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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*
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
VOIP P2P App.
-WolfWithoutAClause
"Gravity is only a theory, not a fact!"maybe i'm naive, but this news is about skype for Mac and Linux. are they *any* spyware for either platform?
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...
... 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
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."
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.