Skype 2.6 Beta is here
Today we released Skype 2.6 for Mac Beta. Although our main focus was on quality, we’ve also added a few new features. One of them so new it’s released first on Mac and only later on other platforms.
Visually Skype 2.6 for Mac hasn’t changed a great deal. This is because you, our users, have been asking for better quality rather than more bells and whistles. So we did just that – we’ve ironed out tons of bugs. We understand that even the small things like handling birthday reminders or other notifications are very important for Mac users so we spent a lot of time streamlining the small stuff.
While our focus was on quality, we still managed to pack some new features that you won’t immediately see. For the first time in the history of Skype you can now transfer an ongoing call to another Skype user. Simply click on “More” in the call window of an incoming call and select the Skype contact you want to pass the call on to. Note that caller has to use the new version of Skype for Mac or a recent version (3.0 or up) of Skype for Windows for call transfer to work.
We also added some features that were already available on our Windows versions, but not yet for Macs. Now you can :
- See when others are writing a message with typing indicator
- Join public chats
- Call any Skype Prime premium services provider and seamlessly pay with your Skype credit
- Use DTMF tones during Skype-to-Skype calls
Last but not least – the new Skype for Mac prompts you when new versions become available and auto-updates itself if you so decide.
Download Skype 2.6 for Mac Beta now (scroll down) and let us know what you think of it by adding comments below.
For those that are a little more technical, please check our the Skype for Mac Developer Site where it contains Release Notes and details on how to submit Bug Reports if you so wish. Also, please don’t forget about the Skype for Mac forums
Wow!
Great job Mac team… 2.6 looks like a real winner for all of us Mac users – thanks for adding on many of the items I requested, what a nice surprise.
Ted at http://www.solutionsellers.com via http://www.searchengine.com
You know, I would have thought that remembering chat window positions, sizes and whether the user had the drawer open or not could be remembered, but clearly not. Why do I have to go through the process of closing the tab drawer, resizing the window, and then moving it to where I always have it, EVERY SINGLE TIME I OPEN A CHAT WINDOW. Come on guys, it’s such a simple thing for Pete’s sake.
I’ll have to wait until I get home to evaluate this version but one thing I would request is to allow us to either buy or add ringtones because the ones that ship just drive me nuts. I’m genuinely surprised that this does not seem to be possible on the Mac version.
Seems like a good beta release, but I miss the “Grouping Contacts” feature so badly.
Kinda cool to be first with a feature. Nice going, guys!
Let the pc people try stuff out and give us the goodies but I agree that we really need the “Grouping Contact” feature badly.
PROBLEM: upon starting Skype, the main window resizes correctly, but then ‘snaps’ to the bottom edge of the login screen.
PROBLEM: make sure the chat window drawer stays closed. I have to close it every time I start a new chat.
kelmon.
If it is really driving you nuts, you might want to right click on the app, and choose : “Show Package Contents” from the contextual menu.
In there, you will find a folder called Sounds, full of .wav files.
Now, I don;t know if replacing a sound will work, but I can’t see why not. I’m not responsible if you break the app, of course – but then again, you can always download a new copy.
angstweevil
Tried that a while ago. I think Skype checks the files to make sure that you aren’t messing with them since even if the audio file is the same length and name as the one that you wish to replace the application fails to start. This is expected. Ringtones are surely a good source of revenue so it makes sense that Skype wishes to control how you get new ones. I don’t have a problem with this if there was at least the option of downloading a new one but that only appears to be available for the Windows version, a situation that I fail to understand.
Still, it was a worthy suggestion and I thank you for trying.
I´m having a problem, please help me!!! I´ve tried with to tipe od Genius camera that are compatible with mac and I can have videochat but I see myself only en red and yellow. Please someone tell me what to do!!! I really need to use the camera with my Skype and it´s not working.
Please help
Martin, Chile
Are you planning on adding fax machine in skype? I am sure many people would benefit and you’d make some extra revenue.
Another thing – it’s great that you focused on fixing bugs and improving rather than adding new stuff like many companies do ignore users reports (including nokia with their n73). It’s always been best to keep things as simple as possible and not cluttere with unecessary junk. I reckon many of the eatures included in the latest skype for Windows count in. For instance I never got he podcast thing to work. Other, who really want to swap a face with an animated one? wasn’t the idea to see a person on the other side? these things should be optional and istalled as modules and not included in the package. Stick to the basics namely: voice, video conferencing, skype in/out, chat and fax plus extras for them. just my opinion. Thank you for the product. David ps. the beta version for MAC is unable to play voice mail saying it cannot connect to the server – didn’t hav ethat in stable version in which was another bug – when try to chat to a group of people sometimes get a blank window and typed messages don’t appear.
I’m not seeing other people typing for some reason.
Thanks for the Mac update. I had found a new headset that improved Skype & audio recording. I immediately broke it and returned to an ancient headset and expected less clarity. With the update sound & voice quality on Skype are better with the lesser headset. Good work!
Skype has made it possible for me to stay in touch with friends, professionals and those 800 numbers {that inexplicably cost more to call from Mexico) in the US after a personal crisis.
Just to thank you for all that programming which comes down to affecting lives.
In the video preferences I still don’t get a mirror effect. Glad I dragged my 2.0.0.3 version to desktop before installing 2.6 instead of just replacing it. Pleeeeeeeeeease can we have a mirror preview. Ben.
Agreed – all these features are nice but unimportant – what I really, really need is the “Grouping Contacts” feature – how hard can that be to implement?
With my increasing number of contacts managing gets more and more difficult each day – and guess how happy I am to have “work” and “fun” contacts all mixed together…
Or does Skype think Mac people have no friends
For some reason, I am also not seeing the typing indicator. The preferences are correctly set…
I am advised by Skype developer that this version should resolve the issue of audio and video failure after a short session time with iSight external camera. For me it seems to be successful. Failure would often occur within about 10 minutes of starting. I have enjoyed 45 minutes yesterday and 1hr and 6 mins. today, with no problem. Oh bliss!! Thanks to Skype for persisting to resolve this issue, which I am hopeful has been consigned to history. Thanks again.
Can anyone tell me please, how do I activate my webcam with Skype. The cam is working ok but my friends can’t see me. In Skype help it tells me to go to tools and options, I can’t find either?
Would appreciate some help, thanks
Bravo! As soon as I upgraded to this build, the severe echo problem on the 2.5 gold load was gone. Typing indicator is a great new feature, though it might be somewhat inconvenient to be located in left contacts panel of the chat window for users who dislikes this panel design. So far I’m very happy with its quality. It seems Skype has a better understanding of what Mac users look for.
ok. praise first. thanks for making skype a must-have for mac.
now rants. AND THIS IS A BIG ONE:
- WHY CAN I NOT UNIFY A PHONE NUMBER & A SKYPE CONTACT UNDER ONE CONTACT -
– WTF, WHY CAN I NOT EDIT A CONTACTS INFO AT ALL? –
guys, this is basic address-book management. i am tired of mentioning this to skype support in every version breathing life.
Hi,
Not quite sure this is the right place to say this, so I apologise if in fact it isn’t.
Would it be possible to have more than one skype name and have the two active AT THE SAME TIME? So that one could use one id for work and one for fun? (I do that under adium with both msn and aim)
Can’t provide any comments on this release as I depend on this computer for productivity and don’t quite there experiment yet…
Thanks,
Diana
It should have life in the windows version, that when you click on the picture of one of your contacts in your contact list, it displays the information window, and also to be able to close that window with the escape key. These are essential little features that allow better userfriendlyness!
Thanks a lot
Simon,
“I’m not seeing other people typing for some reason.” The other person needs the latest version of Windows (3.1+) or Mac 2.6 beta. Hope this helps
Video is fine, but BOTTOM LINE is that the Skype client for Mac is very much inferior to the Windows client. You can’t edit a contact. You can’t assign more than one phone number to a contact. You can’t adjust the volume or mic sensitivity. Etc. Etc. Skype needs to complete the FUNDAMENTALS of the Mac client before spending a lot of time and energy on the ICING.
On my mac, new events keep on being visualized as a red dot on the skype icon in the dock even after I have checked them and cancelled them form the list.
Sweet, well I hope that one day will be possible to have two different tabs for skype and telephone contacts. I have way to many of them in my contact list. Can you make the widow some what smaller or if it would remember the size and position. Cheers MIKE
While yahoo and msn left us out of the video and voice calls skype proves to be once again number 1 for caring about mac users. great job on the new 2.6 skype. I just downloaded it today and so far so good.
Im a Mac user but i dont like birthdays things and so on.
I prever good Videoconnecting with the Mac and i like public talks with many people inside.
Thanks
I LOVE the new Mac Client!
You ever drink Baileys from a shoe?
on updating i received 2 very old voice messages from january!!!!
I could not listen to them though as there is a connection error
Also they stay as red dots even after i say view as read
it really need a way to organise contacts as my list is getting too long.
I am a mac user and my friend with a pc cannot get my video
I use a cam Philips SPC900NC
What is the problem?
Hi – Skype is getting really good and today I am making the brave leap from Vonage to Skype! I’m forwarding my Vonage number to Skype and hope to escape from Vonage’s clutches completely at some point in the future by porting my number to Skype when that feature becomes available.
I have one serious concern that Skype needs to address, though. I have a simple black no-frills hand-held phone that plugs into my MacBook Pro’s earphone jack for output and has another wire to plug into the input jack. But Skype fails to recognize the input properly, and only seems to be able to use the internal built-in MacBook microphone, regardless of the way the inputs/outputs are configured in System Preferences and Skype’s audio preferences.
Basically this means that Skype needs to fix/add proper audio input/output options that correlate and work with those in System Preferences.
Hi jessewaugh,
We’re really glad you like it so much! Hopefully you can tell others you don’t need to be so brave to switch over
As far as your input on your MacBook (I’m writing my reply on a MacBook) it’s not actually a mic – it’s a ‘Line In’. This means you cannot actually plug-in your device, as it expects a mic port. Unfortunately this is not something we can fix in Skype as it’s Apple’s choice to not include an external mic port. Hope this helps!
Ryan.
Same deal as several posts above me:
WE NEED GROUPING CONTACTS.
Every time I download a beta, I have my fingers crossed that you’d throw that feature in. Please. We need it. I have over 140 contacts at work. At work they’re put into department specific groups because I’m on XP. At home, it’s a big mess of names on the Mac.
I am having a hard time finding out how to import my Pop3 email contacts into Skype for Mac. Is this possible?
This upgrade for Mac is class….
Would really like to see 2 added in your next release;
1. The choice to have different backgrounds to my vid calls i.e. Statue of Liberty or Las Vegas
2. Fax receiving facility
Sorry but i test this version few days and i must say its too bad.
I dont know that the windows user have the skypecasts all integrated in the program skype.
By me it opened always an extern browser window if i want join a skypecast room.
And in the most times it dont work correctly.
i cannot press the buttopn for allow to speak with microphone.
here in german.
die aktuelle Skype beta version unterstützt leider die Casts immer noch nicht richtig.
Die funktion “Microphone beantragen” geht leider nicht, sie erscheint meit erst garnicht!!!
Sorry aber das is echt schlecht.
Here is the most important thing that I’m missing in this version, and because of which I still use 2.0.0.3: mirrored video preview!
Bless Apple for realizing how much nicer it is to look at yourself in mirror mode rather than normal video and building their stuff in such a way, that everything on a Mac can use this functionality without much hassle.
Obviously, though, the Skype guys decided that they’ll use there own video engine, instead of Apple’s. OK with me – so long as you include mirrored preview. I don’t think I’ll move on from 2.0.0.3 before you introduce this feature.
Cheers
Just want to say thanks for the 2.6 BETA. I was making calls on a macbook using internals, from the previous version to 2.6, and both Video, and audio differences were immediately improved!!! Firstly the reliability of video was shocking on previous, with crashes every few minutes (talking to a pc version), and the feedback thru the internal laptop setup (like a handsfree system) both ends was also terribly. 2.6 immediately eliminated 50% of the ringing, for a better performance.
One issue that contines, is after line dropout, redialing always comes up with an error, and takes a number of tries to reconnect, if not going offline/restarting completely.
Otherwise a good improvement. My view is call/video quality more necessary than the bells and whistles, tho the ‘pen’ to show typing motion was a great addon!
thanks!
Well, I’m not quite so positive about this release. CPU usage on my G4 is 75% – 2.5 usually took 45%, which was bad enough. It’s quite funny – when you start talking the CPU usage just goes rocketing up! Call quality is noticeably worse – terrible glitching and a kind of nasty choppiness to the audio. 2.5 suffered from “hiss explosions” if uplinks were busy, but I’ve not heard that yet on this beta. Though the audio fidelity is better than iChat, the echo cancellation and noise reduction is nowhere near as good.
As if it needed another vote, I’d love to see multiple sign-ins too.
Thanks for the new skype version.
I had a long discussion with skype support about the possibility to log in simultaneously as two separate Skype users on the same computer during the same connection. We didn’t find any solution!
Will you improve this opportunity on this new version?
It’s already possible on PC version, not on MAC.
thanks
Please do something against spam !
I really want to be able to play games with my “windows” contacts. I am told that I need 3.0 for that. HELP!!!!
What is the newestMac beta?
2.6.0.72 or 2.6.0.140
I don’t know if this is a common problem but my chat window won’t update. It doesn’t show the message I’ve just sent or any messages that I’ve received unless I close the window and click start Chat to bring it back up.
FEATURE REQUEST: Ability to dial extension numbers automatically, rather than manually from the keypad. It seems easy enough to allow “x123456″ after the phone number. 1980′s Hayes modems had this capability, most phone autodialers have it, so I’m not getting why this is so difficult to implement in Skype.
–mj
FEATURE REQUEST or BUG FIX: Support for Dual Monitor (external display connected to 15″ MacBook Pro), when using dual monitor on Intel Mac (and PowerPC’s) the Video chat starts on the primary monitor no matter what I do. I would like the window to stay focus where I left it. Every time I start a new video chat, I have to resize and move it to my second display. IT NEVER start a new chat on the second display, even if my Contact list is on that monitor. Very annoying.
BUG FIX: Video chat will sometimes just crash for no reason, just crashes. If I can send some logs let me know. This too is frustrating.
Hi,
I wanted to challenge you developers out there to take on the project of making Skype available for the new i-Phone.
Thanx.
is it just me or is it too hard to navigate Skype on Mac rather than Windows?????
I don’t like how I can’t see the full screen like I can on my PC.