Skype 2.8 Gold for Mac out now
We’ve just released the final version of Skype 2.8 for Mac – it’s ready for you to download now.
Those of you who have already been using the beta version won’t notice any new features, but we’ve fixed a number of bugs. Raul’s post on the Garage blog has all the details.
For those of you downloading for the first time, my post on the Mac blog has a full rundown of the new features since 2.7, but I’d like to highlight screen sharing in particular:
Screen Sharing
Sometimes trying to explain what you are seeing on your screen to someone on a call just doesn’t work. With screen sharing you can easily show exactly what you are looking at by simply calling your Skype contact and sharing all or part of your desktop.
It’s great for sharing presentations with colleagues, or for showing off a killer move in a game. It’s easy to do, and totally free.
You can share your screen with anyone using a video-capable version of Skype, and screen sharing is also available in Skype 4.1 for Windows, enabling cross-platform collaboration.
Head over and download the new version of Skype for Mac now while it’s still warm 
Okay, I’m gonna say the dumbest, but it’s a Interface thing… just a small, tiny detail…
On Mac OS X, users switch between Apps, not Windows. When you have an active application, it should not matter wether you have any window displaying or not, since you have the menu bar to open any. That is so, all applications that use multiple windows have none of them called “Adium” or “Mail” or “Pages” (and if they do, they specify the opened file if that’s the case).
Coming to a conclusion, I think the contact list window should be called Contacts or Contacts list, or similar, but not Skype, since when you see the list of opened windows like chats, preferences, contacts list, etc… It may be confusing having “Skype” instead of “Contacts list”.
it’s stupid, I know, but it’s an opinion… sorry for wasting your time if any read this T_T bye!
It’s a great news, but…. how about the Linux version? We are here too!!
It’s a great news, but…. how about the Linux version? We are here too!!
I am very glad screen sharing is finally out of beta, but I remain concerned about some of the interface glitches I am still observing under Leopard. Specifically, the login window unnecessarily prompts for password instead of moving the text cursor to the password field when the username is selected using arrow keys.
Hmm, I’m seeing two new issues with this final version:
1) An incoming call doesn’t silence iTunes anymore and the ring is so faint I can barely hear it.
2) The call window can’t be made really small anymore, there’s always black space at the bottom.
This is great! I have been running 2.7 on Macbook for years.
Also, as a Linux and Mac OS X user. I would like to know if you guys are still working on the GNU/Linux version. It has been 2.0.0.72 for several years.
Don’t forget the small crowd who can make waves.
Hi,
I just had the automatic download of the new version that sustituted my old the Beta version. I have found to my susprise that the list of contacts does not show up and it is permanently doing the initial logging action, even though the application is already connected. Then I tried to go back to the old Beta version but it is not anymore in the web page.
I did reinstall again the new version, but it was useless. What to do?
Imac 2008 2.4 Intel Core 2 Duo, OSX 10.5.7
I would appreciate any help in my email: aoreyes@telefonica.net
Thanks
Hiya
I’ve probably missed a setting somewhere, but before this release (even in the Beta version) there was an unread count in the dock to show that messages had arrived.
Now there’s nothing and I’ve been missing messages and am having to set the icon to bounce on the dock to get some visual prompt.
Thanks
Why were all pretty icons replaced with ugly ones? The new ones really suck, they’re totally not Macish. Please reconsider…
Thanks for still supporting 10.3.
Updated to latest version of Skype (2.8.0659) on Mac OS X 10.5.7, Macbook Pro 2.5 Ghz Intel core 2 Duo, 2 Gbyte Ram:
Skype repeatedly and systematically crashes, after few minutes it is on.
How do I go back to the previous version?
omg, i hate the new call window, why did they change the design so much??? don’t know anybody who likes it, i’ll go back to 2.7…
You now have three different buttons for “Chat”.
http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV1zPAIJ
Does it have to be so inconsistent?
… but thanks for still supporting 10.3, anyway.
Same problem with missing unread messages notification on dock
Please, please, PLEASE make the dock closed by default, so it only opens when you have multiple chats going. It’s REALLY annoying to have it open EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I open a chat window. It’s such a simple thing to do, why hasn’t it been done yet?
I encountered a strange bug which makes the menu bar on top of the screen disappear if a contact initiates a chat. It’s there if you switch to other applications, but in Skype it’s gone until you close the chat window.
Also, to confirm Hiya’s report, the chat message counter in the dock icon is nonfunctional.
The no video bug when switching back from full screen mode under 10.3 hasn’t been fixed, either.
The new icons are visually much less pleasing than the old ones.
All in all, i will revert to 2.7 now, sorry. This version of 2.8 isn’t “gold” at all.
Skype 2.8.0.659 on Mac OS X 10.3.9
I got a problem with OS X Snow Leopard Developer: Skype crashes after entering login-data. I already tried killing all skype-files and reinstalling it, but that did not work… maybe you could fix that?
Hi,
I’m also having problems with the volume of the ring, including when iTunes is on. And the calls keep crashing, specially when the video is on (strange, considering both conections used are high speed). I don’t know that if it is because I got to suspicious, but I think the quality of the video is worse and keeps freezing!
I hope it helps.
There is a typo on the home page website announcement for 2.8
“two exiting new features in our latest version” unless the features are leaving I believe that should be exciting.
I LOVE Skype and have done since the instant I first used it. Downloaded the New Mac 2.8 version and I have to keep downloading it as it disappears on me as soon as I turn my computer off!!!
I run a G5 with 10.5.7 software and had to download it 6 times in the last couple of days!!
love screen sharing but what about the games?
Mac OS X 10.5.7 with the latest version of Skype 2.8.0.659 crashes on startup. I have a dual monitor setup, but that’s presumably commonplace these days. I’ve reinstalled it several times, which actually seemed to work for around 12 hours before the previous pattern of crash on takeoff resumed. So the typo on the home page, “two exiting new features” is oddly apropos. Please fix at least the crash problem, and provide a convenient way to get to the previous version.
Screen sharing i a MAJOR step forward! Well done!
Now all you need to do is get it to work like pcanywhere or Transview or whatever…
I personally have very few paying accounts online but a tranview type connection woul certainly pull some cash out of my pocket.
Go go go go..
I used Skype Access at Heathrow Airport two days ago! Fantastic! But could you make skype access charges paid appear on the account? They do not right now.
Skype 2.8 on Mac OS 10.5.8 has been working great for me (as has the iPhone version so far since iPhone OS 3.0). One thing that gives me lots of annoyance though is the warning dialog that appears when quitting Skype.
Whenever I shut down or need to restart my Mac the warning about logging off comes up. That may be great for some users, but if I don’t make a point to remember and stick around to watch for it, the Mac’s shutdown sequence times out because of Skype’s dialog box. Can’t there be an option in the prefs to turn that dialog warning off??
I have attempted to download the new MAC upgrade several times without success. Help. Thanks.
I prepare to wait the new Linux version in 5 years, believe me.
I have tried installing 2.8 under many different circumstances (e.g. downloading the files through different browsers, restarting the computer before I run the program, etc.), but everytime I open Skype, the program unexpectedly quits. I don’t know why this is a problem, but the old version worked great! Where can I find the old version?
TOTAL FRUSTRATION WITH SKYPE ON A MAC: I am a paying Skype customer, having spent around $500 last year on Skype services. For the past couple of months, I have not been able to get my voicemail to pick up. I have reloaded Skype several times, deleting old versions. With these past couple of latest fruitless attempts, my mike has been shut off so no one can hear me, although it is not on mute. I have been shocked by the poor quality of customer service, the slowness of response and the complete lack of any ability to speak with a human being. I urgently want to leave Skype, but am not sure how I can transfer my Skypeln number to another service. I feel completely trapped, have spent far, far too much time on it, have put the number on all sorts of documents and papers, and need to be reached with it. And NOTHING works. I cannot be the only one with this problem. This is not about some little add on on Skype. If I cannot get the voicemail I have paid for – going on four months now – and no one can hear my voice – that is getting pretty basic. I cannot be the only one with this problem. Please contact me at paul@dodds.us if you have ideas about how to transfer a US based Skypeln number to Gizmo or an alternative service. Skype has completely failed me enough times that I just cannot waste another minute with it. Thanks.
I was hoping the new version would take care of the constant crashing, but no such luck.
I love the screen sharing feature. It’s too bad games are still unavailable for Macintosh users though.
I’ve got a weird bug. I can’t call, modify or edit one contact in my contact list. I can’t even select it. In a Win version of Skype everything works okay, but in Mac version this one contact is unworkable, I’ve tried deleting and adding it again in Windows, but it didn’t help. Hope you’d fix the problem in following builds.
Haha I was going to install mac os on my pc
This will be useful for me then
Unfortunately this latest version seems to have opened the floodgates to spam chat. Even with the most restrictive privacy settings (i.e. people in my contacts only) I am getting half a dozen spam chat requests per day. This constitutes a rather glaring security hole that makes me leery of the security of the rest of the 2.8 release.
While there is a lot of traffic about this issue on the various Skype forums, I have yet to see a response from anyone Skype. I would avoid postponing an install of 2.8 until this issue is resolved, and wish I could go back to a previous release myself.
Wooooo I’m so happy with the screensharing!
And the arrow-up key to edit the latest message is really really handy. I don’t know if it was in earlier versions but I just noticed it. Would be even handier if you could use shift-arrow up (or something) to edit the message before the previous or something to toggle between all editable messages.
Now all that is left, something I’ve wanted for ages: offline messages server. I know Skype messages work P2P with no inbetween server which is really GREAT, but it would be really nice to have messages arrive before both people are online… Could an offline server be implemented separately from the usual message-route?
Skype 2.8.0.659 is USELESS!! I installed it on my MacBook Pro running OSX 10.58 and made two Skype calls (which worked perfectly) and now it repeatedly crashes every time it starts up. I tried a fresh install but alas it is still crashing. Now attempting to re-install 2.7.0.33 ,which I found at http://mac.oldapps.com/skype.php?old_skype=32#Download (since Skype doesn’t give access to previous versions!!). Please fix this premature release!!
I have had no problems with 2.8. 24″ IMac, MacBook Pro, iMac G4 and G4 Tower. But OS 10.6 is in the mail. Now I’m reading that the current 2.8 version of SKYPE doesn’t like Snow Leopard. It’s making me sick to my stomach. What is the prognosis?
Please consider a couple enhancements to minimize little annoyances for Mac users.
Consider auto-positioning the video self-window to the upper right or left in Skype for Mac, not at the bottom like Skype for Windows.
Since all recent Macs have top-center built-in iSights, this window positioning is better so Skype users is not looking down during a video call, rather…into the iSight webcam to allow natural eye-contact. (Also will save manual moving every time a Mac Skype video call is started.)
Also, add an auto-full-screen PREF when starting a video call. Way too much clicking to position or manage Skype windows…even with Mac Exposé helping a bit.
Consider docking all the Skype windows together to keep them together when Mac users are using Exposé or Spaces to manage windows and screens on their Mac. Currently, it really forces too much niggling effort with Mac users to find and click their chat window, then their Skype Contacts, then their video window, etc… (Maybe Snow Leopard’s new app-specific Dock Exposé will help, but the window-docking would be handy on your part.)
With screen-sharing, I was surprised to see no cursor control. Hopefully you can add that, since so many friends/family need halp with doing something on their Windows machines. Installing TeamViewer is fine, but a hassle for others many times. (Screen-sharing control with iChat is only Mac Leopard/SL to Leopard/SL.)
Hope this helps. Thx for your world-changing app.
Btw, please add a REDIAL capability via button/keyboard-shortcut. The amount of time and clicks to do a very popular calling operation like this is too tedious (history menu, re-sort list, click on the tiny call icon…many will open the “dial number pad”, but will be frustrated that a click on the CALL button will prompt for a number instead of redialing the last number — like how every cell phone works).
Auto-redial feature doesn’t address this problem. Hope you can add this trivial feature to aid VOIP calling shortly.
i think that the mac version for skype should be updated and should be exactly like the skype for mac. All my friends have the windows version for skype, in which they can play games, save a picture as their icon, and more that the mac version of skype cannot do. I just think the mac version could be updated a little more so we can do as much as the windows version can do. thank you.
i think that the mac version for skype should be updated and should be exactly like the skype for mac. All my friends have the windows version for skype, in which they can play games, save a picture as their icon, and more that the mac version of skype cannot do. I just think the mac version could be updated a little more so we can do as much as the windows version can do. thank you.
I’d like it if you guys would focus more effort on the Linux version of Skype. In my opinion, all versions should be identical regardless of the user’s platform of choice. Also, I don’t even own a mac, but I agree with alyssamariano that the Windows version has waaaay more features than the linux and mac versions. Also, there is almost no reason for the Linux version to be too far behind the Mac version, as both are UNIX-based operating systems, and both use bash for their terminals. The similarities in the two operating systems are remarkable…
life is all about the little things,
why is there no animation effects for video chats on the mac version but there is on windows? dumb
just upgraded to Snow Leopard yesterday, and now none of my view options work. can only see those contacts that are presently online, for instance only the 3/8 online, and must search the entire address book for the other contacts; their Skype data is not visable. anyone else have this problem? how did you solve it?
I’ve got same problem at the log-in as anyone else who use OS X snow leopard have. I can no longer use skype on my new Mac. just sad
How do I capture a snopshot when doing a video call with others? It was there in 2.7 but not in 2.8 any more, why!?
And it’s also available on Windows versions. How do a do it now?
Now the only way to capture a video snapshot is by using the cmd+shift+4 then space, choose the window. I’ll lose the best moment when doing this. Could you please check and let me know?
Would love to see Spotlight searching added to index Skype chats and contacts. Would be much faster than finding the contact, opening a chat window, clicking on history, then doing a “find in page” in my Opera browser for the chat info… Hope you’re working in this for v3.0 maybe.
I think the general software is good, but the UI changes are (to be honest) not that nice. Especially the new graphis for contact groups is really ugly. There must be a nicer way to do it. Look at a good OS X app such as Things. Everything isn’t good in iChat, but you could take a look at it too.