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Skype for Linux Alpha and Calling on Chrome and Chromebooks

community.skype.com

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Re: Skype for Linux Alpha and Calling on Chrome and Chromebooks

#11

Post by ronjouch »

Vexs wrote: post #3

You know what I want? I want the old linux client to work. It didn't have the stupid bubbly UI bloated with ads and "big, friendly buttons" it had functional utility, separate windows, and a much more pleasant user experience just by being unpretty. As it is, I'm glad I have to use it less and less in favor of discord, which is by all accounts, far, far superior.

I for one consider separate windows a nuisance. I like the new consolidated "all in one" UI, just like I liked when browsers moved to tabs.

Honest question: what's the added value of separate windows (to be precise, separating contact list from discussions) to you?

Re: Skype for Linux Alpha and Calling on Chrome and Chromebooks

#12

Post by hackernews2000 »

neverminder wrote: post #6

So I'm guessing the major "improvement" is that we're getting ads with this version just like Windows users had for a while now?

The current (abandoned) Linux client doesn't even support group calls anymore.

And if there are ads, just like Windows users, you will be able to block the ads with your hosts file.

Re: Skype for Linux Alpha and Calling on Chrome and Chromebooks

#13

Post by cm3 »

ronjouch wrote: post #9
cm3 wrote: post #7

In case anyone's wondering, this is Electron using the WebRTC version of Skype. I wonder why they didn't just promote the WebRTC site instead. It would make it easier to have the latest security updates in the browser engine without waiting for Skype (Microsoft) to publish an update.

Personal guess: while functional (nit: only on Chrome for now :-/ ), the WebRTC site lacks some desktop features (integration, hotkeys, more control on notifications, etc) that they want to provide, and that are covered by the Electron API. For now there's none of it, but I think we'll see those appear little by little.

Not sure about hotkeys. Current Twitter and Github hijack enough well known bindings that it got annoying. So, what hotkeys would Electron allow that wouldn't work in a generic browser?

Re: Skype for Linux Alpha and Calling on Chrome and Chromebooks

#14

Post by cm3 »

hackernews2000 wrote: post #10
cm3 wrote: post #7

In case anyone's wondering, this is Electron using the WebRTC version of Skype. I wonder why they didn't just promote the WebRTC site instead. It would make it easier to have the latest security updates in the browser engine without waiting for Skype (Microsoft) to publish an update.

For the same reason they don't promote it to Windows users (which will have a similar program in the future replacing the current "native" software): better integration, system tray support, no need to keep your browser open or to enable browser notifications in the desktop, directly accessing and managing your camera and microphone without relying on your browser support and settings etc.

Genuinely curious, how does Electron access your camera different than Chrome?

Re: Skype for Linux Alpha and Calling on Chrome and Chromebooks

#15

Post by pjmlp »

Vexs wrote: post #3

You know what I want? I want the old linux client to work. It didn't have the stupid bubbly UI bloated with ads and "big, friendly buttons" it had functional utility, separate windows, and a much more pleasant user experience just by being unpretty. As it is, I'm glad I have to use it less and less in favor of discord, which is by all accounts, far, far superior.

I know zero people on discord and 100% of my contacts are on Skype.

Re: Skype for Linux Alpha and Calling on Chrome and Chromebooks

#16

Post by hackernews2000 »

cm3 wrote: post #14
hackernews2000 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For the same reason they don't promote it to Windows users (which will have a similar program in the future replacing the current "native" software): better integration, system tray support, no need to keep your browser open or to enable browser notifications in the desktop, directly accessing and managing your camera and microphone without relying on your browser support and settings etc.

Genuinely curious, how does Electron access your camera different than Chrome?

I mean that you can keep browser access to your camera completely disabled instead of having to enable it and whitelist their site. Also, not everyone uses Chromium-based browsers.

Re: Skype for Linux Alpha and Calling on Chrome and Chromebooks

#18

Post by ronjouch »

cm3 wrote: post #13
ronjouch wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Personal guess: while functional (nit: only on Chrome for now :-/ ), the WebRTC site lacks some desktop features (integration, hotkeys, more control on notifications, etc) that they want to provide, and that are covered by the Electron API. For now there's none of it, but I think we'll see those appear little by little.

Not sure about hotkeys. Current Twitter and Github hijack enough well known bindings that it got annoying. So, what hotkeys would Electron allow that wouldn't work in a generic browser?

I meant global system-wide hotkeys that work even when the application is not focused, not JavaScript-event-based page hotkeys. In the stable (Qt-based) Skype for example I bind Ctrl+Alt+PgUp to answer a call, and Ctrl+Alt+PgDown to stop the call.

Re: Skype for Linux Alpha and Calling on Chrome and Chromebooks

#19

Post by Vexs »

ronjouch wrote: post #11
Vexs wrote: post #3

You know what I want? I want the old linux client to work. It didn't have the stupid bubbly UI bloated with ads and "big, friendly buttons" it had functional utility, separate windows, and a much more pleasant user experience just by being unpretty. As it is, I'm glad I have to use it less and less in favor of discord, which is by all accounts, far, far superior.

I for one consider separate windows a nuisance. I like the new consolidated "all in one" UI, just like I liked when browsers moved to tabs. Honest question: what's the added value of separate windows (to be precise, separating contact list from discussions) to you?

A big thing (for me anyway) is that the overall interface becomes smaller, and allows for greater customization. I can set it up exactly how I want, and at what size, without messing about. Sure, you can do that in a single-panel application, but skype is never gonna do it. It's kind of like how photoshop is better with floating windows.

Re: Skype for Linux Alpha and Calling on Chrome and Chromebooks

#20

Post by pmlnr »

hackernews2000 wrote: post #10
cm3 wrote: post #7

In case anyone's wondering, this is Electron using the WebRTC version of Skype. I wonder why they didn't just promote the WebRTC site instead. It would make it easier to have the latest security updates in the browser engine without waiting for Skype (Microsoft) to publish an update.

For the same reason they don't promote it to Windows users (which will have a similar program in the future replacing the current "native" software): better integration, system tray support, no need to keep your browser open or to enable browser notifications in the desktop, directly accessing and managing your camera and microphone without relying on your browser support and settings etc.

Better integration? With a cross-platform JS monster? Sure.
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