Anybody Skype users here?

[Juan R.D. Silva]

Hi folks,

I use Skype installed from Debian official repo. A couple of days ago
it refused to update reporting "server timed out". After looking into
it, I found that MS removed Skype.deb package from their server and
basically forces everyone to use Snap package instead.

Skype is the only app I would need Snap for on my system. Unfortunately,
I still need Skype and I do not see any alternative but to concede to MS
(and Ubuntu?) brute coercion.

Any body installed Snap on their Debian system? Any problems with that
thing? Any suggestions to use Skype otherwise?

Thanks

[Timothy M Butterworth]

Post by Juan R.D. Silva
Hi folks,
I use Skype installed from Debian official repo. A couple of days ago
it refused to update reporting "server timed out". After looking into
it, I found that MS removed Skype.deb package from their server and
basically forces everyone to use Snap package instead.
Skype is the only app I would need Snap for on my system. Unfortunately,
I still need Skype and I do not see any alternative but to concede to MS
(and Ubuntu?) brute coercion.

To hell with Ubuntu, I use Google Voice, Chat and Meet. All three are free
and work great just using the browser.

Post by Juan R.D. Silva
Any body installed Snap on their Debian system? Any problems with that
thing? Any suggestions to use Skype otherwise?
Thanks

[Juan R.D. Silva]

Hey Timothy, have you really read my post?

1. I wrote it clearly "I still need Skype". (And yes, I have my reasons
for it, even if it surprises you.)
2. And how have you arrived to "Ubuntu" subject? I'm Debian user. Again
read to post you replied to.
3. I really don't care what you personally use and if you are happy with
it or not. I need a Skype user suggestion about a particular situation.
You do not use Skype and have no clue to be in help. Then just skip off.

Boy, these thread hijacking boys are annoying.

Thanks

On Thu, May 30, 2024 at 6:59 PM Juan R.D. Silva
Hi folks,
I use Skype installed from Debian official repo.  A couple of days ago
it refused to update reporting "server timed out". After looking into
it, I found that MS removed Skype.deb package from their server and
basically forces everyone to use Snap package instead.
Skype is the only app I would need Snap for on my system.
Unfortunately,
I still need Skype and I do not see any alternative but to concede to MS
(and Ubuntu?) brute coercion.
To hell with Ubuntu, I use Google Voice, Chat and Meet. All three are
free and work great just using the browser.
Any body installed Snap on their Debian system? Any problems with that
thing? Any suggestions to use Skype otherwise?
Thanks
--
⢀⣴⠾⠻⢶⣦⠀
⣾⠁⢠⠒⠀⣿⡁ Debian - The universal operating system
⢿⡄⠘⠷⠚⠋⠀ https://www.debian.org/ <https://www.debian.org/>
⠈⠳⣄⠀⠀

[Bret Busby]

On 31/5/24 07:49, Keith Bainbridge wrote:
<snip>

Good morning Juan
wget https://repo.skype.com/latest/skypeforlinux-64.deb

Trying to access that URL with SeaMonkey, to view the directory listing
(to find version numbers), returned the following;

"
An error occurred while processing your request.

Reference #97.6edf56b8.1717113285.e8ac5eb

https://errors.edgesuite.net/97.6edf56b8.1717113285.e8ac5eb
"

[David Wright]

Post by Bret Busby

wget https://repo.skype.com/latest/skypeforlinux-64.deb

Trying to access that URL with SeaMonkey, to view the directory
listing (to find version numbers), returned the following;
"
An error occurred while processing your request.
Reference #97.6edf56b8.1717113285.e8ac5eb
https://errors.edgesuite.net/97.6edf56b8.1717113285.e8ac5eb
"

It took a few seconds while it thought about it (I thought it might
time out), but it worked here (KS):

$ wget https://repo.skype.com/latest/skypeforlinux-64.deb
--2024-05-30 18:59:55-- https://repo.skype.com/latest/skypeforlinux-64.deb
Resolving repo.skype.com (repo.skype.com)... 23.32.128.139, 2001:578:2c:fe8b::1263, 2001:578:2c:fe99::1263
Connecting to repo.skype.com (repo.skype.com)|23.32.128.139|:443... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK
Length: 122062452 (116M) [application/x-debian-package]
Saving to: ‘skypeforlinux-64.deb’

skypeforlinux-64.deb 100%[=========================================>] 116.41M 9.19MB/s in 12s

2024-05-30 19:00:27 (9.34 MB/s) - ‘skypeforlinux-64.deb’ saved [122062452/122062452]

$

Cheers,
David.

[Bret Busby]

Post by David Wright

Post by Bret Busby

wget https://repo.skype.com/latest/skypeforlinux-64.deb

Trying to access that URL with SeaMonkey, to view the directory
listing (to find version numbers), returned the following;
"
An error occurred while processing your request.
Reference #97.6edf56b8.1717113285.e8ac5eb
https://errors.edgesuite.net/97.6edf56b8.1717113285.e8ac5eb
"

It took a few seconds while it thought about it (I thought it might
$ wget https://repo.skype.com/latest/skypeforlinux-64.deb
--2024-05-30 18:59:55-- https://repo.skype.com/latest/skypeforlinux-64.deb
Resolving repo.skype.com (repo.skype.com)... 23.32.128.139, 2001:578:2c:fe8b::1263, 2001:578:2c:fe99::1263
Connecting to repo.skype.com (repo.skype.com)|23.32.128.139|:443... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK
Length: 122062452 (116M) [application/x-debian-package]
Saving to: ‘skypeforlinux-64.deb’
skypeforlinux-64.deb 100%[=========================================>] 116.41M 9.19MB/s in 12s
2024-05-30 19:00:27 (9.34 MB/s) - ‘skypeforlinux-64.deb’ saved [122062452/122062452]
$
Cheers,
David.

Hello.

If you install it, please tell me what is the version number.

Thank you in anticipation.

....
Bret Busby
Armadale
Western Australia
(UTC+0800)
.................

[David Wright]

Post by Bret Busby

Post by David Wright

Post by Bret Busby

wget https://repo.skype.com/latest/skypeforlinux-64.deb

Trying to access that URL with SeaMonkey, to view the directory
listing (to find version numbers), returned the following;
"
An error occurred while processing your request.
Reference #97.6edf56b8.1717113285.e8ac5eb
https://errors.edgesuite.net/97.6edf56b8.1717113285.e8ac5eb
"

It took a few seconds while it thought about it (I thought it might
$ wget https://repo.skype.com/latest/skypeforlinux-64.deb
--2024-05-30 18:59:55-- https://repo.skype.com/latest/skypeforlinux-64.deb
Resolving repo.skype.com (repo.skype.com)... 23.32.128.139, 2001:578:2c:fe8b::1263, 2001:578:2c:fe99::1263
Connecting to repo.skype.com (repo.skype.com)|23.32.128.139|:443... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK
Length: 122062452 (116M) [application/x-debian-package]
Saving to: ‘skypeforlinux-64.deb’
skypeforlinux-64.deb 100%[=========================================>] 116.41M 9.19MB/s in 12s
2024-05-30 19:00:27 (9.34 MB/s) - ‘skypeforlinux-64.deb’ saved [122062452/122062452]
$

If you install it, please tell me what is the version number.
Thank you in anticipation.

I haven't, but DEBIAN/control is attached, and there are
several occurrences of v8 in the main binary.

Cheers,
David.

[Keith Bainbridge]

Post by Juan R.D. Silva
Hey Timothy, have you really read my post?
1. I wrote it clearly "I still need Skype". (And yes, I have my reasons
for it, even if it surprises you.)
2. And how have you arrived to "Ubuntu" subject? I'm Debian user. Again
read to post you replied to.
3. I really don't care what you personally use and if you are happy with
it or not. I need a Skype user suggestion about a particular situation.
You do not use Skype and have no clue to be in help. Then just skip off.
Boy, these thread hijacking boys are annoying.
Thanks

On Thu, May 30, 2024 at 6:59 PM Juan R.D. Silva
    Hi folks,
    I use Skype installed from Debian official repo.  A couple of days
ago
    it refused to update reporting "server timed out". After looking into
    it, I found that MS removed Skype.deb package from their server and
    basically forces everyone to use Snap package instead.
    Skype is the only app I would need Snap for on my system.
    Unfortunately,
    I still need Skype and I do not see any alternative but to concede
    to MS
    (and Ubuntu?) brute coercion.
To hell with Ubuntu, I use Google Voice, Chat and Meet. All three are
free and work great just using the browser.
    Any body installed Snap on their Debian system? Any problems with
that
    thing? Any suggestions to use Skype otherwise?
    Thanks
--
⢀⣴⠾⠻⢶⣦⠀
⣾⠁⢠⠒⠀⣿⡁ Debian - The universal operating system
⢿⡄⠘⠷⠚⠋⠀ https://www.debian.org/ <https://www.debian.org/>
⠈⠳⣄⠀⠀

Good morning Juan

Three sites suggest:

wget https://repo.skype.com/latest/skypeforlinux-64.deb

Some of them are older, but 1 refers to bookworm.

So maybe all isn't lost


All the best


Keith Bainbridge

***@gmail.com

[phone]

UTC +10:00

[George at Clug]

Juan,


Apologies I do not have an answer for you.


It would seem you love Snaps about as much as I do. I watch videos on
YouTube of people complaining about APT, or Synaptic, but I disagree
with them, I really like those programs and the Debian packaging
system. They are very reliable, just like Debian.



I too have a Skype account, but my friends have moved to other
platforms, so I only log in once or twice a year to see if anyone
messaged me. I do this via a Windows Virtual Machine using KVM. I only
use this solution for chat, not conferencing. And now with Windows 10
coming to and end, I guess my use of Skype will end too. My hardware
will not run Windows 11.



I am guessing you have tried 'Skype for Web' ?  How did you find it?
If it does not suite your purposes, I would like to know why, as
'Skype for Web' might be a solution for myself if it works enough.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/skype/skype-for-web-preview-your-most-asked-questions-9c4836e4-5cdb-4261-ae46-d919b974af8a
Skype for Web (Preview) - your most asked questions

I want to try the Skype for Web (Preview) experience. How do I do
that?
Please go to https://preview.web.skype.com and sign into Skype.



https://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=snap
https://snapcraft.io/docs/installing-snap-on-debian


George.








On Friday, 31-05-2024 at 08:58 Juan R.D. Silva wrote:


Hi folks,

I use Skype installed from Debian official repo.  A couple of days
ago
it refused to update reporting "server timed out". After looking into
it, I found that MS removed Skype.deb package from their server and
basically forces everyone to use Snap package instead.

Skype is the only app I would need Snap for on my system.
Unfortunately,
I still need Skype and I do not see any alternative but to concede to
MS
(and Ubuntu?) brute coercion.

Any body installed Snap on their Debian system? Any problems with that

thing? Any suggestions to use Skype otherwise?

Thanks

[Jeffrey Walton]

[...]
I am guessing you have tried 'Skype for Web' ? How did you find it? If it does not suite your purposes, I would like to know why, as 'Skype for Web' might be a solution for myself if it works enough.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/skype/skype-for-web-preview-your-most-asked-questions-9c4836e4-5cdb-4261-ae46-d919b974af8a
Skype for Web (Preview) - your most asked questions
I want to try the Skype for Web (Preview) experience. How do I do that?
Please go to https://preview.web.skype.com and sign into Skype.

Skype for Web looks like it could be a good alternative for OP. It has
been around since 2019. Cf.,
<https://www.skype.com/en/blogs/2019-03-skype-online/>.

Both the Linux app from the *.deb and the browser-based app (and other
package formats, like MSI) likely use the web security model, so you
are f**k'd with either one. There's probably no benefit to using one
over the other. Neither can provide a secure channel, and both will
happily allow interception of your calls.

Skype also points people to their community for questions:
<http://go.skype.com/skype.community>. Maybe someone in the community
can answer the OP's questions, like what it's like to use the snap
version of the app.

Jeff

[Bret Busby]

Post by Juan R.D. Silva
Hi folks,
I use Skype installed from Debian official repo.  A couple of days ago
it refused to update reporting "server timed out". After looking into
it, I found that MS removed Skype.deb package from their server and
basically forces everyone to use Snap package instead.
Skype is the only app I would need Snap for on my system. Unfortunately,
I still need Skype and I do not see any alternative but to concede to MS
(and Ubuntu?) brute coercion.
Any body installed Snap on their Debian system? Any problems with that
thing? Any suggestions to use Skype otherwise?
Thanks

What version of skype do you have installed?

I have skypeforlinux 8.109.0.209 installed on a Linux Mint system.

But, I have not used skype, now, for about 11 years.

Regarding snap, with your reference to Ubuntu Linux, the imposition of
snap was one of the reasons to leave Ubuntu Linux. snap is bloat, and
leads to nastiness, like automatic updating of a system, so that, for
example, if you would be in the middle of an important skype call, or,
in the middle of another important task, expect to have it all shutdown
- Ubuntu has gone the MS way (with its snap cr*p), and, starts doing a
system update and reboot; so, if you really want any control that you
have over your system, and, confidence in using your system, taken away
from you then, infect it with snap.

....
Bret Busby
Armadale
Western Australia
(UTC+0800)
.................

[fjd]

Post by Bret Busby
What version of skype do you have installed?
I have skypeforlinux 8.109.0.209 installed on a Linux Mint system.
But, I have not used skype, now, for about 11 years.
Regarding snap, with your reference to Ubuntu Linux, the imposition of snap
was one of the reasons to leave Ubuntu Linux.

I haven't (yet) experienced the nastiness. Want to note there is still
a web version.

fjd

[Dan Ritter]

I use Skype installed from Debian official repo. A couple of days ago it
refused to update reporting "server timed out". After looking into it, I
found that MS removed Skype.deb package from their server and basically
forces everyone to use Snap package instead.

I'm pretty sure that if MS removed the package, it was not a
Debian official repo.

Skype is the only app I would need Snap for on my system. Unfortunately, I
still need Skype and I do not see any alternative but to concede to MS (and
Ubuntu?) brute coercion.
Any body installed Snap on their Debian system? Any problems with that
thing? Any suggestions to use Skype otherwise?

Does it work through a browser?

Zoom works through a browser. Google Meet works through a
browser. MS Teams works through a browser. And Jitsi works
through a browser.

-dsr-

[Bret Busby]

On 31/5/24 07:33, Dan Ritter wrote:

<snip>

Post by Dan Ritter
Does it work through a browser?
Zoom works through a browser. Google Meet works through a
browser. MS Teams works through a browser. And Jitsi works
through a browser.
-dsr-

Using each of those, apparently, comes with its own varying degree of risk.

Zoom and google might be okay, if you want your calls content
intercepted and sold, and, used for impersonation, etc.

jitsi has been regarded as the relatively safest.

The problems of zoom, etc ("we are recording you through your bedroom
window, so we can use whatever amuses us"), has previously been
discussed on this list, and, at The Register, with the Free Software
Foundation telling its people to not uses zoom, and, recommending and
adopting jitsi, for such communications.

Search list archive for zoom...

One great disadvantage, as far as I am aware, with skype, is that it has
been available only for limited platforms; I have siblings who use Mac
systems, for which, skype does not work. They use zoom for video calls,
as it is cross-platform. They do not have the ICT awareness, to be aware
of problems with zoom, in terms of privacy and security breaches by the
provider.

A problem is that some people and institutions, are fixed in their ways,
and mandate skype or zoom, or some other similarly disreputable software.

....
Bret Busby
Armadale
Western Australia
(UTC+0800)
.................

[Xiyue Deng]

Hi Juan,

Post by Juan R.D. Silva
Hi folks,
I use Skype installed from Debian official repo. A couple of days ago
it refused to update reporting "server timed out". After looking into
it, I found that MS removed Skype.deb package from their server and
basically forces everyone to use Snap package instead.
Skype is the only app I would need Snap for on my
system. Unfortunately, I still need Skype and I do not see any
alternative but to concede to MS (and Ubuntu?) brute coercion.
Any body installed Snap on their Debian system? Any problems with that
thing? Any suggestions to use Skype otherwise?
Thanks

According to Snap docs[1], Snap has been available on Debian since
Stretch (9). It looks like Skype page on snapcraft has instructions on
how to install it on Debian[2].

Skype also seems to be available on Flatpak[3], which has the same
version as on Snap (8.119.0.201), so you can also install it there if
you prefer Flatpak over Snap.

I haven't installed it so I cannot tell how well it works. But I think
you can report to Microsoft should there be any issues.

[1] https://snapcraft.io/docs/installing-snap-on-debian
[2] https://snapcraft.io/install/skype/debian
[3] https://flathub.org/apps/com.skype.Client

[Richmond]

Post by Juan R.D. Silva
Hi folks,
I use Skype installed from Debian official repo. A couple of days ago
it refused to update reporting "server timed out". After looking into
it, I found that MS removed Skype.deb package from their server and
basically forces everyone to use Snap package instead.
Skype is the only app I would need Snap for on my
system. Unfortunately, I still need Skype and I do not see any
alternative but to concede to MS (and Ubuntu?) brute coercion.
Any body installed Snap on their Debian system? Any problems with that
thing? Any suggestions to use Skype otherwise?
Thanks

You can use skype from the web page, web.skype.com, without installing
it. Maybe that would do?