Skype 2.0 beta – free video calling
You’ve been asking for it, and the whole team has been working for it for over a year.
Skype 2.0 (BETA). Now with free video calling.
If you don’t want to break your computer with the beta, you could wait for the non-beta release of Skype 2.0, which is not too far away.
New stuff in this version
Video (obviously!). Free one-to-one video calls. Even if only one party of the call has a webcam, the video is still shown to the other party. And if you both have a camera, you get cool picture-in-picture effect. You can see the video in Skype window, in a separate window or even fullscreen.
Contact grouping. Finally here for heavy users. The cool part here is that one contact can be in many groups. So you could have both “Friends” and “People whose name starts with A” groups and whatever. You have some cool predefined groups also, like “Recently contacted” and “Not sharing contact details yet”.
Mood messages. Just messages that other people will see next to your name in their contact list, in chats and when looking at your profile.
See the press release for more details.
Get the new Skype 2.0 beta here, and tell us what you think.
Need a larger preview window and the ability to take it out of the call tab position.
Also, make it easier to change “sounds”…not very easy to do but I was able to change some of them. Having to convert .wav’s to mono (which you have to do in order to be able to change sounds)is not an easy task for newbys.was much easier in earlyier versions.
Hello from canada!
I have a Panasonic PV-GS200. It’s a mini-dv camcorder. It has a usb connector and can run in “Web Cam” mode. Doing so makes it appear as a webcam to windowsXP, MovieMaker, Spontania, etc. It works fine in these programs.
Skype beta 2.0.0.43 sees it and calls it “USB Video Device”, but the preview window is just grey. no video.
I’ve read about another guy here who had this problem with a dv cam connected via firewire. Perhaps Skype needs to become a bit more broad in it’s compatibility of dv camcorders.
Any plans to support video on Windows 2000?
Thank You Very Much for the Video-Feature.
We have installed it on a PC in the house, and we have set Skype to “automatic answer”. Now we can call and see what the dog is doing! And YES – IT WORKS !
.. thank god I’ve done a system restore point before installing… during the first video call the system crashed badly, so bad that I could not reactivate my wireless internet connection until.. I restored to the “PRE SKYPE 2.0″ point… thanks no more for the xmas period…
and BTW I preferred the way that contacts were divided, skypeout and skype members. Why when they do something that works they always ruin it? Is the eBay influece to do so?
Is there a possibility that Skype video calls aren’t free any more at some point of time?
And, how about the option to find users with video, because now you can only find plain users of skype.
Regards.
MacCano
http://cano.romandre.com
Hi there- are there any plans about letting the users integrate their own smileys? I know- it’s a basic function- anyway
Thanx
Is it possible to share my desktop?
Add me to the list of enthusiastic Mac Skype users, and ESPECIALLY add me as someone who wants video too (using iSight).
For that matter, I’d love to be able to play an iTunes song so that a listener could hear it too. There seems to be a Windoze app that does that, but can’t find anything for Mac.
n comment
This is a landmark on the VOIP communications
Great stuff and it installs like a glove
http://www.ptup.net
Nice! I like skype very much!come on skype!
dudes… I hope we see a new linux version soon because we have been putting up with alot of known bugs in the current linux version of skype. video or not lets get a “fixed” version out!
I agree, the ability to share my desktop over skype would be great and also a white board, maybe a box which you can just drag and drop different pictures or files into or draw in, the reciever can choose to pick up the files out of the box or not, could be usefull in group chats as some ppl dont need individual files… all in all… GREAT APP THOUGH!!!! This means that my wife can talk to her parents in the USA from perth and it not only sounds better than a phone, but they get to see her too!!! Now if only the Thanksgiving turkey could be sent over Skype too
Welcome to Dionyseus’s Bar!!!http://blog.blogwhy.com/dionyseus/
Welcome to Dionyseus’s Bar!!!http://blog.blogwhy.com/dionyseus/
No mention of a Mac OS X version?!?! That means you’ve used some Windows only video format and it will NEVER happen right!?!?! Don’t even think about pulling a Tivo either with false promises just come out and tell us there will never be a Mac version and we can all move on to something else. Please don’t waste our time!
hi all. I try use it and it is great
LINUX VERSION.
PLEASE. SOON AS POSSIBLE…PLEASE.
FIX KNOWN OSS PROBLEM TOO WOULDN’T BE BAD….AH…PLEASE….
I’d love this to work well. Currently I’m having the same problem as in the previous comments – my mini-DV (JVC GR-D53) is spotted and listed as an option in the “Select webcam” menu, but I only get a grey square in the preview window. I tried connecting via USB, but I think I need to install drivers which are on some lost disc somewhere…. Video chat is the only way for my parents (UK) to see my kids (New Zealand) and apart from Eyeball chat (which is a fairly flaky) all the other solutions give small videos and few options on what level of quality I would prefer. I’m rooting for you guys to get this one right!
whooohoooo
finally there will be video chat in skype too! yeah.
*thinking* must bring my webcam back online…
Very nice awaited version. The lack of explanations means I have to experiment, but otherwise the sound is great as usual and the picture(test)is decent without too much pixels.Only the various dialing sounds are kind of unusual and I need to get used to it.
By the way,video between skypers is fine, but is there a chance, in the future, to have also video on skype out?(video phone).
It would be the summum, and beat all other programs.
На сайте “Skype в России” вы сможете скачать полностью переведенный и исправленный от ошибок русский языковой файл для Skype 2.0 Beta, подготовленый участниками проекта Skype в России.
http://www.skypeclub.ru/skype_windows.htm
Russian language file for Skype 2.0 Beta, completely translated and corrected from mistakes:
http://www.skypeclub.ru/files/russian_v2.0.zip
Excelent work! I have got some comments to new version.
1) Why is there one contact always selected and showed its details in contact view? In version 1.4 it is ok.
Suggestion: First click will show contact preview and another one will hide it.
2) And one improvement… in contacts tab, when you select contact, it will be useful to see 4 small button near contact name to call them, chat them, send them a file and view details. It is to much clicks and mouse moves to open context menu or to move mouse up to main menu.
Thanks. Really great work and good luck in future!
I have not tested skype 2 with an actual call, but when I test the webcam (a Logitech QuickCam Express) the whole screen starts to flicker. The video image seems to work fine, but it also seems that Skype is not all too happy with my graphics card (an absolute standard built-in type) so that whenever the wideo image updates, the whole screen makes a slight flicker. Since the video image updates several times a second, the result is far from pleasing.
3) double clicking Skype system tray icon opens Skype, but doesn’t close it again. Previous version did
1) Why not reactivate the mouse scrolling function for the contacts tab?
2) Need an icon on the toolbar just to start video calling automatically or not.
3) Need a new “echo456″ test service for the “Skype Test VideoCall”…
Very nice. BUT:
1) Need version for MAC OS X!!!
2) Video is a bit slow – not live. Would like it to be perfectly live like in iChat for instance.
OF COURSE though, skype is way better than iChat, don’t get me wrong.
Keep up the EXCELLENT work!!
Another vote for Mac OSX version with video.
Keep it cool. Mac users are tech pioneers, always trying cool new stuff and making other people try it, don´t let us down.
One more thing: see if you can make iSight compatible with the new skype for mac os x with video, when it comes out
Ruined all the decent sounds for ringing etc. that were in version 1.x, and worst of all, the video does not work in Win98SE. If I can use a webcam in MSN messenger, Yahoo messenger, and other video conference software in Win98SE, why can’t I have the webcam work on something other then the awful WinXP with Skype?
Still want an ability to delete ONE call (usually but not always failed ones) from the call history. Currently you can only delete ALL calls from that number, pretty useless if I only want to delete the failed call / 1 second call from the call list.
I use Windows XP Pro and I tried Skype2.0beta yesterday. But I failed to use the VideoChat Function yesterday. No matter how I tried, the stupid skype just recognized my first TV hardware only, not the second — my WebCamera …
Please fix this bug and I am eager to try this charming function!
To all who have been asking for a linux version of Skype 2.0:
ARE YOU KIDDING??
We are centuries behind every other user here. We are still at version 1.2!!
There’s an absurd bug concerning sound with Skype for linux for about 3 months now, and despite the fact that a massive amount of people in the forum begged for it to be fixed, so far nothing has been done.
I’m beginning (and that’s a very sad thing) to get *REALLY* disappointed with Skype. The Winblows version is fine, every other workstation in my company uses it with little problem, but I use linux here AND at home, so I have to stick with the sh**ty version…
Hip hip hurrah!
Does anyone have barbaras skype name? Wouldn’t mind having a few videos chats with a girl like her.
It doesn’t work with my old webcam, but this is no problem for me. What I’d really liek to see is the desktop of my chatting partner so that I can discuss computer problems with him and see what he does.
Hi Janus & Co.
First – let me congratulate you for having made a great tool, and your recent sale to eBay, which makes all selfemployd people get high on the fact that dreams do come true some times. Well done.
I am using SKYPE on my MAC with OS X Tiger which works great.
I have one improovement to wish for – when I hook up my USB headset – all outgoing sound is then directed through this, which makes it a bit unhandy to swich from playing musich via my normal speakes, and easy swich to headset when skype is ringing. I gues it is both something that Apple has to work on as well as you guys. If I lounch Skype whithout having my headset pluged in, I cant just plug in my headset – I have to close down skype, then plug in my headset, and then launch skype, to make the sound work through the headset. I can open preferences and then manyally work around this, but that is not very handy…i´m sure you get my point and hope that this can be solved in the next upgrade for MAC.
second – I look forward to be getting a video app. for MAC. I still think that iChat is the best, having the possibility to have a video chat with up to 4 participants. However not many have iChat which makes it a bit half leged. The second best will be Skype with Videochat possibility. You might be able to learn something from Apple´s iChat and maybe outperform MSN and the others by having the feature og making it possible for videochat whit several participants ???
If anyone can do it – it should be you guys !
Go for it!
I just noticed that my comments are made under the name Maryjohnson903, which has nothing to do with me ?????
Best regards
Tobias
Good job! I won’t list all how much I like all the great new features we can now enjoy because there are too many! A few comments on the new version:
1. navigation between groups isn’t very convenient. A few tabs on the group line would be faster/easier than clicking to make a menu appear (keeping it open takes too much vertical space in the window)
2. it seems we can’t modify the info on our contacts details. What if I want to add a note or a phone number to their card for my references?
3. it’d be nice to be able to not have any selected contacts as in 1.4
4. click the tray icon to open the window… but click to close has disappeared
Thanks for the new and improved Skype !
Does the 2.0 beta work on the usb u3 flash drives?
Having the same problems as a few others on here.
Running WinXP Pro full uptodate. Connected to a Sony DCR-HC30E via firewire and it is recognised through Skype but the screen is greyed out
Skype Out contacts are no more separate on teh contacts tab. Online Skype contacts are not at the top as they were before.
Why screw with what we get used to?
At least you could provide a way to keep the old sorting scheme. Now I have to go up and down to see who is online.
With me using Skypoe for almost all my long distance calls it is more than 2 hundred numbers. Sorry, I am switching back to 1.4
I’m afraid I have lost all my history from previous Skype versions I used (1.2, 1.3, 1.4) after installing and then uninstalling Skype 2.0. AAAAA! ( My fault, it’s a beta version, I should of think about that.
Otherwise, i love it.
give skype for linux Mandirva linux Mandirva linux Mandirva linux Mandirva linux Mandirva linux Mandirva linux Mandirva linux Mandirva linux Mandirva linux Mandirva linux Mandirva linux Mandirva linux Mandirva linux Mandirva linux Mandirva linux Mandirva linux Mandirva linux Mandirva linux Mandirva linux
i love skype you are the best
To dubambman:
You stupid creature, isnt’t “barbara989521″ ?!
It is just on that picture !!! ))))
Well, I installed WinXP and Fedora Core3 Linux in my PC. I have tried that so-called skype in my FC3. As a result, I also feel disappointed when comparing Skype for Linux with that for Windows, which is updating all the time!!!
You guys should also update SKYPE for Linux every some times!
You guys should also update SKYPE for Linux every some times!
You guys should also update SKYPE for Linux every some times!
You guys should also update SKYPE for Linux every some times!
You guys should also update SKYPE for Linux every some times!
You guys should also update SKYPE for Linux every some times!
You guys should also update SKYPE for Linux every some times!
You guys should also update SKYPE for Linux every some times!
You guys should also update SKYPE for Linux every some times!
You guys should also update SKYPE for Linux every some times!
You guys should also update SKYPE for Linux every some times!
You guys should also update SKYPE for Linux every some times!
You guys should also update SKYPE for Linux every some times!
You guys should also update SKYPE for Linux every some times!
You guys should also update SKYPE for Linux every some times!
You guys should also update SKYPE for Linux every some times!
You guys should also update SKYPE for Linux every some times!
//By the way, after installing that SKYPE for Linux, my alsa-project driven sound system collapsed. Since then, my Linux has been a silent world .
Where’s the MAC OS X version
I am tired to wait for the version for mac. whichever time but it is
necessary to hope.
Andony Baltierra Zaggatti.
San Diego CA.USA
WHY I CANT SEE VIDO IN SKYPE VERSION 2.0