Skype 5.0 beta 1 for Windows
I’m glad to write to you about Skype 5.0 Beta 1 for Windows.
In this release we have introduced one of the most requested features over the time – Group Video Calling.
You can make up to 5-way group video calls in this release.
Also in addition to introduction of group video calling we have re-designed the call view. The new call view is focusing on the ongoing call and taking away all possible disturbing factors like other conversations. If you like then you can still see the other conversations and data there also.
Remember that this is a beta release which means that we are still working on the release and that there are some rough edges in. Consult with known issues list below first before running it. We do not support Windows 2000 in this beta release.
Start the download from here.
In case you run into something you were not expecting then please let us know about it. You can discuss matters and report issues on our forums.
The full release notes for the release build, 5.0.0.105 are:
New Features:
* Up to 5-way group video call
* Redesigned calling experience
* Improved video snapshots gallery
* Improved browser plugins performance on some websites.
* Reduced false positives on browser plugin phone number recognition.
Changes:
* Call host is not displayed anymore in the user interface
* Windows 2000 is not supported in this Beta version
Fixed issues:
* Microsoft Lifecam Show webcamera crashed Skype
* CPU usage was high on low-end computers during video calls when using a TouchCam N1 or Twincam encoding camera
* ‘Test’ button name was changed to ‘Record’ after testing
* Skype did not always ring on all audio devices when it was selected to.
* Accessibility was always turned on
* Skype browser plugins for Internet Explorer and Firefox ignored meta tags not to highlight phone numbers.
* Skype browser plugin may have hanged or frozen Internet Explorer browser.
* Refreshing webpage turned off phone number highlighting in Internet Explorer browser.
* Skype browser plugin highlighting tags become visible in webmail
* The Skype browser plugin highlighted phone numbers and names while creating content on various popular websites.
* Skype sometimes crashed when importing contacts through welcome screen.
* Only one field change was saved when editing phone contacts.
* Skype sounds were not working over remote desktop
Known issues:
* It is not possible to restart video sending in a group video call, only local preview is working.
Workaround: Restart the Skype call.
* “My Video” button may be missing in a group video call
Workaround: None available at this time
* One or more participants may not be able to start their video in a group video call
Workaround: None available at this time
* Webcam may switch off during a group video call
Workaround: Updating webcam drivers may solve the issue for some users
* The call quality indicator will say “Video not available” during a group video call.
Workaround: Ignore this false message.
* Messaging around the maximum number of particpants allowed on a group video call may be wrong.
Workaround: None available at this time
* After a user drops off a call or hangs up, it’s not possible for the group to re-add the participant to a group video call.
Workaround: Callee has to join call manually from the “Join call button”
* Video can’t be resumed after holding a call
Workaround: Restart the call
* This version of Skype has increased CPU usage which may effect video quality on some computers.
Workaround: None available at this time
* Skype memory consumption increases with every video call by about 6MB.
Workaround: Restart Skype after video call.
* Video calls may not work with virtual machines.
Workaround: None available at this time
* Video calls on a secondary display causes higher CPU load compared to use on the primary display.
Workaround: None available at this time
* Skype may not work properly with virtual cameras
Workaround: None available at this time
* Some old graphics cards models such as ATI RAGE Pro, NVIDIA Riva TNT2 or NVIDIA Vanta may not render Skype video streams
Workaround: None available at this time
* My video button will not appear after switching devices.
Workaround: Change the device before starting the call.
* My video preview may freeze after unlocking a locked PC.
Workaround: None available at this time
* Skype may crash when viewing video preview in Options.
Workaround: None available at this time
* The ASUS virtual webcamera remains open after terminating a video call
Workaround: Select the actual camera in Options->Video or uninstall the problematic virtual software
* Video may freeze on the other side in the following cases: two incoming calls at the same time > accept first call with video > accept second call with video while putting the first call on hold > hang up first call
Workaround: None available at this time|
* After holding and resuming a Skype call the video quality may be degraded
Workaround: None available at this time
* The Skype video snapshots feature is not working on Windows XP SP3.
Workaround: None available at this time
* Late switch to hardware video encoding when using TouchCam N1 or Twincam encoding cameras
Workaround: None available at this time
* When receiving screen sharing or sending video, then the video preview feature will not be aligned correctly
Workaround: None available at this time
* The microphones of the TouchCam N1 and Twincam encoding cameras generates CPU spikes in every 20 seconds that may result in lower video quality
Workaround: Avoid using the encoding camera microphone
* Changing audio or video devices during a call is not supported
Workaround: Don’t change devices during a call.
* It is not possible to enter DTMF tones on the dialpad using copy-paste.
Workaround: None available at this time
* It is not possible to enter DTMF tones on the dialpad using your keyboard.
Workaround: None available at this time
* The Skype user interface may freeze when starting a call.
Workaround: Restart Skype
* The call volume slider in the call quality indicator and in the call view are not always synchronized.
Workaround:
* There may be user interface issues when using Skype over a remote desktop connection
Workaround: None available at this time
* The “Call dropped” error message persists for some time even if the next call is successful
Workaround: None available at this time
* It’s not possible to see whether a group call participant has put a call on hold
Workaround: None available at this time
* It’s not possible to submit call feedback after the call has dropped
Workaround: None available at this time
* On calls with high echo level, it might be hard to hear the other side
Workaround: None available at this time
* It may be difficult to find the Dialpad for entering touchtones in Skype to Skype calls
Workaround: Dialpad can be accessed from the small arrow below the profile image of the callee
* The Skype ringtone will sometimes persist beyond a call being picked up.
Workaround: More information from http://support.microsoft.com/kb/979303/
* The ringtone may not stop if the CPU is overloaded by another application
Workaround: Close other applications.
* When a call is forwarded to a phone number then the user will see myself video preview if he started a video call originally
Workaround: None available at this time
* The country drop down list in the call phones area becomes inactive when inserting an incorrect number
Workaround: Insert the country code manually
* Calls may not be successful when two users call each other at exactly the same time
Workaround: None available at this time
* While on a call to the saved phone number of a contact, it’s not possible to access the IM history of this contact.
Workaround: None available at this time
* The dialpad button is missing from the call window if the conversation window is minimised to the maximum extent
Workaround: Open the Dialpad from the dropdown menu under the call receiver’s name
* Call quality indicator suggestions may sometimes be incorrect
Workaround: None available at this time
* During a group video call the call quality indicator may not display video quality descriptions.
Workaround: None available at this time
* If a user receives a video call while their webcam is already in use by another application, then the call quality indicator will not display the correct video indicator
Workaround: None available at this time
* The call quality indicator incorrectly reports medium quality when the call is in fact the video call is in high definition.
Workaround: None available at this time
* The call quality indicator may display a slow CPU message during audio-only calls on computers which can handle audio calls without problems.
Workaround: None available at this time
* All web links from the call quality guide direct to the English language site rather than localised pages
Workaround: None available at this time
* The call quality indicator will not update if a webcam is still in use by another application
Workaround: Close and re-open Call Quality Indicator after releasing the webcam.
* Call Quality Indicator says “Medium” for a high quality video call between two Logitech pro 9000 webcameras
Workaround: None available at this time
* The Call Quality Indicator shows a false error message that your webcam is in use by other application, even if it is not in use anymore.
Workaround: Ignore the message.
* Sharing a larger area of your screen than 1696 x 1056 sends a distorted and cropped image to other participants
Workaround: None available at this time
* Users may not be able to switch in between screen sharing and sending video in a one-to-one call
Workaround: None available at this time
* During screen sharing the start and stop buttons may not work
Workaround: None available at this time
* Screen sharing from a multiple desktop setup leads to a compromised display on the receiver side
Workaround: None available at this time
* Taking snapshots of a shared screen produces two identical images
Workaround: None available at this time
* My video button will not appear after a screen sharing session.
Workaround: None available at this time
* Netbooks with Mobile Intel(R) 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Graphics Chipset and Windows 7 can have problems when receiving large screen sharing resolutions beyond 1322 x 823.
Workaround: Set smaller screen sharing size
* Transferring a call to another phone without having Skype Credit will disconnect the call without a proper warning message.
Workaround: None available at this time
* If a user has their call returned after an unsuccessful call transfer, that user must decline the call twice
Workaround: None available at this time
* Transferring a call to a phone contact and Skype user at the same time will cause the call to disconnect for the Skype user when the phone contact answers the call.
Workaround: None available at this time
* Switching between conversations can be slow for some users.
Workaround: None available at this time
* No warning message is being displayed when closing a conversation with the close button in compact mode.
Workaround: None available at this time
* Video snapshots from cameras with a 16:9 aspect ration webcameras are displayed in 4:3 aspect ratio
Workaround: Open the video snapshots in another picture viewer
* Skype 5.0 Beta 1 for Windows does not fully support accessibility.
Workaround: None available at this time
* Skype fails to detect some screen readers when they are started after running Skype. Workaround: restart Skype.
Workaround: None available at this time
* Skype will crash when selecting multiple contacts from the contact list.
Workaround: None available at this time
* On Windows Vista the Firefox browser crashes if it is running while Skype is installed with the Firefox browser plugin.
Workaround: None available at this time
* When a user opens their web browser with no network connectivity, Skype displays an error message that SkypeNames.exe wants to use Skype. This happens when opening Firefox for the first time after installing Skype with the IE and Firefox add-ons.
Workaround: None available at this time
* On Windows 7 Skype installer offers to install Skype internet explorer browser plugin even if Internet Explorer is not installed in that machine.
Workaround: None available at this time
* The automatic ‘Away’ status setting doesn’t work if it has been set a long time ago.
Workaround: Change the auto away time in options to something else and then back.
* Skype installer may be slow for some people.
Workaround: Download full installer from http://www.skype.com/go/getskype-full-beta
* When exiting from Skype Access a false message is displayed about disconnection.
Workaround: None available at this time
* The Skype Access connection offering does not pop-up correctly when trying to connect to supported hotspot after starting Skype up.
Workaround: Connect to supported Wifi hotspot before running Skype.
* Searching contacts in Korean, Japanese, simplified and traditional Chinese languages may not give relevant results.
Workaround: None available at this time
* Users with screen readers may have problems noticing the new authorization requests in the Notification tab.
Workaround: None available at this time
* Skype notifications about account changes can be delayed by a few hours
Workaround: None available at this time
* An error message appears when the Extras Manager is started while Adobe Flash Player is not installed
Workaround: Install Adove Flash Player before opening Extras Manager
* DailyMotion videos which have been added to a mood message are not being displayed to other contacts.
Workaround: None available at this time
* Hebrew and Arabic text is incorrectly displayed in the call view
Workaround: None available at this time
* Skype will sometimes not correctly display Arabic and Hebrew languages in the user interface.
Workaround: None available at this time
* For people who use Skype in Traditional Chinese the “Give feedback” form is displayed in Simplified Chinese.
Workaround: None available at this time
* Skype alerts may be displayed in wrong language in the Notification area.
Workaround: None available at this time
* The country drop down list in the call phones tab is not localized to Russian.
Workaround: None available at this time
* ‘Full Screen’ menu option under View menu is always grayed out
Workaround: None available at this time
* Netbooks can experience problems displaying some of the Skype windows.
Workaround: None available at this time
* Certain graphical components may be misaligned when running Skype with a high graphics DPI setting.
Workaround: None available at this time
Good Evening,
Just wanted to say that I have had no issues with this first beta as of yet and it is working beautifully with basic 2-way video calling. My laptop is set to power saver so the dual-core CPU is capped at 800Mhz. The call was smooth and clear on a basic broadband connection from both callers(180KBps down/30KBps up).
Thank you for the option of removing Skype from the taskbar! I can now distinguish between my open windows and background applications.
Problem: I have “Keep Skype in the taskbar while I’m signed in” UNCHECKED but everytime I log on to my desktop Skype is back in the Windows taskbar!
Solution:
right click on the skype icon and select properties. select the compatability tab. check run this program in compatabily mode. run it as windows xp service pack 3. this will make the icon go away. I have not seen any skype issues in verion 4.2 or the beta when doing this. actually it tends to run better with screen readers and voice synthesizers as well.
when be added (skype me) function, and accessibility like in version 3.8???
I get a distorted picture in the video chat, even when I only speak to one person. I updated all my drivers and I still get a green and purple video image.
I do hope, now you have changed that awful dark background for smiles?…
Will this video confrence feature be free ?
Will everyone in the confrence have to pay for this video confrence feature?
Or the host of the confrence will only be the one paying?
if it wont be free then will there be just one time payment? if yes then how much?
Please let me know before i tel all my friends and family about this.
YAY! on adding group video calls! (This feature is only 4 years too late).
With as many people as I have seen complaining about the user interface for Skype since version 4.0, I can’t believe the colors and size of the Skype application window was not included with the new update.
I have to wonder if the investors involved with Silver Lake would be happy to know how many Skype premium service and Skype for Business sales they lose everyday to MSN users because the user interface for Skype looks and navigates like it were made by a group of teenagers.
And as far as system resources in using 5.0… 63 MB? Really? I’m downgrading back to version 3.8. It only uses 17 MB and with that version I dont have to look at a baby blue application on my desktop which makes me feel like i’m in a baby nursery, making skype no seem like no more than AN INFANTS TOY.
With the BLACK video screen inside the BABY BLUE window it’s MORE than obvious that parts of the programming were outsourced and the Skype team (if you can call it a TEAM) simply couldn’t come together enough to make an attractive and easily navigated user interface for the program they were over-paid to build.
@xavieracorea Couldn’t say it better!! totally agree
Will the 5 way calling still work if one person is using the mac version?
Since Windows 7 has built-in speech services, I would like to see audio announcements of callers as well as basic voice commands such as “answer call” and “hang up”. I believe the Mac version supports this already, so it’s baffling that the Windows version does not.
Speed Dial where is it? Not much good for those of us using Skype hardware gateways.
How are we suppose to dial a Skype number from a standard handset?
Looks like version 3.8 is still king!
Please can you update the system tray tool tip to reflect which account you’re signed in as. Currently it just reads “Skype (Online)” which is fine unless you have two Skypes running (e.g. Work + Home) and want to figure out which is which without opening them both.
Also, Skype really needs to stop adding features. I swear it is going the way of ICQ or Live Messenger. You guys need to work on making the fundamentals work right – this project already needs a major release that is just tie ups and bug fixes. The horrible browser extensions within their own right have me questioning Skype’s remaining shelf life and I am investigating alternatives just in case.
Am i the only one with video upside down? How can i fix the problem?
I was talking with someone using dial-up. Initially could do full screen video with them. During call lost that option, and could only use standard size video with them. This seems to be a bug, could it be fixed in next iteration please?
Hello,
thanks for letting us send DTMF tones in conference call, very useful in my situation.
But could you please remove Skype from the taskbar? Is it so hard to understand that this behavior is completely useless with a tray icon?
Skype beta 5. 0 shows a normal size video window of the person being called, but the caller’s video window is much too small. I can’t seem to find a way to configure them to equal size (this is on a 2 way video call, by the way), so I’m assuming it’s still a bug. Please fix it! Thanks, Mark Vetter (rasta_mark_00).
When are we going to get proper clients to Linux and Mac OSX?
Hi all,
Can some one please tell me how to use my 28Euro subscription to call my family? I have subscribed for one month but I see no way to use the credit. All I see is how to subscribe. When I click on call, it tells me i dont have enough credit. Having just subscribed 28 Euro. I am not allowed to use the credit but I am asked to do another subscriiption. Is this Skype business real? Can someone please tell me how to use my money or how to get it back?
Hi all,
I am using the previous version of Skype and wonder why it have the interface with small font when I change the resolution of Windows desktop to higher (1600×900). Well, the contact list with small font and I can’t read clearly, so I hope the new version of Skype can fix this? Thanks
* I frequently get away from my desktop.
* I remove my headset when I don’t use it (no speakers).
* I set my task bar to auto hide, to have more productive space.
I am getting missing many messages and frustrating my correspondents by my late replies when I am not in front of the display to notice them as they come.
Why can’t we have an optional popup window that remains on top until manually closed (but doesn’t grab keyboard focus, please)?
skype doesn’t care about Linux users unfortunately…
thank u so much for group video calling feature
thanks:-)
I still use 3.8. Its accessibility is poor, but when I’ve tried 4.x, it’s been even worse.
Please please please! Can someone realise that accessibility isn’t a two horse race between fully sighted and completely blind people? I have terrible eyesight, but I don’t use a screen reader. I get by with custom system-wide colours. Skype is the only application I use that doesn’t honour my screen colours.
I’m too scared to try and upgrade and see if these things have actually been fixed, because the previous 5+ times I’ve tried, they haven’t, and then I’ve had to downgrade, and with 3.8′s less than ideal accessibility, setting everything back up how I want is a chore.
My system wide colour scheme is a black background and white/yellow text. This is what I want, and this is what I need to comfortably use skype. It’s a joke that I have to take screen grabs, paste them into a paint program and then invert them to be able to see what things say.
If these things actually have been fixed in a version released since the last time I tried, please, let me know. I’ll dance a jig for you all.
sjh
In 4.2 whenever I do screen sharing with a conferecing app such as GotoMeeting or Cisco MeetingPlace when I end the screen share or conference Skype crashes and needs to be restarted. Even if there is no call on Skype at the time. Has this been addressed in 5.x? I have recreated this problem several times on on different loads and it happens without fail.
Win7 x64, MS LifeCam HD
Does Skype 5 have native support for x64?
Installed Skype 5.0.0.105 and Logitech QuickCam 9000 Version 11.90.1263.0000 running on XP Home 2002 SP3. On one of the PCs the video of the called party as well as the small video of the caller are upside down (at the other end the video appears normal). No problem with regular Skype version and no problem in other applications. What to do?
‘teleri commented Thursday, May 13
will these features be available on linux in the near future?’
I lol’d so hard.
Skype hasn’t even given Linux features a ‘Take Screenshot’ feature why the @!%^ would they give us a 5 way video group call feature anytime soon? xDD Come on man don’t be so naive. We needa wait at least another 4 to 6 years for Skype to release this feature on Linux.
shannon.c.mccoy’s comment on Thursday, Jul 22 is exactly the same ongoing problem I’ve had for several years. While Skype is open and on my tray, open GoToMeeting, start a meeting, end the meeting, then exit the GoToMeeting icon on my tray. When I open Skype from my tray it crashes (and my Visual Studio debugger pops up).
Thinkpad T42a, XP Pro – fully patched. Norton 2010.
Is 5.0 going to have screen sharing available soon? I use 5.0 for group Spanish classes online and really need the screen sharing function.
it could also be more user friendly as well, but as a whole I really like 5.0.
Keep up the good work!
Second stevemj3dguy: Please give the “old hands” a chance to use the simpler and more user friendly V3.8 style interface with all the helpful features that came along V3.8. PS: Still using V3.8 and happy with it – but cannot use it in Win7…
I think Skype is great thank you for giving us a free program that works so well.and thank you for your hard work.
We are very excited about the Ver 5 you are developing. Any idea of when it’ll be released as non-beta? Thank You!!
There is NO keypad, and I don’t care what anyone says about dropdowns, hidden places, secret arrows. At least there is not one you can use to send DTMF codes, which are required every time you call practically any business. How do you enter the ‘parties extension’ when there is no keypad that allows you to ‘beep’ the numbers and the keyboard keypad doesn’t work? What in God’s name were they thinking?
Was some kid who chats with his mom and granny all day in charge of this beta? Because it has zero business use.
did they put back multi instances of API in this version or not? if not i will so past this version too
Any chance for multi-screen sharing? That would be a great feature!
Can anyone please tell me why on earth my own video is autohiding when not on TOP of the other parties’ video and I cannot STOP it from AUTO hiding? this seems ludicrous? Why on earth can we not stop it from autohiding if we would like to see ourselves? If you guys are going to add new features, please leave the ability for us to turn them on or off as well? Is it that hard to let us choose to autohide?
(Im a very frustrated and disappointed Skype user for a very long time who is now stuck with a version that is making me want to use a competing product)
I have only just downloades version 5 and must say I am super hating the new layout vs. ver 4. I hate having to click to adjust volume, miss the share screen right click and cant help but feel like I’m beta testing a full release for them as it appears very buggy with a decent amount of lag compared with how smooth I found the last version of 4. Hmmmm…. Downgrade it is I think.
I downloaded this today and I’m experiencing different problems: while I was doing a test call I noticed cut offs and some unbearable noises. I tried 5 times- always the same. Then when I tried to speak to some of my friends-I heard them ok but they told me the same thing: noises and cut off through out entire calls. I wanted to download older version again, but I can’t find it now. I never had this problems before…
Uhm, my Skype suddenly updated and got a brand new interface… all is nice *EXCEPT* one thing disappeared: How do I share _part of the screen_?
No, not a window, a rectangular _area_ of the screen. I *really* need that feature – and now it’s gone
/Z
The new version is crashing my computer. I keep getting a message that my sound card can’t be found, or that a new device is detected but can’t be detected (?) when I try my headset and skype will hang up on me, or not place the call. I’ve tried this on 2 different computers and it doesn’t work on either. Also, Skype didn’t ask me if I wanted to download the new version – I would have preferred to keep the old version.