Skype for Linux Alpha has been released a month ago and it is updated in every two weeks. The latest version (1.5) was released yesterday. Skype for Linux is still in an early stage and it lacks some basic features like video calling or screen sharing. This new app is basically the same as Skype for Web but wrapped in an Electron application which gives us the ability to have indicator icons and seems integrated to the desktop. It is amazing to see how fast it is evolving, though.
Features
Here’s a feature comparison between the current Skype client and Skype for Linux Alpha.
| Feature list | Skype for Linux (current) | Skype for Linux Alpha |
| One-to one video calling | • | |
| Skype PSTN calling | • | |
| Skype SMS messages | • | |
| Buy Skype credit | • | |
| Add participants to ongoing call | • | |
| Change device settings | • | |
| One-to-one instant messaging | • | • |
| Group instant messaging | • | • |
| Skype emoticons | • | • |
| Call forwarding | • | • |
| Add friends as Skype contacts | • | • |
| Start conversations | • | • |
| One-to-one audio calling | • | • |
| Group audio calling | • | • |
| Share contacts | • | • |
| New emoticons packs | • |
What’s new in version 1.5?
- Voice messaging audio now works.
- Mojis now work with audio.
- You can now silence notification sounds and turn off messaging notifications completely in ‘Settings’.
- Disabled the ability to drag & drop a URL into Skype which opens the browser in the application.
- Presence status icon sizes in the Tray have been improved on some distributions.
