Skype on Linux

validator456 · 07-24-2016, 02:24 AM

I would love to learn languages by using Skype.

My problem is twofold:
1. Is my hardware up to it?
2. What webcam to buy?

I have an old computer. (Part of) the output of lshw:

Quote:

*- cpu
product: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz
vendor: Intel Corp.
physical id: 0
bus info: cpu@0
version: 15.4.1
serial: 0000-0F41-0000-0000-0000-0000
size: 3GHz
width: 64 bits
capabilities: boot fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe nx x86-64 constant_tsc pebs bts pni dtes64 monitor ds_cpl cid cx16 xtpr
configuration: id=0
*-memory
description: System memory
physical id: 1
size: 1507MiB

And my second question: what kind of webcam do you use? And what are your experiences with it?

Thanks in advance.

biosboy4 · 07-24-2016, 04:45 AM

take a look at Ring. At least that way youre not getting spied on.

beachboy2 · 07-24-2016, 05:41 AM

biosboy4,

Good one!

Ring:
https://www.linux.com/learn/why-and-...ad-skype-linux

Downloads:
https://ring.cx/en/download

validator456,
Check that your intended webcam gets a green tick on here:
http://www.ideasonboard.org/uvc/

There are plenty of inexpensive, hardly-used or new ones on ebay, such as the Logitech Quickcam E3500.

The E3500 is fine with a Pentium P4:
http://www.cnet.com/products/logitec...-e-3500/specs/

273 · 07-25-2016, 09:28 AM

If you have to run Skype because the people you wish to communication with use it then you may need the latest version to communication with them. For Linux I understand that is the alpha version here.
However, it seems that just as Microsoft released the alpha they also put in plans to drop Linux support completely in favour of web-based support instead.
I recently installed Ring on my Debian systems from Debian's own repositories using "apt-get install ring" and it looks like it should be a decent application though I've yet to properly test it.

JJJCR · 07-25-2016, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biosboy4

take a look at Ring. At least that way youre not getting spied on.

Ring is a cross-platform?

Ring is able to call Skype? or vice versa?

Thanks.

beachboy2 · 07-26-2016, 01:33 AM

JJJCR,

Ring is certainly cross-platform:

https://ring.cx/en/download

I doubt whether Skype and Ring are interoperational, but I could be wrong.

JJJCR · 07-26-2016, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beachboy2

JJJCR,

Ring is certainly cross-platform:

https://ring.cx/en/download

I doubt whether Skype and Ring are interoperational, but I could be wrong.

Thank you.

gradinaruvasile · 08-05-2016, 01:24 PM

NOTHING is interoperational with Skype. Same goes for Ring (which uses SIP for transport but with custom call setup via DHT+ICE) which btw doesnt really work without upnp on both sides (that or access to the same subnet on LAN or VPN).

This being said Skype integrated its features into a web version. File transfer, image sharing and audio calls work directly from the web interface if you use Chrome or its derivatives. Video calls work only on Edge ATM or with plugin on browsers on Windows and Mac - it will be activated for every browser probably in the near future on all desktop platforms.
The advantage for this is the fact that audio/video is handled by the browser using javascript+webrtc, no more crappy client that needs all kinds of compatibility libraries or whatnot. And browsers have everything needed for audio/video already integrated in them, including stream negotiation via ICE, support for encryption etc. After this transition will be completed, Skype will be a kind of Hangouts but with better interface and desktop-client like features.

The alpha client in fact is a wrapper that contains a Chromium engine and it shows the web.skype.com site with no borders. You can test the same thing if you access the web interface (also there is a Chrome extension that launches it for you but provides no tray icon).
The current "stable" desktop Linux version is being deprecated at the same time - video calls dont always work anymore (for group calls at least) etc.

After the interface will be fully featured it will only come down to trusting Microsoft with your data - which is basically the same as before and it is applicable for pretty much all services with 3rd party servers we use.

Need privacy? Deploy an XMPP server and use Jitsi with zrtp+otr or, if wou want web conference, deploy meet.jit.si on your computer and protect it with password or use certificate logins. And on top of this make it accesible only over OpenVPN.

273 · 08-05-2016, 01:35 PM

I noticed that the Ring website seems to suggest it doesn't work on a normal home setup without enabling UPnP on the router. Not yet been abe to test it to find out but if it does require allowing any old program to reconfigure the router I'll not be using Ring.
Skype may be monitored by the world and it's dog but at least it doesn't require leaving one's home router vulnerable to attack just to work.

gradinaruvasile · 08-05-2016, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 273

I noticed that the Ring website seems to suggest it doesn't work on a normal home setup without enabling UPnP on the router.

I tested this and calls don't connect over the internet if you don't have upnp. Well, presumably since i never have upnp anywhere and didnt had the opportunity to test it, but people seem to have it working in that setup.
Looking at debug info it seems that ICE works well and all IPS internal and external and ports are determined for both parties but that's all.
It worked however very well if i had both endpoints connected to the same vpn or over LAN. It always directed the traffic over vpn if it determined that both endpoints were on the same subnet (btw this behavior is applicable to pretty much all audio/video protocols that use ice).