Is It Possible To Use Skype On Pandora?

[DeadName]

HealyHQ:

The version your referring to is for X86, totally irrelevant for the Pandora.

I understand this, and that wasn't the point of my response. He said, Quote: "Not until a port of Skype exists for the ARM processor (let alone Linux)." Saying "let alone Linux" in that context is the same as saying "there is no port to Linux, period." Which is wrong. There is a Linux port. ARM or no ARM, there is still a Linux port.

...I hope that makes sense. The way he said that makes me believe he thinks there isn't a port to Linux.


Anyway, back on topic: everyone's right in saying that Skype wouldn't work unless the company ports it to Pandora. AFAICS, that's the only way, unfortunately.

 

[Tor]

You could always grab Skype off some Nokia tablet firmware.

Skype is not in the firmware. The firmware comes with an "install skype" menu option that runs apt-get and installs skype from a Nokia (password protected) repository.

Note that this skype binary is hildonized, so you will need a lot of the tablet's OS to get it to work. I guess the best chance is Mer on Pandora.

It's been said that there's no Linux version of Skype (another poster). Obviously false, been for years.
It's been said there's no ARM version of Skype, also false, I've been using it on my N800 for 26 months.
So, just a small correction to the above poster: You can go to the skype website, find the Nokia internet tablet version download, click on it, and get a Maemo-style install file. This file is just a little text file with a URL to a Debian-style repository, and, as for other Debian-style repos, there is no password protection involved. In other words, the Nokia version of Skype is exactly as downloadable as any other Skype version. I should think it would be in Skype's interest to get it used as much as possible, but never mind that.

It's true that this version is Hildonized (just as the respective versions for other systems are using whatever native UI-style they use). That can probably be handled by a hypothetical Pandora "porter". What's more difficult could be any low-level sound-system handling etc. which I suspect could be using some of the Nokia closed parts.

 

[WizardStan]

I should think it would be in Skype's interest to get it used as much as possible, but never mind that.

Skype's interest, yes; but if Nokia paid for the port to be done, it is in their best interest to keep it guarded as a marketing tactic..

 

[Tor]

I should think it would be in Skype's interest to get it used as much as possible, but never mind that.

Skype's interest, yes; but if Nokia paid for the port to be done, it is in their best interest to keep it guarded as a marketing tactic..

Well yes, but they don't keep it guarded. It's in a Nokia repo (if you follow the link in the .install file), but that's just the repo where they keep all the applications that won't make the application manager pop up a notice that you're about to install something that's not in the "Nokia certified" repository.

 

[Dead1nside]

It's true that this version is Hildonized (just as the respective versions for other systems are using whatever native UI-style they use). That can probably be handled by a hypothetical Pandora "porter". What's more difficult could be any low-level sound-system handling etc. which I suspect could be using some of the Nokia closed parts.

I'm not 100% sure of everything but I believe most if not all of the sound is handled by your regular PulseAudio (there could be closed off parts though).

 

[Isaac702]

Since we do not have a way to test this yet I don't know if this would be of any use.
However this is the repository for Skype on Maemo. http://repository.maemo.org/catalogue/certified/pool/diablo/user/s/skype/

Hopefully we can turn this into something usable if the developers at Skype decide not to release a proper client on the ARM platform.

 

[renwils]

1. Use the Android version if there is one (I don't wanna check, too lazy)

Skype for Android will work, but it doesn't include VOIP, so it's nearly useless.

 

[gaterooze]

Skype for Android will work, but it doesn't include VOIP, so it's nearly useless.

Really? Fantastic! I mainly use Skype for the text component and file sharing in business, so that would be perfect for me.

 

[Tor]

Ok, if the Pandora gets delayed again I'll going to try my N800 skype on the Beagleboard. But that'll only happen if there's nothing else to do for the Christmas holidays.

 

[Tokiopop]

HealyHQ:

The version your referring to is for X86, totally irrelevant for the Pandora.

He said let alone linux, and there is one for Linux.

 

[DeadName]

HealyHQ:

The version your referring to is for X86, totally irrelevant for the Pandora.

He said let alone linux, and there is one for Linux.

...didn't I already say this exact same thing?

Cue flashback! *world gets all wavy as we're thrown into the past*

Saying "let alone Linux" in that context is the same as saying "there is no port to Linux, period." Which is wrong. There is a Linux port.

*world goes wavy again as we're brought back into the present*

Yep. :rolleyes:

Ahh, gotta love flashbacks!

 

[Pleng]

Whatever he said it was pretty clear to me that he mean:

There's no port for ANY ARM OS, let alone ARM Linux...

 

[Tor]

Whatever he said it was pretty clear to me that he mean:

There's no port for ANY ARM OS, let alone ARM Linux...

Which is still entirely wrong.

 

[Tokiopop]

Whatever he said it was pretty clear to me that he mean:

There's no port for ANY ARM OS, let alone ARM Linux...

Skype works on ARM CPUs, including the iPhone.

 

[Pleng]

That may be, but it seems a little unfair to grill the guy for entirely the wrong reason.

 

[pelrun]

Whatever he said it was pretty clear to me that he mean:

There's no port for ANY ARM OS, let alone ARM Linux...

Which would also be completely wrong, as there is a port for the N800.

 

[Ollonk]

There is also a whole line of Skype for (ARM) Pocket PCs/Windows Mobile. That said, it eats a ton of power. 400mhz easy.