Live data from Hacker News

Microsoft to retire Skype Desktop API

networkworld.com

61–70 of 75 posts

Re: Microsoft to retire Skype Desktop API

#61
post #25
post #18

Hello, Google Hangouts!

Did anyone mention closed source? They just retired their XMPP interface... If there is any way to go, it's not something that is almost equally closed source. Also Google+ and anything related has about the same reputation as Nokia in the Netherlands. I don't know how it is in the US, but here I'm quite sure I can't even find a single friend willing to use that service.

Nokia has a poor reputation in the netherlands? I don't think most people in the US realize that.

Re: Microsoft to retire Skype Desktop API

#62
post #20

A company I used to work for is panicking over this. One of their core products had an integration with Skype using Skype4Com for various reasons. They came to me recently asking if I had any recommendations for a better platform. (They knew Skype was a temporary hack but didn't expect it to die this fast) Basically they need a white-labeled, web-based video conference solution. They'd like centralized recording with…

Looks like you are searching for www.dozeo.com. You can find the API at api.dozeo.com.

Re: Microsoft to retire Skype Desktop API

#63

Skype's pretty much the worst thing ever anyway

Really, I don't get why people care about it. It's closed source, shady, loaded with spam bots and the company treats customers terribly.

None of the alternatives meet our needs (google talk etc). The needs are: ability to set up rooms or group chats that you can favorite, ability to make calls and video chat, desktop based and always on at all times. If anyone knows of an alternative that can do all of this let me know.

Re: Microsoft to retire Skype Desktop API

#64

Skype's pretty much the worst thing ever anyway

Really, I don't get why people care about it. It's closed source, shady, loaded with spam bots and the company treats customers terribly.

I am a freelancer and literally all of my clients use Skype, most of them primarily so.

Re: Microsoft to retire Skype Desktop API

#65
post #16

"The Desktop API was created in 2004 and it doesn’t support mobile application development." So what? Desktop users built Skype with their Skype-to-phone and phone-to-Skype (Skype Number) subscription money. We want what we paid for: Skype API, and whatever apps and devices are supported by it. Mobile will necessarily have different apps and devices with some (perhaps) overlap. Developers should be courted to redeplo…

That's just the thing though, the customer base no-longer require the desktop API, because there is a new more attractive (mobile) market. Whatever amounts of cash we threw at them in earlier years matters nothing, nothing at all.

Re: Microsoft to retire Skype Desktop API

#66
post #20

A company I used to work for is panicking over this. One of their core products had an integration with Skype using Skype4Com for various reasons. They came to me recently asking if I had any recommendations for a better platform. (They knew Skype was a temporary hack but didn't expect it to die this fast) Basically they need a white-labeled, web-based video conference solution. They'd like centralized recording with…

There's other, newer Skype APIs, I believe. CallBurner already announced they would still work, using another API.

Now that's interesting. Is there any link to the new API or at least to the announcement?

Re: Microsoft to retire Skype Desktop API

#67
Who still uses Skype after it was confirmed[1] that Microsoft sells our personal text, voice and video conversations to dubious agencies?

Edit: Personally, I've switched to OTR (Adium/Pidgin) for text and ZRTP (Jitsi) for voice/video.

[1] http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/11/microsoft-nsa-c...

Re: Microsoft to retire Skype Desktop API

#68
post #20

A company I used to work for is panicking over this. One of their core products had an integration with Skype using Skype4Com for various reasons. They came to me recently asking if I had any recommendations for a better platform. (They knew Skype was a temporary hack but didn't expect it to die this fast) Basically they need a white-labeled, web-based video conference solution. They'd like centralized recording with…

TokBox is one of the leaders in this space: http://tokbox.com/

My word, that's an annoying home page.

Re: Microsoft to retire Skype Desktop API

#69
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did anyone mention closed source? They just retired their XMPP interface... If there is any way to go, it's not something that is almost equally closed source. Also Google+ and anything related has about the same reputation as Nokia in the Netherlands. I don't know how it is in the US, but here I'm quite sure I can't even find a single friend willing to use that service.

Nokia has a poor reputation in the netherlands? I don't think most people in the US realize that.

Well not poor so much as 'old'. Carrying Nokias by people under 30 is almost frowned upon and buying them is like buying a computer that has Windows XP on it.

Re: Microsoft to retire Skype Desktop API

#70

And this is why building a great product with the intention of selling it to the highest bidder is a fundamental betrayal of your customers.

>And this is why building a great product with the intention of selling it to the highest bidder is a fundamental betrayal of your customers. Maybe you might furnish us with a list of business models you do approve of? How about: - Building a crap product and selling it to the highest bidder? - Building a great product and selling it to the lowest bidder? Building a great product and selling it (when the offer is) ma…

How about:

-Building a great product, retaining ownership, and maintaining it for your user base to the best of your ability.

-Building a great product and selling it to someone who you're confident is committing to maintaining the quality of your product, even if they're not the highest bidder.

-Building a great product and selling it to the highest bidder, under pre-agreed terms that let you keep enough control to maintain quality.

People snark at me every time I suggest this. I really don't understand why. Hacker News is brimming with stories of "I'm sad because Google/Microsoft/Apple/Amazon/whatever bought a product/service I love and immediately ruined it/shut it down." I don't think it's unreasonable to wish that a product you use regularly and pay for (whether directly or through advertising views) be maintained in good condition and not gutted. Maybe I'm not cynical enough.

Post reply on HN