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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

#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.

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

#4

Finally! I've been using web.skype.com for over a year now, lacking video/audio calls (usually handling those from my phone)

> We will be releasing updates to Skype for Linux every couple of weeks and we hope that video calling, and group video calling will be available in the coming couple of releases.

https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA34656/more-information-ab...

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

#5
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.

Millions of people use Skype for video calls, which Discord doesn't support.

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

#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.

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

#9
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.

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

#10
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.
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