One of Microsoft’s most hated apps of recent years was the Skype for Linux application. Under supported and forgotten, the service was infamous for being a complete mess that barely functional. The company has announced today that it is finally retiring the app, starting July 1, 2017.
For clarification, this is not the recently launched Skype for Linux Beta experience, but the old app. With that in mind, Microsoft says it will retire all versions of the client from build 4.3 and older.
This move mirrors Microsoft’s recent culling of older Skype versions on other platforms. For instance, on March 1, the company closed older Skype versions on Windows (v7.16 and older) and Mac (v7.18 and older).
At the time, Microsoft gave a four-month extension on the Linux app, which was also meant to close March 1. The company wanted the additional time to make the beta app more stable.
The good news is Microsoft is not cutting off Linux users, who can download Skype for Linux Beta. However, users of the open source platform are still left with a less than desirable experience.
As already mentioned, Microsoft’s older Linux Skype was pretty awful and unsupported. However, Skype for Linux Beta also misses several new features. For example, users cannot share screens, while there is no API access, advanced video and audio controls, or fully realized desktop integration.
As the name suggests, Skype for Linux Beta is also still in a developmental phase. This means it could be unstable, although Microsoft assures us it functions properly. Another alternative for Linux users is to use the Skype web browser client.
Skype for Linux Beta
Microsoft announced the beta build (version 5.0) of Skype in March. Microsoft says it has been paying attention to customer feedback and the additions reflect such advice. Calls can now be made across platforms, while sharing capabilities have also improved from other platforms.
The build also introduced the following new features:
- Calling updates: Calls to mobiles and landlines with Skype credit, one-to-one video calls can be made from Linux to Skype users on the latest versions of Skype for Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac.
- Better collaboration: Linux users can now view shared screens from other Skype desktop clients (Windows 7.33 and above, Mac 7.46 and above).
- Usability improvements: Unity launcher now shows the number of unread conversations, online contacts in contact list now include Away and Do Not Disturb statuses.
THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE!! The problem is that the new Skype for Linux developed by MicroSoft does not work at all with Orca screen reader. The new Skype is completely 100% unaccessible with Orca screen reader. This means that blind users like me can not use Skype at all on Linux after the old Skype stops working. MicroSoft does know that the new Skype is completely unaccessible with Orca. There has been several requests to make the new Skype work with Orca. MicroSoft uses Chromium based Electron technology as a base for the new Skype. Chromium and all Electron applications are completely unaccessible with Orca screenreader and so is the new Skype too.Orca screen reader speaks NOTHING when I try to use the new Skype. That makes it 100% impossible for the blind and visually impaired people to use the new Skype for Linux. MicroSoft have been asked to base the new Skype on something else than Chromium based Electron stuff becauseThat is not accessible. A But they have continued to base Skype on Chromium, and now they are going to kill the old Skype which does work with Orca screen reader! Skype is so important these days that in my opinion MicroSoft is discrimininating blind and other visually impaired people. MicroSoft MUST continue to support the old Skype 4.3 until they have made the new Skype accessible with Orca screen reader. It is not acceptable that MicroSoft just kicks blind and other visually impaired users out from Skype. Blind and visually impaired people MUST be able to use Skype too. MicroSoft MUST provide Skype which is accessible. If MicroSoft will not provide Skype which is accessible for the blind and other visually impaired users then I am going to report this issue to the Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired here in Finland.