Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

Mike Walsh · Joined: 28 Jun 2014 Posts: 3702 Location: King's Lynn, UK.

Evening, all.

Just to let y'all know, the Qt-based Skype 4.3 desktop client will quit working after the 1st July this year...for good. After this date, it'll refuse to work at all, as the API is being retired from service.

Screenshot from the Skype downloads for Linux webpage:-

This is reported on the OMG! Ubuntu site, here:-

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2017/06/skype-4-3-linux-stop-working-july-2017

No doubt some of you have been hearing about the fuss generated by MicroSoft's decision to overhaul the app's GUI, and to make it more SnapChat-like. This has thoroughly annoyed an awful lot of people around the world, especially in the business community, where it's used by many organizations for conference calls, and keeping in touch with operatives in the field.

Not only this, but after it's been released initially for Android(!), followed by Windows, Mac, and finally iOS, that's it; that's as far as development of the new version goes.

Linux users don't get a look-in on this new version.....at all.

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2017/06/microsoft-next-generation-skype-no-linux-support

We're not totally abandoned, though. There is an Electron-based Skype for Linux 'Beta' now out, following on from the 'Skype for Linux alpha' that was released last year. If you download the .deb package on the Skype downloads page, this is what you will get. Skype for Linux Beta 5.3.

Unfortunately, it's only available in a 64-bit package; so you'll need to run a 64-bit Pup in order to try it out. It installs, and runs with no hassle in Tahr64 6.05; I haven't yet tried Slacko64.....it may install, it may not. We all know .debs are somewhat hit & miss in the 'Slackos'. To those of you who have tried the browser-based 'Skype for Web', this beta will look very familiar, as it's the exact same interface. In fact, I believe it is the web interface, just on the desktop. (I'm doubly convinced of that, as I've been using the browser version with the 'dark' theme, since 4.3 hasn't been working properly for months.....and the 'beta' version picked it up, and switched from 'light' to 'dark', within seconds of start-up.) The difference is supposed to be that video-calling works in the Beta, where it didn't in the Alpha..... Rolling Eyes

We shall see..! Shocked

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This will be, for some of you, a golden opportunity to start exploring the many modern alternatives out there. Here's a few suggestions:-

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/fed-up-with-skype-here-are-6-of-the-best-free-alternatives/

One that isn't mentioned is WIRE. I covered this in my recent thread on using AppImages, here:-

http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=110078

I've been using this to correspond with a couple of friends in the States.....and so far, it's been working flawlessly. It's run in every Pup I've tried it in, 32- and 64-bit alike; there are AppImages available for both.

I'll be experimenting with the new Electron-based 5.3 Beta, and I'll keep y'all posted.

Mike. Wink

mikeslr · Posted: Mon 05 Jun 2017, 17:29 Post subject:

Just FYI, if you're still running XP, ooVoo mentioned in the post the other Mike referenced, works well; better than skype. Unfortunately, it doesn't run under Linux. Before his motherboard bit the dust, it was how we, via my wife's Windows 7, kept in touch with him, living in Budapest.

Now that he has a Windows 10, I've suggested we switch to Wire. But some of the other VOIPs mentioned on the link appear interesting.

mikesLr

rufwoof · Joined: 24 Feb 2014 Posts: 2323

Hmmm!

Looks like you can't get a refund for partially used credits, bought more than 15 days ago. At least online.

Cheeky!!!!

Perhaps even unlawful.

Outside of that basically the option is to close your account and as part of that they suggest you use all credit before doing so.

Mike Walsh · Joined: 28 Jun 2014 Posts: 3702 Location: King's Lynn, UK.

Hi, rufwoof.

rufwoof · Joined: 24 Feb 2014 Posts: 2323

Thanks for the forewarning about 4.3 no longer working as of July Mike.

I do use it primarily for dialpad type automated calls and periodically put on £50 of credit that normally sees me through a number of months (I prefer not to have automated re-credit or payments of any kind so have always been opted out of "auto-credit when down to £2" or whatever it is). £45 outstanding having done so a month or so ago apparently going to be lost as when I last checked the 'updated' version DTMF keypad during calls wasn't available.

Not so much the money, rather the principle.

Mike Walsh · Joined: 28 Jun 2014 Posts: 3702 Location: King's Lynn, UK.

Mike Walsh · Joined: 28 Jun 2014 Posts: 3702 Location: King's Lynn, UK.

Mike Walsh · Joined: 28 Jun 2014 Posts: 3702 Location: King's Lynn, UK.

A post from one of the many commenters to the MakeUseOf article (referred to above):-

Mike Walsh · Joined: 28 Jun 2014 Posts: 3702 Location: King's Lynn, UK.

**UPDATE**

Morning, all.

Just to confirm, the Skype for Linux 5.3 'Beta' .deb package does indeed install into, and run correctly, in Slacko64. Wonder of wonders!

This is the 'original' release, 6.3.0; I can't speak for 6.3.2. Somebody else will need to check this out, please!

Mike. Wink

tony · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 328 Location: Montreal.ca

Thanks Mike,

I have just installed tahr 64 on my asus eeepc 1015.

NO PROBLEMS. Same with the Skype 5.3 .deb.

Regards Tony.

Mike Walsh · Joined: 28 Jun 2014 Posts: 3702 Location: King's Lynn, UK.

gjuhasz · Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 362

watchdog · Joined: 28 Sep 2012 Posts: 1578 Location: Italy

As what I know palemoon has not webrtc and so it's a no go using skype web with palemoon in 32 bit puppies. A plugin for skype web is not available for palemoon. Skype web works with a webrtc capable browser. I want to use as alternative in combined manner:

http://www.skebby.com/

for sms and

https://hangouts.google.com/

for calls and chat with palemoon. There are psip and linphone, too. There also is:

https://plus.im/

Many alternatives.

Mike Walsh · Joined: 28 Jun 2014 Posts: 3702 Location: King's Lynn, UK.

Morning, watchdog. I have a request for you.

You remember your workaround for Skype 4.3, with PulseAudio, for Tahr 6.05? Any chance you could let me know where you got the source code for PulseAudio? I'd like to try and compile it in Tahr64, since although the audio is working in 5.3 Beta, it's coming out all garbled.

I want to see if using PulseAudio will actually improve matters.....

Thanks.

Mike. Wink

watchdog · Joined: 28 Sep 2012 Posts: 1578 Location: Italy

The source code of pulseaudio is aivailable at:

https://freedesktop.org/software/pulseaudio/releases/

In xenialpup64 I install pulseaudio by ppm even if it's declared already installed and it works. Not tried in tahr64. I'll give it a try: I think there is probably no need to compile.

EDIT: I have had success starting pulseaudio 4.0 (from PPM: install it again even if it's declared already installed) daemon in tahr64 by commenting some lines in /etc/pulse/default.pa. I attach my default.pa (remove fake gz).