[RELEASE] Skype (VoIP Program) Addon

I see in your default.py you have a sys.path.append to get the dist-packages directory added to the external python's sys.path. A proper fix in xbmc would prevent this hackery (on my installation dist-packages is in /usr/lib64/python2.6). So here is a patch for xbmc that would fix this properly. I'll be submitting it to the xbmc bug tracker for proper inclusion.

The patch is here http://trac.xbmc.org/ticket/10715. It's been updated.

About d-bus, that's good news, although I was hoping we could have a fix on the addon side so we don't need to add even more hacks. Are there any advantages over x11? Is it worth to use it? I was thinking maybe to include all the skype4py module in the addon so I can include the changes you mentioned.

Regarding video support, unfortunately my free time is very limited, so the development is not very fast, but it's moving forward. I also want to make a better gui and integrate the addon with xbmc better (maybe if possible to automatically pause a movie and pop up a answer/decline dialog when there is an incoming call).

I will test these in the weekend, as well as commit some new things, stay tuned...

anwmalos Wrote:Regarding video support, unfortunately my free time is very limited, so the development is not very fast, but it's moving forward. I also want to make a better gui and integrate the addon with xbmc better (maybe if possible to automatically pause a movie and pop up a answer/decline dialog when there is an incoming call).

Wishlist (quoting myself from this thread: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=81366)

extrospection Wrote:Wishlist for features (overlapping and on top of your project spec):

• Lots of configurable options (e.g. pause media on incoming call or not, mute if music is playing on incoming call or not, option to set "away" or "do not disturb" when watching movies/listening to music and so on)
• Video calling is a definite wishlist requirement. Showing both "remote" and local camera would be good
• Easy navigation of contact list and call setup: ideally should be possible to do without keyboard/mouse: an easy menu option from main XBMC window leading to a remote control operable contact list would be good
• leveraging XBMC OSD notification options? making it really easy to answer or ignore an incoming call
• optional: ring on incoming call using a different audio output than main xbmc / call setup: use case is where people have XBMC connected to a receiver or TV but are switched to a different source: if your script could ring on an external speaker, one could switch TV+receiver to XBMC source and answer the call?

Keep up the great work - I am keen to test this when you deem it ready for "public consumption" :-)

@extrospection

I think the options list is pretty resonable but right now, I am not interested in coding them at all . I want to finish with the main features and continue with the "nice to have" features later

About video support, you have to consider that skype4py gives just an interface to control the skype client so I don't think I will be very free to develop it as I wish. I think I will take a fair bit of hacks just to enable proper video support. Considering this I will try to have both cams, altough I think showing only the remote camera gives more tribute to sci-fi movies .

For the same reason, I think it will be a bit hard to control the way skype handles audio, right now I already have my soundcard connected to external amp/speakers so it's not much of a problem. I guess it would be more of a computer setup, like hdmi for xbmc and soundcard for skype, or 2 soundcards etc.

If you wish to try it out, right now it's pretty stable although not very feature rich and it's designed from the ground up to be operated only with a remote control, so if you don't mind compiling xbmc from source it's pretty safe to use it (place/answer audio calls)

New svn version, added some stuff like details window although I have to work on it a little more to make it prettier. Next up, I have to figure how to minimize the annoying skype windows that get in the way, as well as first experiments with video support. Stay tuned!

PS. I'm not very good with graphics. All the graphics are taken from the internet (public domain/open source only) and modified a little to work well on the interface. Anyone who has any artistic talents, you are free to make some new icons/improve on existing ones. If you do, try to keep the look & feel of the windows skype client (more of a guideline than a rule )

Regarding the annoying Skype windows, you can overcome that issue by starting fluxbox alongside XBMC and adding something like:

[app] (name=[Ss]kype)
[Workspace] {1}
[Hidden] {yes}
[Jump] {no}
[end]
[app] (name=) (class=) (role=CallWindowForm)
[Workspace] {1}
[Close] {yes}
[end]

to the ~/.fluxbox/apps file. This will move all Skype windows to a different workspace. To start fluxbox alongside XBMC I needed to hack the /usr/bin/runXBMC and the /usr/bin/startfluxbox files. I can post the hacks here if you want.

Thanks!

Although it's a cool hack, I don't think it's gonna work, mainly because I use gnome..... I also have to solve it via python in order for the addon on to be easily installed (someday....).

First attempt will be to find a way to manipulate gnome (considering I'm working on gnome) in order to have every window minimized (or sent to another workspace). If I find a way to do that, I will try to do the same with KDE and fluxbox.

edit: The easiest way to tackle this problem is to set the XBMC window to "always on top". Already implemented it via python for gnome, and I have a feeling that it is gonna be pretty easy to do it for kde & fluxbox

Dont make such a nice addon Only with linux support..





ps for Anwmalos: An ta katafereis tha einai gamato addon Synexise mi ta parathseis ( To exoume auto to kousouri emeis oi Ellines )

Although I don't know if it will work on any other platform, I will certainly try it later on. I already tried to make it work in windows (for about 5 minutes) and failed.

I have some other projects I am working on so progress is a bit slow, but I will continue working on it. I just came back from the stores with a brand new webcam to hang under my TV and hookup to the media center pc

It will be os independent if you make it to work with the api they provide

https://developer.skype.com/login

http://developer.skype.com/accessories


If not probably gonna fail or have to make diff versions for diff os

Good luck we count on you .... You may ask some Skilled skinner for help with nice overlay animated menus !!

keep up