Category: Geeks r Us
Microsoft has decided to retire messenger soon, and this is causing many questions and frustrations for us that use Messenger daily. I’d like to share my setup and method of using Skype only.
For this post my setup is Windows 8, Jaws 14, and Skype 6.0. Skype 6.0 or higher is required on all systems, XP through Windows 8. There is also a version for Mac users.
Jaws users can run Skype with or without scripts. I suggest using the scripts, due to these making Skype easy and much like Messenger. If you don’t have them the ones I like best, because they integrate with Skype perfectly are located at
www.dlee.org/skype
On that site you’ll find current scripts, instructions on installation, and much more.
For users of other screen readers I’d suggest Skype talking, or GW connect.
Skype Talking can be located at,
https://code.google.com/p/skypetalking/
GW Connect can be located at,
http://www.gwmicro.com/App_Central/Apps/App_Details/?scriptid=1353
I understand GW Connect is not completely ready yet, but suspect this will change shortly.
With Jaws all 3 of these programs can be installed, and either the Jaws Scripts alone or scripts with Skype talking running at the same time can be used. GW Connect is a standalone program.
For Jaws users running both scripts and Skype talking together might help some users with such things as status changes, voicemail, and alerts. For me the scripts alone do just fine.
If you haven’t installed Skype it is a straight forward process, except on Windows 8 systems. Some Windows 8 computers come with the Windows 8 App for Skype installed, and I find this only partially usable. I installed Skype for desktops, because it works with the scripts and my screen reader better.
You can leave it and have them both, so you can play with the app, but if that is confusing using Jaws, removed the app by finding it on your start screen, pressing the applications key, or shift+ F10 to activate it. Arrow left or right to find uninstall.
To get all versions of Skype, go to
http://beta.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-computer/
When installing any program I suggest you watch what installs and whenever possible use the custom install. Vendors are bad about adding stuff you really don’t need or want, and Microsoft is no different.
I like Skype, when it is running, to show in my systems tray. My reason for this is I can control it easy from there. I can Change my status, log off, close it completely, or sign off. Using Jaws with Windows Vista through 8, one way to make this happen is to.
Press Windows key+T.
Tab down to Notification Chevron Button, and press space bar.
Arrow up once to customize, and press enter.
Tab or shift tab to hear your options. Example, when you hear “Skype, show icon and notification,” use the arrow key and move it to show.
Continue to tab to okay.
To sign on I use the Microsoft account link now. This enables your contact list to show, messenger, Skype, Facebook, and such. For the first time you do this it will ask if you want to link your Skype account, but after that, and Skype’s setup, if you’ve not done it already, you are ready to go.
Open Skype and tab, or arrow to Microsoft account. Use the same exact email and password you use when you signed on to messenger.
You will also notice a Facebook link on the Skype sign on page, or your usual Skype info. If you only sign on to Skype you’ll only find your Skype contacts as always, if you’ve use it before. Facebook depends on what you have setup in it, but your Microsoft account can show them all, plus more, if you wish.
Signing on with your Microsoft account is the best way to get everyone in one client, so I always use this path now.
The only thing it doesn’t do for me is notify me of new email messages, but I suspect in the next version this will be fixed. Otherwise it is just like messenger, but with Skype tacked on.
One other complaint users have was it doesn’t show your messenger contact statuses. I’ve posted about that on Sister Dawn’s messenger board.
You’ll find Skype to be an extensive program, and the scripts you decide on will have a full user manual with them.
Good luck.
I would like to add something I over looked maybe.
When you are downloading Skype from the page I suggested when you click on the one you want, (Learn more about Skype for desktop) it does not go to a different page.
Keep going down to locate the information and download.
Also, note, it will not include Windows 8 as one of its operating systems. This is because the App for Windows 8 is feature. However, I personally run the desktop version, and it works perfectly for people using screen readers.
just to let people know, you will need the jaws scripts if using jaws, SkypeTalking doesn't see messenger events at all.
Here is a problem I have just come across, or developed.
With Windows 8 it seems if you install Skype for desktop latest version and have the Windows 8 app for Skype installed they create an incompatibility issue.
My fix was to remove the app and reinstall the Skype for Desktop.
Wayne, you are a good guiny pig for us for Windows 8. lol
Windows 8 rocks. Snmile.
Next, some people, or another blind friend of mine reports that she had issues. We learned it was the messaging client. She had turned it on, so it clashed as well.
It is also not accessible and can be removed.
You find the app on the start screen.
To remove it you have to press the applications key or however you get there and arrow until you find go to file location.
There you can press applications key again and locate uninstall.
Mine was in the first section, the uninstall, but hers did not show until the second place.
To add a contact with Skype has changed with the new versions. Here is how I do it.
I have installed Skype version 6.2.0.106but this works for the version before as well. I also have Windows 8 on this computer and Jaws 14, but the steps should be the same.
1. Press Alt+C. You are now in the contacts menu and the first one is add contact. If you arrow down or up you’ll find other options as well, but we are adding now.
2. Press the right arrow and you find search Skype directory, and if you arrow down once you find add a phone number.
3. If you want to search the Skype directory hit enter on that and you have an edit box. Put the name you want in that box and hit enter .
4. Now keep tabbing until you get to the close again and tab once more and you should find the list of people that come up in your search. Hit enter on the one you want and add them.
5. If you hit enter on the phone number one is pretty straight forward and you can arrow through the information you need to put in and then save it.
One of the main complaints about switching from Windows Live Messenger to Skype, coming soon, is that Skype doesn’t make the same sounds. You can change your sounds in Skype, so that they are to your liking.
Any sound alert can be set, and the main one people want is a better one for the incoming message sound. Here is how you change them.
1. Go to tools. My method is to use alt+T, but it has been pointed out to me this might not always work depending, so the second method will be to press alt, then arrow left 3 times to get to tools.
2. Arrow up to options and press enter. You are now on general, but if not shift tab up once, or tab until you are.
3. Arrow down to sounds. In Skype if you arrow through the settings you will find sounds twice, but the first one you come to works.
4. On sounds, tab once and you are at the top of the list of alerts that can be changed. The first one is ringtone. You will notice it is checked. Checking it makes it work and unchecking it turns it off. Use the space bar to check or on check.
5. Arrow down to the desired alert you want to change. For this example I’m changing the incoming IM sound.
6. Press tab once you will hear the name of the sound selected. To change the selection use the arrow keys.
7. When you get to your desired sound press tab and you can hear it by pressing the space bar or enter key.
8. To set it press the tab until you get to save. Note, you will pass mute all sounds, set to default and if you have imported sounds the list of these as well. These are self-explaining and I’ll talk about imp orting sounds next.
Importing sounds for your Skype is easy, but I caution a person to be careful of the sound source. I also advise making sure you have your anti-virus software and firewall up to date.
I won’t suggest sites to download sound files from, but you can search online for them. Skype requires a WAV sound file, and if you know how you can also convert MP3 files to WAV. Your sound file should be short, so it is an alert, a few seconds.
Here is how I do mine.
1. I get my sounds I want to use in a file, so that they are easy to find and select. My file is labeled sounds.
2. Go to sounds in your Skype options and tab to import sounds.
3. You’ll hear import sounds button. Press the space bar or enter key. It ask what file you want. If you know the file path you can type it. My favorite way is to copy the file to my clipboard and simply paste it there
Press tab until you get to open. Now that sound is in your choices of sounds.
Note, you will see the sound titles in your imported sound box, but to actually use it look for it among the regular Skype sounds. The check box you see in the imported sounds doesn’t make it work. You use the methods I described in my last post.
A quick note about Skype.
We are now up to version 6.3.0.105. This version can and does work well with ought Jaws scripts. As of this posting there are not any scripts that can work it well yet, but I suppose they will be offered soon.
Again I use Jaws and Windows 8.
If you haven’t upgraded you might want to wait until the script release.
For some reason even thought I had automatic updating turned off mine updated, so maybe I didn’t do it the last time or something.
To use it should be easy, but if anyone has questions I’ll try to assist them. So far I am not having any issues at all with it, except profile changing, and that depends on your OS and other factors, but the profile changing can be done if you know how, so not an issue really.
I’d like to add on to my post or change something.
The latest Jaws scripts will work with the latest Skype, however, as I stated before you really can do without them.
I had a different issue that was caused by Microsoft Office 2013, but that is a different subject.
Enjoy the new Skype, it is really nice.
Here is the latest news on this switching.
Keep chatting with your Messenger contacts and enjoy 1 month of free calling1 to phones and more
Hello,
As you may have heard, starting April 8th, 2013 we are bringing the great features of Messenger and Skype together, including your IM and contact list. (April 8th is the first day that you may be required to upgrade to Skype).
We know saying goodbye can be hard, but don't worry. Not only will all your Messenger contacts appear in Skype when you upgrade and sign-in, but you can also redeem a free welcome gift. Follow the instructions below to enjoy calls to landlines and mobiles around the world, group video calling, group screen sharing (and more) absolutely free for a month. We want to thank you for being a Messenger customer and even more, are excited to welcome you to Skype!
Upgrade now
Yours sincerely,
The Messenger and Skype Teams
Redeeming your gift is easy
1. Get the latest version of Skype.
2. Sign into Skype with your Microsoft account- use the email address and password you use to sign into Messenger, Hotmail, Xbox or Outlook.com.
3. Come back to this mail and click here to redeem your gift..
Enjoy more ways to keep in touch
Call phones
Free unlimited2 worldwide calling is a great way to keep in touch with people anywhere. Say 'hello' to anyone with a landline in over 40 countries or call mobile phones in 7 countries, including the US, Canada and Hong Kong. Call them all and talk as long as you want.
Make group video calls
Get together with up to 10 people with group video calling3. That means everyone can catch up at once.
Share your screen
Group screen sharing makes it easy to share pictures and videos with everyone at the same time.
Redeem your gift
1Offer available while supplies last. To qualify for the offer you must provide valid payment details. We'll automatically set up a recurring payment of $9.99 USD per month after the trial has ended. You will be charged the recurring amount in the currency you have selected to maintain your account. To cancel your subscription please visit your Skype account and cancel within the first 27 days of your trial and you won't be charged a thing. Skype reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time.
Calls to landlines in these countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia (Moscow and St. Petersburg only), Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom and Venezuela.
Calls to landlines and mobiles in these countries: Canada, China, Guam, Hong Kong S.A.R China, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Thailand and United States.
2A fair use policy applies. Excludes special, premium and non-geographic numbers. Mobile calls to selected countries only.
3Group video calls can be between three or more people (up to a maximum of 10), and at least one person on the call needs to have a Premium account. For the best quality, we recommend calls with up to five people. A fair usage policy applies to group video calling. Click here for more details.
that gift is a lie from what I've read, you get it free for the first month yes but then Microsoft enrolls you in the $9.99 plan unless you cancel it within the first 27 days, or so I read.
well, I haven't used regular skype on windows in forever. I don't use jaws when i'm using windows, NVDA is all I have pritty much. skype talking for whatever reason just doesn't keep up like it used to with skype chat messages so i've been forced to use gw connect. also, i'm wondering, would the change to skype from messenger effect people who use miranda for windows and adium for the mac? I hope not!
i use skipe for the mac. and i like it a lot. i also use aduom for the mac. and i like the setup for skipe.
I use Skype for the mac. their are events which you can make speekable. it is really accessible.
As I understand it, even the third-party multi-messenger clients will soon no longer be able to support windows live messenger since Microsoft hopes to have it phased out and become no more than a distant memory very soon. I believe that is scheduled to take place at around the end of the year, though knowing Microsoft it probably actually won't until sometime next year. I forget which website I read all of this info on, but I'm pretty sure it's easy to find if you just google it.
The change over seems to be really slow. I kno some that can still use MSN messenger as it comes, so.
You probably have seen this messenger reviver program. I've used it, and it will do exactly what the program says.
The program is legit. I've downloaded, used it and it will revive messenger.
what program is this an is there a URLb?
Just google messenger reviver and it should give a download link.
I echo the above commenter. If you really don't want to use Skype, or Miranda which does still work flawlessly by the way, the Messenger Reviver program works wonders. I don't use Windows Live myself, have been a Miranda user for a couple years now, but I did download Reviver and WLM just to test it out for others, and I had no issues with it. It even saves your settings as you might have had them in Messenger before it went away.
An update on Skype.
To install Skype for desktop if you have windows 8 has changed a bit.
Now to find the link, when you are on Skype's main page, click on site map. If you just click on Downloads you will only find Skype for Windows 8 and that ones is still not accessible.
When you click on site map, you will find the download link down the page some under downloads.
I have noticed the latest version of Skype is even more accessible.
that sounds very confusing wayne.
are there two versions of skype that exist, one accessible and one not?
why have two versions? unless one is the app version for windows metro. also does this only apply to windows 8?
i get my updates from ninite.com
Not confusing at all. Yes, the app version of Skype only applies to windows 8.
It is a streamlined version, and is difficult to navigate using a screen reader. Microsoft marks it not accessible as well.
To get around this issue, use the desktop version, and your Skype works as always, and will update as normal.
The app version is pretty slick, just not screen reader friendly.
oh ok, i didn't realize you were talkking about the metro version.