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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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All it takes is a moment to fill out the Freedom of Information Act forms.
*rimshot*
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.
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
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.
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
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!"
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/.
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?
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."
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."
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
that sold it to the Spyware weiners
"I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismometer." -Ken Kesey
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.
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.
Does anyone know what's happened to the Helix grant that was supposed to bring VoIP to Jabber last year. https://jabber.helixcommunity.org/
Can I interest you in a "fantastic" used car?
"I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismometer." -Ken Kesey
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
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.
If all 3 of you petition them, they might consider doing a port for BeOS. ;-)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Make that both of them. I'm finally giving up BeOS. I'm going to get one of those fancy new Amigas.
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"
download was pretty slow from skype.com so I made a torrent after I finished @ 20kB/s
skype-1.0.0.1.torrent
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
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
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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