Skype Releases Open SDK 108
An anonymous reader writes "SkypeKit gives Linux developers access to core functionality, allowing Linux developers to add video, calling, and instant messaging features to desktop applications. The SDK also comes with the freshly royalty-free SILK codec for high-end audio. Skype is hoping that the inclusion of SILK will popularize the codec, extending its reach. Currently, the SkypeKit beta is only available for Linux on an invite-only basis, with Windows and Mac versions planned in coming weeks. The SDK does not cover Android or Mac, an odd choice considering the announcement of SkypeKit championed itself for extending the functionality of Skype to multiple platforms and devices. Including smartphones in the SDK seems like an obvious move." Ars Technica has a rundown, too.
Re:Screen Sharing (Score:1, Informative)
The latest beta I downloaded had screen sharing.
Re:So how does this work? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Screw Skype.. (Score:3, Informative)
Re:So how does this work? (Score:3, Informative)
I realize you're probably trolling, but I'll answer anyway. FaceTime is a bit more than 'just SIP'. SIP just gets the session started. This will be an open sourcing of the core technology stack required to use FaceTime.
All of the above are open standards (yes there is a difference between open standard and royalty free, but that's another discussion), but the framework that Apple created to bundle all of the above together (the pieces that makes it all work together), is what's being open sourced. I believe there is only one other phone on the market that even supports all of the necessary protocols (N900). It hasn't been 'done for years' in this way.
Skype in contrast, is proprietary, although they may have been spooked into releasing some API's into their framework as they see a posible threat here to their video chat throne. Apple has the muscle to get hardware vendor buy-in from folks like Cisco. Video chat could take off in a whole new way, and I'm not referring to business client. Sure folks have had the capability to use it on their phones for some years, but few do, and trends show the number is actually shrinking, probably due to poor interoperability. Hopefully Apple has the muscle to standardize all of these technologies into a functional (read: easy to use) bundle that all of the phone manufacturers will jump onto.