since all open source apps already has native alsa support, or use some sound server (I am stuck with arts, since I am using KDE). But they promise that other sound systems will be supported soon.

    14. Re:Bravo! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      the-skype-fedora.pkg

      currently it's skype-1.0.0.1-fc3.i586.rpm

  26. Interoperability is good by Albanach · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Interoperability is good but open source is better.

    Does anyone know what's happened to the Helix grant that was supposed to bring VoIP to Jabber last year. https://jabber.helixcommunity.org/

    1. Re:Interoperability is good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      The last time I checked, there were concurrent flamewars on the Jabber mailing list about (a) whether "JabVOIPper" or "GNUJabVOIP" or "Elgilus" or "NotM$NetMeeting" would be a better name, and (b) which of twelve ugly GIMPed logos should be used.

    2. Re:Interoperability is good by SendBot · · Score: 1

      According to the Gantt Chart, the server and client implementations should be complete and the 'done' milestone is set tentatively for Sep 1 2004.

      Must be vapor.

    3. Re:Interoperability is good by infiniti99 · · Score: 1

      The short: the grant was too small to cover the full development, and there were some Helix licensing issues still to resolve.

      It wasn't meant to be vapor, we made some decent progress. With a few more months of funded development and some paperwork on the part of RealNetworks to fix their licensing problems, I'm sure it could have happened.

  27. Re:I've had some small problems with 1.0 releases. by winkydink · · Score: 5, Funny
    Help me understand. It crashed, you can't hear the phone ring and it only draws 1/2 the screen and it's "great"???

    Can I interest you in a "fantastic" used car?

    :)

    --

    "I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismometer." -Ken Kesey

  28. Re:Legal? (And, remember Google) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It is perfectly legal to record any conversation or encounter to which one is a party.

    It is eavesdropping on the conversations of others that is illegal and wrong.

  29. Re:Legal? (And, remember Google) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And if it is legal, what are the laws if you use it to call a land-line based phone? One thing I've always wondered about: is the notification of recording from one party enough so that two parties can record? For instance, if I call a company and get a message that my conversation might be recorded, do I need to give them a warning if I record the conversation on my end?

  30. requires qt 3.2 by Maimun · · Score: 1

    It refused to be installed on Red Hat 9 (qt 3.1)
    Time to change to Fedora Core 3, I guess :)

    1. Re:requires qt 3.2 by BrokenHalo · · Score: 1

      No; there's a statically-compiled binary .bz2 that should work, unless it's compiled against a later glibc.

  31. Re:Legal? (And, remember Google) by Nik13 · · Score: 1

    AFAIK, it is legal to record on POTS as long as you ask the other party first (like all technical support/marketing companies do for "quality purposes") VoIP isn't quite under the same regulations as POTS either (but that probably depends on which country you live in).

    --
    ///<sig />
  32. Re:Conversation recording feature already included by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Live free or Diebold

    Have you heard about the new German soap opera revolving around the life of a voting machine salesman? It's called "Die Bold Und Die Beautiful".

  33. Recording Legality. by john_anderson_ii · · Score: 0

    From my understanding it is perfectly legal to record any conversation that you are personally involved in with or without advising those involved that they are being recorded. You could walk around all day with a mini-cassette recorder in your pocket and record every word that anyone said to you, or could you tap your own phone and record conversations that come into or out of your home.

    However, you CANNOT record someone else's private conversation nor tap someone elses phone, nor place a recorder in any place where one might have a resonable expectation of privacy (like a public restroom).

    In short if it is your own phone in your own home you can record every word whispered on it and you don't have to tell anybody that you are doing it. It may not be admissible as evidence or anything like that in some circumstances, but there is no law forbidding you from recording your private conversations.

    --
    Be Safe! Sleep with a Marine. Semper Fi!
    1. Re:Recording Legality. by pclminion · · Score: 1
      This isn't true -- it varies state to state (in the US, at least).

      Tape-recording laws at a glance

      In California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Washington, IT IS ILLEGAL to record conversations without the consent of ALL parties involved.

      And if you are engaging in a telephone conversation across state lines, you are subject to federal regulations as well.

    2. Re:Recording Legality. by john_anderson_ii · · Score: 1

      Federal and FCC regulations are "one-party" regulations. Only one party, that's you, needs to know the conversation is being recorded. However, this applies to private, non-commercial, conversations only. Business have different rules.

      You are correct that several states do have additional laws in place, however, not all of them mentioned need all parties involved to be aware. Some are "two-party" regulations where two of people in the conversation need know, even if it's a three way call.
      At least according to this

      --
      Be Safe! Sleep with a Marine. Semper Fi!
    3. Re:Recording Legality. by Antique+Geekmeister · · Score: 1

      There is no "reasonable expectation of privacy" for your work telephone from monitoring by your employers. There's also little expectation of privacy from anything that allows "monitoring for quality assurance".

      Properly encrypted, end-to-end VOIP was done many years ago with PGPphone, a Mac based application that could run over a 14.4 kbaud modem line and used RSA to encrypt the conversation. It *could not* be decrypted without either end's private keys. Unfortunately, because of encryption regulations which are deliberately vague andn confusing, there are currently no broadly available such commercial tools with robust end-to-end encryption.

    4. Re:Recording Legality. by erki · · Score: 1

      I'm sorry, but how is Skype *not* a broadly available commercial VOIP tool with robust end-to-end encryption?

      --
      AhForgetIt tendency rated 39%
    5. Re:Recording Legality. by Antique+Geekmeister · · Score: 1

      I did a bit more looking. Skype apparently uses 256-bit AES encryption, which is not sufficient for protection against high-end decryption systems. (See relevant security papers for why this is too short for computers over the next few years, if not computers this year). But this key is too short: it should be at least 512, preferably 1024.

      It's enough for preventing casual monitoring: the reports here on Slashdot of people monitoring such conversations were of installing a monitoring tool on the user's computers, not of a man-in-the-middle attack, which I had not realized. But Skype also gathers statistics in their central location about who calls what other users when. You'd better bet that information can be subpoenaed, without your knowledge, since that's been the standard for central phone service monitoring for years.

      Also, anytime you work through a central office, without control over the source code you're running, you leave yourself open to re-routing of the call or even deliberate re-broadcast of the call from the clients at the whim of the central office.

      I'm not saying Skype is a bad service. I'm just saying that we've seen better encrypted software for VOIP published repeatedly, for years, and there are political and fiscal reasons it has never taken off.

    6. Re:Recording Legality. by erki · · Score: 1
      Skype apparently uses 256-bit AES encryption, which is not sufficient for protection against high-end decryption systems. (See relevant security papers for why this is too short for computers over the next few years, if not computers this year).
      Really? Could you point me to any such security papers? Because 192-bit and 256-bit AES has been deemed sufficiently secure for US government top secret data by NSA.
      But Skype also gathers statistics in their central location about who calls what other users when.
      Hmm. You're obviously not an employee of Skype, nor appear to be affiliated with it in any way. So where does your inside information originate from?
      Also, anytime you work through a central office, without control over the source code you're running, you leave yourself open to re-routing of the call or even deliberate re-broadcast of the call from the clients at the whim of the central office.
      Sorry, but this I didn't understand.
      --
      AhForgetIt tendency rated 39%
  34. Closed Source Encryption by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Am I the only one who refuses to run Skype because it uses encryption and is not Open Source?

    1. Re:Closed Source Encryption by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      No, there are plenty of linux zealots like you out there. Even if you had the source you probably wouldn't understand a word of it.

  35. Skype and Chat on OS X by chia_monkey · · Score: 2, Interesting

    For about a year and a half, I had to locate myself in Philly while keeping operations of our company up and running in California. My business partner and I had weekly meetings, starting out with Chat on OS X, then audio chat. When we discovered Skype, we switched to that. We found that it seemed to work a bit better. I even used my PS 2 USB headset (originally purchased for SOCOM II) and enjoyed the experience.

    Granted, we used it on a very basic level...simply for online chat. I'm looking forward to bigger and better uses, especially loading it onto a wifi-enabled PDA and using it as a "cell phone".

    --

    "He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lampposts...for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang
    1. Re:Skype and Chat on OS X by thatguywhoiam · · Score: 1
      For about a year and a half, I had to locate myself in Philly while keeping operations of our company up and running in California. My business partner and I had weekly meetings, starting out with Chat on OS X, then audio chat. When we discovered Skype, we switched to that. We found that it seemed to work a bit better. I even used my PS 2 USB headset (originally purchased for SOCOM II) and enjoyed the experience.

      I'm curious... did you switch from audio iChat? If so, why?

      I only ask because your post caught my eye - I chat regularly with a friend in the UK (from Canada) using iChat and a PS2 headset, and that works great... what's the advantage with using Skype in this scenario?

      --
      If Jesus wants me it knows where to find me.
    2. Re:Skype and Chat on OS X by chia_monkey · · Score: 1

      We did switch from audio iChat to Skype. At the time, it seemed as if Skype may have been just a tad bit more stable. iChat would lose the audio connection every now and then. It juts got a little aggrivating watching the audio window drop and a message pop up saying there was no data being sent, even though we were talking.

      There are many possibilities as to why this could have been happening. iChat, mixing in with AIM, could have been getting a lot of "noise" and thus dropping us. Or maybe Skype liked my DSL connection and my biz partner's DSL connection better than AIM/iChat did. I really don't know. It's just what we experienced and one of the reasons we switched (another reason was to not be harassed by everyone on our iChat buddy list that saw we were online).

      Hope that helps or gives at least a little insight. Have a swell day.

      --

      "He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lampposts...for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang
  36. Zaurus? by frankmu · · Score: 1

    is there a port for the Sharp Zaurus? has anyone used it?

    --
    Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
    1. Re:Zaurus? by megan_of_wutai · · Score: 1

      No, there isn't.

      It's a possibility though, watch this space.

  37. Yet again by Timesprout · · Score: 1

    It takes commercial, formerly spyware company to bring a useful too to the masses based on little other then word of mouth. Where is the FOSS tooling to save us from this evil?

    --
    Do not try to read the dupe, thats impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth
    What truth?
    There is no dupe
    1. Re:Yet again by Jonny_eh · · Score: 1

      Yes, these are the guys that invented Kazaa. Which was an amazing app!
      They then sold it too some other evil company that added more and more spyware each version.
      If I'm not mistaken, the original kazaa merely had harmless ads.
      Don't confuse the original kazaa with its' current beastly incarnation!
      I remember my first time using kazaa/morpheus, it was quite cool.
      Those guys sold kazaa and went on to develop this more legit app, and the world is better for it, I believe.

    2. Re:Yet again by Micah · · Score: 1

      Please tell me how a bunch of FOSS hackers are going to set up a network so that I can call nearly any phone in the world at dirt cheap prices?

      PC to PC should be doable with OSS though, and there may exist something already.

    3. Re:Yet again by sffubs · · Score: 1

      Please tell me how a bunch of FOSS hackers are going to set up a network so that I can call nearly any phone in the world at dirt cheap prices?

      Ask these guys.

      --
      ݼ)s$æúßðíÊ'öX'îò5^àûßQç£
  38. Recording Skype calls by sprocketbox · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Turns out that Audacity http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ will do this just fine. In fact a quick google for skypecasting will pop up some instructions on how do this.

  39. Old news? by nighty5 · · Score: 3, Informative

    I've been using Skype on Linux for at least 2 months.

    This seems like old news to me.

    Btw, the way they achieve cross platform is they use the QT libraries from Trolltech, of KDE fame.

    1. Re:Old news? by Leo+McGarry · · Score: 1
      Btw, the way they achieve cross platform is they use the QT libraries from Trolltech, of KDE fame.

      Hm. Doesn't appear to be the case.
      Skype:
      /System/Library/Frameworks/Cocoa.framework/Version s/A/Cocoa (compatibility version 1.0.0, current version 9.0.0)
      /System/Library/Frameworks/AudioToolbox.framework/ Versions/A/AudioToolbox (compatibility version 1.0.0, current version 1.0.0)
      /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreAudio.framework/Ver sions/A/CoreAudio (compatibility version 1.0.0, current version 1.0.0)
      /System/Library/Frameworks/Security.framework/Vers ions/A/Security (compatibility version 1.0.0, current version 176.0.0)
      /System/Library/Frameworks/SystemConfiguration.fra mework/Versions/A/SystemConfiguration (compatibility version 1.0.0, current version 84.6.0)
      /System/Library/Frameworks/AddressBook.framework/V ersions/A/AddressBook (compatibility version 1.0.0, current version 321.0.0)
      /System/Library/Frameworks/vecLib.framework/Versio ns/A/vecLib (compatibility version 1.0.0, current version 152.0.0)
      /System/Library/Frameworks/IOKit.framework/Version s/A/IOKit (compatibility version 1.0.0, current version 182.0.0)
      /usr/lib/libSystem.B.dylib (compatibility version 1.0.0, current version 71.1.1)
      It appears that Skype for the Mac is a Cocoa application.
    2. Re:Old news? by lachlan76 · · Score: 1

      If Qt is linked in statically I would imagine that Qt uses Cocoa, and as a result uses the Qt libraries.

    3. Re:Old news? by Leo+McGarry · · Score: 1

      Except that Qt is C++ and Cocoa is Objective-C, and ne'er the twain shall meet. There's no evidence that the C++ runtime is linked into the Skype binary.

      So I'm gonna go ahead and say no, here: Skype for the Mac is not in any way related to Qt.

    4. Re:Old news? by lachlan76 · · Score: 1

      Sorry, meant Cocoa.

    5. Re:Old news? by joephish · · Score: 1

      AFAIK, you can mix and match Objective-C and C++ source code, with the sole restriction that a C++ object can't inherit from an Objective-C object, and visa versa.

      --
      for n = 0 to 2 those were the days next n
    6. Re:Old news? by nighty5 · · Score: 1

      Hmm, I don't own a mac, but if you checkout:
      http://www.skype.com/products/skype/linux

      You'll see Dynamic lib requires QT 3.2

      I just took an assumption that they would compile it with QT under Mac - would be silly to create the UI using Cocoa if they have bought a license for QT - but who knows...

    7. Re:Old news? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Btw, the way they achieve cross platform is they use the QT libraries from Trolltech, of KDE fame.

      Well, that definitely rules out Skype. I'll just continue looking for a real cross platform program, so I can get it working on my Gnome-based system.

    8. Re:Old news? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      would be silly to create the UI using Cocoa if they have bought a license for QT

      Not if you want to look you app good ...

      They definitely don't use QT. There are native controls and UI elements all over. (Toolbars etc.) I'm pretty sure QT doesn't use those.

      Andreas
    9. Re:Old news? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This seems like old news to me.

      That's why it's on slashdot today.

    10. Re:Old news? by nighty5 · · Score: 1

      maybe they don't use QT....

      although QT does support native wigets and the aqua stuff...

      check it out - its pretty cool stuff.

      http://www.trolltech.com/products/qt/mac.html

    11. Re:Old news? by Leo+McGarry · · Score: 1

      There is one excellent reason to write a Cocoa front-end instead of using Qt: Qt applications don't work like real Mac applications. There are subtle differences that make for a diminished user experience. For instances, in Qt, drag-and-drop doesn't work unless the programmer explicitly implements it, which either means there's gonna be one application on the customer's computer that mysteriously doesn't do drag-and-drop, or it's gonna be more work for the developers.

      Easier to just write the front-end in Cocoa. Much easier.

  40. Depends on location by B4RSK · · Score: 2, Informative

    It depends on where you are.

    In some places you have to inform all other parties that you are recording.

    In some places you actually have to get the explicit consent of all other parties.

    In yet others you can do what you suggest -- freely record any conversation you are directly involved in.

    As for if Skype will implement recording or not, it doesn't really matter. There are lots of 3rd party apps that will record any audio stream.

    --
    Some people are like slinkies--basically useless but they bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.
  41. Excellent! by megan_of_wutai · · Score: 1

    Now, if only it worked on my thinkpad x21. It already works, if by "works" you mean "produces horrible awful distorted sound on both ends".

    I'll be happy when they introduce ALSA support.

    1. Re:Excellent! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It works fine on my X23 and X24 with Fedora 3 and patches

      ALSA will be nice as well as some arts and esd support.

      Cheers
      Jannis

    2. Re:Excellent! by markandrew · · Score: 1

      it works fine on my T41 with ALSA

  42. Automated Monitoring by blogeasy · · Score: 1

    If the conversations can be recorded and intercepted by third parties, it will only be a matter of time before they start automated searching of the conversations to find interesting sounds such as DTMF. There are quite a few important numbers that are transmitted via DTMF over the phone that could be easily deciphered.

    --

    Browse the Information Directory
    1. Re:Automated Monitoring by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What the hell are you talking about?? Skype=VoIP, VoIP=voice over INTERNET PROTOCOL.

      DTMF has nothing to do with the internet.

    2. Re:Automated Monitoring by HeghmoH · · Score: 1

      Conversations are protected by a Diffie-Hellman key exchange at the beginning, which exchanges an AES encryption key that's used on the entire conversation. The key exchange is vulnerable to a man-in-the-middle attack, but it's hard to pull off, and your conversation is completely secure past that.

      --
      Mod down posts with a "Free Mac Mini/iPod" sig, they're spam!
  43. No Spyware by Azeroth48 · · Score: 4, Informative

    The Reason that they have no spyware , is because they offer a service called Skypeouthttp://www.skype.com/products/skypeout/, A telephone service allowing you to call an outside line, which of course you have to pay for

    --
    This is where we are, our rock we stand, among the world, looking forward, eternally.
    1. Re:No Spyware by IANAAC · · Score: 2, Informative

      And billing complaints aside (there are many, unfortunately), Skypeout works beautifully. I can make clear calls from the US to any landline Europe, no problem. At around 2 cents a minute. Calls to European mobiles aren't all that cheap though.

    2. Re:No Spyware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And how do you know Skype has no spyware? Because they say so? Just like Bill you-know-who says that Windows is secure, and this mail I just received says it is not spam, and something about v14gr4?

    3. Re:No Spyware by Ilgaz · · Score: 1

      I tried to buy from them with a card virtually having no limits and they rejected it based on my country. I think its a real rude thing.

      Not trying again after I learned Kazaa guy founded it anyway. Not buying stuff from ex crook.

    4. Re:No Spyware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I wondered how long it would take you to start trolling on this story.

  44. Awwww.....Just rpms? by poofyhairguy82 · · Score: 1

    They have RPMs for every modern RPM distro but not a single .deb. Darn. I could compile it from source, but I have been avoiding that ever since I switched to Ubuntu.

    1. Re:Awwww.....Just rpms? by Grey+Ninja · · Score: 1

      They have binaries in tar.gz though. I use a Debian variant, and all I had to do was just untar it, and run the binary. :)

    2. Re:Awwww.....Just rpms? by TheoMurpse · · Score: 1

      I think it's something like

      alien --to-deb skype.deb
      dpkg -i skype.deb

    3. Re:Awwww.....Just rpms? by Hobbex · · Score: 1

      Darn. I could compile it from source, but I have been avoiding that ever since I switched to Ubuntu.

      Any chance you could point us at where you got the source to this completely proprietary, closed source application?

      (PS Use alien.)

  45. Stop spreading FUD by DigiShaman · · Score: 2, Insightful

    What spyware? I've got the latest build of Skype installed on my XP machine. When I run Ad-Aware, it finds no spyware. 0, zero, ziltch, nadda, NOTHING!

    Please people, stop spreading FUD!

    --
    Life is not for the lazy.
    1. Re:Stop spreading FUD by FuzzyBad-Mofo · · Score: 1

      Isn't this software by the same people who make the infamous Kazaa filesharing application? Forgive me for not giving them the benefit of the doubt, but they have to do more than put a "spyware free" banner on their website before it gets installed on any of my boxes.

    2. Re:Stop spreading FUD by timmyf2371 · · Score: 2, Informative

      This is a common misconception - Skype is owned by the same people who created the FastTrack protocol used in KaZaA amongst other filesharing applications - the actual KaZaA application is distributed by Sharman Networks who are a Vanatu-based company who are responsible for the spyware present in KaZaA.

      --

      Backup not found: (A)bort (R)etry (P)anic
    3. Re:Stop spreading FUD by FuzzyBad-Mofo · · Score: 1

      Very interesting, thanks.

    4. Re:Stop spreading FUD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ad-Aware doesn't prove anything.

    5. Re:Stop spreading FUD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Jeez, you never give up do you :-)

      I guess you're sitting on your home made OS, since surely you can't have looked through all code and/or guarantee someone didn't fiddle with the MD5 checksums and files on kernel.org or whatever. ;-)

  46. Olympia Cordless for Linux???? by pair-a-noyd · · Score: 1

    I see that it appears to be a eurocentric device and winders compatible.

    Now that Linux is supported, will the Olympia be usable with Linux and in the USSA???

  47. Re:Conversation recording feature already included by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I hear when you do that, you get Director Commentary as an added bonus. (still trying to figure out what agency he is a director of though)

    Which part do you doubt?

    That Echelon logs voice traffic (even standard POTS)? The Congressional inquiries already got that information out.

    Or do you think that "speech to text" logging is years away, and understood only by those scientists reverse engineering UFO parts?

    Or are you so comfortable with Big Brother, that you'll refuse to believe even an admission by the government that this exists?

    Or do you just hate freedom pesky Bill of Rights which may be used to protect people who are law abiding, but perhaps too dark to gay or too poor for your comfort level.

    Nations never go "mad" like the Stalinists or the Nazi's... they just persecute the fringes, treating those who will turn a blind eye (like yourself) as "good" people.

    Given your discrediting statement, when this stuff is NOT A STATE SECRET... I'd have to conclude you understand the issues but that you have about as much appreciation for democracy as the World Bank. You Pig.

  48. Credit Card Issues by B4RSK · · Score: 2, Informative

    I've been using Skype on Windows for some time now. It works really well overall, and especially the PC2PC sound quality is excellent. Usually as good or better than a local landline call.

    I have also been using SkypeOut, their 1.7 Euro cent/minute (2.2 US cents). SkypeOut has saved me a lot of cash, both in international calls from home and when making calls from hotels when traveling. Yep, Skype gets out of the usually heavily blocked hotel networks! So instead of being stuck paying exorbitant hotel long distance rates I pay the standard SkypeOut rate. Awesome!

    Except.... Skype now refuses to take my credit card to buy more pre-paid SkypeOut credit. I've tried 3 different cards, all of which work on Amazon US and Japan as well as various other sites. No go. :( I contacted their "live support" chat option but was told that Skype is having issues with their card approval company.

    Anyone else have the same problems?

    --
    Some people are like slinkies--basically useless but they bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.
    1. Re:Credit Card Issues by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have never had Skype accept my card.

      I have tried two different ones.

    2. Re:Credit Card Issues by Grey+Ninja · · Score: 1

      It took me a few tries the first time I used Skype. And recently they stopped accepting Canadian credit cards for a bit... but I whined like hell, and they reinstated it a few days later.

      If it helps at all... I'm a Canadian, using a Scotiabank Visa card (with Secured by Visa activated). I would suggest just trying a few more times, and seeing if you can get it through.

    3. Re:Credit Card Issues by B4RSK · · Score: 1

      Thanks for that.

      I'm also a Canadian, but now living in Japan. My Royal Bank Visa was rejected by Skype, as were both Japan-issued cards I have. :(

      I'll try again later with the Canadian card!! If it goes through I'll buy a bunch at once and hope to not have to go through this again for a while...

      --
      Some people are like slinkies--basically useless but they bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.
    4. Re:Credit Card Issues by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Try entering your name as shown on the credit card all lower case, or all upper case or all mixed case

      Seems to be a flavor of the week thing

    5. Re:Credit Card Issues by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Visa seemed to work for me. I always get refused when trying to use a Eurocard/Mastercard.

    6. Re:Credit Card Issues by sidney · · Score: 2, Informative

      > I've tried 3 different cards, all of which work on Amazon
      > US and Japan as well as various other sites. No go

      Are you in a different country than your credit card bank or billing address?

      Googling found many who can't get their credit card accepted by SkypeOut. Those who contacted Skype live support were told, as I was, the authentication had failed (no reason given, i.e., a glitch) which caused Skype to disable that card for that account for a few days to a week. I didn't see anyone say they got it to work when they retried.

      I was outside the US trying to use a VISA card from a US bank, with a US billing address. On a hunch, I created a new Skype account and paid for SkypeOut on that while tunneling through an SSH connection to my US ISP's shell server. IOW Skype saw my browser coming from a US ip address. It worked without a hitch.

      What I can't tell from this one test is if 1) sometimes SkypeOut payments just work; 2) they check if the ip address is the same country as the card's bank; 3) they check if the ip address is the same country as the billing address; 4) they don't accept payments from ip addresses outside EU and US; 5) something else I haven't thought of; or 6) some combination of the above.

      Now that it works, SkypeOut works a dream for calling the US at cheaper rates and better voice quality than the best calling card I have found here.

    7. Re:Credit Card Issues by driptray · · Score: 2, Informative

      Yes, I have the same problem, so no Skypeout for me. If you check the Skypeout forum you'll see that many other people have this problem, and that the Skype people don't seem to have any solution.

    8. Re:Credit Card Issues by TheoMurpse · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I created two accounts. I am in Japan, using a US card. When I called my girlfriend while she was in England, it was every day and could run aroun 8 euros per day. I was spending 40 euros a week approximately. After 2 weeks or so of this, one account could no longer use the card. So I would switch to a second account and do the same. By the time the second account could not use that card, I would switch back to the first account and everything would be back to normal. Try that. I asked the Skype people and they said it was allowed, and that usually when the cards are blocked it is a security sign that is flagged due to frequent use and is blocked with that account. Not all accounts. Just that one.

      Man, before I figured that out, I really let 'em have it -- I have spent over 500 USD on Skype in 6 months, and they have the gall to block my card?

      They were great to work with, and very friendly, despite those problems.

    9. Re:Credit Card Issues by michaelhood · · Score: 1

      3) they check if the ip address is the same country as the billing address;

      FWIW, I know that ClickBank (eBook/digital download processor/sales) checks IP address against country of billing address, and will refuse based on this. I know they don't do their own CC processing, so obviously some of the CC processors do offer this.

    10. Re:Credit Card Issues by slowtech · · Score: 1

      Even better, the entire country of Spain seems to be banned from SkypeOut. We have to use moneybookers.com (no way...). I have a US credit card, but they won't even let my try to use it.

      Screw them. I will use the freebies, and spend my money on a company that actually knows how to provide customer service.

      --
      "Well it's not Victory - but then it's not Death either."
    11. Re:Credit Card Issues by Jugalator · · Score: 1

      Hmm, maybe they should switch approval company?

      Surely there are "working" ones as I've never had that kind of trouble before when paying over the internet.

      --
      Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
    12. Re:Credit Card Issues by B4RSK · · Score: 1

      I think they may be facing CC fraud issues... With so many international Skype users it seems more than likely.

      Since they will probably be responsible for any fraudulent use (ie they get no money for SkypeOut usage but still have to pay fees to the telcos) it would cost them a lot of money. So they are cutting off cards rather than deal with it. :(

      Personally I think that the credit card companies themselves should be held responsible for *all* fraudulent use of cards, not the merchants. Or maybe a 60/40 or 80/20 split. We would soon see much better anti-fraud measures from the CC companies.

      --
      Some people are like slinkies--basically useless but they bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.
  49. Re:I've had some small problems with 1.0 releases. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Compared to most of the recent Debian software, that is great.

  50. forgive me for asking but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    what's the major advantage/disadvantage between Skype and regular standards based VOIP using software like SJPhone (www.sjlabs.com - available for Windows, Mac, Linux, PocketPC), Pulver Communicator, etc... These are based on completely open standards that will be the same as ones used by Vonage and other VOIP carriers.

    What makes Skype so special other than it's from the Kazaa people?

    1. Re:forgive me for asking but... by gorjusborg · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Skype is special only in that it works behind a firewall, in my opinion.

      I would not have even started using it, but the alternatives (linphone, kphone, gnome-meeting, etc) either had to have ports opened on the firewalls of both parties involved in communication, or wouldn't work at all unless DMZ'ed (h323 wont work behind firewalls gnome-meeting/netmeeting).

      This is a big deal to mostly due to the possibility of talking to non-geeks, you know, people who don't know what ports are, unless you count those things filled with water and ships.

      Computer to computer VoIP used to stink for this reason: not many people to talk to, and the ones that are able are techies. Skype has changed this.

      --
      If it's not one thing, it's Steve's Mother
    2. Re:forgive me for asking but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I won't forgive you for asking. RTFA. They list a whole bunch of reasons.

    3. Re:forgive me for asking but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      seems to work fine behind firewalls (sipphone, sjphone, et al) using STUN or Simple Traversal of UDP over NAT unless the traffic is specifically blocked. I used a PocketPC from a wireless hotspot and called home without problems. I started looking into this stuff a few weeks ago because my wife wants to talk with relatives overseas using Internet. Yes, I'm looking at Skype too but leaning toward these other more standard implementations.

    4. Re:forgive me for asking but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      as above. Seems to work behind firewalls, based on open standards, not as difficult as the previous poster seems to suggest. STFW.

    5. Re:forgive me for asking but... by nogginthenog · · Score: 1

      I'm currently in Lagos, Nigeria for a project and I've been using Skype over our crappy VSAT connection. I expected huge latency but it works really quite well. Top marks to Skype.

    6. Re:forgive me for asking but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Good example of technology doing it's job. Working....

    7. Re:forgive me for asking but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Skype has done nothing except create innovative marketing based on the reputation of being the former Kazaa people. They are creating a closed, proprietary protocol that will be supplanted by SIP which will form the basis for VOIP calls by the major telcos. Hardware phones exist for SIP, VOIP routers exist for SIP, softphones that run on mainstream operating systems (Win/Mac/Linux/PocketPC/Palm). Skype realizes this and has rushed to market with software to run on Mac and Linux. Skype will either have to open its standards to the community or change them to conform. In fact Skype may only be the latest attempt for its founders to take another run at the venture capital market and skim a nice tidy sum of money for themselves before the company dissolves into the void.

      It's nice that Skype works now for people but this will not last.

    8. Re:forgive me for asking but... by Jugalator · · Score: 1

      Skype is special only in that it works behind a firewall, in my opinion.

      I personally think the multi-platform nature it's starting to develop along with abilities to call regular phones will give it an edge. It's also important to be easy to use, and as you say need a minimum of configuration. We're talking basic things like chatting with people, which anyone should be able to without consulting technicians. :-)

      --
      Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
  51. It all depends on the location of each caller... by xtrvd · · Score: 5, Informative

    From http://www.pimall.com/nais/n.recordlaw.html

    "The federal law makes it unlawful to record telephone conversations except in one party consent cases which permit one party consent recording by state law. What that means is a person can record their own telephone conversations without the knowledge or consent of the other party in those states that allow one party consent."

    There are twelve states that require all party consent. They are:

    California
    Connecticut
    Delaware
    Florida
    Illinois
    Maryland
    Massachusetts
    Michigan
    Montana
    New Hampshire
    Pennsylvania
    Washington

    See the above URL for other state restrictions.

  52. 15 bucks canadian unlimited? who provides voip? by Sark666 · · Score: 1

    I'd be interested in this. Who is your voip provider and whats the service like?

  53. What spyware? by hellfire · · Score: 3, Interesting

    In other words, you are saying it's very hard to install spyware on a Linux or Mac and therefore no one actually codes spyware for the Mac because they neither get enough people to be worth while nor is it as easy as say on a windows box and therefore no effective spyware programs exist.

    I would much rather you have said "yes you are naive, here are a list of Spyware apps for Linux and Mac." Instead you basically said "Yes it's possible to get spyware on your Mac or Linux box if someone bothered to code it and someone went around their ass to get to their elbow." What kind of logic is that? There is no rock hard evidence that either platform has any kind of penetration into spyware common on the PC.

    PS, I just googled spyware for mac and found discussions on spyware, adds for PC spyware, and a mac company I'd never heard before with a broken website that promise a list of mac spyware "coming soon" and a forum that hasn't been updated by anyone in the company for over 6 months.

    --

    "All great wisdom is contained in .signature files"

    1. Re:What spyware? by dmdimon · · Score: 1

      'There is no rock hard evidence that either platform has any kind of penetration into spyware common on the PC.'

      for Linux:
      http://www.zone-h.org/en/download/category =52/

      other stuff - one layer up

      google isn't such a good tool for search on real spyware.

    2. Re:What spyware? by Creepy · · Score: 1

      not true - two forms of spyware exist on mac and linux, but not nearly as destructive as on Windows where they can install without the user's knowledge (with certain formerly default security settings).

      The first form is tracking cookies. You visit a site, they update the cookie and at some point the cookie is harvested, giving the spyware company information such as hits on the site, favorite page(s), etc.

      The second type is a java based tracking, like RedSheriff. You can prevent both by turning off cookies and java, but I generally just live with them because I need cookies and java on for work (meaning I need fairly refined security subset and I don't think it's worth the effort at the moment).

      Windows is getting better - I believe with Windows SP2 you now always get a prompt when something like this tries to install itself with the default security settings (where before it just installed it). The part that annoys me is that the software is still downloaded into a temporary location, so my virus checker goes nuts since it sees most of this stuff as a virus. I should be prompted before this stuff _downloads_, not before it installs.

  54. .torrent by brain_not_ticking · · Score: 2, Informative

    download was pretty slow from skype.com so I made a torrent after I finished @ 20kB/s

    skype-1.0.0.1.torrent

  55. try the binaries by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I am away from home for 2 weeks at classes in seminary.

    Before I left, I installed Skype on my desktop and laptop, both of which are running Debian/Mepis.

    The linux binaries work without a hitch, and I can say good night to my kids every night.

    Away from family = bad
    Skype = good

  56. Full List Of States Here by xtrvd · · Score: 1

    From http://www.pimall.com/nais/n.recordlaw.html/

    "The federal law makes it unlawful to record telephone conversations except in one party consent cases which permit one party consent recording by state law. What that means is a person can record their own telephone conversations without the knowledge or consent of the other party in those states that allow one party consent."

    There are twelve states that require all party consent. They are:

    California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan , Montana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Washington.

    There are 38 states that permit one party consent. See the URL for more details.

  57. Open VoIP standards are even better by anti-NAT · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's a pity that Skype doesn't comply with any. It's almost inevitable that they'll leverage for their own financial benefit their customer lockin at some point in the future, just like Microsoft do with their closed file formats.

    --
    The Internet's nature is peer to peer - 20050301_cs_profs.pdf
    1. Re:Open VoIP standards are even better by DavidNWelton · · Score: 1

      Care to suggest any open programs? I'm in the market for one. I need to communicate from my PegasosPPC machine running Debian to my parents' computer running MacOS X.

    2. Re:Open VoIP standards are even better by anti-NAT · · Score: 1

      I can't make any specific PPC / big endian recommendations, as I don't have a big endian machine. However, I've played with Linphone and it worked alright. Another one I've come across recently is minisip, which looks pretty good, although I haven't tried it.

      For some others to look at, try this Freshmeat search - sip

      --
      The Internet's nature is peer to peer - 20050301_cs_profs.pdf
    3. Re:Open VoIP standards are even better by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      GnomeMeeting? Supports H.323 and their CVS version also supports SIP.

  58. Correction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sorry, I meant SPECIAL characters. :slaps forehead:

  59. Can you do conference calls? Three-way calling? by SallyShears · · Score: 1

    Can you do conference calls? Three-way calling. Is there a conferencing bridge for any VOIP approach?

    -- Sally

    1. Re:Can you do conference calls? Three-way calling? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, I use it while gaming to conference call my teammates. There is a hardcoded limit of 5 people in the call on my version

  60. Re:Legal? (And, remember Google) by shrewtamer · · Score: 1

    Where I am it is illegal unless you make an announcement that the call is being recorded prior to starting the recording. The upshot of this is that my system announces it is recording while the company I'm talking to may make a similar announcement. There seems to be a widespread assumption that no confirmation from the other party is required.
    Its quite an interesting issue.

  61. Supporting four platforms with good native UIs by timealterer · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I've been using Skype for Mac for a little while now, and I'm impressed with the quality of the UI on Mac OS X, and the fact that they're supporting four (count them, four) platforms with fully native interfaces on each platform. That's not something to sneeze at (we have enough problems with two where I work). These guys seem to really get attention to detail.

    Just the fact that they can afford to do the UIs as well as they have, as fast as they have, hints at how lucrative their SkypeOut business is.
    --
    - Allen Pike
    Altering time, one time at a time.
    1. Re:Supporting four platforms with good native UIs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just the fact that they can afford to do the UIs as well as they have, as fast as they have, hints at how lucrative their SkypeOut business is.

      No, it doesn't.

      Making a good interface isn't inherently expensive. It probably just means they have a culture of thinking about their users.

      Microsoft spends gobs of money on UI research, and yet that hasn't stopped them from shipping some real stinkers. And some people with almost no money to spend -- like many Mac shareware authors -- produce great interfaces.

      Money isn't the primary factor.

  62. Maybe it'll work.. one day by EvilStein · · Score: 1

    Tried making a Skype call to another user on the same LAN. There was nothing but static.

    On the bright side, the static sounded almost exactly like a nice, calming, flowing river. We can toss those little "zen waterfall" things in our cubes and just leave Skype running. Pretty much the same sound.

    1. Re:Maybe it'll work.. one day by michaelhood · · Score: 1

      There was nothing but static.

      Ahem, that's white noise.
      Maybe you should hook up a recorder and get the EVP.

  63. Just cross platform, not interoperable by heydonms · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Skype can only talk to other skype users. While its great that a company is supporting linux and mac, I think in the long term VoIP in generally would benefit from people using something that is standards compliant (there are plenty of SIP soft phones out there for linux)

    1. Re:Just cross platform, not interoperable by HeghmoH · · Score: 1

      Technically, Skype can talk to other Skype users or to anybody on the planet with a phone number. However, you're right that it's still a proprietary protocol.

      --
      Mod down posts with a "Free Mac Mini/iPod" sig, they're spam!
  64. ALSA by minaguib · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Skype still uses OSS under linux.

    Since it's a new company where the software got developed while ALSA was available, I have to question why they released a "public" linux version that still does not offer ALSA, even after every second post in their linux forums asked for it.

    Then there's also the possibility that, had their software been open-sourced, someone would have already added ALSA functionality to it; But that's for a different thread.

    1. Re:ALSA by Micah · · Score: 2, Informative

      Native ALSA would be nice, but I have ALSA compiled with the OSS compatibility layer, and Skype works fine.

  65. Recording Corporate Calls by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I always turn on my recorder when the automated message says: "This telephone conversation may be recorded [for quality control purposes]". That's explicit consent on the company's end of things.

  66. is important /w credit card companies (who lie) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Certainly, in some states it requires two parties to agree before a call can be recorded. However, if the caller's automated introduction says:

    "This telephone conversation may be recorded..."

    you are all set! They've given consent to record, so its important to maintain your right to hold the other party's feet to the fire. You know they are going to use your phone conversation against you if they need to -- turn about is fair play. This is especially true with credit card companies, or other vendors who you deal with primarily over the phone.

  67. hey guys by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    im still waiting for a fully working freebsd version. why dont they ever show any love for us?

    1. Re:hey guys by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      the one in ports works fine for my purposes; what doesn't work for you? I'm able to make calls and accept them, clarity kinda sucks but with the Windoz version it isn't much better. Is there something particular you had in mind?

  68. bittorrent is super slow and useless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    i've never had a torrent download fast, I don't understand why people use this god-awful techinque; in every case, the download speed has been butt-ugly slow -- what's the big deal with this technology?

    1. Re:bittorrent is super slow and useless by Chordonblue · · Score: 1

      Then you are doing it wrong. Don't assume everyone else is an idiot until you check your facts.
      I just d/led a file in BT that averaged 230K on my 300K DSL line. That seems pretty dang fast to me.

      Either your firewall is blocking the incoming ports, or your upload speed is slow. Your download speed is dependant on both of those factors.

      Quick check: Download Azureus and do the 'wizard' thing. It'll tell you if ports aren't right.

      --
      "...Well, there's egg and bacon; egg sausage and bacon; egg and spam; egg bacon and spam; egg bacon sausage and spam..."
  69. Re:I've had some small problems with 1.0 releases. by VValdo · · Score: 1

    I've only had these problems with the 1.0 version. The beta was more stable it seems. In general, wen it works, it works great. I imagine whatever the problem is will be ironed out quickly.

    W

    PS: Sounds like a good deal. As soon as I sell off this bridge I bought in Manhattan and the swamp land I bought in FL, I should have enough... ;)

    --
    -------------------
    This is my SIG. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
  70. So tell me fellas, by melted · · Score: 1

    Where's an open source product that I could use to talk from Mac OS X (for example) to someone using Windows or Linux PC? I'm fine with having to set up the firewall just right on both ends (to avoid using the server in the middle and make this truly P2P).

    I've searched everywhere and it looks like there's no such thing available. I wonder why?

    1. Re:So tell me fellas, by Windowser · · Score: 0

      http://iaxclient.sourceforge.net/iaxcomm/index.htm l

      It uses the IAX protocol (Inter Asterisk eXchange) and use only one UDP port (4569) to pass thru any NAT. You can talk directly phone to phone without asterisk in the middle. There's a Windows, Linux and OSX port.

      --
      Avoid the MS tax, always buy I.B.M. PC's (I Built-it Myself)
  71. Re: NAT traversal is nice - not so much with me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


    You do realize that if you are not behind NAT, then you are relaying traffic for other people, do you ? This may as well be going through your box and on your money ...

    Not that I don't like Skype, I'm just curious when this 'bandwidth borrowing' will bit them in a butt with people installing Skype-Relay-Blockers and their NAT traversal is not traversing NAT anymore.

    That'd be fun to watch.

    PS. And - no - you cannot opt out from relaying.

  72. Re:Conversation recording feature already included by segmond · · Score: 1

    More seriously, an answering machine would be cool.

    --
    ------ Curiosity killed the cat. {satisfaction brought it back | it didn't die ignorant | lack of it is killing mankind
  73. QT under GPL? by Vince · · Score: 0

    Isn't QT under GPL (not LGPL)? Thus, they'd have to have purchased the commercial version of QT to distribute the program without full source. Has anybody checked up on this?

    1. Re:QT under GPL? by Capt.+Beyond · · Score: 1

      Yes. Skype is a customer of Qt, so do not worry.

      --
      -- "Perceptions create reality. By changing your perceptions you change your reality."
  74. Re: NAT traversal is nice - not so much with me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    File transfers are limited to 0.5k/sec when they're routed through another party. Source

  75. lol mod parent up! by bach37 · · Score: 1

    heh.

  76. Maybe you shouldn't use it... by IANAAC · · Score: 1
    I'm up to my neck with a project and don't have the normal time to research this.
    Sheesh. If you can't be bothered to research something you will (or won't) put on your machine, maybe you should just scrap it.

    (Yes, I know you're joking, but damn, I get tired of this attitude).

  77. Re:Legal? (And, remember Google) by suckmysav · · Score: 1

    So, how do those FM radio station prank calls work then?

    --
    "You can't fight in here, this is the war room!"
  78. Skype and OSX VOIP as a Canadian by davvr6 · · Score: 1

    It costs me 3 CAN a minute to call my family in the netherlands with skype unfortunately this excellent service doesn't yet provide local service at reasonable rates. With http://www.vonage.ca/index.php it's 8 per minute and there plan costs 39.99 $CAN per month. You can call unlimited within North America. If you live in the USA for 19.95$ US ( about 30$CAN ) https://www.lingo.com/guWeb/com/primustel/gu/prese ntation/residential/ResidentialController.jpf You get unlimited minutes each month to speak with anyone in the U.S., Canada, and Western Europe. So as a Canadian I get two thirds of the service for an extra 1/3 of the cost.

  79. Update by Micah · · Score: 1

    Just tried the new version. (Would have earlier, but my vastly overpriced 128k cable modem was down most of the evening since I posted last.)

    IT WORKS without me needing to be root! Woo Hoo!

    Thanks folks!

    One other amusing tidbit -- it costs about 16 cents a minute to call Ecuadorian cell phones with this thing. Costs about 28 cents via an Ecuadorian land line.

  80. It's what iChat should be by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Skype changed my life. Quite literally. Now I can talk to friends in Europe daily. It works superbly. I'm on Mac, most of my friends are on Windows, and I'd tried several VOIP programs previously. Apple's iChat, while having far and away the best UI, can only connect to Windows Users via AOL's Messenger, which is a hideous spyware-laden beast of a thing. Apple really needs to do an iTunes and develop iChat for Windows, but I fear it's probably too late for them on that count, which is a huge shame. I also tried another VOIP program (forget which) but the quality and interface were terrible. Skype delivered instantly. Their UI for Windows is nowhere near as clean as that for Macs. Pity. But it's a sensational program.

    1. Re:It's what iChat should be by TheRaven64 · · Score: 1

      There is a chance that Apple will be releasing a Windows version of iChat with Tiger Server. Tiger Server includes a Jabber server, and the Tiger version of iChat will support this (the code is already there - if you run TCPDump on iChat in Rendezvous mode you will find that it is almost pure XMPP, with one or two extensions for things like bubble colour). According to the Apple documentation (very sparse before product launch) you can connect using existing clients, but I think it's relatively likely that they will release a Windows version (at least for the corporate market) to allow a consistent user interface.

      --
      I am TheRaven on Soylent News
  81. Re:Legal? (And, remember Google) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    What do you call someone who gets their legal advice from Slashdot?

    "Inmate"

  82. SIP by Richard_J_N · · Score: 1

    Why not just use SIP? It works, and it's free! Try linphone or kphone. (both open source).

    1. Re:SIP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because SIP sucks over NAT and the dearth of VoIP applications. Skype is the *first and only* VoIP application that works out of the box throught a NAT'd firewall.

      It also passed the "Mom Test", in that my parents managed to download it, install it, and make a call to me on my Mac. Nothing else comes close by a long shot, not FWD, not Pulver Communicator, not iChat, not MSN, etc.

      --Craig

    2. Re:SIP by KlaymenDK · · Score: 1

      ...because of other-OS compatibility?

      I for one am the only one in my family (er, make that my entire social horizon) to not use Windows. So choosing a Linux-only option is a brave but somewhat lonely decision.

    3. Re:SIP by Yer+Mom · · Score: 1
      No problem. Here's a free (as in beer, not speech) SIP-compatible program for Windows.

      I'd rather have something that uses standard Windows menus rather than rolling its own system, but the price is right :)

      --
      Never mind Spamassassin. When's Spammerassassin coming out?
  83. hold on a sec... by torrents · · Score: 1

    time to cancel the phone line... skype + a minimal voip service to get incoming calls can cost less than $20/mo. as opposed to $40+ for a landline... the bells better get fiber to my house before skype fixes their incoming call problem...

    --
    Get your torrents...
    1. Re:hold on a sec... by H01M35 · · Score: 3, Interesting
      Or do what I did, and relish the fact that people couldn't call you.

      Between Adium for MSN, Skype for outgoing calls (from me when I needed to make them, and incoming calls from my friends who all were on skype), and email I had my communication covered.

      This also had the only slightly intended benefit of freeing me from having to rush to answer the phone, ever, or having annoying group members be able to call me. Depending on how you choose to live your life, you don't have to be at anyone's call. You're not beholden to them. You may not be a beautiful and unique snowflake, but you can control when/where you talk to people.

      In an increasingly connected world, the luxury becomes being out of touch.

      (Yes I believe in technology. Yes, my iBook usually leaves the house with me. No I don't have a cellphone. No, nobody wants to talk to me anyway. This way I save money. It all works out. It's much like being able avoid viruses, even on windows, if your computer is unplugged and locked in a closet. You disconnect, they can't get you. This disconnection leaves you in control.)

      You can have your peace and quiet. You just have to want it.

  84. Birthday ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why would VOIP proggy need my birthday ?

  85. I have been using skype by floydman · · Score: 1

    for over a year now on my windows machine, and have installed it about a month ago for Linux.
    I would say, its sound quality is not that great, but its not bad, it does the job(Maybe the quality is down cause of my firewall??).
    Overall, its practical, easy to use/install, interface is neat, (a few memory leaks though, so watch out, it will eat up you resources, it did for me)
    Personally, i like it., espically that my wife got a windows machine, and i mostly run on linux, so lately i dont have to reboot into windows to talk to her.

    --
    The lunatic is in my head
    1. Re:I have been using skype by bhima · · Score: 1

      Skype has serious design flaws... try unchecking the "use port 80 under advanced options". Make sure that your firewall has the random port that Skype chooses on install open. Make sure that you have that port forwarded to the right box if you are using a router.

      --
      Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
  86. Skype is missing out on a lot of revenue by linuxguy · · Score: 2, Informative


    I personally know of several people who could not use their credit cards at Skype. Its a shame.

    I personally have had mixed results. Sometimes my credit cards work and sometimes they dont. I have never had this sort of trouble with an online vendor before.

  87. Skype is VOIP. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Skype is VOIP.

  88. BroadVoice.com by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Two valuable comments:

    BroadVoice.com

    Please get Texas to take back its idiot.

  89. it doesn't work, crash in Mac Os X by carboncopy79 · · Score: 1

    It doesn't work. Running Mac Os X (10.3.7). It complains of corrupt password then crash. I cleared the Skype folder in /Users/me/Library/ using Secure Empty. Still the same.

    It has been like this since the last 3 versions.

    Crap, how can this be even version 1.0.0? It doesn't work!

    1. Re:it doesn't work, crash in Mac Os X by carboncopy79 · · Score: 1

      Solved it by using finder to search for skype files and folders. Remove all of it.

      In the process, I removed my contact list as well. :)

    2. Re:it doesn't work, crash in Mac Os X by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Did you trash the preferences? (In ~/Library/Preferences/)

      Skype works fine on my Mac and those of at least two friends. And there are countless Mac users all over the net using Skype without problems. So I guess the fault is at your end.

      Andreas

    3. Re:it doesn't work, crash in Mac Os X by SneakyNinja · · Score: 0

      Wierd.. works fine on my new shiny mac mini :-)

    4. Re:it doesn't work, crash in Mac Os X by carboncopy79 · · Score: 1

      I had many version of Skype installed on my aging iBook G4 (1 year old). The previous installation left over files must have been corrupted. And have been purged.

      It works fine now.

    5. Re:it doesn't work, crash in Mac Os X by carboncopy79 · · Score: 1

      Update: No it is not working fine. If I choose to save password. The next time I start Skype it will crash after complaining of corrupt password.

  90. Wrong moderation by apankrat · · Score: 1

    Should be Funny (or Sarcastic), not Informative.

    --
    3.243F6A8885A308D313
  91. Oh, for frell's sake! by kamagurka · · Score: 1

    They just had to go and make it qt based, did they?

    1. Re:Oh, for frell's sake! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah I hate them for using it. It's too pretty! They really should've used athena instead. Makes it look much more professional.

  92. Pastries are tasty by BlackHawk-666 · · Score: 1
    I rarely have the chance or the need to say this but you are a pure bread moron.

    You really need to do a little research before calling someone else a "bread moron", thus tarring yourself with the same brush. For what it's worth you meant to say "I rarely have the chance or the need to say this but you are a purebred moron." or perhaps "pure bred". All you are implying is that he is a moron made of some sort of delicious pastry. Welcome to humiliation on Slashdot, enjoy your stay.

    --
    All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.
  93. Wow, have you got the source ? by anti-NAT · · Score: 1

    You might want to watch out, unless you work for them, they'll want you thrown in jail.

    It's not open source ... and doesn't use open VoIP standards such as SIP.

    --
    The Internet's nature is peer to peer - 20050301_cs_profs.pdf
  94. Freshmeat is your friend by anti-NAT · · Score: 1

    SIP

    --
    The Internet's nature is peer to peer - 20050301_cs_profs.pdf
  95. Skype and ALSA by ccozan · · Score: 1

    Skype still doesn't work with ALSA. This is quite a pain in the ass for Linux users (very unstable, crashes anytime, no sound, etc), because i think the majority of Linux desktops are running latest generation distros, with 2.6.x kernels and of course, ALSA.

    We should really push for an ALSA version, old OSS is obsolete. And OSS emulation is _not_ the solution. Am i right, dear /.-ers?

    PS. is this a FF bug, typing "/" in a text area brings me the page search bottom tab????
  96. USE a SIP service, its better by fozzmeister · · Score: 1

    Im using Pipecall, now i don't make a lot of calls but its super cheap, 1p per min for any landline, 12p for any mobile, and 3 quid line rental... bargain. I don't use the phone a lot as most of my friends are wired/like to text but i have hardly any phone bill at all.

  97. Recording SIP conversations by startnaturell · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Here in Sweden two or three companies are offering SIP POTS service. I buy service from one of them and use asterisk to record all my conversations as mp3. The entire experience is documented here. http://snippsnapp.polite.se/wiki?RecordingWithAste risk

    1. Re:Recording SIP conversations by startnaturell · · Score: 1
  98. Re:It all depends on the location of each caller.. by Chriscypher · · Score: 1

    So what if the dialing party lives in a single-party consent state, and calls someone living in an all-party consent state?

    Which states' laws trump consent requirements?

    .

    --
    "You have liberated me from thought."
  99. PhoneGaim by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just a link to a similar open source software: It is a modification of Gaim, it is SIP compatibel, there is a windows and a linux version:
    http://www.phonegaim.com/download.html

  100. Do you really believe that? by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 1
    Anyway, the difference is that under MacOSX and Linux, you must opt to install spyware... it won't be installed by browsing the net.

    Much Windows spyware infects its target through security vulnerabilities. Are you saying that OS X and Linux are completely free of all such openings?

    The other thing is that if one luser installs spyware, the other users are not adversely affected.

    Which other users? The ones on the same machine that suffer from reduced CPU and memory availability? Or the ones on other machines that suffer from reduced network bandwidth?

    If you think spyware can't happen here, you're painfully naive. It can (and probably will), and I'm afraid that a lot of people are going to have to eat their words.

    --
    Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
    1. Re:Do you really believe that? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Anyway, the difference is that under MacOSX and Linux, you must opt to install spyware... it won't be installed by browsing the net.
      Much Windows spyware infects its target through security vulnerabilities. Are you saying that OS X and Linux are completely free of all such openings?
      In a nutshell, yes. OS X was designed from the ground up to be secure. Apple built OS X on top of the best of three different BSD variants and the networking code was taken from the distro (NetBSD?) that was scoured line by line for security holes. Likewise, the linux kernel and the GNU/BSD/MIT/OpenSSL/Apache/other free/open source licensed software that sits on top of it have been scrubbed for security holes. Also, Mac OS and *nix don't gived userland processes free access to the kernel like Windows does. Some security holes have been found, but 1) They're minor, 2) They've needed physical security to have already been compromised, 3) Rarely self-propagate, 4) Fixed before exploits exist and 5) Relatively rare. In contrast, the M$ flaws are 1) Frequently serious, 2) Infect systems through casual contact, 3) Frequently self-propagate, 4) Are often denied, sat on, actively ignored until a real problem exists and 5) When adjusted for installed base, look worse, not better.
      The other thing is that if one luser installs spyware, the other users are not adversely affected.
      Which other users?
      Considering how many Windows security flaws are exploitable by self-propagating viruses, everybody else on the network. M$ viruses are the only ones that have brought down entire corporate networks and sections of the Internet because of all the traffic they generate.
  101. Re:Conversation recording feature already included by carlos_benj · · Score: 1

    ...but perhaps too dark to gay...

    Just how dark do you have to be to be unable to gay?

    --

    --

    As a matter of fact, I am a lawyer. But I play an actor on TV.

  102. Software Solution? by WCityMike · · Score: 1

    Skype has just announced full versions of its software for Mac OS X and for Linux. Now I'm only waiting for some conversations recording feature.

    Although I have not tried it yet, I imagine this could be accomplished via the use of something like Audio Hijack Pro or Wiretap.

  103. Re: recording feature by fm6 · · Score: 1

    Is Audio Hijack one of those products that substites its own speaker driver, so you can record the output of any program? If so, you couldn't use it with Skype -- you'd only get half the conversation.