Not meaning to offend anyone, but being mainly a Linux user (Fedora Core 5, Ubuntu 6.06, mainly) after switching from windows, the lack of development on the Linux side seems to be impossible! While the Windows version of Skype thunders on towards version 3 with video support and all the bells and whistles, Skype for Linux (and mac, I've noticed) Seems to be frozen!

All that *I* have seen updated recently are security fixes, and thats about it. I see no video, no improved interface, no nothing.

If you are going to develop for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux, then at least try to keep the versions in step. How can one version be frozen at 1.xxx whilst the Windows version is 2.5 beta, Why can you not get a Linux version out of the door??

Skype me, and I'll be willing to talk this over

If I have offended any of the developers, then I'm sorry, but the aparent lack of progress is irritating

--dsturner

Why they aren't developing for linux? It doesn't pays them.

The sound on my linux skype is kind of choppy, while my windows version sounds excellent; however, this may be due to my linux sounds system.

Otherwise, the linux version of skype is fine just as it is, in my opinion. The interface is useable; I don't especially need video. It works. Why do we need anything more?

Something satisfying your need doesn't necessarily satisfy the needs of others.

I myself see video calling as a great feature to have, although my current priority is to see ALSA support. I've missed countless calls because I was listening to music and Skype just doesn't ring.

I really hope some smart person out there who can reverse engineer the protocol, and then we'll have free open source alternative clients for Skype, just like MSN and other IM services.

[quote=Si]
I really hope some smart person out there who can reverse engineer the protocol, and then we'll have free open source alternative clients for Skype, just like MSN and other IM services.[/quote]
forget that! this smart person not only has to reverse engineer the protocol, but also to steal skype's public keys for crypto. i think nobody will do that.
you can build a second "skype" independant of skype's registration servers. but on the other hand - it allready there, it's called SIP.
look at blackhat "paper" (search elsewhere this forum) for details.

cheers
jOERG

Skype has been bought by eBay. eBay wants to maximise their profit, and thus, stops putting any resources into parts of the product which do not have the best cost/performance ratio, as the Linux and Mac versions. Windows is ebay's main target platform, and I'm not very optimistic that Skype for Linux development will ever continue. I suggest you to use WengoPhone.

[quote=CodAv]eBay wants to maximise their profit, and thus, stops putting any resources into parts of the product which do not have the best cost/performance ratio, as the Linux and Mac versions. Windows is ebay's main target platform, ...[/quote]
But this doesn't really add up either. You mean to think that in the 4 billion bucks ebay paid for skype, they can't find room for a couple of linux developers which is enough to at least fix some of the stupid bugs and packaging errors which exist in the linux version? The cost to ebay to continue to support the linux version must be neglible. And by neglecting other platforms like linux, they encourage open alternatives like ekiga and wengo so, for that reason alone, surely it would be worth their while to continue linux support? Ebay's treatment of us just does not make sense to me.