Google Voice And Video Chat Comes To Linux!

Google finally enabled voice and video chat for the Linux users. To use it in Ubuntu, go to this page: http://www.google.com/chat/video click on "Install" and download the deb and install it.

Voice and video chat for Linux currently supports Ubuntu and other Debian-based Linux distributions, and RPM support will be coming soon.


Update: for non-Debian based Linux distributions, try this (thanks to rmull @ reddit):

32bit:

mkdir goog; cd goog
wget http://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-talkplugin_current_i386.deb
ar vx google-talkplugin_current_i386.deb
sudo tar xvzf data.tar.gz -C /

64bit:

mkdir goog; cd goog
wget http://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-talkplugin_current_amd64.deb
ar vx google-talkplugin_current_amd64.deb
sudo tar xvzf data.tar.gz -C /

Then restart Firefox.

Thanks to Ezequiel Sapoznicoff for the tip! Also thanks to hatemonger (we got this tip sent in twice :D)

Install Skype From The Official Ubuntu 10.04 Repositories (Skype Added To The Ubuntu 10.04 Partner Repository)

Skype has just been uploaded to the "partner" official Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx repository - correct me if I'm wrong but I think this is the first time Skype is uploaded to an official Ubuntu repository (other than Medibuntu obviously - which by the way doesn't include Skype anymore).

So to install Skype in Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx from the partner repository, go to System > Administration > Software Sources and on the "Other software" tab, enable (check the box next to it) the "http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu lucid partner" repository.

Then simply do:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install skype

You can also manually download Skype from Launchpad (but that's just like downloading it from Skype's website so it's advisable to enable the Lucid Partner repository so you'll receive updates).

Voice Chat - On It's Way To Facebook

Look out, Facebook users: Here comes voice chat. Vivox Voice Chat -- which is currently in private beta -- will allow Facebook users to chat with anyone on their friends list. Further, even non-Facebook users will be able to participate, as Vivox plans to offer free dial-in numbers that will allow anyone to call into an existing conversation, much as is possible today with call-in phone conferences.

Perhaps more importantly, according to Vivox co-founder Monty Sharma, the company is making its technology available to any third-party Facebook application developer, meaning that almost any app, from games to utilities, can have a voice component.

The company already has a strong position when it comes to in-app voice, providing solutions for SecondLife, Eve Online, Sony Online Entertainment, and Electronic Arts' upcoming Command & Conquer 4.

[via cnet, image credits: Vivox]