Skype 4.0 Beta 2 for Windows
In June we announced the first beta of Skype 4.0, a radical departure from any other version we’ve made before. Since then we’ve spent a lot of time reading and analysing your feedback and we’ve made a number of changes.
This video is recorded in HD – we recommend viewing it full screen (for those of you reading this in an RSS reader, you can watch the briefing video here – you can also grab the embed code if you want to use this video in your own blog)
Today, I’m very happy to announce Beta 2. It includes a number of changes, and most noticeably we’ve brought back contact groups – although we’ve renamed it contact categories to avoid confusion with group conversations. We’ve also done a lot of work on resizing and introduced a view which behaves very much like older versions: compact view. There are also major changes to alerts and notifications – it’s one of my favourite aspects of Beta 2. You’ll be glad to see numerous other changes and bugfixes have been introduced as well.
Take a quick look at the video below to give you a little preview of what you’re about to download, then go and give it a test drive yourself.
Again, we’d really like to hear your feedback on Beta 2, so don’t hesitate to let us know what you like, and what you don’t:
We’ll launch a third Beta towards the end of the year to address your comments on this version and also add a few other features – History being the most notable.
Thank you again for your feedback and your patience in waiting for this new version – I hope you enjoy using it.
Suggestions for Skype 4.0 beta 2
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User Interface:
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Too much real estate is used by including tab buttons for ‘Directory’ and ‘Shop’. These are almost never used in day-to-day operations and should be available through View menu only.
A toolbar button in the UI should be included to switch quickly between Compact and Normal views (there should also be a keyboard shortcut for this).
Easier access to contact categories (groups) is needed. The new drop-down arrow is fiddly and means that groups cannot be selected as quickly as with v3.
Conversations should have an option to include with group contact category those conversations belong.
Systemic:
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Allow control over user profiles. Users should be able to specify which folder stores the profile (will make it easier for transferring/sharing profile history across computers – desktop and laptop, for example). Also, there should be a quick way to switch profile (change login, if you will).
Multiple profiles should be supported for each user. An individual should be able to have more than one profile, but without the need to login for each, and with things such as Skype Credit persisting across those profiles. This is very important for switching between, say, Business and Personal profiles, but without having to create separate Skype accounts for each.
Inclusion of a spell checker in user-selectable language (similar to Firefox and plugins) would be very welcome.
Ability to back-up and restore the history (or any part of it).
Ability to add third-party or personal emoticons.
Create a shared blacklist of spam/con approaches for contact.
Browser and MS Office plugins should be controlled from the main UI, and not separate installations.
Apparent Faults:
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The only one in this beta that I ahve here is that ‘Contacts->Show Outlook Contacts’ does not work (whether Outlook 2007 is running or not).
That’s it for now.
I am running Skype 4.0.0168. I am living in the USA and have a UK London number that I have configured to call a Netgear WiFi Skype phone and then diverts to my cell phone after 15 seconds. When someone phones me it can take over 1 min 30 seconds for the call to connect to the the cell. most of this time is spent just connecting through from my Skype number, the caller hears the ringing tone their end. Do you have any suggestions on how this time can be reduced.
You guys still don’t get it. I don’t want to see your program. I like what it does, but it MUST do it quietly and discreetly. Opening a huge window that takes up my entire screen just to place a SkypeOut call is not something I am going to tolerate.
I am junking your beta again after less than 5 minutes and going back to the previous version, just as I did with beta 1.
You just don’t get your business users. Your software supports the main task I am doing at a given moment, but is almost never the main task. Therefore, anything you do with your GUI that interferes with my main task is something that is going to bother me. That means quite simply – do not open windows.
I DO want a useful program that is heard but not seen. I DO want to be able to call out to a phone by pasting a number into the main interface and hitting the enter key once. That was always strong benefit of your software. I do NOT want to have to open extra windows and click the mouse a few times to accomplish the same task. I do NOT want to have the program I was working on covered by some massive window with nerf-sized buttons.
If you force this on me in future versions, I will stop using Skype entirely.
When will you listen?
@andy.pike I’ve sent you a message on Skype with some more details – hope we can sort this one out.
Thanks to you and the whole Skype team – GREAT improvements! one things:
do not kill skypeme !
Beta 2:
Compact mode: Better, but not perfect yet.
Suggestions:
- Conversation contact lists should be more customizable. Allow them to be big, allow them to be very compact. Personally, I want them very compact.
- Allow the removal of the big green Call button taking up space.
- Conversations only show history for yesterday or 7 days? I need to have the full history available (for Find/search) from the beginning like 3.8.
- I don’t need to see Directory, Shop, and Skype Credit bars all the time.
Why on earth no new MAC version?!?!?!? AAAAAAAAAAARHGHGHGH.
In the Skype 4.0 Beta 2, the video is above the conversation window.
In any modern computer monitor, The width of my monitor is much greater than the height. Putting the video on the right or left side of the conversation window will provide better use of screen estate.
Skype 3.8 provided me with this option becasue the conversation window and the video window is seperate. I can place it to the left or right- as I wished. Skype 4.0 is a big step back.
The biggest problem I have Skype is not the interface. Skype 3.8 has a much better usable interface compared to Skype 4.0 in my opinion.
My biggest problem with Skype right now is that whenever I do some task in Vista which requires a UAC prompt. Skype will immediately disable Aero.
I have to exit Skype to restore Aero Glass.
Every other program that displays video like VLC, Live messenger, quicktime etc that runs on Vista has been fixed to support UAC prompt, but Skype has not yet been.
Both OpenGL and DirectX based video applications should not disable Aero in this manner. It has been 2 years since Vista has been released and this huge inconvenience has still not been fixed. When are you going to fix it?
i am reaaly a big fan of skype using form first release. but i need the mention that, by the day skype is really late to do something wrong or faulty because of the growing number of rivals.
GUI
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in general view gui is frustrating. it could be better if simplified with right button/icons and more organized gui elements.
Business and Personal Life Balance
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1-) a company field hihgly needed. it is big lack of skype during the years contact management and address book like feature.
2-) multiple accounts on-line real time. the years before this should be fixed. i wish to use both my personal and business account at the same time.
Bug
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in narrowed view, add phone numbers field being hidden. it needs to be widen form’s witdt to be appeared.
I’m struggling with sounds and notifications:
I like to get an audible notification that somebody is starting a chat. That seems to work, and I believe it’s the “Incoming IM” sound that I hear when the converstaion starts. (It’s kind of a wimpy little sound, but I reckon that can be changed withuot too much difficulty.)
However, *during* the conversation, it’s often the case that I may want to navigate away from Skype until I hear back from the person I’m conversing with. In such a case, as soon as he/she has sent the new IM, I’d like to get an audible indication, in addition to the changed color and blinking of the status bar item.
Is there a way to specify that? I don’t see it …
Thanks!
I tried the new beta for a couple of days but got so annoyed with features relating to the new contacts not working correctly that I ended up downgrading again. After seeing this blog entry I thought I’d give it another try, but lasted just one call!
Most annoying is the inability of the new version to add any new callers to a voice conversation (if it is started by calling a phone number), and also the inability to call a new conference member’s phone number if they are also a skype contact – i.e. the only option is to add their skype id, not the office / mobile number associated with their contact.
Until these things are corrected, I’ll be sticking with 3.8.
I am trying to figure out if there is anyway that I can backup my skype messages ?
I am running Windows Vista Home Edition and Skype Beta Ver. 2
if anyone has any help they can offer please email at info@opulentfinancial.net
thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.
gary hurd
“Dear Skype, I have an offer:
Do whatever you want with Skype 4.0′s interface and let the users enjoy it. But, besides it, please, make some “Skype 4 Lite” with interface exactly like in Skype 3, just with algorithms improved. It would be so greatly appreciated. I really want to upgrade my Skype to newer and better version. But to upgrade from Skype 3 to Skype 4 is almost the same as to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows Vista.
Do not follow the bad examples!”
^Perfect advice.
It would sure be nice if Mac OS X got some love. There hasn’t been anything for it in a long while. Possibly a 2.8 beta? 3.0 beta? Anything?
“My biggest problem with Skype right now is that whenever I do some task in Vista which requires a UAC prompt. Skype will immediately disable Aero.
I have to exit Skype to restore Aero Glass.
Every other program that displays video like VLC, Live messenger, quicktime etc that runs on Vista has been fixed to support UAC prompt, but Skype has not yet been.
Both OpenGL and DirectX based video applications should not disable Aero in this manner. It has been 2 years since Vista has been released and this huge inconvenience has still not been fixed. When are you going to fix it?”
Everytime I use control-alt-delete to open task manager, Skype disables Aero mode also. This is most annoying. Why has Skype not been fixed to not do this?
@madindehead are you using the most recent version of Skype?
@ peterparkes
Yes, I am indeed using the most recent version of Skype.
In current standard version, skype would crash with my camera turned on. In this beta it works mostly if i turn it on after connection established. Stevision night usb camera. (lenovo driver).
I am using a usb headset Phillips bluetooth shb 6111, the drivers are now called usb drivers, and in the past, i could always see which driver was to be used for what purpose. Annoying when the loadspeakers are usb also.
If playing a game in lower resolution, the popup has to be disabled for new logons, else it will cover to much of the screen and to long.
Hello!
And what about spell checker? Is some plug-in for Skype which checks our spelling?
Hi everybody, I just bought my new netbook, & have downloaded latest version of skype, it’s really annoying having the shop, directory,… tabs, in small window with all of those unneccessary tabs + annoying adv. you cannot see more than 3-4 names, it is making me crazy. Please is you have found a soloution for it let me know I should decide getting ride of those tabs or skype
Thank you