Good news: Leopard-compatibility & improved video
Earlier this month, we promised an update to Skype for Mac that would get along beautifully with Leopard’s firewall. Today’s hotfix to Skype 2.7 for Mac beta does just that. In other words, users of Mac OS 10.5 (Leopard) are welcome to run Skype with confidence.
The second thing that we believe will bring smiles to a lot of folks is this: today’s beta version of Skype 2.7 for Mac adds attractive pixel muscle to your video calls. That’s because we’ve now turned on 640×480-pixel video by default.
So, as long as your webcam can handle this resolution, your friends should see the bigger-and-improved you on their screens. At a better frame rate, too — we’ve been squeezing up to 25 fps out of our systems.
Now, because sending out higher-resolution video needs a faster processor and a fatter internet pipe, you’ll benefit greatly from having a fast machine (think Core 2 Duo) and a broadband connection with at least 384kbps upload speeds.
If the receiver is using a pre-2.7 version of Skype for Mac, or if their machine cannot handle 640×480 video resolution (like G4 or G5 Macs that are slower than 1.25 GHz), the sender’s Skype software will scale the video feed down to 320×240 pixels (or even 160×120, if needed).
Please remember we’re dealing with beta software here. So you may encounter the occasional quirk and hiccup as you’re using it. If you’d rather stick with public versions Skype that have a lot of beta wrinkles ironed out, we’ve just issued a Leopard-friendly hotfix to the public version of Skype 2.6 for Mac. Enjoy!
Thanks for MAC user. Skype is starting to be better and better. I’m going to try this new version. I’m on IMAC 24 500GB leopard. Best regard.
I’m just going to install this new beta version and it doesn’t work.
When i want to speak with my contact, nobody hear me. it’s very difficult..
(sorry for my bad english..)
Hi. Good news and a working fine beta, but let me say that doesn’t exist G5 Macs slower than 1.25 GHz
Hi. Good news and a fine working beta, but let me tell you that, any G5 Mac are faster than 1.25 GHz
Why did you remove the Growl support?
I’m still having problems with Nokia bluetooth headset since I’ve installed Leopard.
I’m still having problems with Nokia bluetooth headset since I’ve installed Leopard.
Tweepop, we didn’t remove support for Growl. What was removed was the button in preferences — there was no need to disable/enable it in Skype preferences, because you can do this from within Growl.
I’ve a MacBook Pro Leo 10.5.1, 2 GHz Intel Core Duo. I encounter with Leo and the previous OSX 10.4 problems with Skype when I’m using my headset LogitechUSB. In prefeences I choose Headset, call, then hear ringtones and then nothing. This on both sides USB connections on my Mac. On my old iMac no problems at all. The head set should be OK because Itunes is perfecly correct. Does anybody have a solution for me? Maybe it’s known by Skpy itself? Thanks for your comments.
I have both an imac 17in intel and a macbook and both have had no problems since upgrading to leopard. I even have a skype phone that works great. Sure, SkyMACmate crashes once in a while but overall I have had no trouble.
Problem with this release. I’m using a 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Macbook with 10.4.11, and I’ve encountered a weird bug. Incoming calls (Skype, or SkypeIn) ring like usual, bounce the icon in the dock, and present a call window, but not an answer button (green). It does present a red (hangup) button, which allows me to refuse calls. But no button to allow me to answer calls. As far as I can tell, it’s only doing this with 2.7.0.195 (beta). I’ll be going back to 2.6, in hopes it’ll be restored. Just thought the developers would want to know, in case others are having this problem.
Will Skype’s video chat support iChat/Photo booth effects someday in leopard?
Where did growl support go?
How about no video? Since I’ve upgraded to OS X 10.5 there is no video. It’s not my iMac either because video iChat works fine.
Video is gone so can’t really comment on the quality.
Dear Skype MAC developers,
I have had to deal with your poor Skype application for far too long and now it is time for someone to stand up and give you a wake up call!
I have been a Skype user for several years and been using Skype on both the Mac and Windows platforms. First of all, the Mac version always lags behind the Windows version in terms of features! Second of all and most importantly, you seem to care more about implementing more features than creating a robust and stable foundation to build on! I am currently using the beta 2.7.0.195 and yes it is BETA and I understand that it is still under development, so crashes are bound to happen. Nonetheless, your mainstream version 2.6 is anything but stable. My friends and family experience multiple crashes during calls, which is completely unacceptable since many of them pay for premium features such as Skype PRO. Furthermore, users tend to connect and disconnect on a regular basis rendering Skype useless. By the way, our internet connections are not to blame!
I know you will start to blame my setups and configurations, but the truth of the matter is that Skype for MAC is an appalling compared to the Windows version! Therefore, I ask you as a mac user for more than 8 years to either get your act together and develop the first proper MAC version or join the Windows developers and continue to focus on the Windows users.
I hope that this post is not removed and I would like to hear from the MAC developers.
Thank you.
why cant i play games on my skype for mac? like extra on the pc version?
Stay away from this beta. It is a nightmare on my mac pro 10.5.1. Not only does it crash, but takes down the entire system. No restart, no force quit, no system preferences, no applications… just force shutdown
I still have problems with skype on my imac with OS 10.5.1. Every time I have a videochat and we finish the conversation, skype crashes and I have to make a restart.
I already downloaded skype (BETA) version 2.7.0.195 for Leopard 10.5.1. In general it’s working. But too often times it blockes all my computer. I must to restart completely my Macintosh. And especially it kills totally my connections call with bluetooth. I am not able to talk by phone with bluetooth earphone anymore. Please, can you give me an answer or fix this problem very soon? I will wait for your answer or your solution.
Hello!
I have been using skype for mac since august 2004 and have to say it has improved A LOT so good work!
video feature (now with a good resolution) is something I LOVE.
A request, maybe is already in the to-do list but I’ll just throw it there: will we see soon the video conference (i.e. 3+ people using video at once) for the mac version? that is something I would love, skype would be the “ultimate” app!
Happy holidays, all! I just wanted to remind you that for questions such as the one by fippypsst, it’s best to drop a note to customer support (find the form at support.skype.net) or head to our user forums (forum.skype.com).
Just downloaded the new beta version on my Macbook (2.16GHz, 10.5.1 Leopard) and am experiencing a few niggles:
- My macbook’s fan gets really noisy when I use iSight for video calling. Its fine when I have no video on my end leaving just the other party’s video on screen. Fan really sounds like its going into overdrive, a little scary actually.
- Also no incoming call sound/ringing! Just a screen that comes up so I have missed many calls when I’m not looking at the screen.
Has anyone else experienced the same problems? Would be grateful if someone can shed some light and perhaps even give solutions?
Dear Skype MAC developers,
I have had to deal with your poor Skype application for far too long and now it is time for someone to stand up and give you a wake up call!
I have been a Skype user for several years and been using Skype on both the Mac and Windows platforms. First of all, the Mac version always lags behind the Windows version in terms of features! Second of all and most importantly, you seem to care more about implementing more features than creating a robust and stable foundation to build on! I am currently using the beta 2.7.0.195 and yes it is BETA and I understand that it is still under development, so crashes are bound to happen. Nonetheless, your mainstream version 2.6 is anything but stable. My friends and family experience multiple crashes during calls, which is completely unacceptable since many of them pay for premium features such as Skype PRO. Furthermore, users tend to connect and disconnect on a regular basis rendering Skype useless. By the way, our internet connections are not to blame!
I know you will start to blame my setups and configurations, but the truth of the matter is that Skype for MAC is an appalling compared to the Windows version! Therefore, I ask you as a mac user for more than 8 years to either get your act together and develop the first proper MAC version or join the Windows developers and continue to focus on the Windows users.
I hope that this post is not removed and I would like to hear from the MAC developers.
Thank you.
This should be copied and pasted every time it starts to go near the bottom.
My macbook’s fan gets really noisy when I use iSight for video calling, has anyone experienced the same? Its fine when I have no video on my end leaving just the other party’s video on screen. Fan really sounds like its going into overdrive (goes over 6000rpm) , a little scary actually.
Also I can’t seem to get any incoming call ringing sound when someone calls me. I tried preferences and stuff but nothing works!
It happens on both the 2.6 and the 2.7Beta version. I suspect its my mac (Leopard 10.5.1, 2.16GHz) that has the problem but its only a couple of weeks old…Would be grateful if someone can shed some light and perhaps even give a solution to this please? Thanks!!
Ho acquistato un iMac con processore intel Core 2 duo 2,4 con sistema operativo Leopard e ho scaricato la versione di Skype 2.6. Quando sarà possibile avere una versione aggiornata come per Windows, dato che è tutta un’altra cosa?
I just get new MacBook and installed Skype beta (I’m a beginner user both of Mac and Skype). I have been using MSN messenger for conference call on business, so Isight video calling sound quality is surprised me!
Many Thanks,
ylogos
i have noticed a fantastic improvement on the video with my G5 1.8gHz and 10.4.11 (skype 2.7.0.195), sure it may disconnect sometimes but what the hell guys … it’s free!!!!!!
Though the small window of myself is pixelated but I don’t care about that.
Is it true that Skype still does not allow multiconferencing to date? I can’y believe! I need it badly for business use.
Giovanni
Is it true that Skype still does not allow multiconferencing to date? I can’t believe! I need it badly for business use.
Giovanni
skype compatible with leopard
my arse
What happened to one way video in Skype for OS X?
Hello Skype Mac developers,
I am using the 2.7.0.195 beta on my mac book pro, and it frequently disconnects when i am video calling. i have tried it on different networks and connecting to different people around the word. The common denominator is my Skype on Mac. The behaviour was the same in the last release as well, so it has nothing to do with the new version being a beta. I think it is a fundamental thing that the developers have got wrong.
I have even experienced disconnection on audio only call.
The video quality is better than MSN on windows, but the cpu usage is so much the fan goes crazy.
Yes i know its free, but so are all other competitors, so please get your act together, and get some help from Apple.
I have already posted a feedback to support and I was hoping to get some response. But coming to this forum, I realise its not my problem only and if there was an easy answer to it, there would be some notes here too.
HELLP! I installed this over an older version, and now I cant talk to people in voicemode! Argh! What were you devs thinking? PLEASE is there a data base of older installers, as this new one has buggered my skyping completely..OSX 10.4.8 G4 733 Quicksilver
2 or 3 upgrades ago, I had excellent voice communication with Skype: one day, I upgraded, went immediately back to my previous contact of a few minutes earlier, only to find — then and ever since — that the audio had suddenly gone all to hell, cracking and disappearing and quite beyond control. Today, I uninstalled Skype and reinstalled it with the latest upgrade…with no improvement at all.
My Mac is a PPc G4 867 gh. with 1 gig. of RAM: is it too slow for later versions of Skype? Should I revert to an earlier version? If so, how and where do I find the earlier version?
I’ve been a proponent of Skype since its inception but now feel only rather rueful about it. Help?
I am having serious problems with kernal panics and Skype 2.7 beta since I installed the OS-X 10.5.2 update. Trading down to 2.6.0184 removes the kernal panic but call quality is now abysmal. Are you aware that there is/may be an issue with this latest OS release?
Spero che presto eBay si levi dalle palle e Skype venga acquistata da Google…l’arrivo di Ebay è stata la rovina per i MACusers
Dear Skype MAC developers,
I have had to deal with your poor Skype application for far too long and now it is time for someone to stand up and give you a wake up call!
I have been a Skype user for several years and been using Skype on both the Mac and Windows platforms. First of all, the Mac version always lags behind the Windows version in terms of features! Second of all and most importantly, you seem to care more about implementing more features than creating a robust and stable foundation to build on! I am currently using the beta 2.7.0.195 and yes it is BETA and I understand that it is still under development, so crashes are bound to happen. Nonetheless, your mainstream version 2.6 is anything but stable. My friends and family experience multiple crashes during calls, which is completely unacceptable since many of them pay for premium features such as Skype PRO. Furthermore, users tend to connect and disconnect on a regular basis rendering Skype useless. By the way, our internet connections are not to blame!
I know you will start to blame my setups and configurations, but the truth of the matter is that Skype for MAC is an appalling compared to the Windows version! Therefore, I ask you as a mac user for more than 8 years to either get your act together and develop the first proper MAC version or join the Windows developers and continue to focus on the Windows users.
I hope that this post is not removed and I would like to hear from the MAC developers.
Thank you.
This should be copied and pasted every time it starts to go near the bottom.
Dear Skype Mac developers,
I have the last skype version 2.7.0.257 and the lastest Macbook with Leopard 10.5.2.
You have repaired (apparently)the problem with leopard’s firewall, but now I have another problems: when I make a video-call the procesor of my laptop (core 2 duo 2.2) starts to work a lot, and the temperature increses sharply.
So, definitively you didn’t solve the problems with leopard.
I hope that you take into account this comment for the future versions and try to solve the problem.
Thank you very much.
Regards
Skype 2.7 (not beta) doesn’t respect “hide at system start”. It pops up no matter what.
My wife’s macbook is now crashing, black screen of death, in the middle of every skype phone call she makes. Solution? Running latest Mac OS and latest skype download.
I am using 2.7 on an Intel MacBook. The voice works fine. But I cannot get Skype to recognize the built-in iSight camera which works fine on iChat. (Yes, iChat is turned off when I try to use Skype.) What do I need to do?
Hello. I am using 2.7 on a MacBook Pro. I have only just upgraded to Leopard. However, because of security issues from accidentally hitting a rogue Google ‘find’ in 2007 (the Google index was hacked last year, briefly, although no-one will admit to it) I had installed Little Snitch. Today, Little Snitch announced that someone was communicating with my Mac OS X Kernel. Details gave 92.246.173.181 … Russian? Examination of the logs revealed that it had done this via Skype – which usually uses UDP but in this and a few other instances was not.
Should I be concerned here?!
Jenny
Apologies – wrong blog… will post to correct one. Skype seems to be fine so far on my Intel Duo Core MacBook Pro with Broadband. Thanks. J.
I am using the latest OS for Mac and upgraded to the latest Skype. After a few minutes of connection with video my Airport shuts down. I have to reset my Airport each time in order to get back on line. This is happening every time I am using Skype with video. Do I need to go to an earlier version of Skype?
I am using the latest OS for Mac and upgraded to the latest Skype. After a few minutes of connection with video my Airport shuts down. I have to reset my Airport each time in order to get back on line. This is happening every time I am using Skype with video. Do I need to go to an earlier version of Skype?
I have voice now I need to know how to get the video to work. skype says there is no video camera detected/connected, however I have an internal camera
I am having exact same problem — why is it impossible to get an answer from Skype? And my service is a paid service, so no bull with “what do you expect, it’s free”.
Ariel Peeri
@sister2the9 @arielpeeri go to Skype > Preferences and click the Video tab, and make sure your webcam is selected – that should do the trick
I had version 2.7 and it worked with Snow Leopard then installed version 2.8 for the mac and it will not login? So the older versions work but the newer ones don’t?
I had version 2.7 and it worked with Snow Leopard then installed version 2.8 for the mac and it will not login? So the older versions work but the newer ones don’t?