Introducing the new version of Skype for Mac
We’ve just released a new version of Skype for Mac, removing the beta label and introducing group video calling as part of our Premium package, as well as a number of user interface and other improvements. Download it now, or read on to find out more.
First, I’d like to say thank you to all of you who sent us feedback on the beta, particularly the positive feedback on group video calling. It’s now available as part of our Premium package, that also includes live chat customer support. You can try it out for free for 7 days, and then purchase either a day pass starting at $4.99 (€3.49/£2.99)* or as a monthly subscription for $8.99 (€5.99/£4.99)* per month. New users receive a 7-day free trial.
As a result of that feedback, we’ve been able to make a number of improvements in the latest version. The video above has all the details. We’re also excited to announce a competition to recognise your own designs for chat styles – find out more and register your interest.
Something we heard loud and clear was that you felt that the app was too big – whether it was the window size, contact list, or the way instant messages were displayed. The good news is that we’ve slimmed things down a bit in the new version, trimming pixels and realigning things to make the app altogether more compact.
We’ve reduced the minimum window size, so that those of you who prefer to keep Skype to one side of your screen, for example, can do that more easily. We’ve also tightened up the contact list, so that you can see 30% more contacts at once. We’ve reduced the amount of whitespace in the sidebar too.
In addition, we’ve tweaked the way instant messages are displayed to reduce the amount of whitespace, allowing you to see more of your conversations without scrolling.
The contacts monitor is a great way to keep track of your closest friends, or your team at work, and in this version we’ve made it much easier to find – it’s in the Window menu.
You’ll be happy to know that we’ve brought back full screen mode in video calls. When you’re in a call, click the button to switch to full screen mode, and click it again to return the call to the Skype window.
It’s also easier to chat while you’re on a call – again, just click the button to reveal the chat panel, and click it again to hide.
Thank you again for all of your feedback. These improvements should help make the Skype experience on the Mac even better. Of course, we continue to welcome your feedback, and please leave a comment below, or use the Give Feedback option in the app and it’ll end up in our inboxes – there will be regular updates and we value your thoughts.
Comments on this post are now closed. If you have feedback on the new version of Skype for Mac, please read our update post.
* Pricing is VAT exclusive. Pricing inclusive of VAT for a day pass is $5.74 (€4.01/£3.44) and for a monthly subscription $10.34 (€6.89/£5.74). A fair usage policy applies.
Absolutely agree with revmachine21 with a further addition:
now passwords don’t appear to be remembered requiring the need to keep signing in. The biggest issue for me is that my wife and I have separate accounts 9obviously). With the old version (to which I immediately reverted) I could simply drop down to change accounts and that was it. Now even that option has been taken away. Shouldn’t updates ADD features rather than get rid of them? I don’t understand the philosophy that demands change for the sake of it.
I do have to say that skype itself is a Godsend- my parents in Canada and my wife’s in China can see our baby everyday here in Germany for which I am so grateful.
Can somebody help me to reinstall 2.8? my mac is version 10.4.11 . Thank you
How can I go back to version 4? This UI is not usable, because I can’t have a compact view with contacts on the side.
The worst version(5) of skype I ever used. Used to be user friendly with nice and simple layout. Now OVERBUILT, takes half the screen… plus PAID group video calls?? Hope version 6 isnt going to be a shareware. Spent two hours trying to teach my Mom to use this new version this morning. Will give it a couple of weeks to get used to, but right now miss the good old skype(compact, useful and out of the way). I dont think most users would want a statistics Sidebar showing who they called today/yesterday/this week and this month. But anyway thank you for your efforts to bring Skype up-to-date for Mac.
UI is even worse than windows version – overbloaten and useless
i am aware this has been posted many times, but the new ui is a real pain. i liked the old version so much for being compact, but that’s not the only thing i don’t like about the new ui. sorry guys, this version is epic fail to me. from another user, who’s switching back to the 2.8 version.
Having read through a number of the comments, I’m glad to see I’m not the only one very unhappy with the new UI. This gives me hope it may be changed. The older UI was very good for all the reasons stated above: compact, separate windows, etc. I am really not a fan of the new contact list, it is too big and for no apparent reason I can see. The side bar is unnecessary, and though it can be slide over, it pops back into place with each reopening. The contact on-line/off-line window which pops up with status change is intrusive, I was disappointed to find I couldn’t turn this off in preferences. Not sure what the driving goal was in your redesign, but honestly very unhappy with the new version and wish I could go back to the old one. A good chef knows when the soup is done…
Like many other users I just hate the new interface. By the way, it is not just me, also my mother, girlfrien, friends with mac, political family, etc.
It’s too big … and all those things everyone is talking about. Did you really learn anything from the beta. Did you even (considerably) change something? What kind of UI designers have you guys hired?
Even more important than that. Did you by any chance remove the “Share my Screen” functionality? That was the best, I used it almost everyday. How could you do that? I just can’t believe it. Or, is it that the interface is so bad after 30 minutes looking for it, considering that I’ve been using skype since the very first public releases, I can’t find it?
I’m seriously considering dropping my account after this release, including my european unlimited subscription…
Fix this ASAP, PLEASE!
TOO BIG.
TOO BIG.
TOO BIG.
This is crazy, what an epic FAIL.
2.8 is better in every sense.
Just to add to the chorus here; Maybe the Skype team _thinks_ the new UI is great (pun intended…), but as far as I can tell, the majority of users is not. I really hope to see some announcement that this will be fixed. In any case, I am happily sticking with 2.8 until some newer version get useable or I will have to switch to another VoIP tool that actually listens to its user base…
I have switched back to Skype 2.8. It has a compact and flexible UI. Because of this experience, I will be wary of future Skype “upgrades.”
This is my problem, maybe Skype or someone could help. I have 2 Macs on Snow Leopard. I had version 2.8 on both of them. Decided to upgrade to version 5.0. The call history and voicemails I had disappear. Why doesn’t Skype 5.0 keep the call history and the voicemail history after upgrading? Now, when I downgrade back to version 2.8 the call history and voicemails are back. Skype or someone please help? This doesn’t make sense for people to upgrade and the call and voicemail history disappear. I pay a subscription fee to Skype.
It is completely out of all possible and impossible Apple GUI guidelines. Contacts that constantly change their position in the recent bar.
I don’t want to search the person I have talked to 3 minutes ago neither I don’t want to have the most recent conversation on the top! Please, bring out something less “intelligent”!
And make it smaller! it looks terrible on the screen of any size. Even nowadays people use their computers not only to chat and spend a time in the facebook but also to WORK.
Ditto, ditto, ditto.
Format is large and wasteful, it appears the developer was working with impaired vision. Take a hint: Macs are quick, simple, and easy to view in a nutshell, whereas in what you have presented “Larger” does not equal easier. However, it is way more confusing.
I agree with one comment above, asking for a new option for a “classic format” version.
Plus I use Skype a lot for phone calls out. Cannot fathom why there are two different contact listings, side-by-side. Who really cares that much about calls that have already occurred? Looks as if the hierarchy of our day-to-day user structure (you call this an interface) has been compromised. Please think harder about your current target audience. Thank you!
In this latest version, the option is included within each contact to video or phone call. Does that mean I can condense my existing contact list? How to do this when I have multiple numbers for mobile, home, office etc? No explanation is given.
V. 5 appears a step backwards. By long association, Mac users are accustomed to new things that are simpler, more streamlined, condensed. Considering that most also use iPods, iPads and iPhones, your new over-sized screen monster is quite scary indeed. Nevermind the fright it will give to new smaller screen MacBook Air’s and MacBook users.
In the meantime, until I see any good explanation and progress, I am back to installing my older version.
I was wondering when will you release HD video calling for mac?
Horrible, horrible, horrible release!
GUI is absolutely useless and takes damn a lot of space.
I am NEVER EVER gonna install this version until it is redone to be as compact on my screen as possible, as light on resources as possible, and as intuitive as any mac soft should be.
Booooooooooo!!!
Skype 5.0 for Mac UI design is not very good. What is the planned release date for 6.0?
Sorry guys – one more vote against this version. The version 5 ui on Windows is way better! Much more flexible, to say nothing of more informative. But not to worry, I can run the Win version on another machine while doing the rest on this Mac.
Huge step backward. Just like the Windows version, the UI is totally unintuitive. Important elements are small and impossible to find and less important ones are huge:
Why do I need such a large contact list? The compact one from 2.8 was ideal. I can always look for the person I want to talk to when I need her. However, New messages are so small that I do not see them. I see this red thing on the Skype Icon
Nothing is where one would expect to be. What was wrong with the UI of 2.8? Add video group chat to 2.8 and it is an awesome 6.0.
I could never unterstand why my parents could never see when I messaged them with Skype 5.0 for windows. Now, with Skype 5 for Mac I can.
My previous comment was posted before I could finish. Here is what it should have been.
Worst version ever. The UI presents the information some programer would like to present, not what I, as the user, need (I am a programer myself):
* The contact list occupies 5 times the surface of what is needed. The 2.8 version was perfect.
* IMs are impossible to find. I see this red star on the Skype icon and I start scanning the UI like a desperate dog wondering what it could be: a message, a dropped call … And there it is, there is this number next to a name telling me I have a message from that person. It should pop out, in the middle of the screen, just like the previous verion, so I _know_ somebody is talking to me.
* This version is bad, bad, bad. I honestly hoped that only windows users will be blessed with this new design. It hit us as well. Oh mio mio.
Such a nice program and such a bad presentation. So sad.
Ionut
PS $5 for video chat, seriously? Aren’t we paying enough for the phone calls, even though they are more expensive then GVoice, just because we love the comfort?
Please try to make the window no larger than version 2. The current Skype window is unnecessarily large. If you want to show the world your ideas for the new UI at least give users a choice to switch to a minimal view.
Come on guys, 500 pixels is such a waste of space for the UI. You can get everything into 150 pixels wide – the old call list was fine. All I need is a list of names. It’s like you’ve designed for clumsy fingers on an iPad interface. Do any of you guys actually use a Mac? I’ll go back to 2.8 and am very happy to give £5.74 / month group video chat a miss!!!
Not that there’s a need repeating it, but the new Skype 5 is horrible. The UI is way too big. The contacts look as they’ve been taken straight from my three-year-old’s drawing book. Less is more. Thing and small an unobtrusive is how I like my windows. I’ve time-machined Skype back to 2.8.
For all those having troubles finding the old version:
“Thank you for your reply.
We understand that you wish to downgrade your Skype application.
Unfortunately, we cannot provide you with an older version of Skype. We advise against downgrading since with each new version a lot of problems are fixed. Skype recommends that you always use the most up-to-date version of the program.
However, you may download older versions of Skype from websites that provide them, such as http://mac.oldapps.com/skype.php
But please note that downloads from websites other than skype.com are not officially supported by us. We have no control over the content on such websites, which can change or disappear without notice, nor can we guarantee that the downloaded product will work.
Once again please accept our sincerest apologies, and we thank you for your patience and understanding.
Best regards,
Lawrence D.
Skype Customer Service”
Absolutely terrible. The way it works just doesn’t seem logical or intuitive. Skype, please go back to something similar to the previous version.
Sorry guys, you’ve lost me. If there was an alternative so Skype, I’d have signed up by now.
3 min after I downloaded v5 I frantically looked at how to go back to 2.8! Skype got rid of all previous downloads and redirected them to the v5. Shame on you! By forcing us to do something you risk losing us all!
I went back to 2.8 through networking other computers and some other through Time Machine.
V5 is absolute rubbish and your ad for it is misleading.
This thing is waaaaaaaaay too big, bring back the compact view, or least make the compact view a selectable option like all the other chat clients.
Seriously you guys did not think this thru.
Is this a joke? Do you want to get out of business? Anybody with a minimum knowledge of user interface expertise can tell you this new interface is horrible. I’m using Skype right form the start and I use Skype for my work. I’m just curious to learn to know how such things can happen in a professional organization. Please announce that this was one big 1 April joke and fire the user interface director. This is the biggest user interface mistake I have seen in years.
Skype is great but the UI design is now an absolute shambles! Did you even user test this? Everyone just sat around the office and laughed out loud at how bad the new version is.
Have you really made it so that all conversations have to be within a single window, and only allowed me to see one at a time? Here’s how I often used Skype: get a video chat going on one monitor, and while that’s happening, keep several other chats going on the other monitor. Let us pop a conversation out into a new window!
just switched back to 2.8. Totally unuseful the 5 ui! Too much waste of space and no overview at all. 2.8 is unbeatable. Don’t know why I ever thought upgrading might be a good idea.
Forget trying to fix this crappy UI. Just hurry up and finish SkypeKit so that I can use Adium to access the Skype network instead. I don’t mind paying for a service, but I’m not going pay for a crap UI if there is a free alternative.
One more user who dislikes the new interface. Too big and bulky. 2.8 just had it right.
Switched back to ver. 2.8.0.866 as of yesterday. Feels so great!
Doesn’t consume 20% of CPU when idle;
Doesn’t consume 120+ Mb of RAM having been launched for just 5 minutes;
iSight camera works (can you imagine that?!) all the time!..
Like the others here, I am downgrading until a functional compact view is available. Please listen to your users, Skype.
it seems that you simply don’t listen to anyone of us, telling you that the UI sucks. after trying to use skype5 somehow i’m back at 2.8. guys – do your homework. please. wtf do i have to scroll to see all of my contacts? why is this damn contact list on my screen when skype is in the background? thanks for nothing.
The new UI is horrible — both aesthetically and functionally. Instead of a small desktop footprint that allowed me to track my contacts status and make calls easily, I now have to contend with a large window that can’t be minimized in any fashion. Plus, the ‘Online Contacts’ window (the transparent look is quite nice) floats on top of all other windows, making navigation tedias at times. As for the ‘Mac-like’ graphic appeal — ouch!
And finally, I would love to experience the ‘group’ feature by having a video conference with more than one person at a time, but your pricing structure is out-of-sync with every other aspect of Skype. Why not a ‘per call’ rate equivalent to your phone rates — say $.50 per call, or $.25 per person per call. Usage would to up, and people would be happy…. no wait, I get it now… you priced it so people wouldn’t use it. This has not been a very good ‘Skype day’. Now I’m off to try to switch back to v2.8.
The new version is not as good for mac. If you block someone then you loose them from your contact list. The contact list window is too big when the other was the right size. Can you help us to get back the older 2.8 version? Does anyone knows how to get it, please?
OK, if anybody at Skype has been reading these comments (are you? talk to us!) and is feeling a bit unloved, here’s a hug for you. Skype for mac 2.8 is great! I mean really, really great – it’s an extremely simple and powerful tool, one of the best pieces of software on my mac and a joy to use. There are definitely things that could be improved about the messaging interface but after the (brief) experience of Skype 5 I want to make a deal with you: If you let me keep using my skype 2.8 on your wonderful service forever, I promise I will never leave you for any competitor. Not facetime, not ichat, never! Please save my Skype 2.8!!
1. Agree with other posters – new interface is too large. Need the ability to shrink it more.
2. Would like an option to keep the video window in front of all other windows. I like to be able to see my contact while we’re searching something together on the internet. With the previous versions I could have the picture always in front. Now each time I click away the video moves to the back.
3. The history section to the left is just excessive. I don’t need to view a list every single call or chat all the time. It’s wasted real-estate.
4. I’ve never found a use for “avatar view” in my ipod, mac or elsewhere.
5. I would like to see the dial-pad feature return to the active call screen.
6. Add a pop-out feature for the video so I can send a chat message to someone else while I am still visualizing the person I’m talking to.
Please bring back the narrow view. I don’t understand why there needs to be the same icon next to every name so large I can see them miles away. Complete overkill. Please make the app smaller again.
Thanks
i downloaded this. I reverted back to 2.8, its so much easier to use. Sorry Skype but i strongly dislike this new version!
i won’t use the new UI either…staying with 2.8 until theres a major overhaul.
All I want is for the mac version to have the same game extras as the PC version! All my PC friends on skype want to play games, but I never can because MAC skype never supports it! Please, please, please create a game extra for MAC!!
The new interface for Mac is awful! The skype window cannot be made small or without contacts icons, it’s too big, not configurable. I liked the compactness and discreetness of the previous version. I switched back to 2.8! Version 5 for Mac is terrible.
Would love to say something good, but had to revert back to 2.x
V5 takes up way too much real estate.
main reason for delete is contact monitor always on top???!!!! how is that ever useful, just gets in the way.
I honestly like Skype but this new release is just not as good as the one before. I chat with my girlfriend in the office and I need to be able to hide her video as I chat with her. I also loved the fact of having her floating on top of my windows as I surfed the web or work on something else. But now… all of that is impossible. Even if I want to talk to someone else, my girlfriend is gone and hidden behind many clicks. If I share screen I can’t chat with my girlfriend… “What happened Skype?” I checked also the Skype 5.0 for Windows and they integrated some great features from the Mac version (like the floating video window in top of everything), but with this “update” you take that feature out… again, “what happened Skype team?”. Right after writing this comment I will use time machine to install again the “old” version, in my opinion it is much better and useful. Please give us something as good or better than the Windows version next time.
Jumping on here, please, please fix this UI and window size. Give us options to go to a small window size. I can’t believe not one person on your team mentioned using this on a laptop? I can see 8 users in my contacts list. Why all the unnecessary space? ICQ was built over 10 years ago and has a better interface.
This update is actually making me want to find another piece of software instead of skype. There’s a reason every other interface for chat/contact clients lists names small? You didn’t re-invent the wheel, you actually made it non-round (useless).
For everyone looking for the good ol’ Skype 2.8 -> http://mac.oldapps.com/skype.php
Seriously worst UI upgrade I’ve ever seen. There is absolutely no way I would use Skype 5 on my Mac. I’m staying with 2.8 for as long as possible. I only use it for phone calls anyways. If I want multi video chat I’ll use the free version on ichat. Works great.