Skype for Windows 2.6 preview
We have an [early preview of Skype for Windows 2.6](https://developer.skype.com/WindowsSkype) out there now. You can see that it's called a "preview", which means it's not even a beta yet. You won't find it on any skype.com pages -- it's limited to the Developer Zone and the forum at this time. We only want those people who are comfortable with (possibly unstable) preview versions to download and use it -- and report anything you find back to us.
The main change in this version, and the main reason for calling it a preview, is that we made some pretty significant changes in the audio handling part of Skype, which may make it unstable. So at this time the main goal of this preview is to test all the audio stuff. There are some other new or changed things that are also visible, but we're focusing on the audio part for the time being.
See the [2.6 preview page](https://developer.skype.com/WindowsSkype) for more info and download links, and talk back with us in the [2.6 preview forum](http://forum.skype.com/viewforum.php?f=48).
zaizai commented Thursday, Aug 10
I installed v2.6 and am not liking what I am seeing. This is exactly what destroys applications - bloat. I don't want Skype to install a plugin on FF and IE without asking me and I hate seeing the Skypecast chatrooms getting on the interface. If some people want it, give the functionality as a plugin they can install than my having to figure how to remove it.
The best part about Skype is that it is a simple interface. Its got my friends, my calls and my history of calls - where is the need to see chatrooms with weird topics loading from the web into my Skype window! 
llamasonic commented Friday, Aug 11
this is the 1st version that works with my firewire webcam without using splitcam, nice.
kervingo commented Saturday, Aug 12
Is there a beta of a skype for PSP, i read in a japanese blog, last 2005 May, that there was a beta version.
florian_matusek commented Saturday, Aug 12
@zaizai: Just turn it off in View->View Live Tab. I'm also in favor of a simple interface. Its one of the reasons why I use Opera, because I can make it much slimmer than FF.
But the Live Tab is a cool idea, if Skypecasts come to the attention of more users they will grow and we can join really cool Casts 
. So I'm in favor of the tab, and as said you can turn it off if you don't like it .
stefanessen commented Sunday, Aug 13
Im always looking for a better fonbook/Kontakt-Liste. Even for SkypeOut it is not easy to handle many numbers for one contact. SkypeOut could be easier!
affonsocaetano commented Monday, Aug 14
"...Skype 2.6 for Windows..." 
Kervingo,
Skype for PSP? Woooww... Perfect!!!
Where??? When???
I wish! I need!
:D
markmedia commented Thursday, Aug 17
How long will we have to wait before we get a "record call" function?
It is the one thing that mekes me even consider Gizmo (tho that is not realy an option)and if they can impliment it why not Skype?
kalin-himika commented Thursday, Aug 17
I like this version because my video is more clear than it was with v2.5!It works fine for me.I wonder when will this version be full and stable?Is it going to take a lot of time?Thank you
mercurysquad commented Saturday, Aug 19
Hi! Skype is great. Don't you think the Linux/Mac/Windows versions should share the version number and have the same release schedule? Makes things easier you know (for users of course 
)... I really wish Skype for Linux was as full featured as Skype for Windows cuz I just switched my laptop and the desktop back at home to Linux. But 1.3 beta works fine, so no REAL problems except for video-chat.