10 days later…
Hello again!
It’s been 10 days since we launched the first Beta of Skype 4.0 for Windows, so I thought it would be a good idea to reflect a little and to respond to some of the feedback we’ve received.
Firstly, I’d like to thank everyone who has given us their thoughts via our feedback site, on this and our other blogs, but also via the various feedback mechanisms we introduced for this Beta. It always amazes me how many people are so passionate about Skype and that’s what makes it so enjoyable to get up and come to work every morning (apart from last Thursday – boy, did my head hurt).
We’ve had very different reactions to Beta 1, in particular the big change we made of having Skype in a larger window. One of the primary reasons for doing this was that we found an overwhelming majority of people had trouble working with multiple windows and were using Skype mainly to make calls and video calls, especially amongst those new to Skype. We’ve had some very positive feedback from a lot of people on the new way of working, and that’s encouraging as it seems we’re starting to solve the problems that we set out to solve. However, it’s very understandable some of you used to using Skype on a regualar basis have been a bit frustrated about not being able to work with Skype the way they are used to.
We always planned to address our more advanced users in a second beta, and I just wanted to say – don’t worry — we will address the need to have Skype take up less room on the screen with a feature that allows you to reduce the size – we call it compact mode. We hope to get it out towards the end of the summer with our second beta release.
]]>Other people have also commented on being able to resize video. There are a few things you can do here in Beta 1. Firstly, in the single window, you can resize both your own video and the video of the other person you are talking to. If you hover over the bottom left corner of the video feeds, you will find this functionality. What you can also do is pop out the video window using this button -> 
, which you’ll see at the top right hand corner of your screen, to the right of the “+ Add people” button.
Which, will mean, if you’re on a video call, you’ll see something like this:
We will make further improvements to this with Beta 2.
Finally, a lot of people have asked about a Mac version. Both the Mac and Linux teams here at Skype are working closely with us on this Beta. They are reading all of this feedback and will be picking out the truly great bits and putting them into their respective versions. So you can certainly expect to see something on Mac after summer.
Again, thank you for your passion and you enthusiasm – and hopefully you are enjoying Skype 4.0 Beta 1.
Speak to you again soon.
Mike Bartlett
Director of Product Management, Skype for Windows
I installed the beta version as soon as it was launched, and returned to v3.8 a couple of hours later. I do think the new integrated window looks stupid, and what is more stupid is that there is no option to change to “classic view”. Dropping “Skype me” mode is also a silly move. I am always using it and has made a lot of friends through it. I know there are complains about it but there are also people loving it.
I wish Skype could be smaller and faster. Audio/video qualities can still be improved. Skype has not been able to connect through my school wifi for months and there is no solution about it. Skype out rates can be made cheaper. I’ve been using Skype for years and I am now so disappointed to see such a new beta version. I will stick to my 3.8 until it is not supported anymore, if the final version of 4.0 is like the beta 1.
Well, I have to say that I feel the 4 Beta shows promise. It’s quite a radical UI change and I can see that it might take a little while to become familiar with it, but the most important thing, in my mind, is that everything is in one place now (with the option of popping individual chat and call windows out from the main window if that suits you).
Definitely though I am baffled by a few things.
1. Why change the skype out contact icon colour to green? The old blue worked well and offered an instant visual separation of skype/skypeout contacts.
2. Obviously there are going to be things missing, but the lack of a history section (or at least a voice mail section) is a major downside. I am sticking with the beta on my desktop but use 3.8 on my laptop to check my history of calls etc. I can see that the aim is probably to integrate this old feature with the new conversations section – but it definitely needs some work.
3. I do like the new Profile/Location/etc section above each conversation window, but it does seem excessively large. I realise you mention an overall compact mode, but it would be nice if there were two minimised options, one of which kept a small thumbnail of chat participants. Visual clues are much easier than text for quickly glancing at a window to see who’s involved.
4. I hope and assume that contact groups will be making a reappearance. I had only recently sorted out all my contacts to make it easier to be in “work mode”. It’s a shame that’s gone now.
5. The Call Phones tab is extremely inflexible and doesn’t like the window being sized down (starts chopping off your call credit listing)
One final thing – can we pretty please have an option to add our own images to people’s profiles. Again, visual clues are much better, and I for one would love to see, when a skype out call comes through, a photo of the person that’s calling. Again, it’s that split second recognition thing that just makes it a nicer tool for communication.
Anyway, keep it up. I really hope with Beta 2 that when you say “towards the end of the summer” that doesn’t mean September
September might seem like autumn to some people, but in Ireland it’s often the best “summer month” from a weather point of view.
Hello, How to have a chat using Beta 1? I couldn’t find it. If a payed SMS is an only option, I do not like it.
Thanks.
vitsom
@vitsom: Right click on the contact –> Send IM
is one way to start a chat.
Can 4.0 beta be set to start minimized?
Hey, where has Skype Prime gone on the 4.0 menus?
I love the Skype 4.0 larger video display and quality. It just blows away the competition. I wish it supported SIP.
One big issue that has been bothering me and possibly others is the inability to see my contacts online even though they are in fact online. I can’t see them online and they can’t see me online even though we both know we are both logged in properly to Skype. We have no problems with Google Talk but it looks like Skype is having big issues with this.
I would appreciate if something can be done about it as we simply cannot voice chat or video chat or in fact do anything if I cannot see my friends online and if they cannot see me.
Thanks.
I wish the Mac dev team would pay attention.
The Skypecasts don’t work for Intel Macs running Leopard.
It’s quite frustrating, please help fix this!
Having trouble !!! can´t seem to start skype 4.0 beta in minimized stated… QTF!?! I´ts pretty annoying !!!!
Also having trouble finding my online friends actually online!!! Sounds stuped, but true.
I don’t know who to tell this to, but I just want to say thank you you guys so much for Skype. It is such an incredibly great program. It has helped support my long distance relationship where I was calling the US from Japan and now I’m calling Denmark from the US. And it works so perfectly, and it’s free too (or really cheap)! I find it almost too good to be true. Thank you so so very much.
-a very happy customer
סקייפ ישראל
תגיות:skype
This has nothing to do with any of the aforegoing blogs. Just a note of amazaement that I had to Google “Skype customer service telephone number” and work through a bunch of unhappy blogs about Skype having no customer service phone number (that is, that is made known to its customers). Anyway, I lucked out, as some persistent soul somehow had found out what the svc number is; which I will call tomorrow to cancel service. I tried cancelling by using email (within the Skype panel) a few days ago. Not even an acknowledgement. Boy, Vonage are nasty tricksters, but I thought Skype would be better. Happily, got an AT&T landline back in today, and am celebrating my re-entry into the world of telephonic communications! Goodbye forever to VOIP, and good riddance!
I don’t like the new look I find it takes more time to find out who is chatting
I think you should install skype muter at the same time you install skype
(its free anyway)
I think you should be trying to get more girls interested in skype since they tend to do more talking anyway (free skype to skype calling is great)
I also think you should have reviews on microphones/headsets/phones and coupons or discounts….
Do You Know Something Cool Bulgaria Created A Leagle version of Skype 4.0.0.145 Becouse now Skype England is in version 4.0.0.094
Bulgaria Rulzz
Do You Know Than England Created Skype 3.7.6
And Bulgaria Created 3.8.0 Than Skype Added Bulgarian Skype In Their Site
Actualy Skype England And Skype Bulgaria Singend an contract so wait 4.2.64.000 by Bulgaria (flag:bg)
Download Skype 4.0.0.145 Bg Version Here: http://download.skype.com/SkypeSetup-Beta.exe
I installed beta version and let me say that i don’t like new look.
Buy the way, I tried to remove it to re-install 3.8 version, but now the old one does not work. the program closes automatically after 10-15 seconds….NO GOOD