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Feature: Internet & WWW
Skype for Linux 1.4 out of beta
By Lisa Hoover
on
October 08, 2007 (6:00:00 PM)
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CommentsSkype 1.4 for Linux after five months of testing. Now that it's officially out of beta -- along with a slew of bug fixes and new features -- developers are calling it a recommended release.
Skype for Linux is available for eight distributions, including Ubuntu, Fedora 6 and 7, Debian, and MEPIS. System requirements include 256MB RAM, 20MB free disk space, 400MHz processor, Qt 4.2.1, and D-Bus 1.0.0.
The release is codenamed Panacea because it "cures" a host of issues that plagued Skype for Linux 1.3, most notably in the area of sound quality. Other improvements include:
- Keyboard/keypad can now be used to enter DTMF numbers in call window
- Drag and drop functionality for file sharing, contacts, and chats
- Chat toolbar with Add People, Send File(s) to Chat, History, and Leave Chat buttons
- Option added to Sound Devices to enable and disable automatic mixer adjustment
- Command-line switches
- File transfer menu
Early reports indicate some issues with getting a microphone to work, but at least one solution has already been discovered.
Comments
on Skype for Linux 1.4 out of betaNote: Comments are owned by the poster. We are not responsible for their content.
"I'd like to share a revelation that I've had during my time using Skype on Linux. It came to me when I tried to classify your software and I realized that you're not actually application software. Every application on this system is designed to be understandable and auditable but Skype is not. It moves into an area of memory and it morphs and morphs until every ability to understand its structure and intent is obscured. There is another type of software that follows the same pattern. Do you know what it is? A virus. Skype is a disease, a cancer of this system. It's a plague and open source is the cure."
I did not undertand at all what you are saying.. Don't eat all red and blue pills you can see.
I think the point is that Skype actually acts like a polymorphic virus. It defies security analysis due to the fact that it encrypts itself in memory, and thwarts debugging through a number of countermeasures. This makes Skype a potential risk to anyone with an interest in maintaining a secure system.
Microphone works just fine (Debian Etch)
Posted by: Anonymous [ip: 91.152.161.169] on October 09, 2007 02:40 AM
I upgraded to Skype 1.4 and I have no problems with microphone. It works just fine.
Microphone works just fine in Ubuntu too
Posted by: Anonymous [ip: 84.48.237.61] on October 09, 2007 07:08 AM
I found my web cam microphone in the bottom of the listed devices in Skype 1.4 setup, running Ubuntu Feisty.
Skype for Linux 1.4 out of beta
Posted by: Anonymous [ip: 217.96.70.73] on October 09, 2007 08:06 AM
http://www.secdev.org/conf/skype_BHEU06.pdf - read this if you want to learn about the true nature of Skype. In short - HIDE EVERYTHING ! This piece of software is obscured on every level and goes to great lengths to ensure that you won`t be able to analyze how it works. I`ve never seen such strong protection before. And it`s not copy protection even - Skype is free. This fact alone should flash a red light in your head. The question is "What do they really have to hide ?".
Skype for Linux 1.4 out of beta
Posted by: Anonymous [ip: 194.106.138.240] on October 09, 2007 08:39 AM
The question is "What do they really have to hide ?".
"Their patented protocol" is the answer
"Their patented protocol" is the answer
Skype for Linux 1.4 out of beta
Posted by: Anonymous [ip: 76.11.164.15] on October 09, 2007 02:47 PM
It was reported that skype was reading files in /etc Has this been addressed ? Are they still doing this ?
If they are not, then I will use it, but if so then not.
If they are not, then I will use it, but if so then not.
Skype for Linux 1.4 out of beta
Posted by: Anonymous [ip: 74.141.192.36] on November 21, 2007 10:24 AM
So far it still doesn't work as well as Ekiga. And has way too many issues
I've installed it and its worked fine for me over the past few weeks. Dave in Toronto.
Skype for Linux 1.4 out of beta
Posted by: Anonymous [ip: 88.231.201.170] on December 20, 2007 12:51 PM
<a href="http://www.forumzine.net">Forum</a> <a href="http://www.forumzine.net">divx</a>
Skype for Linux 1.4 out of beta
Posted by: Anonymous [ip: 192.168.1.144] on October 08, 2007 06:21 PM#