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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)"
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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
Check it out: image
NO spyware!
Adware, malware.
At least they use politically correct PNG files.
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.
VOIP P2P App.
-WolfWithoutAClause
"Gravity is only a theory, not a fact!"With the latest release.
.aiff file.
use Wiretap. Worked like a charm, creates a nice
"oohhh... I didn't know Schopenhauer was a philosopher!"
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
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...
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.
... 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/.
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
- 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."
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.
/dev/dsp as set in the preferences. Also, I had a weird thing happen where the skype screen is only half-drawn.
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
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.
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
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.
Steve's Computer Service, Hobbs, NM
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
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.
that sold it to the Spyware weiners
"I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismometer." -Ken Kesey
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.
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
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!
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.
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.
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.
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
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 contacted their "live support" chat option but was told that Skype is having issues with their card approval company.
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.
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.
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.
download was pretty slow from skype.com so I made a torrent after I finished @ 20kB/s
skype-1.0.0.1.torrent
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
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.
Native ALSA would be nice, but I have ALSA compiled with the OSS compatibility layer, and Skype works fine.
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.