SkypeforLinux Pooched on Update

[Qqmike]

For 14.04, looks like the Skype version 8.13.0.2 is not what we want => we can only hope that the next version will fix the OP problem.

Rod J: Rather than uninstall the repository for Skype you can easily lock or pin a package in Muon to prevent updates. I did this yesterday when I heard (on another forum) that the latest version of Skype was problematic. In Muon, find the package then right mouse click on it and choose "Lock package". Done.

Of course, if you don't do that, you will continually be notified that an update (at the moment 8.13.0.2) is available. Of course, you might want to be so notified, waiting for higher updates, hoping. This is part of the Zen of Skyping.

[Kevin2000]

Rather than uninstall the repository for Skype you can easily lock or pin a package in Muon to prevent updates. I did this yesterday when I heard (on another forum) that the latest version of Skype was problematic.

In Muon, find the package then right mouse click on it and choose "Lock package". Done.

I do this quite often for packages I don't want to update for various reasons. Later, when they have fixed the bug, it is a simple matter to unlock the package and then the update will be available.

Thanks for the tip Rod - that's useful to know. Two thing, first SkypeforLinux doesn't appear in my Muon listing - I presume that's because I installed the deb file directly instead of through Muon. Also, the whole Muon right click to lock thing doesn't seem to be available to me - I'm running 14.04 64 bit so maybe that's because of the older version.

[Kevin2000]

Not with Mumble. I haven't investigated Discord that much so I don't know if it supports PC-->phone calls.
However, I did use Ekiga, which features all forms of SIP communications.
http://www.ekiga.org/
For certain calls there is a charge. IIRC, calls within a country are free but calls to foreign countries have varying rates, from 1 penny/min to more. I still have about $10 in my Ekiga account but since I stopped using Ekiga when I got a cell phone with unlimited calls.

When I had a Google account I also had Google-Talk, which also allowed PC-->phone calls around the world. Rates the same as Eikga. But, when Google started doing evil I deleted my account (after I created and downloaded an mbox of all my calls and their list of my logins and passwords). Now I use StartPage or DuckDuckGo for searches. Or DogPile or one of several European search engines.

Thanks GreyGeek - I'm going to look into that. I have time though, my annual renewal of skype-to-phone just went through 2 months ago...

[Rod J]

... SkypeforLinux doesn't appear in my Muon listing - I presume that's because I installed the deb file directly instead of through Muon. Also, the whole Muon right click to lock thing doesn't seem to be available to me - I'm running 14.04 64 bit so maybe that's because of the older version.

Well, I don't know why you don't see SkypeforLinux as it appears here in Muon ... and I did the same as you, installed Skype from the downloaded .deb file (I used Qapt to install it). I'm also using Kubuntu 14.04 64 bit too.

This is what I see when I RIGHT mouse click on the skypeforlinux package in Muon (note, in this case because it's already locked, the option has changed to "Unlock package"):

[Rod J]

Reading through your earlier posts it may be you have removed the info Muon needs to "see" the package. I suggest reinstalling the .deb file again using QApt (right mouse click on the skypeforlinux-64.deb package in Dolphin and choose "Open with" -> QApt package installer). It shouldn't do any harm to do this ... your current settings and contacts should be preserved.

[Kevin2000]

Well, I don't know why you don't see SkypeforLinux as it appears here in Muon ... and I did the same as you, installed Skype from the downloaded .deb file (I used Qapt to install it). I'm also using Kubuntu 14.04 64 bit too.

This is what I see when I RIGHT mouse click on the skypeforlinux package in Muon (note, in this case because it's already locked, the option has changed to "Unlock package"):
[ATTACH=CONFIG]7348[/ATTACH]

Wow, all this time (going on 3 years) I've been managing my systems with only Muon Discover and Muon Update Center. Muon Package Manager is not installed by default on any of my 4 installs.

Thanks again Rod

[Rod J]

You're welcome!

i don't know why Muon Package Manager isn't installed by default, it's just about the first thing I install on a new install. Muon Discover is good for newbies to start with (except for the bugs in it).

While I can do most things update-wise in the terminal I still like using Muon Package Manager more. It's a pity that there are bugs in the newer versions of it that persist though (in Mint KDE 18.2, using same Muon version as in K16.04, you can only search one time then you have to close and reopen to search again ... right royal pain in the proverbial!).