On Sun, 7 Dec 2014 21:34:19 +1000
Robert Peters <robertpeters9@...> wrote:

> On 6 December 2014 at 10:00, Robert Peters <robertpeters9@...> wrote:
> > Hi,
> > I'm running an install from exegnu-jessv-20141125 on a recent
> > ThinkPad.  Amarok when starting complains:
> >     xine was unable to initialize any audio drivers.
> > Haven't found anything satisfactory in searching, but the problem goes
> > back at least to KDE3.
> > BTW, VCL works okay, after I select the mixer.  Maybe it uses different drivers.
> > Robert
> 
> 
> Got alsa - xine - kmix - amarok working okay, by making sure that
> basic Trinity packages are installed.
> 
> Now trying to get sound in Skype.  A search showed that newer Skype
> requires PulseAudio and recommended installing pavucontrol.  Compiling
> from source required installing several dependencies.  Dbus strongly
> recommended, but it has broken dependencies.  Still no sound.  I
> wonder if it all requires systemd.
> In which case, are there any usable Skype alternatives?

Skype needs 32-bit audio packages, which may need separate installation if
you're running a 64-bit system.

Skype 4.3.0.37 does require either pulseaudio or the apulse emulator
( https://github.com/i-rinat/apulse ).  It doesn't require systemd (since it's
installable onto a Gentoo OpenRC-based system), but it may want to
put some files into /etc/dbus-1/system.d .  The full dependency list includes 
QT4 and some X11 libraries.

Alternatives to Skype for video chat on a desktop PC?  Ugh.  Google
Hangouts, if it works, or the WebRTC support that's gradually making
its way into some browsers.  Anyone got any better ideas?

E. Liddell