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services:skype:skype [2011/05/30 11:48]
marina created
services:skype:skype [2011/05/31 13:46] (current)
aprain
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 ====== Skype ====== ====== Skype ======
-==== What's that? ====+===== What's that? =====
  
-Skype (http://​www.skype.com) is a software that lets you make phone calls through Internet with your SISSA linux workstation. It is gaining more and more popularity due to its good voice quality and the fact it is available for many platforms (Windows, Linux, MacOS). It allows you, once you have bought some credit, to call landline phones all over the world at very cheap rate+Skype (http://​www.skype.com) is a software that lets you make phone calls through Internet with your SISSA linux workstation. It is gaining more and more popularity due to its good voice quality and the fact it is available for many platforms (Windows, Linux, MacOS). It allows you, once you have bought some credit, to call landline phones all over the world at very cheap rates
 \\ \\
 What is even more interesting is that you can call another skype user that is online completely for free, **without having to buy any credit**. And it lets you have conference calls with up to 5 people. This last feature makes it particularly interesting for scientific purposes, as it let you organize conference calls all over the world for free. What is even more interesting is that you can call another skype user that is online completely for free, **without having to buy any credit**. And it lets you have conference calls with up to 5 people. This last feature makes it particularly interesting for scientific purposes, as it let you organize conference calls all over the world for free.
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-==== OK, nice, how can I use it? ====+===== How can I use it? =====
  
-On Linux SISSA workstations you can find it installed, in the menu **Applications** --> **Internet**. \\ +On Linux SISSA workstations you can find it installed. \\ 
-To use it you need to have an account on skype, that you can open for free, and obviously to know the skype contacts/username ​of your correspondents. Let's see step by step procedure+To use it you need to have an account on skype, that you can open for free, and obviously to know the skype contacts/usernames ​of your correspondents. Let's see the procedure ​step by step. 
 \\ \\
  
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-b) In the //End User Licenze ​Agreement// window: click on **Accept**.\\+b) In the //End User License ​Agreement// window: click on **Accept**.\\
 {{:​services:​skype:​sk2.jpg|Click on Accept../}} {{:​services:​skype:​sk2.jpg|Click on Accept../}}
 \\ \\
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 d) If you have to create your Skype Account: d) If you have to create your Skype Account:
-you need to choose ​an skype name that is easy to associate with youthat is at least 6 characters long and doesn'​t contain any space. You need to choose also a skype password. ​Usually ​it is not good idea to have the same password ​everywhere. Keep in mind that in case you lose it, you can ask it to be mailed to you. Another thing to note is that you won't be able to continue unless you accept the end user license agreement and terms of service.\\+You need to choose ​skype name that is easy to associate with you that is at least 6 characters long and doesn'​t contain any spaces. You need to choose also a skype password. ​Remember that it is not good practice ​to have the same password ​for different online services. Keep in mind that in case you lose your password, you can ask for it to be mailed to you. Another thing to note is that you won't be able to continue unless you accept the end user license agreement and terms of service.\\
 In the //Create a new Skype Account// window: In the //Create a new Skype Account// window:
   * **1)** insert your //**full name **// in the //Full Name// field;   * **1)** insert your //**full name **// in the //Full Name// field;
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   * **3)** insert your //**skype name**// in the //Choose Skype Name// field;   * **3)** insert your //**skype name**// in the //Choose Skype Name// field;
   * **4)** insert your //**skype password**//​ in the //​Password//​ field;   * **4)** insert your //**skype password**//​ in the //​Password//​ field;
-  * **5)** insert ​againg ​your //**skype password**//​ in the //Verify Password// field;+  * **5)** insert ​again your //**skype password**//​ in the //Verify Password// field;
   * **6)** put a check in the //Yes, I have read and I accept...// box;   * **6)** put a check in the //Yes, I have read and I accept...// box;
   * **7)** then click on **Sign up**.   * **7)** then click on **Sign up**.
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 \\ \\
-f) If you will be lucky, in the //Create a new Skype Account// window, you will be able to read +f) If you are lucky, in the //Create a new Skype Account// window, you will see 
-the message " **Congratulations! ** " ​you can click on **Close**.\\+the message " **Congratulations! ** " ​and you will then be able to click **Close**.\\
  
-**If you will not be lucky,** Skype inform ​you that //**skype name**// you choose is already ​used+**If you are not lucky,** Skype informs ​you that the //**skype name**// you choose is already ​in use by another user
-and **1a)** it will suggest some //skype names//... you can choose one of these checking the corresponding box...\\+and **1a)** it will suggest some alternative ​//skype names//​. ​You can choose one of the alternatives by checking the corresponding box...\\
 OR\\ OR\\
-**1b)** you can try with another ​onechecking the //Other// box and then **2b)** filling the //Other// field. ​ \\ +**1b)** you can try a different ​one of your choice by checking the //Other// box and then **2b)** filling the //Other// field. ​ \\ 
-**3)** ​Anyway at the end, you have to click on **Try Again.**\\ +**3)** ​At the end, you will have to click on **Try Again.**\\ 
-When in the //Create a new Skype Account// window, you will be able to read +When in the //Create a new Skype Account// window 
-the message " **Congratulations! ** " , you can click on **Close**.\\+the message " **Congratulations! ** " ​appears, you can click on **Close**.\\
 {{:​services:​skype:​sk7.jpg|Choose carefully your skype name...}} {{:​services:​skype:​sk7.jpg|Choose carefully your skype name...}}
 \\ \\
 \\ \\
  
-==== g) Test sound devices ====+===== g) Test sound devices ​=====
  
 Now a new skype window will appear. Click on the** green phone icon** to have a test call.\\ Now a new skype window will appear. Click on the** green phone icon** to have a test call.\\
-Then during the test, it will appear ​a new window.\\ +Then during the test, a new window ​will appear.\\ 
-You have to talk and to hear a voice transmission,​\\ +Talk to hear a voice transmission,​\\ 
-so your microphone and speakers ​have to be available.\\+your microphone and speakers ​must be working and enabled.\\
 {{:​services:​skype:​sk9-10.jpg|Test a skype call...}} {{:​services:​skype:​sk9-10.jpg|Test a skype call...}}
  
-=== Troubleshooting ===+==== Troubleshooting ​====
  
 If the test fails, or worse if you are unable to perform it, here it is a quick checklist: If the test fails, or worse if you are unable to perform it, here it is a quick checklist:
-  * **1)** check the microphone and headphones ​connection. Usually the microphone jack is pink and the headphone jack is green or they have some meaningful symbols printed on. They must match the connectors on your pc. +  * **1)** check the microphone and headphone ​connection. Usually the microphone jack is pink and the headphone jack is green or they have some meaningful symbols printed on them. They must match the connectors on your pc. 
-  * **2)** check the mixer volume settings: ​to hear something the master and PCM volumes must be unmuted and to a reasonable volume, to be able to record you need to check the microphone isn't muted, and sometimes the volume of a " capture " channel must be raised. +  * **2)** check the mixer volume settings: ​To hear something the master and PCM volumes must be unmuted and set to a reasonable volume. To be able to record you need to check that the microphone isn't mutedsometimes the volume of a " capture " channel must be raised. 
-  * **3)** a problem may occur if two programs try to access the sound hardware simultaneously. Please stop any software which play sounds and close any web page that uses the Flash plugin.]+  * **3)** a problem may occur if two programs try to access the sound hardware simultaneously. Please stop any software which plays sounds and close any web page that uses the Flash plugin.
  
-**Please note**: **<color Maroon >some webcam models are not supported by the actual version of SISSA linux workstation.</​color>​**+**Please note**: **<color Maroon >some webcam models are not supported by the actual version of your SISSA linux workstation.</​color>​**
  
-==== Add a new contact ====+===== Add a new contact ​=====
 a) To add a new contact, in the main skype window, select the **green icon** at the bottom of the window.\\ a) To add a new contact, in the main skype window, select the **green icon** at the bottom of the window.\\
 {{:​services:​skype:​sk18.jpg|Select the add contact icon...}} {{:​services:​skype:​sk18.jpg|Select the add contact icon...}}
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-==== Call a skype contact ====+===== Call a Skype contact ​=====
  
-a) In the main skype window, select a contact/​username,​ then click on the **green phone icon**+a) In the main Skype window, select a contact/​username,​ then click on the **green phone icon**
 to call.\\ to call.\\
 {{:​services:​skype:​sk15.jpg|The green phone icon is on the right of the selected contact section...}} {{:​services:​skype:​sk15.jpg|The green phone icon is on the right of the selected contact section...}}
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 \\ \\
 \\ \\
-c) In the //Call with ...// window: the message **1)** " **Call Duration:​...** " will inform you when +c) In the //Call with ...// window: ​\\ 
-your call is active. \\+the message **1)** " **Call Duration:​...** " will inform you when your call is active. \\
 To hang up the call, **2)** click on the **red phone icon**.\\ To hang up the call, **2)** click on the **red phone icon**.\\
 {{:​services:​skype:​sk17.jpg|To quit your call, you can click on the red phone icon too.}} {{:​services:​skype:​sk17.jpg|To quit your call, you can click on the red phone icon too.}}
  
  
-==== Close skype program & info ==== +===== Close Skype program & info ===== 
-To close skype program:\\ +To close Skype:\\ 
-in the main skype window, in the bottom:+in the main Skype window ​at the bottom:
   *  **1)** select the cyan icon with a white " **S** " inside;   *  **1)** select the cyan icon with a white " **S** " inside;
   * **2)** then click on **Quit**.\\   * **2)** then click on **Quit**.\\
-We suggest to check the content of this new menu, because it can help you for solve troubleshooting and set correctly other options.\\+We suggest to check the content of this new menu, because it can help you in troubleshooting and for correctly ​setting ​other options.\\
 {{:​services:​skype:​sk19.jpg|Explore the content of this menu.}} {{:​services:​skype:​sk19.jpg|Explore the content of this menu.}}
  
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-==== I want skype on my laptop ====+===== I want skype on my laptop ​=====
  
 You can install by yourself skype on your laptop. Simply go to http://​www.skype.com/​download/​ and choose the right version for your operating system. You can install by yourself skype on your laptop. Simply go to http://​www.skype.com/​download/​ and choose the right version for your operating system.
- +For video calling you need a webcam on your laptop.
-The Windows version and the MacOs version have usually more features than the Linux version, such as video calling. To do this you need to have a webcam on your laptop.+
  
 One thing must be kept in mind. Skype uses a peer to peer protocol, that means that sometimes you can find yourself acting as a server for other people on the internet. So it is critical to keep the software up to date, particularly for the windows version of the software. One thing must be kept in mind. Skype uses a peer to peer protocol, that means that sometimes you can find yourself acting as a server for other people on the internet. So it is critical to keep the software up to date, particularly for the windows version of the software.