Skype4MP with video (3 Viewers)

[fripsy]

Hi Guys,

I'm still watching this thread despite the lack of free time I have...

I support the decission of offbyone to focus on MP2, but I took a quick peek at the Skype-URI and maybe there is a less elegant way to create a temporarely solution for MP1 users, if I would have the time I would look further into it.
Maybe another coder could take a look at it...

As for myself, my htpc died on me serveral weeks ago and still haven't got the time to rebuid it...

 

[dir]

Perhaps, as its now been 3 years since the first post, the first post is updated or completely re-written, as it implies that there is active development, that a lot of features are going to be coming, etc. But unless all interested parties read 20 pages of the thread, its not clear that its extremely unlikely that anything like the features described will be forthcoming.

 

[Olli123]

Hi.

One question:
Is there ANY working Skype plugin for MP 1.4 around?

I'm willing to donate 10€ for a working Skype integration within my MP.

Maybe if other guys do so also, its easier to spend time in the development.....

 

[Lyfesaver74]

I would throw a couple hundred at development. And have offered as much many times. The problem is nobody has the time to do it.

 

[offbyone]

Had some time during my vacation and checked the latest news about how to go ahead when implementing a Skype Plugin for MediaPortal.
I only found bad news Since MS took over Skype I had high hopes for the SkypeKit.Net Api. But they are now announcing that:
a) the oldest API (Desktop API) will be killed by the end of 2013
b) the newer SkypeKit won't be supported anymore
They are now pushing yet again another API called SkypeUri - which is still very incomplete and can only be used currently to start Skype Calls - meaning the Skype Desktop Client has to be installed and the integration with MP would be minimal
I did really like the SkypeKit which allowed almost all aspects of Skype to be controlled from your own application and didn't require any installed Skype Desktop Client. But if this is now also going to be killed I don`t see any reason to throw effort into it
Sounds like there is no good 3rd party integration wanted by MS

 

[fripsy]

I guess the only thing left to do is to hack into the Skype network and create our own client...

 

[mm1352000]

I guess the only thing left to do is to hack into the Skype network and create our own client...

A little reading:
http://www.oklabs.net/skype-reverse-engineering-the-long-journey/

Basically, Skype and the Skype protocol are very strongly protected from reverse engineering and analysis by many mechanisms... not to mention that doing such a thing is explicitly against the terms and conditions.

 

[Lyfesaver74]

LOL, mm... he was just kidding =) MP Plugin Devs barely have had time to research it as a possibility as is. They DEFINITELY don't have time to reverse engineer anything =) But valid points... so nobody try it!!!! =)

And Offbyone, thx for looking into this for us. It has been a pip dream of mine for a long time to have skype fully integrated with MP =)

 

[fripsy]

Just had this crazy idea...
We almost all have a home PC along with our HTPC, connected on a router.
If someone would create some sort of "Skype Middleware" on the home PC, sending audio, video, data over TCP/IP on demand, a MP-plugin could connect to that, making the MP-plugin a lot simpler and much more stable.
The PC running the "Middleware" must have Skype installed and running.
The "Middleware" can be maintained seperately from the MP-plugin and updated if Skype updates. The "Middleware" application would require a bit of hacking into the Windows system to get to the Skype video, this can be done as I already proved (Win7 only !!!).
The webcam located on the HTPC can be streamed with something like YawCam for instance.

So all we need: a coder with time on his/her hands!

EDIT: Just re-read the post by offbyone, desktop api support will end at the end of this year... had to think of this 2 years ago...

Cheers.

 

[Arturas1976]

May be it is time to make some other direction - Google talk, AIM integration?