I don't 'blame' Skype for the lack of updates as Maemo is - and was even more so in 2007 - a fringe OS w/ few devices and users. I do however blame Nokia for not brokering a deal with them to get an update forf what must be one of the most common uses of the NIT - VoiP.
Yeah. And also blame them for not brokering World of Warcraft and Crysis. Seriously, if Skype does not feel compelled to release an update even for the basic fixes without brokering or somebody else footing the bill, then it tells a lot about the company and it's "relation" with the platform.
Personally, I don't think all that much will change with this 'opening'. They are basically saying 'here, we can't be bothered to make a usable UI for our application, so how about you do it for us for free'. It looks like they just want to get rid of support complexity. It has nothing to do with freedom as the key aspects of the system are likely to remain closed.
Yeah. And also blame them for not brokering World of Warcraft and Crysis. Seriously, if Skype does not feel compelled to release an update even for the basic fixes without brokering or somebody else footing the bill, then it tells a lot about the company and it's "relation" with the platform.
Uh...WoW and Crysis were not pre-installed apps and used as selling arguments for the devices.
Also, what it 'tells' about the company is that they don't see any incremental revenue in releasing a new version for a fringe OS.
Then again, I live in a world with shards of logic from time to time and not in yours
And what's the difference between that and how it is on the N810?
N810: must launch separate Skype client, and make all Skype calls through it, with even different UI from the SIP/gtalk client's UI. (GSM calls, of course, were unavailable.)
N900: Skype calls are handled through a single front-end along with other voip and GSM calls.
And what's the difference between that and how it is on the N810?
The level of integration with the rest of MAemo software.
On N810 its a standalone app.
On N900 - Skype contacts will show up in your addressbook also.
Good thing. Now we can integrate the proprietary part in our preferred clients as plugin instead of having to rely on a proprietary, closed source pile of xing. Good for portability, more freedom for users to decide over interface. Hopefully it won't become a Second Helix where nobody gives a rat because the only interesting part still closed source of RealPlayer are the proprietary codecs which may not be used by anything else than Helix or RealPlayer.
