Skype whirls me in…again

Only three weeks after I decided to ditch Skype they start whirling me back in again. By releasing the Skype Phone and 2.0 beta for Linux with webcam support.

The phone…

It is nothing but a regular 3G phone. But take a closer look. It is something more after all. It is white, shiny, is everything‐enabled, and has a web browser, mobile TV, and can do video calling. To other phones or Skype users via the web.

Over all the phone appears to have a more ‘Apple feel’ than Apple's own Phone! The Skype Phone is white and shiny, appears simple to operate, and everything is provided and configured for you.

The Skype Phone is much cooler than the over hyped Apple Phone and the Google Phone—did I say phone? I meant ‘Android’, their mobile operating system. Sadly Norway is not getting the new phone from Skype (nor Apple) any time soon. Denmark is getting both! Maybe I will move there? Or just ditch mobiles all together.

The beta…

They have been working on video calling for Linux for a while. The result looks great! I am surprised they have managed to get it working so quickly. There are some applications that do webcam support on Linux. However Skype is the first big service provider to endorse it officially; or at least beta officially.

The beta only works on 32 bit systems. You can use the older versions on 64 bit systems with some hacking. But the beta depends on too much 32 bit‐only libraries to work. Such a shame.

…and the plan.

Skype's plan is pretty obvious. They want me to move to Great Britain or Denmark—were they will be releasing the Skype Phone—and force me back on a 32 bit—preferably proprietary—operating system! That way they can get me spending even more money on Skype services and hardware.

PS regarding the last article section: I have got the flue! I am allowed to think I am the center of the universe right now!

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