Garage & Updates

Today we have released a hotfix for Skype 4.2 for Windows.

With this update release we have fixed a crash issue on video calls for users with some specific web-cameras.

We would recommend for everyone to upgrade to this version now. Start download.

We have also recently released a brand new version of Skype for public beta testing. Try it out.

Full release notes for 4.2.0.169 are:

Fixed issues:

* Skype crashed with some web-cameras when video calling, for example with Microsoft Lifecam Show and HP Elite Autofocus web-cam.

Known issues:
* 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.
* After holding and resuming a Skype call the video quality may be degraded.
* Mobiola virtual camera software may cause Skype to cause problems with video when selected as a video source, or freeze during start-up.
Current solution: Uninstall Mobiola filter driver.
* High CPU usage on low-end computers during video calls when using a TouchCam N1 or Twincam encoding camera.
* In some rare cases when sending video from a Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000, the local preview may freeze. The other side will still receive video normally.
Current solution: Update video card drivers.
* Late switch to hardware video encoding when using TouchCam N1 or Twincam encoding cameras.
* The Skype video snapshots feature is not working on Windows XP SP3.
* The ASUS virtual webcamera remains open after terminating a video call.
Current Solution: Select the actual camera in Options->Video or uninstall the problematic virtual software.
* My Video Preview with ATI Rage series graphics cards, when using 16bit color depth, does not render picture correctly.
Current Solution: Use 32bit color depth.
* The microphones of the TouchCam N1 and Twincam encoding cameras generates CPU spikes in every 20 seconds that may result in lower video quality.
Current solution: Avoid using the encoding camera microphone.
* It rarely happens that calls are not successful when two users call each other at exactly the same 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. Ignore the message.
* Call Quality Indicator says “Medium” quality for a high quality video call with Logitech pro 9000 webcameras on both sides.
* 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.
* Only one field change is saved when editing phone contacts.
Current solution: For saving more than one field, editing must be repeated.
* 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.
Current solution: Set smaller screen sharing size.
* The Skype Access connection offering does not pop-up correctly when trying to connect to supported hotspot after starting Skype up.
Current solution: Connect to supported Wifi hotspot before running Skype.
* No warning message is being displayed when closing a conversation with the close button in compact mode.
* The automatic ‘Away’ status setting doesn’t work if it has been set a long time ago.
Current solution: Change the auto away time in options to something else and then back.
* Browsing history is slow while running Jaws.
* Skype fails to detect some screen readers when they are started after running Skype. Workaround: restart Skype.
* Advanced Audio Options resets to Basic view if Tab is pressed while the Cancel button is chosen or if an audio device is moved to a different position in the device list.
* Users with screen readers may have problems noticing the new authorization requests in the Notification tab.
* Skype notifications about account changes can be delayed by a few hours.
* Skype browser plugins for Internet Explorer and Firefox ignore meta tag not to highlight phone numbers.
* 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.
* Skype’s Firefox browser plugin can not be uninstalled from the Firefox Extensions panel on Windows Vista and 7.
Current solution: Uninstall Skype web features from Add or Remove programs dialogue.
* The Skype browser plugin highlights phone numbers and names while creating content on various popular websites.
Current solution: Disable Skype browser plugins on affected webpages.
* An error message appears when the Extras Manager is started while Adobe Flash Player is not installed.
Current solution: 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.
* The country drop down list in the call phones tab is not localized to Russian.
* Having “IM Magician” installed on your computer may cause Skype to crash.
Current solution:
* The High Quality Video logo sometimes flashed during a video call.
* Outgoing video froze when Skype raised the outgoing video quality.
* When on a video call to an Asus Videophone users, the local video preview sometimes froze and the other side saw a green still image after some time into call.
* Having “IM Magician” installed on your computer may cause Skype to crash.
Current solution: If you are affected by this issue then please uninstall “IM Magican” until the vendor provides patch for this issue.
* Netbooks can experience problems displaying some of the Skype windows.
* Certain graphical components may be misaligned when running Skype with a high graphics DPI setting.