book

Skype Hacks

Name: Skype Hacks
Author: Andrew Sheppard
ISBN: 9780596101893

by Andrew Sheppard

December 2005

Beginner

342 pages

9h 17m

English

O'Reilly Media, Inc.

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A Note Regarding Supplemental Files
Credits
About the AuthorContributors and ReviewersAcknowledgments
Preface
Why Skype Hacks?How This Book Is OrganizedFinancial Exchange (FX) RateSkype Software VersionsConventions Used in This BookUsing Code ExamplesHow to Contact UsGot a Hack?Safari® Enabled
1. Start Using Skype
1.1. Hacks 1–12: Introduction1.1.1. What Is Skype?1. Make Your First Skype Call2. Chat Using Skype3. Set Up and Make a Conference Call4. Try SkypeOut, Risk Free5. Try SkypeIn, Risk Free6. Try Skype Voicemail, Risk Free7. Roam the World with Skype Zones8. Transfer a File Using Skype9. Make Toll-Free Calls10. Forward Calls11. Dial Like a Wizard1.12.1. Skype Dialing Wizard1.12.2. Skype Widget12. Troubleshoot Skype1.13.1. Online Information and Help1.13.2. Troubleshoot1.13.2.1. General.1.13.2.2. Windows.1.13.2.3. Linux.
2. Save Money with Skype
2.1. Hacks 13–24: Introduction13. Back-of-the-Envelope Estimate of Skype Savings2.2.1. Estimate Your Cost-of-Call Savings2.2.2. Estimate Your Fixed Charges and Taxes Savings2.2.3. Estimate Your Total Savings2.2.4. Making Adjustments and Decisions2.2.5. See Also14. Avoid Falling Foul of the Taxman2.3.1. U.S. Sales and Use Tax2.3.2. European VAT2.3.2.1. Claim back VAT.15. Avoid Problems Paying for Services2.4.1. Payment Methods2.4.2. Avoid Problems2.4.2.1. Verification.2.4.2.2. One, and only one, Skype account per payment account.2.4.2.3. Initial ₠10 limit.2.4.2.4. No transfer of credits.2.4.2.5. Payments from anonymous proxies will be rejected.2.4.2.6. Delays.2.4.2.7. Minimize money transfer fees.2.4.2.8. Exchange rate fees.2.4.2.9. VAT.16. Claim Your Money Back2.5.1. The No-Quibble Refund2.5.2. The Quibble Refund2.5.3. Requesting a Charge Back17. Avoid Higher SkypeOut Rates2.6.1. Higher-Rate Avoidance Strategies18. Avoid Additional Mobile Phone Charges19. Make Money with Skype2.8.1. Skype Points20. Make Money with the Skype API21. Avoid Forfeiting SkypeOut Credits22. Get the Best Deal for VoIP Telephony23. Round Call Time to Your Advantage2.12.1. Round Calls and Save Money24. Manage Bandwidth Costs2.13.1. Monitoring2.13.2. Metering2.13.2.1. Run Skype only when needed.2.13.2.2. Run Skype for only a limited part of the day.2.13.2.3. Ration bandwidth as part of a QoS plan.
3. Configure Skype
3.1. Hacks 25–42: Introduction3.1.1. Internet Connections3.1.2. Ways to Configure Skype3.1.3. Connecting Hardware to Your Computer3.1.4. Setting the Sound Devices Used by Skype3.1.5. Safely Cutting Your Phone Lines25. Test Your Sound System26. Test Call Sound Quality (echo123)3.3.1. Fix Sound-Quality Problems27. Choose and Configure a Microphone and Speakers28. Choose and Configure a USB Handset or Headset29. Choose and Configure a Bluetooth Headset3.6.1. See Also30. Configure Skype to Use Regular Phones31. Configure Skype on a Laptop3.8.1. Copy Your Skype Data3.8.2. Echo and Sound Quality3.8.3. Internet Connection3.8.4. Avoid Being a Super Node32. Configure Skype on a Pocket PC3.9.1. WiFi Versus Bluetooth3.9.2. Using Your Pocket PC as a Mobile Phone3.9.3. Hacking the Hack33. Test Your Internet Connection Bandwidth3.10.1. Skype’s Bandwidth Needs3.10.2. Measure Your Connection Bandwidth34. Test Your Internet Connection Latency3.11.1. Skype’s Latency Needs3.11.2. Measure Your Connection Latency35. Build a Skype Server3.12.1. Hacking the Hack36. Make Skype Work with Personal Firewalls3.13.1. See Also37. Set Up Multiple Phone Lines3.14.1. Multiple Machines3.14.2. Multiple Instances of Skype on the Same Machine3.14.3. Multiple Virtual Machines38. Test Your Connection for Skype Friendliness39. Eliminate Echo and Noise3.16.1. See Also40. Reset Your Skype Configuration3.17.1. Hacking the Hack41. Run Skype Based on Time of Day42. Schedule When Skype Runs the Mac Way
4. Tweak and Tune Skype
4.1. Hacks 43–51: Introduction43. Make Calls from Your Web Browser4.2.1. skype:4.2.2. callto://4.2.3. Skype Toolbar44. Accelerate Skype Using Your Keyboard4.3.1. Hacking the Hack45. Tweak Skype by Editing config.xml4.4.1. config.xml Deconstructed4.4.2. Editing config.xml4.4.3. Tweaks4.4.3.1. config.xml tweaks.4.4.3.2. shared.xml tweaks.4.4.4. See Also46. Run Skype from the Command Line4.5.1. Windows4.5.2. Linux47. Display the Technical Details of a Call48. Remove Unused Names from the Login List49. Add Fast-Dial Shortcuts to Your Menu or Desktop4.8.1. Menu Shortcuts4.8.2. Desktop Shortcuts50. Fix Windows Wireless4.9.1. See Also51. Fix Badly Behaving Routers4.10.1. See Also
5. Skype at Work
5.1. Hacks 52–59: Introduction52. Automate Skype Installation5.2.1. Hacking the Hack5.2.2. See Also53. Set Up a Toll-Free Number for SkypeIn54. Set Up a Call Center5.4.1. Hacking the Hack55. Integrate Skype with Microsoft Office5.5.1. Skype Toolbar for Outlook5.5.2. Importing Outlook Contacts5.5.3. Inserting callto:// and skype: Links in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Documents5.5.3.1. Word.5.5.3.2. Excel.5.5.3.3. PowerPoint.5.5.4. Adding a Skype Me Button to a Web Page or to Your Outlook Email Signature5.5.5. See Also56. Record and Archive Conversations5.6.1. Hacking the Hack57. Transfer Files Among Diverse Machines5.7.1. See Also58. Disable Skype File Transfer5.8.1. Hacking the Hack59. Improve Service Quality5.9.1. Hacking the Hack
6. Mobile Skype
6.1. Hacks 60–64: Introduction60. Make Cheap Long-Distance or International Calls from Your Mobile Phone6.2.1. Hacking the Hack6.2.2. See Also61. Communicate Using Skype, Even When Bandwidth Is Low6.3.1. Hacking the Hack62. Give Your Mobile Phone an International Dial-In Number6.4.1. See Also63. Run Skype from a USB Memory Stick6.5.1. Loading Skype onto a USB Stick6.5.2. Installing, Configuring, and Running Skype6.5.3. Cleaning Up6.5.4. See Also64. Make Free Calls While on the Move6.6.1. Skype WiFi Program6.6.2. Hotspots6.6.3. Use Someone Else’s Machine6.6.4. Carry Skype with You
7. Skype Fun and Play
7.1. Hacks 65–69: Introduction65. Fun with Ringtones7.2.1. Use Windows Recorder7.2.2. Find Free .wav Files to Use as Skype Ringtones7.2.3. Convert Ringtones from Other Formats to .wav66. Band Together with Skype67. Stop Incoming Calls from Interrupting Game Play7.4.1. See Also68. Learn to Speak a Foreign Language69. Build Skype Communities7.6.1. Hacking the Hack

8. Skype Chat and Voicemail
8.1. Hacks 70–73: Introduction70. Log Chat Sessions Outside of Skype71. Automatically Forward Voicemail72. Listen to Voicemail Using a USB Handset8.4.1. Hacking the Hack73. Run Commands Remotely Using Chat
9. Security and Privacy
9.1. Hacks 74–78: Introduction74. Manage Your Skype Privacy Settings75. Scan Files Received via Skype for Viruses9.3.1. Hacking the Hack9.3.1.1. Windows (VBScript, AVG Free Edition).9.3.1.2. Linux (Python, Clam AntiVirus).9.3.1.3. Mac OS X (AppleScript, Clam AntiVirus).76. Manage (or Delete) Your Skype Public Profile9.4.1. Manage Your Profile9.4.2. Delete Your Profile9.4.3. Hacking the Hack (Windows Only)77. Avoid Skype “Spammers”9.5.1. Hacking the Hack (Windows Only)9.5.2. See Also78. Choose the Right Username to Avoid Being Harassed9.6.1. See Also
10. Quirks, Gotchas, and Workarounds
10.1. Hacks 79–85: Introduction79. Avoid Problems with Interactive Telephone Services80. Find a Fax Alternative10.3.1. Keep Your Fax Machine10.3.2. Use Skype File Transfer Instead10.3.3. Online Fax Services10.3.4. Consider Alternative VoIP Providers81. Workarounds for 911 Emergency Service10.4.1. 911—You May Have It by Default10.4.2. Set Up a “911-like” Service10.4.3. Test Your Emergency Phone Number10.4.4. Use a Mobile Phone As a Backup10.4.5. Location82. Workarounds for 411 Directory Assistance83. Workarounds for Home Alarm System Monitoring84. Transfer Folders, Not Just Individual Files10.7.1. Transferring Folders Among Windows Machines10.7.2. Transferring Folders Among Linux Machines10.7.3. Transferring Folders Among Mac OS X Machines10.7.4. Transferring Folders Among Diverse Machines85. Dial with More Than Just Digits10.8.1. Hacking the Hack
11. Skype Add-Ons and Tools
11.1. Hacks 86–90: Introduction11.1.1. Skype Add-Ons11.1.1.1. Hardware add-ons.11.1.1.2. Software add-ons.11.1.2. Software Add-On Showcase86. Control Skype Using Spoken Commands11.2.1. Hacking the Hack87. Add Video Conferencing to Skype11.3.1. Festoon11.3.2. Spontania Video4IM11.3.3. Side-by-Side Comparison11.3.4. In the Author’s Opinion88. Show Your Online Status in a Web Page11.4.1. Hacking the Hack89. Send Skype Chat Directly from Your Browser11.5.1. Hacking the Hack90. Manage Add-On Access Control11.6.1. Understand Add-On Access Control11.6.1.1. Windows and Mac OS X.11.6.1.2. Linux.11.6.2. Manage Add-On Access Control11.6.2.1. Windows.11.6.2.2. Linux and Mac OS X.
12. Automate Skype
12.1. Hacks 91–100: Introduction12.1.1. The Skype API12.1.2. Windows Scripting12.1.3. Linux Scripting12.1.4. Mac OS X Scripting91. Hot-Switch Among Sound Devices12.2.1. Windows12.2.1.1. Script Skype’s GUI.12.2.1.2. Script Skype’s API.12.2.2. Linux12.2.3. Mac OS X12.2.3.1. Script Skype’s GUI.12.2.3.2. Script Skype’s API.92. Automate Chat93. Automate Your Interactions with Telephone Systems94. Schedule Calls and Chat Using iCal on the Mac12.5.1. Hacking the Hack95. Send Email and SMS Notification of New Voicemail12.6.1. Windows12.6.2. Mac OS X96. Convert Your Friends List to Fast-Dial Shortcuts97. Make Chat Talk Out Loud12.8.1. See Also98. Erase a Skype User Account12.9.1. erase_profile_from_network.vbs.12.9.2. erase_vm_history.vbs.12.9.3. erase_chat_history.vbs.12.9.4. erase_call_history.vbs.12.9.5. erase_folders_and_files.vbs.99. Spy on Skype API Messages12.10.1. Windows12.10.2. Linux100. Disable the Skype API12.11.1. Hacking the Hack
About the Author
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Copyright

Content preview from Skype Hacks

Skype Hacks

Andrew Sheppard

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Skype Hacks

by Andrew Sheppard