RSS Feeds
Skype 2.0 Beta Adds Video for Linux
Posted by Adam Pash at 9:00 AM on November 9, 2007
Linux only: Skype's latest 2.0 beta for Linux adds long-awaited video chat features to the popular freeware, cross-platform Voice over IP (VoIP) application. Video chat has been available in Windows version of Skype since 2005 with video support for Macs introduced about a year later, so the addition of Linux rounds out Skype's excellent feature set to include free video chat for all. It's not uncommon for the Linux version of popular cross-platform apps like Skype lag behind, but it's always nice to see them catch up with the pack.
Tags: downloads | featured linux download | linux | skype | video chat | voip
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
RDAC
Posted 7:19 PM 8/11/07
Nice hidden Hitchhiker's Guide reference in there!
RDAC
Julolidine
Posted 5:48 PM 8/11/07
This is the best day in the history of mankind. Finally, I can dump Windows. This was the last thing keeping me there.
Julolidine
life-slacker
Posted 5:31 PM 8/11/07
I'm using it right now. The video quality is about the same as in Windows. Whether that's good or bad I'll leave up to you. Another thing I've noticed in Windows, and now Linux, is the sound quality decreases when video is activated. Which I guess makes sense as more of the bandwidth is taken up by the video. But I don't want to sound like a complainer. This is great.
life-slacker
jalopwill
Posted 11:22 PM 8/11/07
Does this mean that I might have to start using Skype again? Maybe, just maybe :-)
jalopwill
KSMarksPsych
Posted 9:18 AM 9/11/07
I eagerly downloaded it. I plugged in my USB web cam and nada. Skype doesn't even see it. I would reboot with the camera plugged in, but somehow having the camera plugged in when I boot causes my sound system to crap out on me (took me forever to figure that one out). Video (if it works) without sound isn't very helpful. So I guess I still boot back to Windows when I need to talk to the parental units.
This is Fedora 7 FWIW. And it's entirely possible I'm just showing my lack of Linux know-how. I'll have to dig into the Fedora and/or Skype forums to see for sure.
KSMarksPsych
severnclay
Posted 8:37 AM 9/11/07
Any word on whether they fixed the suspicious logging of your password folder and Firefox settings?
[yro.slashdot.org]
severnclay
ronocdh
Posted 1:58 PM 9/11/07
@KSMarksPsych: Are you sure that your webcam works under Linux at all? For instance, are there other applications which you've confirmed can utilize the webcam, whether for still pictures or video? If not, I think you have to install drivers and troubleshoot just the camera before attempting Skype.
ronocdh
KSMarksPsych
Posted 9:21 PM 9/11/07
Yeah. I just realized that the webcam doesn't work at all under Linux. I just confirmed that at least the camera isn't toast (it kinda got banged around in my desk drawer). So I'm off to the Fedora forums to plead for help.
KSMarksPsych
HandyBiteSize
Posted 5:22 AM 9/11/07
Until today, I didn't care that I couldn't get the embedded cam on my laptop to be recognized. Now I'm furious
HandyBiteSize