Skype 4.0 – it's all yours
For those of you who are regular readers of this blog, this should come as no surprise – the gold version of Skype 4.0 for Windows is now ready to download. It’s an exciting day at Skype – and not just because we’ve also just passed the 16 million online user milestone 
– as it marks the final stage in a process which has lasted over two years, and incorporated feedback from tens of thousands users like you.
I’m going to keep this brief, as much of the story of 4.0 has been covered in Peter’s previous posts, but even if you stop reading now, this is the bit to remember: the gold version of Skype 4.0 for Windows is now ready, so download it now and share it with your friends, family and colleagues.
At Skype, we feel that we’re really having an impact on the world when people love to use Skype – chat, make voice and video calls, have group conversations and send files – and in 4.0 we’ve focused on making these features better than ever. To meet that goal, we’ve made a number of dramatic improvements to video calling, ease-of-use and call quality:
- Improved video calling – With the changes we’ve made, video calling in Skype 4.0 for Windows is the next best thing to being there. A new built-in bandwidth manager ensures that you have the very best video calling experience possible, even on a low bandwidth connection. If you have a fast enough connection (recommended 400 Kb/s or higher) and a high quality webcam, Skype delivers up to 30-frames-per-second High Quality Video at full screen.
- Calls and instant messages are easier to manage – video and voice calls, as well as instant messaging, are all easy to reach in a single window. The new Conversations tab makes it easy to hold multiple conversations at once, and to switch quickly between video and voice calls, instant messages and SMS. This is particularly beneficial for the power users among you.
- Call quality is substantially improved thanks to a number of under-the-hood changes. Calls sound richer and clearer than ever thanks to support for Super Wideband Audio with compatible hardware. The bandwidth manager should ensure that you have crystal clear calls even when bandwidth is low.
4.0 also sports a radically overhauled user interface – a slicker, cleaner look with less clutter and easier-to-find core features. We’ve also included Compact View, which retains the structure of the Skype 3.8 interface for those of you who prefer to work that way.
We’ve also improved the History and search features, and have added abuse reporting – if you choose to block a new contact request you’ll now be given the option of reporting the blocked user to Skype. This information will be used to help us detect and block the tiny minority abusive users.
It represents a fundamental change in the way we’ve thought about the software development process, and is the most distinctive new release in Skype’s five year history. We’ve examined every aspect of the software, both inside and out, and taken on board your feedback at every stage. I’m very proud of the work our engineers and designers have put in to this version, and I hope you enjoy the results of their efforts.
I work remotely and use skype all day, mostly for chat, only occasionally voice+video. These all apply to the compact mode, the full mode is _no_ use for full time background use of skype, I don’t want to waste a whole monitor on skype. This has all been chewed over before, but having two modes is a kludge – concentrate on making one usable. (Hint: putting everything in a single window isn’t usable).
- URLs don’t get autolinked in chats
- in a group chat the massive bright green “Call Group” button is *way* too prominent, it’s the most eye catching thing on my whole desktop. And I never (ever) use it. And to the right is some (i) icon about call quality? huh? in a chat window? delete this whole bar and save the space.
- chat window positions aren’t restored correctly when opened from history (opens on wrong monitor for me)
- the ‘edited’ icon in chat history takes up room even when it’s not displayed, which is most of the time. The time display also wastes a lot of space on the right hand side.
The new group chat member list isn’t very good:
- I used to be able to see at a glance the status of all the members of a group chat (sorry group “IM” now I guess), even with ~12 people. Now this isn’t possible without tedious scrolling because each member in the list takes up waay too much space.
- Why is the chat title repeated *again* when displaying the members in a group chat? It’s displayed *twice* immediately above (once where I can edit it, once in the window title), so this makes it the third time its displayed in within the same inch of screen.
- Why can’t I hide a conversation picture for a group chat? Although I have some long term group conversations, most are ad hoc and won’t have a picture so it’s useless.
>Why can’t I hide a conversation picture for a group chat?
Ok, I’ve found how to get rid of this. Turning it off makes it even more obvious how poorly the member list uses space.
- Pale blue text on white background for user in chat history is hard on the eyes.
After upgrading to Skype 4.0.0.206, my cordless DualPhone suite V2.32 & cordless DualPhone handset/baseV0151 no longer function. I then re-install Skype V3.8.0.188 that cures the problem. Are these Skype phones no longer supported? Or is there a fix for this problem? My system consists of three of these phones plus base unit so the replacement cost would be excessive.
I was excited to download this, but I have to say, I absolutely hate it. It’s completely counterproductive. It’s impossible to keep multiple conversations going like you used to be able to.
How do I go back to the old version?
I upgraded to 4.0 and it is somehow the Hell. Contacts are shown offline, even if they self are online. You try to call someone shown as online, 4 times out of 5 it fails. During the try to call, Skype changes the user to offline status. Half a minute later he is shown as online again. Suddenly the call works. What happened? The Userinterface is somehow crap, I have the same opinion as the others. First of all, I changed directly to compact mode, but all contact in green, Icons changed, crazy.
Additional my first impression is: It is using more CPU. I am using it on my Notebook (IBM Thinkpad T41 with Pentium M 1.4 GHz), during videocalls it takes now 100% CPU.
well i’ve downloaded new version today…cause i have in another pc old version 3.8! and everything worked perfect! but there was missing “skype me” mode!!! And i can not live without it..sometimes…
So im very sorry but i will return to old version! and i hope that problems with skype 4.0 will be solved in nearly future!!
well i’ve downloaded new version today…cause i have in another pc old version 3.8! and everything worked perfect! but there was missing “skype me” mode!!! And i can not live without it..sometimes…
So im very sorry but i will return to old version! and i hope that problems with skype 4.0 will be solved in nearly future!!
Firstly I have to say that I love skype, but when I updated to the 4.0 I was very disappointed. I just find the user interface so backward. The old one is very intuitive, the 4.0 is not.
It is difficult to see who is ringing me and now I find it hard to carry on multiple conversation at a time. The other thing is in the past you just need to click on the person name and you could see what time it was with them just under there name.
This is handy if for people that is calling all over the world. But now you have to click on the person to open the a side part then to look at what time. I am sorry but sometimes new is not best and this is one of them. It would be good if you could have old or new GUI.
I am sorry I am going back to 3.8.0.139.
4.0 sucks.
First, it takes forever to startup.
Second, it takes even longer to make a call or send an IM.
What the hell happened?
It went from being the worlds best communication tool to being the lackluster Oprah tool for housewives.
Somebody fix this shit immediately!
There was once a pleasure to using Skype™, but then you went and closed Skypecasts for Oprah, and now this shit! Are you trying to kill it completely?
You’re doing a great job of destroying it like you did eBay.
For fucksake put it back together again before it’s way too late.
-Scoops!™
This new version is disgraceful.
Some of the minor flaws i’ve noticed is:
-Time Stamps no longer show Seconds. Only minutes. So when im having a large conference chat, its hard to tell when exactly people are talking. It might not be an issue for everyone, but for me it is.
-I’ve always used the Chat Title as a bulletin board. My friends would always post new links to certain sites, links to their latest artwork etc. Unfortunately, the links in the chat titles are no longer clickable and now i have to Copy + Paste the links manually.
-Contact list in the chat shows everyone now in alphabetical order in a list that takes up way too much space and requires me to enlarge my window tremendously to view all my friends in the chat. I liked it better with the online folks showing up at the top of the list too.
The interface just plain sucks. The chat screens have lots of filler cluttering up the size of the chat window. There’s all this unnecessary white space on the sides and the actual conversation itself has been reduced in size significantly.
The only new feature that i actually noticed and liked was the ability to get notifications for when people come offline, something small that the previous version couldn’t do somehow.
Bottom line, Skype 4.0 is a joke. What were these guys thinking?
Not for Mac? Too bad! We Mac Users are creative and edgy people! Well, from reading the comments, I guess I’m not missing much. Don’t forget: there are Mac Users out there, President Obama, for example.
I used to realy like the old interface because it was simple, it worked and was reasonably fast.
The new Telly Tubbies meets RealPlayer (another product which got overloaded with unnecessary clutter and people then stopped using) interface gives me the feeling that this was designed for little kids. A lot of people used to like skype because it followed the KISS principle. If I wanted unnecessary visual effects I would use one of the other messenger services like yahoo messenger or MSN with their own clients.
The decision is becoming difficult now, use Skype with an interface that I really don’t like, use an older version which doesn’t have the voice quality improvements of newer versions or change to a different system.
Even Microsoft realised that a lot of people liked “simple” and therefor still have a “Windows classic” theme. Can we get the same for Skype please?
Bottom line, see how much positive feedback there has been and how much negative and then make your own judgement whether you are heading in the right direction.
Can anyone tell me how with skype four the dialing pad can be utilized once a call has been made e g Press one for English. How do I do that
Chasdan
Please bring back the SkypeMe function. Its very useful to know who is in the mood to receive text messages or calls, and who wants to be left alone. But otherwise v4 is ok.
sepz001 : without SkypeMe mode I couldn’t meet new friends … it’s really cool to know other people who want to chat and meet new friends..I don’t know why is was removed since people are not obliged to set in skypeme mode…
anyway the new version is okay
This is a great new version with good features, BUT…
I still don’t understand why they are restricting the reading area to a fixed number of characters per line.
we use to use skype to pass large amounts of text because I knew that the other person was going to be able to maximize the window and see the whole thing expanded…. but now, even when you maximize your chat window the reading area remains the same. It is starting to feel as limited as MSN, and that my friends is just not good ! Is there any way to address this post as a real change request??
Why wasn’t call transfer implemented?
I personaly think the new interface sucks. Why did you change it? And if you mean you had to, why there is no option to have it like one was used to for years.
In 3.8 one could for example send SMS using Ctrl+Enter – now it does not work anymore.
Where can I download 3.8 again?
Why I can’t install Skype 4.0? PC writes to me: “..No Networwork Path”. May be I must de-install the old version Skype for begining?
User: rusrock08
If you want to stay cool and connected with the world stay at skype3.8.
The interface of version 4.0 looks good, but for me as a user it is a downgrade in functionality to go to skype4 for now, because i love the skypeMe functionality, which is not in at skype4.
Hi if anyone can answer me direct. coach@yourscenario.co.uk. How did others manage with dark screen for icons? I would be grateful for replies. I am still using Skype 3.1. The upgrade last year was very hard to read, so I went back. The icons were dark, but I noticed about 4 more to chose from. My friend in Germany just upgraded. I don’t know what version but its so bad she went to google mail instead which as you know is basic text. She thinks she might get used to the new Skype. Maybe the real reason she shifted was a friend is calling too often when she is online using skype. I will try to use a new version when its OK, if I hear about it.
As mentioned above, how about bringing the improved audio and video codecs of v4 to the preferred 3.8 interface? I am a guy who usually likes to use the latest and greatest versions but 4.0 is a bloated non intuitive white elephant next to 3.8 like vista is compared to xp. Intuitive my backside! If you want 4.0 to be taken seriously, eBay you need to make compact mode exactly like the 3.8 interface. Otherwise i wait for skype version 5 and only if it is a step forward not back. With Skype 4 I cannot set the speed dials for my vosky call center that is supposed to be skype certified! Bring back the skypecasts too ebay! Which part of listening to your customers do you not understand?
If Skype 4.0 was all mine (read Open Source), I would bring the simple standard design back but with improved under-the-hood changes.
Though the bandwidth manager is a good idea, I’m currently already using a bandwidth manager for managing Skype bandwidth as well as managing bandwidth for a few other applications.
I’m not sure who is considered a “power user” but for many users who spend considerably amount of working hours on the computer, screen real-estate is an important factor when choosing what application to use, and so is a simple and unobtrusive graphical user interface that focuses on efficiency and functionality instead of flashy colors and accessories. This type of design is not only beneficial for power users but also for accessibility users and users who likes their system to be interlaced and their applications to interact.
Improved video and audio codecs are never wrong, but I’m hoping that when the accessibility-features version of Skype 4 is completed it will make Skype 4 better. For now I too am sticking with previous versions.
I have downloaded version 4.0, not having used any earlier versions of Skype. I tried setting up a video link but failed with two different contacts. In both cases, my laptop froze completely and I had to reboot. I have no problem using the video link on MSN Messenger. Is there a way to install version 3.8; is the video quality as good; and is it as secure?
The UI of version 4 is a terrible disappointment. No matter how I tweak, it still consumes more screen real-estate than version 3 did. I really really regret that I updated.
Skype 4.0 GOLD and Outlook Contacts
Seriously I can’t believe that the Outlook Contacts in Vista issue isn’t fixed. The only reason I use Skype is for the ease of use and simplicity. If I have to cut-n-paste a phone number out of outlook…kinda defeats the purpose. Everyone I know who is running Vista is having this issue.
Looks like this was an issue while in Beta but, never got fixed prior to release. Thanks Raul…
check here: https://developer.skype.com/jira/secure/IssueNavigator.jspa
doesn’t look like much is being done…or at least the status isnt being updated.
I don’t like this new interface: Why the skipein contacts are so similar to the skypeout contacts? Why you didn’t put the skypeout contacts in an other color (blue, for example). Now it’s easy to make a mistake and when you’re trying to call to another computer you’re in fact calling to a phone number.
And It will be better if you can choose between a full screen view and the traditional little screen.
I hope they will improve the interface in version 4.1. The interface should be more customizable…
Using Skype 4.0 for 1 week was 1 week to much.
BUT
luckyli i have 3,8 on a memorystick and thats it no more upgrade.
Since Google took over it is no longer for the people.
Now it is hardcore business. and nevermind the users. fill them with a lie, as long we (Google) think we get bigger. respect for the user and ordinary people must die in the holy name of profit hunting.
I will still use skype (and hope it will come to Iphone) because the inventers brought it to live with decent behavior and respect for humans.
My first comment here. I use skype from my home phone via a USB adaptor. I downloaded version 4 yesterday, and could no longer dial from my handsets. I see there have been other comments on this. I went back to 3.8 after an hour or so of mucking about with settings. Another thing I noticed – my Outlook contacts aren’t displaying in the contacts list (yes, I ticked that option…)but this may be my own particular problem as I don’t see other mentions of it.
Is there feedback to our comments from “the Skype guys”? To the person who is considering use of their USB adaptor as a paperweight – well, I hope yours is heavier than mine!
Skype guys, fix it, hey? I pay you money – not much, but its consistent.
Some more damage done to the chat UI: try maximising a chat window, the chat text only expands up to a certain amount. I really hope this is a bug rather than a deliberate change, because it’s absolutely useless if you want to avoid wrapping, say if you’ve pasted in an error log with long lines.
Another problem: try selecting text from a multi-line chat comment, without selecting the time – it’s no longer possible.
After a week of use the negatives are starting to outweigh the positives.
If you want to download older versions of the Skype software please go here…
http://www.filehippo.com/download_skype/
Yes, they have v3.8 even v3.1 all the way back to v1.2.0 which i would assume wouldnt actually work with their network anymore.
Who are you people and what were you thinking when you released this kludge. I would love a name and email of the person that flipped this switch.
1/The old complete standalone installer was for me a much better choice.
I feel a vicious attitude there, to prevent people to roll back to an older version. CAN SKYPE PUBLICLY DENY THAT ?? and offer a fully downloadable version
(I use skype on five PCs for my family..)
2/ NO PERCEPTIBLE IMPROVEMENT IN QUALITY – AT ALL
3/ ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE INTERFACE
4/ PAMELA DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE
CONCLUSION : I RE-INSTALLED 3.8 and intend to stick to it as long as i can
marcelocaniato : i dislike the tone of your comment on leonleon post.
I turns out that MANY users feel VERY unconfortable with the new interface and make it clear. Its not a matter of Psychanalyszing “the real unwilingness to upgrade”.
I installed Skype 0.99 and upgraded probably more that a dozen times since. This is the FIRST TIME i rolled back.
And, as LeonLeon and many others I will NOT give 4.0 a second chance ( i was a member of the beta, with NO CHANCE to report and get heard, by the way)
Why were the skypeme status and the not available status removed from skype 4.0? I don’t really care that much about the skypeme mode, but I really miss not being able to set my status to not available.
Thanks,
Warriorjd1
The new interface is awful– having online contacts and phone contacts the same color is a terrible decision. Having a little teeny icon in the taskbar to show that a message has come in is not very visible. I often chat with more than one person at the same time– It is NOT intuitive to have all chats restricted to one window with tabs. And most annoying of all, in spite of the fact that I have my history turned off, old conversations keep coming back whenever someone starts a new conversation. I close conversations, but they just keep coming back. I find this a little creepy– is Skype saving my conversations?
WHEN will speed dial be implemented in SKYPE 4.0? Is it possible to get an official SKYPE answer to this important question?
hariom722 : Try PAMELA for Skype( just google it, its NOT a joke about Mrs Anderson! )
Unfortunately it does NOT work well with 4.0 but its a breeze with 3.8,
the free version is full of fantastic features..
I’ve tried the new version for about a week – and – I DONT like Skype 4.
- Double clicking the Skype icon in the task bar does not always bring up Skype.
- The GUI is counterintuitive compared to all previous Skype versions.
- The chat window has a large WHITE border around it stealing a lot of space.
- You are unable to enter any text until you click inside the text-box starting a new chat.
- And so on …
You can download the good old 3.8 version here:
http://www.skype.com/go/getskype-accessibility
Skype 4.0 GOLD and Outlook Contacts
still no work done to repair this bug…
https://developer.skype.com/jira/browse/SCW-1051
I’m not about to jump off bandwagon, yet, because…Skype is cool, but sheesh this should have had some known issues visibility on the release link and a way to roll back if it wasn’t a fit (at least a link to the old installer. I’m in QA (12 years), so I’m thinking this should have stayed beta for the Outlook 2007 on Vista reason alone (the latest platform and it’s not working…come on)
going back to 3.8…what a pain.
link here –> http://www.filehippo.com/download_skype/download/62352d423612bbeecbe0b277f71509de/
So as to add another voice to the outcry, I too am upset with this version of Skype.
The biggest problem is the interface.
-Drab blue-gray’s look like a rainy day.
-Contact profiles must be opened in a new window to be viewed. This further accents the color imbalance because a contact’s profile picture only appears in a separate window.
I would like to suggest that, while in ‘Compact Mode’, a brief summary of a contact is displayed within the main window while they are selected in the contact list, as in previous versions. From a design perspective, this will help to balance the main interface window.
I am so sad about the new Skype. Its not skype anymore. You may as well change the name. I loved skype, and there was nothing wrong with the UI as it was it was crisp and clear. The chat box was set up perfectly for me. I miss the lines in between each message. It made it easier to follow a conversation. Now all the messages just blend together, among countless other problems .
Back when I was testing out all the chat programs I chose to use Skype, mainly because the GUI was the best, and that by far! Now I see no benefit to staying with Skype for that reason. Now there is no program I like . Skype was my friend! Please bring it back! I am not afraid of change, but it has to be a good change. This is a tragedy. Please, Skype, I beg you to get fast to work to bring back the old interface. Now if you’ll excuse me im going to wipe this garbage off my computer and get Skype back ! Who’s coming with me!?
I’m going to have to agree with the prior posters that mentioned the chat window being a huge amount of wasted space and hard to follow. Why in the world would you not let me stretch the chat size? Its forced to be fixed? You can at least un-attach windows (Albeit this took me awhile to find, after digging around all the options its called ‘compact view’, and somehow compact in this sense means to split it into many windows instead of one).
The one and ONLY good feature about Skype 4.0 to me is the when a file was received its actually logged in the chat window instead of just disappearing (way to catch up to ICQ circa 2002).
I’ve missed multiple calls (I honesty have noidea when they are coming in the new UI in [compact] mode is terrible).
The UI is a clutter of crap, and the way the contact lists sorts is terrible.
The chat was made to be a completely worthless function of skype.
No improvement to chat history was made (It still locks my PC up for a good 5 minutes to hit all on a chat log that’s large).
The bookmark ‘idea’ was novel, but why can I not have multiple bookmarks, and isn’t it really a ‘Move Unread Back To’ not ‘bookmark’? Oh and clicking bookmark just randomly moves the UI around for me, thats pretty nice.
downgrade to 3.8, too! get back to basics, 4.0 release is just bad. thougt you realised it in beta. me and my friends are thinking of switching to msn.
Back to 3.8 for me…
If I had done v4 for my employer as an ‘upgrade’ I would have been quite rightly fired!
I too miss the speed dial. Skype is now unusable with my cordless phones and modem, unless I direct dial a number. I cant call another skype user, when i am away from the computer. This is a killer for me.
And I agree that green phone contacts and green Skype contacts is stupid.
But, the video is noticeably better.
im just wondering! why Windows version doesn’t have Screen Sharing option like Mac’s. maybe in the new beta or?? that’s great feature. i know there’s a plug-in for that,but i thinks it’s better to be integrated like on the Mac version.
Thanks for a job well done. Before 4.0, I was using v.2.0.150 because I was tired of 20 and over MB installers, and I love the new interface, it’s much more intuitive; those that can’t handle it, can always switch to the more “traditional” compact view and stop whining and threatening about switching to other clients. Only a few good things happen in a year in this crazy IT world; this is one of them.
I like new stuff but v4 wasn’t for me for the following reasons:
Took up too much screen real estate.
CPU hog and Bandwidth burner when idle.
My advice to fiends and associates is to hold off upgrading in the meantime.