Hi, well, since Skype 2.5 Beta for windows just hit the news, and they're getting yet more features, whilst version 1.2 for linux is still languishing without ALSA support and featuring some other sound related bugs (device not getting closed), I figure there are going to be a lot of negative threads showing up (either that or people are just plain tired). Either way, since I'm still trying to find a useful and productive way to make progress, I'd like to make a request.
Since we're told that Skype for Linux development is still on-going, and since we're told that it isn't Skype's fault but a third party's, and since we're told that Nils has taken over as product manager and is hoping to help get the linux community back on side, perhaps this could help everybody. Start a development blog. Every couple of days tell the public what progress you're making. If you're spending money on Skype for linux there must be developers around, and if they're not able to develop skype for linux because of a third party supplier (who shall remain nameless) then they must have time on their hands which they could spend a tiny amount of giving a few words to the public. There is already a developer blog set up, so the logistics of such a system have already been taken care of.
I'm certain there will be things to say and bugs being fixed to report back to the public, since there is apparently a closed beta that's been testing for at least 3 months now. Even if it's simply to put pressure on the nameless codec company by informing us that the developers themselves are still waiting for them to reply. It would help open the process, it wouldn't have to name the partner causing delays, it would keep the community onside, or at least show commitment to the community, it would be higher visibility than these forums where you've got to go digging to find the last time a skype developer said something, and it could be vetted by skype itself to avoid breaking any information that the NDAs are designed to stop the beta testers from telling.
If skype is unable to provide a beta product because it's in closed testing, at the very least give us an information feed so that those left waiting are not frustrated, vexed, disgruntled or angered by the repeated release of newer versions for different operating systems, whilst we're still waiting for bugs that we pointed out almost two years ago to be fixed (http://forum.skype.com/viewtopic.php?t=4026).
It was known back then that OSS was being deprecated. The API/Dbus support is also out of date, so all these linux developers can't give their time to come up with new or interesting tools for Skype to roll into their product, because it would need an ancient version of Dbus to work. This could easily be fixed using the current codebase, without ALSA implementation and without delay caused by the third party, but it hasn't been yet. Now, I'm sure there are reasons, but they're not being made clear to us, and we're leaving skype behind because of it. With over 100 million users now, I'd very much like to know the statistics on how many of those use linux, and what the recent trends look like.
If there's a department dedicated to Skype for Linux work, and we've got our very own project manager, then please show us how you're spending your time to help us!