The Skype for Linux Alpha has been updated to include a few different features and has had several bug fixes. While features like screen sharing or even renaming contacts are still missing, development on the alpha is continuing ahead and more features are being added fairly often.
The latest release now includes the ability to configure launching the app at login from within the app itself. Previously you would have gone through and needed to configure this from elsewhere within your GNU/Linux machine. Complementing this is the ability to launch minimized, where Skype for Linux would launch in the background and not hijack your screen on opening.
