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New Skype For Linux Brings Much Needed Improvements

By Scott Gilbertson October 5, 2007 Categories: Operating Systems, Platforms & APIs, Software & Tools

skypelinux.jpgSkype for Linux has reached the 1.4 milestone. The new version is code named “panacea,” but the release is anything but — it still lacks SMS and video support, something other platforms have had for some time.

Still, the new version offers a host of features and improvements, including what the Skype team calls “superior voice call quality” compared to previous production releases.

One nice thing about Skype for Linux is that the company seems to actually understand Linux and what users want. Though they aren’t perhaps more important than SMS and video support, there are some nice, Linux-like features in the new release, including:

  • Streamlined file transfers.
  • Command line switches, run “skype -help” for more details.
  • Clickable links in chat topics.
  • API OPEN FILETRANSFER and OPEN USERINFO commands.
  • Improved updating features.

And kudos to Skype for making the packages easy to install by testing on, and providing unique downloads for specific Linux distributions. To see all the new features and the extensive list of bugfixes, see the Skype announcement.

Today’s release is definitely much better than previous Skype for Linux offerings and the Skype for Linux team says it now has a solid base on which it can build, meaning, hopefully, SMS and video support will arrive sooner rather than later.

You can grab the latest version of Skype for Linux from the download site.

See Also:

Tags: Internet telephony
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