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.
Skype 4.0.x is PAINFUL and FRUSTRATING TO USE. Great sound but my god, it is the most frustrating thing when one can’t easily do the things that the prior version had. WHY did skype have to do what Microsoft did – when they took word 2003 to word 2007 – making such a useful tool into a constant hunt for what used to be easily and intuitively found.
Conference calling is a nightmare now. What a great conference calling business tool skype was until 4.0.
PLEASE SKYPE, don’t let this 4.0 style of doing things persist – UNLESS you want to be just like MICROSOFT.
There is a little issue in the typing window. When the other side is typing the message, a little animated pen comes to show that on the other side is typing but when they stopped writing the image diappears and the scrollbar of the message window goes to top everytime….I am not sure if i am able to clear the problem… but its there and i am very keen to see it fixed.
Skype 4 is a major disappointment. Half my calls are to bridge lines or extensions and i can’t just dial – I have to click a little menu arrow, then select the dial pad, then i can dial. At least remember that “this number requires dial pad visible” and leave it there!
The audio controls – big and bold in 3.8 – allowed me to quickly change from usb headset to speakers. Similarly that is hidden. under the tiny menu.
Frankly, for me, nothing is better and what I use is worse. I think this is the ‘vista’ of skype releases. I have my extended family using skype as well, and am dreading trying to talk folks through how to use this new version.
Skype 4.0 just broke my Skype. My headset won’t work, and this is the way I use skype. All I did was upgrade to 4.0 and now it is broken. I can’t even uninstall and downgrade because the old version is now broken after 4.0 changed my settings.
I went through the FAQ and through the “Setup Skype Audio” tutorial and it is useless. I am using a line in headset plugging into the front panel mic and headphones jacks on my PC, in Windows Vista.
I don’t care about UI, I don’t care about sharing contacts, or anything else, the first and primary thing I need is to be able to MAKE AND RECEIVE CALLS.
Sigh. BTW, tech support for Skype sucks. Stop feeding people through question box after question box which yields zero specific answers.
I too dislike the new interface quite a bit. I have no glitches, but I just don’t like the conversation (chat) window whatsoever! It is sooo confusing! Why do I need to scroll up through my old conversations to see my current one? It’s the oddest thing I’ve seen! I’m also not a big fan of the space it now requires on my desktop. I liked how the older version nicely tucked away on one side. I’m really hoping the developers are reading all these comments and have started work on Skype 5.0!
I really went into this with an open mind despite being disappointed by the initial look but the new Skype just seemed to stack disappointment over disappointment. First, I don’t know why but Skype doesn’t seem to like my games very much (and they’re good games, too!). Whenever I have Skype running and I try to play Left 4 Dead, BioShock or any other, the game always minimizes to my taskbar and won’t let me play until I either turn Skype off or open a Skype window onto my desktop. Secondly, the layout is too big and ugly. So much wasted space and you can’t even change the wallpaper. What genius down there thought it would be a good idea to take away features for the latest version? But the thing that irks me the most is the chatting. It’s so confusing how the messages sometimes seem to just shift on their own, and the lack of lines between messages adds to the chaos. Again, was it that same genius that decided to swell the ugly layout and take away the wallpaper that was responsible for this? Anyway, after upgrading back down to 3, all those problems were solved. Honestly, Skype, I was expecting better. Far better.
4.0 == FAIL, what where you thinking. Did you guys outsource? This version has all the hallmarks of a design by committee. I cannot believe that the people that wrote the previous versions released this piece of rubbish. Get the old programmers back. To think that as a software developer I have often referred to Skype UI as an excellent example of UI design. Now it is truly and example of what not to do.
I truly do not like the new 4.0 version! I’ve tried it for a week, hoping to get used to it, and i’m just left cursing. I am reverting because…
a) I have at least 5+ chat conversations going at once many times during the day, with the new layout, i’m missing chat reponses. And i hate to have to look for an orange dot to see who is waiting for a response!!!!!! In the old version, yes there were 5 windows open but at least it was blatantly obvious who needed my attention. Bring back BLATANT!
b) I’m continually closing a chat accidentally by clicking the X on a contact in the Conversations list….
c) Why would you make a Chat Contact and a Phone Contact icon the SAME COLOR… i have my screen DPI set extremely high, so those green icons are tiny, and i’m supposed to tell the difference between a check mark and a phone??? All i see is green and white, use a DIFFERENT color to distinguish between chat and phone contacts please.
d) I DO LIKE the show message history feature, a little easier to get to the historic chat, don’t mind the new set up on that.
e) I am not sure this is an issue directly related to the new version but… I have IM+Skype on my blackberry, i often leave the office and go out on calls and turn on my phone, leaving skype on the office computer turned on. It USED to be all conversations would show up in the skype on the office computer even if they were conducted on the BB, and that was nice for backup in case i missed a reply… i could follow up at the office, now it seems if I have both turned on, only one is getting the chat responses. Could be an IM+Skype thing but i did read that you don’t recommend having skype turned on in two places. That, for my work flow, doesn’t work. I don’t want the limitation of having to remember to turn off one session before turning on another. The flexibility at having all turned on and all recording history no matter which one in use is exactly that, FLEXIBLE.
Sadly… REVERT, REVERT!
TO: Skype Management
FROM: [Formerly] Happy & Appreciative Customer
SUBJECT: Please LISTEN to your customers!
Could you please set up a simple online customer opinion poll to gather info from your current installed customer base to gauge the impact and satisfaction of the new Skype version 4.0?
After all, you (the Skype management/development team) are the proud parents of the baby (Skype 4.0) and as such will always think the baby is beautiful even though passersby will look in the crib and gasp in horror! Only by truely listening to your customers will you learn the truth.
My vote: This is the worst “Upgrade” of Skype ever! User interface, performance, and “look & feel”, etc. are all terrible.
Please, please, listen to your customers! Thank you.
I have been an enthusiastic Skype user for several years now. I use it both at home and professionally. In my company we don’t use normal phones, only Skype.
Unfortunately I have to agree with basically everyone and ask “What were you thinking???”. 4.0 is simply the worst!
I was immediately disappointed with it, but thought I would give it some days to grow on me. It’s now 24 hours since I downloaded it, and it’s just not working for me one bit. Now I realise that there are even features that are not implemented like call transfer and file transfer.
As a paying and loyal customer of Skype, having promoted Skype to family, friends and business contacts for years, I am so, so disappointed in you. There are so many features that could be implemented to make this a better product for business users and power users, and you waste time and money on doing this.
I am going back to Skype 3.8 immediately. I hope to revert to a previous version will be easy, otherwise I will be doubly disappointed over the extra time you have wasted.
Skype, if you are not responding to your customers feedback and keep developing Skype in line with the 3.8 interface you will be loosing me and many others as customers.
I never thought I should say this, but Skype, you suck!
rsktech you said
“Skype, if you are not responding to your customers feedback and keep developing Skype in line with the 3.8 interface you will be loosing me and many others as customers.”
I’m sure you meant to say 4.0 there. Just wanted to make that correction. .
Interesting that this blog has now been buried on this site. Skype are you afraid of the truth? I like the little fake blog that you have a tiny link to that basically has your employees and friends telling us to “rejoice” at the release of the new Skype. Very shameful of you to cover up this scandal for unsuspecting new customers.
Anyone else who is just as upset about this as me will find this podcast entertaining. Its Mike Bartlett and other Skype heads talking about this “exciting” new release. I really like how they said they want to take regular skype users out of their “comfort zone” and welcome a new client base. I don’t know how a company expects to get MORE clients while pissing off all the old ones, but that just corporate thinking i suppose. It also funny when they ask Mike how he likes the new GUI personally, and he says “Oh, well i haven’t even used it. i have a mac!” So, hes SOOO excited about the new GUI, and hasn’t even tried it!
About all the missing features everyone is complaining about. In the podcast they said they did it on purpose. They claimed they only want feedback on the new gui and want to focus on video calls.
So they took away functionality to get “feedback” on the aspects of the program THEY wanted to focus on. WHAT!? As if having a nice chat box would make people any less annoyed at the new layout, or something along those lines. They say they want people to focus more on the video calls, so they made the chat a little more annoying to use. ITS UNBELIEVABLE! just listen for yourself. I’m flabbergasted!
Here is where you can listen to the podcast, http://saunderslog.com/2008/06/20/squawk-box-june-20-skype-40/ enjoy getting pissed off.
I also find the previous version better. Here’s another issue that I would emphasis:
The previous version had a tab for viewing the History. Now it’s extra steps to find it in the View menu. Please add the tabs back.
Oh, the new skype is a real nuisance! it’s absolutely annoying and unpractical!!!!!!
How for example can I delete the single conversations of voicemails from the history?
Also, everything became so unclear and much more mixed-up, looking like complicated, whereas it doesn’t have to be so – as it never was!
And when somebody is offline, why there is a green sing next to him? it’s really confusing and wrong!
I would like the old version back – can somebody send me a link to the installation file?
Thank you!
Ag
Another problem,
the previous skype remembered the user names in the log-in window, this one doesn’t!
I think this version should be canceled and the new one should really be based on user’s opinion on what were the necessary and good features in the previous version.
greetings to all
a
To marcelocaniato,
I saw your comment and I had to answer you.
Yes, I do know and appreciate the immense work spent on releasing a new software version of any product.
Still, this does not stop me from saying that the new version is a disappointment.
Regarding the “intuitive” word you mentioned, most users didn’t like the new version, so I don’t know which one of us doesn’t know the meaning of that word.
And last thing, if I didn’t want to upgrade why did I upgrade? From the way you are saying this, it sounds like some kind of religious debate. If I didn’t want to upgrade, I wouldn’t have upgraded. But I upgraded, as I always did, the only thing is that this time, for the first time, I was very disappointed by the new version and I see no reason to hide this opinion. I do believe, that due to the comments Skype receives, both here and elsewhere, they will improve their product.
My experience:
(1) Install skype 4
(2) Spend 10 frustrating minutes trying to make the window as small as skype 3
(3) Uninstall skype 4
(4) Install skype 3, vow to use google talk instead when possible
I agree totally with rider45, rsktech_rask and many others. Skype 4 is the worst interface they ever had. Two scattered windows or one large window with all contacts in green instead only those who are online or who you call in green and the rest in grey.
No improvement in audio or video.
Also I think it is most unethical to drop the possibility to view the call rates per minute for normal phone calls while you call. Anyway if you want to know rates for phone calls you have to be a detective to find the page at the Skype site. It is easier to look them up in Google. They should be part of the calling window.
Please drop that garbage and go back to the future.
timmendorf
This release has dropped one very important feature that I can see absolutely no logic in. Why disable Share Contacts? It is ridiculous! I have a large company that conducts support and training through Skype. We introduce up to 100 new people per week and expect nothing in return. It used to be easy for our staff to give details of a new member to the support and training staff by simply ‘Sending Contacts’. Now we have to send emails with user names and stuff around with something that was once so easy. Why have you done this, Skype? The user interface is harder to read as phone numbers are green as with online contacts and the yellow for away. I also lost 12mths of chats when I upgraded and this is an absolute killer. The interface in general has a learning curve but nothing people wont get used to. Call quality has improved but people still get massive delays in group chats… like some of our clients get the chats a week later! IMO, not much has improved other than call and video quality.
I downloaded Skype 4 recently and the video quality is worst compared to the earlier version. I was attracted to Skype 4 because it said the video calling is the next best thing but in actuality it turns out to be next worst thing !!! I am currently in Europe on work and I constantly used to talk to my family in India and was happy with earlier version but now it’s too difficult with video calling because of the poor picture quality. Can you please fix this soon ?
I installed the new version over a week ago, felt awkward using it the whole time, and finally tracked down an old 3.8 skype install file on my comp and am using that again.
Thank the lord almighty, moses, and a whole slew of the devil’s minions, I feel at home again!
Programmers, please switch back to the old format! This new version is horrendous and clearly this feed here (as well as many other places on the net) are sufficient testimony to that.
I thought new versions are suppose to improve on the problems of the old ones, not create more? Like some folks above wrote, this feels way too much like the Microsoft strategy, releasing new programs that are embarrassing compared to the old ones.
It’s nice to see I wasn’t the only one thinking this way…
Skype, it’s time for you to say something. At least indicate that you are reading what we are all trying to tell you. Why this silence?
I too have uninstalled 4.0 and have gone back to 3.8 – the new interface is confusing and my co-workers agree. Skype is a great product, I’m a paying customer and this turn has me concerned. It seems this note is unlikely to be read, so I’ll simply leave it at that.
As a side note, I just spent $6K on a new phone system. I wish Skype had a competitive, SaaS offering to compete with NEC/Cisco phone switches.
Who on Earth did Skype consult with for designing their new UI? Obviously not many people who use Skype on a daily basis, if anyone at all! The new UI is absolutely horrendous for a business professional. After trying to get over the quirks for two weeks now, I’ve been forced to downgrade to 3.8.
I downloaded the new Skype 4 version without hesitation since the versions used to be better. Not true this time, in my opinion. User interface less intuitive and not so user friendly. Program behaviour seems odd. Some functionalities fail to work (Mic and speakers sometimes doesn’t work, Games in Extras doesn’t work either, etc.)
Hated the new version. Thinking of a downgrade to version 3.8.
Hope that Skype team review their strategy for the new version and improve it from what it is today.
How do I turn off text messaging? I’ll never use it.
Howdy. Allright, so maybe tech inovations are true and sound and picture quality is better. But what exactly are the advantages o new interface. The miniscule fonts and non adjustable wallpaper. Looks like we are travveling in the past. I don;t see anything you coudnt do in the past. In fact options are limited now.
Question remains, WYY?
Cheers.
Oh yeah, whoever needs the latest of old version of Skype for Windows, go here:
http://www.oldapps.com/skype.php?old_skype=76#Download
Cheers again.
I found this after I installed version 4; I’m now back to 3.8 with thanks to those who posted a link. Skype’s new interface is awful. It looks like something off of a child’s toy, big buttons, windows that take over the entire desktop; very professional in the office. My eyes are not great, but I don’t need the Reader’s Digest big print version of Skype on the desktop.
If they are bound and determined that video is the most important thing, rather than voice, I guess some of this makes sense.
What doesn’t make sense is why I might want to continue to pay for SkypeOut, given the lack of video telephones out there and skype’s apparent decision that voice is not important. Since it does not appear that they are listening to any of these complaints, I will likely have to start looking for a real VoIP provider for my business instead.
First, thanks to our folk at Skype for the technical innovations of Version 4.0.
Second, I agree that the interface is a big disappointment. I was going to suggest it for my family so that we can have better online conversations, but they’re technically challenged. It would be a tough transition for them.
However, I’m sticking with it, even if I don’t like the UI. Skeyp 4.0 is just better when it comes to quality, so that’s what I’m looking for.
Thanks
Skype, why are you still not saying anything? Mr. Bartlett, we all noticed that you were quick to jump in and answer a simple question early on. We also all notice that throughout the Skype blogs the authors of various posts answer questions in the comments. It’s simply pathetic that there is no response to 100+ disappointed and angry users.
Excuse me, but as a loyal user/customer of and ambassador for Skype for several years I do feel entitled to some answers. Skype 3.8 today is the very communication backbone of my business and I depend on it to run my business. It would be fair to give me some honest information that would let me know if I can continue to count on Skype in the future.
Some of the things I would like to know are:
* Is Skype listening to its users?
* Will there be a review of the UI or can we expect Skype to keep the 4.0 UI?
* Will there be put some effort in to making the so-called “compact view” work like the 3.8 UI? (I think that was the idea, but the result is horrible!)
* Will the lost features from 3.8 to 4.0 be implemented in 4.0? (4.1?)
* Will the new sound and video codecs be ported back to 3.8? (3.9?)
* In general, what commitment can we expect from Skype towards business users?
* Is Skype going to focus solely on video calling and forget about voice and phone calls?
No one here is denying that Skype is your product and you are free to take it in whatever direction you see fit. However, the decent thing would be to communicate your directions to your users so we can make informed decisions. I look forward to a comprehensive response to the criticism and questions that has been raised in the comments on this page. I beg you that you do not disappoint us on that.
After downloading Skype 4.0 my internal microphone stopped working. I went back to Skype 3.6 and it works fine.
I am highly disappointeed with the new version of skype. Skpeme mode was removed. This is the one feature I loved. People being able to call me or I them from around the world. Friends come and go but ideas and culture views exchanged. I took the bad with the good. More good than bad ever. Now skype sits silent for me except for old friends made. Without that feature I now use skype very little. I wish these programers would leave a good thing alone. If anything skype needed to put their time and effort into was improving their search engine. Skype put skypeme mode back in the program.
When I changed to 4.0, the language changed from English to German. How do I get English back?
The new user interface is huge step backwards for Skype. It is definitely less intuitive: I’m using Skype pretty much since it came out, and never had any reason to complain about the way the UI was designed. But since I installed 4.0 I miss the direct phone number entry line at the bottom of the contacts window, differentiating between landline and skype contacts became really hard(why in the h##l would you use icons with the same color for that???), and popping up a new window for each call is just a useless cluttering of precious desktop space (in the previous version I could decide whether a video shows in the main window or in a separate window).
Bottom line:
Really crappy job on this one. Admittedly for the first time, all previous versions were awesome. You guys shouldn’t let somebody play Steve Jobs who clearly isn’t Steve Jobs. Sorry.
Advise: Get back to the old (excellent) UI. It worked just as smoothly as they come …
I don’t like the new updated version of Skype, the pale blue. With other sites having updates and choices of colors, etc, I thought this would be a new addition to the site. MY Skype IM is ugly blue and I really don’t like it. I also do not like the fact that now you cannot see the last time one of your contacts was on. Of course, there is no one I can directly contact so this probably won’t even be read by someone who makes important decisions about Skype…..
Not sure if this has already been mentioned but you can use Pamcorder if you aren’t careful because of the way this has been set up.
Here’s the explanation I got from Pamelasystems – Please re-install Skype by downloading from http://www.skype.com/go/getskype-full
Then when you run the installer, click “Options” in the left bottom corner. Make sure “Install Plugin Manager” is checked. Click OK and install.
After that Pamela Call Recorder will work. The cause is a bug in Skype 4.0.0.215 light installer – Skype forgot to add Extras Manager to the installer, this is a required component for Pamela Call Recorder.
First, people removed Skypecasts. Then, the ability to use Skype 2.0 for Windows (and to answer to someone calling and wanting to join a conference, without being the host of the conference) was removed. Now, SkypeMe was removed and accessibility left out to be added “in the near future”. What can be the next thing? Hmm, let’s think… Ah, yes! Next thing Skype can do is to put a visual verification code (captcha) to create a Skype account! Then, it will be inaccessible from the beginning for visually impaired people, and not only after the account is created. And last, Skype can make people chat only one on one, because that way, he/she can pay for Skype credits (or use http://www.justvoip.com, which by what I know, is cheaper), and stop complaining because every free thing gets more feedback, and that also means, more work…
Well, while these future plans don’t happen, I’ll still use Skype, but with less joy than before!
When our telephone system needed replacing, we invested in Skype phones at work (a small charity). Plus a SkypePro subscription. Today we noticed that the one member of staff who ticked “automatically update to new versions” has got an ugly, unintuitive, diminished version of Skype suddenly on his screen, with no call transfer. He is on reception!! If we don’t get the call transfer facility back, our investment in Skype phones will basically have been wasted and we’ll have to scrap using Skype and go back to a BT phone extension system.
Why has the new version gone so obviously backward from the older version?
The main advance appears to be the videophone facilities, but most Skype-only handsets don’t have this facility.
Hopeless.
And the vanilla Windows interface is a real anti-cool factor too…
I really miss the “skypeme mode”. Even if you may receive a few spam text it is still worth it! Please bring it back asap!! I am downgrading to 3.8 version untill the skypeme mode is implemented on 4.0
Every day new comments of disappointment of Skype 4.0 is added. But still no comments from Skype! You people are pathetic!
In Skype 4 (very nice) there is a substantial problem on “status” and icons: have you thought there are many people who cannot see colours? With this version they don’t understand when someone is online or offline or busy or away as they simply see all “gray”……
@bettortrader we’ll be reintroducing Send Contacts in a future version – keep your eyes peeled
Hey, this Skype 4.0 really disappointed me. All the thing is a mess. The tabs was cool enough, this way looks too weird. Ok, I can go classic style, but the ‘stylish’ backgrounds was gone?! And together went the icons we are used to know, now my phone addresses and contacts looks almost the same! And what about the ‘send contact’ thing? In future? When a new guy comes into the workgroup, there was no problem because we just was used to send all people to him and ‘Done’. The conversations don’t expand with the window resize, just looks like “there’s a limit here, don’t go wider than 500 pixels”!! Even the Splash looks like a children birthday’s party.
I know you guys had a great and hard work to finish this version and congratulations about the call quality improvements but I’ll be back to the 3.8 .
Oops! Not all developments lead to improvements. Looks like all comments on this page agree: give us back the old intuitive GUI!
This user interface is an absolute drama. Text chatting is chaotic, you have to look twice every time what is written and what you are writing yourself. Besides that, the icons used in the contact list are unclear, why have online people the same color as skype out contacts? This is very unpractical and confusing. Skype was a very intuitive and fast working piece of software, but since 4 you have to look very careful about what you’re doing.
I don’t like having the chat window tied to the video window. You have to have a lot of vertical screen realestate to have a decent sized chat window. I looked for a way to separate them but could not find one. With 3.8 I would quite often have multiple chat windows open with different people. Is that even possible with 4.0? If so, it’s not obvious. Then there is the call quality. I use the array microphone built into my laptop. It has always worked fine with previous versions. Now it occassionally fades out and the other side can’t hear me. The person I have been testing 4.0 with has the same problem. We are definitely switching back to 3.8 for both the better UI and the better audio.
I don’t care much for the new aesthetic, but this Outlook contact issue is absolutely ridiculous. Only my contacts with an international calling code show up in Skype, which for me is not many since I live in the states.
I’m going back to 3.8 ASAP. Hopefully in the future you guys will focus on your core competency before adding more bells and whistles.
A giant leap. Backwards.
The new user interface is a disgrace. Not just the pale colors, but especially the layout. I cannot find anything, much-much-much less intuitive than the original interface.
The ordering of contacts is really a pain in the @ss, skype contacts are mixed with phone contacts, order is alphabetical, but alphabetical relative to what? Surname first or Lastname first? Or username first? Also, ordering by online-status would be useful.
Color codes for online status are also awful…
Short speeddial assignments work no longer, therefore my Skype adapter does not work any more…
How can I revert to a previous version????
Upgraded to version 4 and couldn’t figure out how to make things work. Finally got it going. And now really don’t care for the interface at all. I’ll try going back to the old version until you can get this mess fixed.
Also don’t see any improvement in quality which was previously excellent most of the time and the video on 4.0 begain breaking up after a short time.
A good rule is “IF it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Your interface was excellent before and now it seems to be less than mediocre.
The sound quality and reliability was great before and has thankfully not “improved”. The video colors, contrast, etc. were pretty good before and now seem to need a lot of adjustment. The only thing that could have been better was the low light capability. I’m sure some of you have seen that on camera phones in Japan where their processing could extract great images out of almost total darkness over a decade ago, while the Sony I bought in the US needed perfect lighting conditions to get a decent picture. The video also started breaking up right away.
I’d sure like to see something like the old user interface implemented. This one hogs to much screen space unlike the previous trim design which was pretty efficient and useable. When I have twenty or thirty things going on at the same time that I am interacting with, efficient stacking ability and ease of use is paramount.
Skype has been a great program and a useful tool. Let’s keep it that way.
Evolution is a good and healthy thing, revolution requires periods of chaotic adjustment which are a bit disruptive.
Just upgraded to 4.0 and realized none of my Outlook contacts appear. I pay the monthly fee for calls to landlines around the world, so I must have access to my phone contacts. The ‘fix’ of retyping them into Skype is unacceptable (400+ contacts). I have uninstalled 4.0 and dropped back to 3.8. Might loose some features but at least i can now dial my colleagues. Very poor planning on the part of Skype especially since there is no mention of this limitation anywhere on the website.