Skype plugin for Apple TV released

Remember that Skype plugin being written to run natively on the Apple TV? It's out today, and get it while the gettin's good because we aren't expecting any of these hacks to continue working after the take 2 update gets pushed out in the near future. Let us know how it is, would you?

[ByronGman @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:21PM]

Okay this has nothing to do with anything, but has anyone else noticed the reply button on engadget is screwed up?

When I click it in firefox it half loads the page again, when I click it in IE I get dumped back at the homepage.

Sorry, this is totally off the topic but I don't know where else to post this stuff. And yes I know a bunch of smartasses are going to reply to this comment....

[Towncivilian @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:32PM]

Works fine here. Press the date & time button on the post you wish to reply to and then press reply.

[ByronGman @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:39PM]

Ah beautiful!

Thanks!

I just have no idea why the original way stopped working... :-/

[Bloobie @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:11PM]

Yes, it is screwed up and has been for days. Clicking on Reply highlights that entire bar where the Reply is, causing you to be redirected to the main page. Having to now click on the Date/Time of the post is rather unintuitive considering that there's a Reply button there.

[michael @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:19PM]

I agree. I use BOTH IE7 and Opera. Pressing reply under a comment usually allows you to place a comment right under it.

But pressing Reply in IE7, leads you to the homepage.

Pressing reply in Opera leads you to an ad page on Engadget!

I liked the tip to reply by the date of the post, but I think a reply button, should really be replying to the person, instead of going to a whole different page.

[DJ TJ @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:46PM]

You do realize that if it isn't working, no one will be able to tell you so?

[samnesral @ Feb 2nd 2008 10:24PM]

yeah it doesn't work the original way on firefox here either.

[Bender Bending Rodriguez @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:56PM]

Like this?

[Steffen Jobbs @ Feb 2nd 2008 4:58PM]

Press reply? I didn't see anywhere to press reply.

[slug @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:52PM]

Ye same with me! Everytime i press it, i get chucked back to the engadget home page. Im using safari.

[DJ douchebag @ Feb 2nd 2008 1:55PM]

spammer: [e-mail]

[x20mar @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:41PM]

I'm sorry but can get block this user. He/She only joined today and has spammed seven blogs.

Don't believe me then check out the profile

[Chris Aubeck @ Feb 2nd 2008 3:54PM]

"Sshh, dear, don't cause a fuss. I'll have your spam. I love it. I'm having spam spam spam spam spam spam spam beaked beans spam spam spam and spam!"

- Monty Python

[DJ Peter Parker(chief exec.marketing-promotions) @ Feb 2nd 2008 5:35PM]

Im Definately Not a Spammer Dude...Im just getting out the message.

[KEROLiUKAS @ Feb 2nd 2008 6:28PM]

It's effing spam...getting 'the word out' is called spam when you do it the way you do it. looser get alife.

[Flashpoint @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:11PM]

So all television in America will be digitized soon after 2009 and now Skype is being offered on everything from Apple TV to PSP so they can digitize all phone conversations...

Verizon has offered me FIOS for around $5 less per month than I pay for DSL with phone service.

Is anyone else worried that digitized communications are a trap put out their by Big Brother to monitor every damn thing we do?

[Bloobie @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:12PM]

No, it's just you.

[Dirkus @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:46PM]

I can assure you we are not monitoring your every move, Mr. Flashpoint. That would be ridiculous, invasive, and a breach of your privacy. The Government would never do something like that to a citizen, only to terrorists, subversives, and those who speak out against The American Way.

By the way, you have some ketchup on your shirt just there. No, the other side.

[darkstar @ Feb 2nd 2008 9:15PM]

i work for a cell phone company. and i can tell you... your conversations can easily be monitored. believe me, i hear a lot of interesting conversations at night :)
any ways, for the feds, all they have to do is log into our office and start doing their thing.
why would you worry? you're not doing anything...illegal are you???

[Bobs @ Feb 2nd 2008 11:19PM]

Why does your bathroom have a lock? you arent doing anything illegal in there are you?

[gabe nowak @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:30PM]

okay - when will the skype for iPhone be ready - I'm anxious for that app. Especially for someone that is using the iPhone in Canada. There must be millions of iPhone users in Canada as I was just on a flight and the airline attendant told me she has one as well. Plus lots of other people I saw in Toronto that same day.

[x20mar @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:38PM]

Well ignoring the whole "does my reply button work" can anyone tell me if this supports webcams?

[Tavis Veighey @ Feb 2nd 2008 3:09PM]

Click the "!" button and a report will be sent.
It is more effective than pressing the "-" button.

[JuggleNuts @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:51PM]

... and I still have zero desire to buy it.

[snitch @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:57PM]

whey the heck will anyone want skype on a apple TV???? why???

[w00t @ Feb 2nd 2008 3:03PM]

Someone who want's to chat/phone in their living room I guess. Perhaps someone who doesn't have a computer?

Not quite sure basically :)

[JayMonster @ Feb 4th 2008 8:51AM]

I still haven't figured out who wants an AppleTV and why. As for Skype... I guess those fanboys that jumped and bought it before thinking could use something (like adding Skype) to try and justify (to themselves) why they bought the silly thing in the first place.

The rub of course being that Apple will soon squash it anyway with the "take 2" update.

Just wondering, since this will "unlock" new "functionality" (or it can be argued that it potentially finally gives it some functionality), you think that Apple will be "obligated" (because of "Sarbox restrictions of course) to soak these Gen-1 users out of $20 or so? (Yes, I realize they did not announce it "at the time" but what with all those Touch users being forced to kick in for their "upgrade" well who knows what will evetually happen when the update is finally ready to roll)

[Tavis Veighey @ Feb 2nd 2008 3:10PM]

Well this went to the wrong spot!

[michael @ Feb 2nd 2008 3:11PM]

Can we see Skype coming over to Windows Media Center?

Because that would really rock. I still don't think Apple TV is in leagues comparable with WMC.

[dean @ Feb 2nd 2008 3:23PM]

I have to agree with Snitch. When you have Wifi and cordless Skype handsets....there's no point to this.

[Tim @ Feb 2nd 2008 3:29PM]

While i understand that skype is amazing technology, and one hell of a bargain, I cannot wrap my head around the idea of adding it to seemingly unrelated devices. I just bought a toaster with an lcd display, will there soon be a skype app for that? My alarm clock has a powered usb port, can i skype with it? how about the lg refrigerators w/ tv's in them. will i be able to call my buddy from my fridge soon?

bottom line, in my mind, is there are plenty of ways to do crazy stuff w/ computers and technology. it would be absolutely possible to add skype to the table saw that my dad just bought, but should I? no.

[Byzil Mystwing @ Feb 2nd 2008 8:48PM]

"Yeah, man, listen, can I call you back in a sec from my skype toaster? I want to make myself a sandwich and the kitchen is out of range of my skype lazy-boy"

[jonathan @ Feb 2nd 2008 3:47PM]

want to get an apple tv but it cost $450 AUD in Australia, that is almost $400 USD .........

[Jason @ Feb 2nd 2008 4:15PM]

the basic hacks.. like getting ssh will never be stopped unless they encrypt the hard drive which i doubt they would ever do. if they wanted to do that, it would have been done on ipods a long time ago, and more importantly so the iphone. the iphone is hard to hack since you can't just mount the flash on your computer, like you can with the appletv.

[ssuk @ Feb 3rd 2008 4:25PM]

Well, they do. They don't encrypt the whole hard drive, because that would mean the device would have to decrypt music/video files, taking up unnecessary processor usage. However, they DO encrypt system files. This stops people accessing configuration files which may be tampered with by malicious programs to destroy the system's integrity.
If the Apple TV's firmware is built on a BSD core, then all system files should be locked when running, however Apple purposefully lock-out users from the firmware so they can sell applications and stop people doing what they want with the product. If their intentions are for the better or for worse, I can't say, but it's common practise amongst all kinds of electronics.
Regardless of the above, someone HAS managed to hack the Apple TV's firmware and been able to develop a native application for it (like how people have been making native applications for the iPhone without the SDK being released). Encrypting the whole hard drive would just speed this process up because when someone sends a movie to the Apple TV via wireless, those packets can be intercepted or taken from the hard drive later, using the original source file and the encrypted file they can work on how it was encrypted and then decrypt it, they then have the method to decrypt the rest of the files on the HDD.
In closing; nothing is safe for long. Encryption can be broken and will be broken if people so wish.

[Jason @ Feb 2nd 2008 4:15PM]

the basic hacks.. like getting ssh will never be stopped unless they encrypt the hard drive which i doubt they would ever do. if they wanted to do that, it would have been done on ipods a long time ago, and more importantly so the iphone. the iphone is hard to hack since you can't just mount the flash on your computer, like you can with the appletv.

[Chris Aubeck @ Feb 2nd 2008 5:56PM]

You dephynitly come across as one.

[Chris Aubeck @ Feb 2nd 2008 5:59PM]

That was for DJ Spam Master Peter Parker(chief exec./marketing-promotions) above.

"Reply" function evidently not working properly yet...

[Kit @ Feb 2nd 2008 7:10PM]

Why people want skype on Apple TV?

I will not happy to see pop-ups saying "Hey, what r u doing?" while I'm watching movies...

[zanlok @ Feb 3rd 2008 1:41PM]

yet another product that I would never use