BorrisFeb 28, 2025
Well, it looks like Skype is about to shove off. It hasn't played any kind of important roll in my life since before Microsoft bought it.
I still have the Skype 0.97 beta install I downloaded in 2003, though, for what it's worth.
Show threadBorris

Speaking of that:

Who remembers when the Skype echo test used to sound like this, before it was replaced by what I think still exists? Each supported language has it's own localized recording, but I didn't capture those.

Feb 28, 2025 at 3:04pmWeb
Show threadBorrisFeb 28, 2025
Inspired by Skype was this somewhat iconic thing I used on my internet radio show, Things and Stuff, especially in 2005 and 2006.
Show threadBorrisFeb 28, 2025
Oh, and then there's this Skype echo test, which I completely forgot about.
Show threadJames ScholesFeb 28, 2025
@BorrisInABox Even the dings sound angrier.
Show threadWil James🍻Feb 28, 2025
@jscholes @BorrisInABox Sounds like the red river was flowing.
Show threadHamish MackenzieFeb 28, 2025
@BorrisInABox You can't beat a nice South African accent for sounding angry :-) even your new American overlord still has a touch of it :-)
Show threadSimon JaegerFeb 28, 2025
@BorrisInABox Seems like a good time to dig this stupid thing out of the virtual clutter pile.
Show threadLeoFeb 28, 2025
@simon @BorrisInABox What a way to say farewell to the platform.
Show threadXander FwoofMar 1, 2025
@BorrisInABox that's the first one i heard, then the now one.
Show threadMartinMar 1, 2025
@dodecahedron @BorrisInABox I've never heard any of these. The one I heard had a british accent and spoke English goodly.
Show threadBorrisMar 1, 2025
@dodecahedron Yeah, the one before that one went away in March or April 2005, so you wouldn’t have heard that one live.
Show threadKara GoldfinchMar 1, 2025
@dodecahedron @BorrisInABox Same here. Pretty sure I started using Skype in 2004 but didn't know about the test call right away.
Show threadMike BreedloveFeb 28, 2025
@BorrisInABox Ha. I remember this series of crashes from an old sesame street tape I used to have of all things. Love that little metalic thing falling at the end
Show threadBorrisFeb 28, 2025
@stirlock Sesame Street and Disney both used it pretty extensively, as did ZBS foundation. Almost no one used the stereo version, though.
Show threadZach BennouiFeb 28, 2025
@BorrisInABox Side note but are those TAS archives still online anywhere? I remember calling into the show like once in 2014 and generally being an annoying person.
Show threadBorrisFeb 28, 2025
@ZBennoui I have a domain for it, and keep thinking about making a proper archive page, but for now, there is just a dropbox folder.
Show threadZach BennouiFeb 28, 2025
@BorrisInABox Ah I see. If you can, I honestly think it would be a great idea to host it somewhere. I personally really enjoyed the show and think more people should be able to see and appreciate it.
Show threadStefen HudsonFeb 28, 2025
@BorrisInABox Ah. so that's where that part came from. Now I know. Neat.
Show threadBoogiechild😊Mar 1, 2025
@BorrisInABox I liked skype.
Show threadBorrisMar 1, 2025
@boogiechild Well, you have two months and four days to continue liking it.
Show threadBoogiechild😊Mar 1, 2025
@BorrisInABox Thanks for letting me know.
Show threadTom GrantFeb 28, 2025
@BorrisInABox I don't remember that version of the skype hang up sound, the one I remember was more underwater sounding lol
Show threadBorrisFeb 28, 2025
@TomGrant91 Yep, they changed it in 2005.
Show threadTom GrantFeb 28, 2025
@BorrisInABox Yeah that's it! I loved the catchy ringtone though!
Show threadTom GrantFeb 28, 2025
@BorrisInABox Wish I'd kept an archive of all the skype sounds!
Show threadAndy (Old Account)Feb 28, 2025
@BorrisInABox You should save all of this. Put it up somewhere public. :(
Show threadJamminJerryFeb 28, 2025
@BorrisInABox holy cow! I don't think I ever heard that recording, or that hang up sound. maybe I didn't use it until later.
Show threadBorrisFeb 28, 2025
@JamminJerry I don't remember exactly when it was changed to the modern sound, but this was recorded in October 2004. I have a recording of the modern one from April 2005. So must be around then.
Show threadJamminJerryFeb 28, 2025
@BorrisInABox I honestly don't even remember when I started using skype, but yep, it had to be after 2005.
Show threadBorrisFeb 28, 2025
@JamminJerry I started using it in September 2003, according to the date of an installer I have here.
Show threadJames HFeb 28, 2025
@BorrisInABox @JamminJerry I don't know when I stopped using Skype, but it was before 2020. That did not stop the laptop I bought in 2020 from shipping with it installed, mind.
Show threadBorrisFeb 28, 2025
@quanin @JamminJerry The last time I remember actively using it for anything was... maybe 2015, for work purposes. By then, it was a thing I pulled up once or twice a year, if that.
Show threadBorrisFeb 28, 2025
@quanin @JamminJerry Oh, that's not true. I briefly used it again in 2017/2018.
Show threadJamminJerryFeb 28, 2025
@quanin @BorrisInABox I pretty much stopped using skype when I started using teamtalk. not right away, but I do remember I used teamtalk a lot more, and just eventually stopped using skype.
Show threadSean RandallFeb 28, 2025
@BorrisInABox I remember being really put out that she clearly says beep, and it's a ding.
Show threadBorrisFeb 28, 2025
@cachondo Oh good, it wasn't just me. To be fair, the artifacts kind of washed the ding out to the point where it was more of a wuh.
Show threadSean RandallFeb 28, 2025
@BorrisInABox what encoder were they on? speex? Some opus thing?
Show threadBorrisFeb 28, 2025
@cachondo It was their own custom thing, called Silk, which eventually became part of Opus.
Show threadSean RandallFeb 28, 2025
@BorrisInABox I knew you'd know that. Thank you.
Show threadDouglas HunsingerFeb 28, 2025
@BorrisInABox That was a fun listen. Brought back lots of old memories. The old Skype echo test. I love it!
Show threadSarah AFeb 28, 2025
@BorrisInABox I remember this. #RIP
Show thread🍂Melissa🌠Feb 28, 2025
@BorrisInABox i remember taht when I started using it, the hangup sound was more... short. It still sounded like the phone, but it was more like... short if you get my dirft.
Show threadAndy (Old Account)Mar 1, 2025
@BorrisInABox I wonder whose voices narrate these tests.