Introducing the new Skype for Mac, now available in Beta
It’s out of beta – read about the latest version!
It was worth the wait – the new Skype 5.0 is now available for Mac today in beta, introducing a revamped look and feel that simplifies navigation and provides a more Mac-like experience. For example, the Skype app has been brought together in one window for ease-of-use, and the Mac address book has been integrated, making it possible for you to call, IM and SMS your contacts when they are online or offline.
The new Skype for Mac also offers our popular new feature - group video calling - which allows you to make video calls with more than two people at a time as long as all participants are on the new Mac beta or Skype for Windows 5.0. Group video calling brings people together like never before, allowing you to do more things together with your friends, family and colleagues whenever you are apart.
The new Skype for Mac also includes the following new features:
- New call control bar — Hang up, mute and more from a mini Skype toolbar that sits on top of any web pages, documents or photos you’ve got open
- Search chat content to easily navigate past conversations
- Offline IM so that you can send and receive instant messages even if the recipient is offline
- Personalise contacts via user profiles
- Quickly rejoin calls if your Internet connection fails momentarily
- Floating Contacts Monitor to see your online contacts and contact groups
Try out the new Skype for Mac in beta and tell us what you think using the Skype > Provide Skype Feedback menu item. And stay posted as we roll out the official version soon.
pillory commented Thursday, Nov 4
Oh my good God, it's so BIG! How can I shrink it and hide all this contact list stuff? I don't think you understand how I use Skype at all. The dialler is integral to me, more than a hovering popup.
Reverting to last version.
punsky commented Thursday, Nov 4
what a horrible design, too many places to go to the contacts, no classic mode, the windows just looks huge! i don't like it.
fliesenjohnny commented Thursday, Nov 4
i always hoped the Windows Version of skype would move towards the beautiful, minimalistic design of the Mac version.
I do not understand the new design choices :/
Who would _honestly_ scroll through low res contact pictures in cover flow?
Who honestly needs _this much_ space for previous conversations, why not hide them, unless needed?
Sorry, but i'll be keeping 2.7, as my skype window is supposed to be a little companion on my desktop, not cover the whole thing :/
seofeed commented Thursday, Nov 4
Thanks for finally updating the app even if some of the feedback isn't great! Been a long time coming for a new version
utechristian commented Thursday, Nov 4
I like the clean look. Still missing monochrome menubar icons though …
teezeh commented Thursday, Nov 4
Err - ever thought about ppl who do NOT want to waste all of their screen estate /w Skype?
ciryx85 commented Thursday, Nov 4
From minimalistic to a communication hub.
I like the new design but it seems to be rushed out. Some things just make no sense at all. And looking at the button size I think Skype hopes for touch screens on Macs... Not sure whether this is better than the nice and small old version.
esthreel commented Thursday, Nov 4
Thank god I am using Windows. This Skype is just awful. You guys have no idea what is MAC all about, you went the wrong way by making it this big.
volker.weber commented Thursday, Nov 4
It took me one minute to hate this new design and go back to 2.8. I will not be "upgrading" to this monster. When you drop support for 2.8, I am gone.
homestaynathan commented Thursday, Nov 4
Gah! Huge contact list. Can hardly call it a list. Please give me the option to shrink that down. I'm not that interested in my friends' display photos. Need to see who's online at a glance, not scroll through giant grid of names & photos.
Thank you for group video calling and making my profile more accessible!
leafy7382 commented Thursday, Nov 4
1. It has crashed twice, always crash when I remove a certain message
2. It's too big, hoggin my precious desktop space
3. It loses messages I type. The recipient can see it, but it's not shown on my dialog, till I restart Skype.
I suggest we do the basic stuff right before galloping to new features.
sly.thu commented Thursday, Nov 4
could anyone here paste a direct link to the download file please? I was redirected to the chinese site of tom-skype when I clicked on the "download", and there's no 5.0 beta on that site...
thomaskrajacic commented Thursday, Nov 4
It's really a shame...
Skype for Mac used to be small and unobtrusive, and now it has become horribly big!
How do you guys (read: devlopers) think people use Skype?
Maybe I am ignorant but I think most people liked the minimalistic design. There is so much space wasted with the new design! I used to have Skype open in the background at the screens edge and loved that it was... well... minimal!
Good design (in my opinion) lets you focus on the task, and that is "calling" or "chatting" I think. Why does the contact list need to be so big? It should merely be there to support the primary features mentioned above, but with the new version it seems like Skype is a "contact-list-manager"... Hope you get my idea. Don't know if other people share my opinion though.
Please give us a "reduced view"! I really don't know why Skype should use so much screen space?
Thx,
Thomas
dkorpar commented Thursday, Nov 4
Big plus is that everything's in one window, but as it's said, everything is too big. What makes it big is a whitespace. There's too much of it, from contacts to chat (which I use mostly). Please consider this while it's still in beta.
dkorpar commented Thursday, Nov 4
Big plus is that everything's in one window, but as it's said, everything is too big. What makes it big is a whitespace. There's too much of it, from contacts to chat (which I use mostly). Please consider this while it's still in beta.
joseph.carney commented Thursday, Nov 4
This version is terrible. Seriously. I've taken it straight off and it will not be updating. It is wrong on so many levels I don't know where to begin...
Please contact more of your 'Mac' users for feedback and add loads more customisation of the way you can view your revolutionary [sic] 'one window interface' before you release this.
For example, a few points to consider...
With 2.8, at a glance I can see immediately who is on/offline. With 5.0 I don't have a clue without scrolling down a huge list. The text information displayed in this list is far too big and wastes way too much screen space. It's confusing, completely uninformative and a waste of time.
With 2.8, I can see my contacts on the right, with my open conversation windows detached on the left. This is clean and what I'd call a 'Mac' interface. With 5.0, I have to look at them inside 'one window' with the contacts stuck on the left. Why not offer an option to detach these contacts and conversations so we can move them around?
Seriously, these two simple points may seem trivial to you, but this is how I've used Skype on the Mac (which I prefer over the Windows version) for a long time now. This new version is just far too alien to the way I work. Not only that, the contacts and conversations become meaningless to look at.
Avatar view? WTF? Why? This isn't iTunes. I'm not looking at CD's here!
If you are going to 'improve it' then at least offer users the chance to keep it the same way. Including the new display settings as options should we want to try them out.
There is no way I'd be updating to this version without those options...
andy_schmidt commented Thursday, Nov 4
Installed and un-installed within 3 minutes. Too big no way to make the chat font smaller. No classic view option. I use Skype for about 6 years or so but this is disappointing to me.
benedict.g.evans commented Thursday, Nov 4
Not everyone has a 27" screen, guys. Why exactly do you think you're entitled to 40% of the screen of a 15" Macbook Pro?
Lose the sidebar, or make it hide-able
Halve the height of the bars shown for each contact
Let me hide the avatars entirely - especially since most of my contacts haven't bothered with them.
Ley me resize the window to something that works for me, not your graphic designer. This is a software programme, not a brochure.
Also, PSTN Phone calls are a core function, not something to hide and forget about.
travis.lopes commented Thursday, Nov 4
I was ecstatic that group video conferencing is finally included until I saw that you can't pop-out anyone's video into a new window. Please add that feature. It is very critical to some users.
kandark78 commented Thursday, Nov 4
I always liked the old Mac version's design compared to the Windows version.
It was simple and nice... the new version looks like the Windows version... huge window with lot's of stuff...
Keep it simple
phlebotomus commented Thursday, Nov 4
It's not a Mac style! A lot of empty space and different styles in one app:
1) Why do I see horizontal scrollbar in chat window, if there are no content to scroll for?
2) Why font size in chat window is bigger than it is in the input field?
3) Why buttons are big and green, but not like a system buttons?
4) Why do I need to somewhere else to see my profile picture, while I can see my buddy picture in a chat?
5) Why there is so much empty space around?
6) Does you heard about OS X design guidelines ever?
I will dig for more, if you would like, but I'm already glad, that I have skype.dmg stored on my remote drive and I can use it. Please, do not try to unify Mac and Windows design, make a good application Mac-style and everyone will like it.
Now, it looks more like a promotional campaign: "Let's introduce something awful for everyone to talk about skype". Hopefully, you will listen to your customers.
urbanomad commented Thursday, Nov 4
Integrated spell check isn't working. Even with all the problems of the last version, I don't think I like the design of this version at all...
ccfv-sskazenski commented Thursday, Nov 4
omg. Echoing everyone else here: please let us shrink these giant windows down! Some people like using Skype to text chat with friends/coworkers, but it’s impossible to move the windows out of the way to continue working and still following group chats!
And the Contact Monitor is only showing one out of four online contacts. The [also large] bezel look for a contact list is a little strange to me…
Switching back to v.2.8!
genki-adrian commented Thursday, Nov 4
The new features like address book integration and group video chat are nice, but seriously, what were you guys thinking when designing the user interface. It's so incredibly bloated and ugly. The old interface was just neat and tidy and now the contact list is so huge and I cannot even switch back to classic mode nor shrink the contact list window as much as I want, even with the sidebar moved away. Also, the icons in the contact list are incredibly large and why the heck does cover flow have to be integrated into all kinds of MacOS applications. Cover flow makes when actually dealing with album _covers_ in iTunes but in contact lists, sorry that's absolutely poor interface design. Just another "cover flow, yeah me, too". I hope the messy GUI gets cleaned up before the final release. I cannot really waive for the new 5.0 release when it has features like group video chat.
And, btw, please DO NOT integrate Facebook into Skype. It might be cool for a lot of kiddies outside there, but there are actually people using Skype for their business and work and they surely don't want too much bling-bling, just the pure Skype being the best VoIP software out there. You may well just release a separate version of Skype with all these bloat features built-in, but please spare these from the majority of Skype features who don't need these "features".
Sometimes less is more.
Thanks for the new release though. Hope there will be some updates to the Linux version as well. Since Skype is based on Qt, the software shouldn't drift apart so much on the various platforms. The guys from Spotify show how to make a custom GUI application in Qt which looks almost exactly the same on all supported desktop platforms.
Adrian
magnolia-us commented Thursday, Nov 4
Hey, welcome in the club. Apple's had this feature for how many years? 5? Can't even remember…
conkyfilms commented Thursday, Nov 4
I applaud the new, smaller download size and the refined "look" of the interface, but I'm with pillory, this is taking up way too much screen real estate. Unless this is rectified or the option is given to go back to a classic separate-windows mode, it will be simply impossible for me to upgrade. If anyone agrees please do send feedback with the Skype > Provide Skype Feedback menu item.
adamwride commented Thursday, Nov 4
Love it! Love the single window - much better.
We are missing the keyboard shortcuts to move between conversations. Is that on purpose?
dave.abbott.skype commented Thursday, Nov 4
There is an option to get a smaller window - cmd+3.
What bothers me is that it still triggers the nVidia graphics card when using the Intel one would be sufficient. Wouldn't be a problem on a desktop, but on a notebook I want my battery to last as long as possible.
I'm using an mid-2010 MBP.
de.24-interactive commented Thursday, Nov 4
Sorry Skype-Team, but the new Skype 5 for Mac is a total FAIL.
I can see the one-window-approach makes sense, but it's just way too big! Too many different font-sizes and -styles. Minimum window size is way too big! Why are icons, thumbs and contact names all different sizes? Font sizes in conversations are way too big! No overview at all! What a fail.
chrisneilson commented Thursday, Nov 4
Wow. its not really all that user friendly at all 
The recent stuff is not really all that useful.. I've got names duplicated everywhere because of the different conversations that I have but no real way of knowing which conversation is for what (the history was much better before).
Then you show my whole contact list in the same panel as the chat list, so i can't simply have a window open go to another contact, start a conversation, wash rinse repeat... The whole contact list situation is really poorly thought out.
the text size is HUGE, the buttons are HUGE which causes really long spacing between contacts.. There is no way to shrink it down anymore than half my screen width.. This is a disaster unfortunately.
I simply have to revert back
alancwoo commented Thursday, Nov 4
I agree, the contact list is absurdly large and wastes too much real estate. At its minimum usable size it is still taking almost 1/4 of a 23" cinema display, how can this possibly be usable on a laptop? There needs to be a more compact list view. Unfortunately it also seems the panamerica message theme is also far too generous with white space and also uncustomizable regarding the typeface etc... I will also have to revert to the old version
Despite that, I appreciate the unification of the contact list/message window, but options for a more compact view are sorely needed.
lukas_mathis commented Thursday, Nov 4
"Provide Skype Feedback" doesn't work on my system. Clicking on "Submit" does nothing.
As for Skype 5 itself, please, at least bring back the ability to open individual chats in different windows, and to make the main window smaller, showing just online users. I'm using the Mac version of Skype (rather than the Windows version) specifically *because* it's not a huge messy window that forces me to constantly jump between tabs when I'm chatting with several people.
emiliano.castano commented Thursday, Nov 4
Wow, cool now I can use it without reading glasses!
This is huge and obtrusive.
stuart.barr commented Thursday, Nov 4
I think this is a step backwards. I have to agree with the other comments that the UI is now a complete disaster. Some specifics:
Why is everything so big - text, avatars, buttons? So much wasted space.
I actually preferred having separate windows for separate functions, I used to keep my contact list off to the right of the screen so it was pretty much always visible, now that's not possible as it's anchored to everything else.
I can't now manually order my favourites or other chats in the left column.
I hate seeing the whole contact history in the chat window: "Call Started, Call Ended, Call Started, Call Ended" - what's the point?
I see far fewer lines of text in a chat and far fewer people in lists (I am using a 27" iMac, I dread to think what this would be like on a 13" MacBook).
Overall, it seems like there has been very little usability testing until now.
jorge.curiel.lopez commented Thursday, Nov 4
For me, 'simple' is having a nice little tabbed chat window I can hide and a compact contact window I can forget about when not in use (like in the previous version).
Kudos for group video calls; though I'm not installing this beta version 'till someone shows me a compact / classic mode for it.
Keep in mind this (but don't get me wrong, I love Skype and its services), Skype is a tool– not an application I want to look at all day.
xilakju commented Thursday, Nov 4
Over-engineered. Indeed, it IS too big.
Thanks, but no thanks. I'll stick with the current compact and simple enough 2.8 version.
italoop commented Thursday, Nov 4
Horrible, horrible, horrible...like I haven't seen as bad in ages! Looks like people are making Mac apps worst and worst lately...trying to imitate old Windows versions. The HUGE contacts list is just tasteless. Coverflow doesn't make any sense on Skype. Whoever designed and approved such a waste of efforts should be immediately fired. Shame.
Please bring back V2.8 or REALLY make the new Mac version as nice as Windows 7 one. This is bad. Back to V2.8..... some fresh air.
luukdeleest commented Thursday, Nov 4
Great. Now the Mac version is out, you can start on the Linux version. Because we're still using 2.1 beta, remember?
johnrust128 commented Thursday, Nov 4
Look guys, this sucks. A lot.
The UI is horrific, it violates so many HIG conventions, and it's quite a downgrade from the old version. I can't pull out chats into separate windows now. I can't size down anything or even change the appearance of the messages pane. Your "provide feedback" menu item doesn't even work.
I'm sorry, but I'm probably going to ditch Skype altogether if this is what the final product is like. I can't use this.
eduardo-1234 commented Thursday, Nov 4
The new overall look is really not any better, in fact I personally think it's worse. I use Skype in the most minimalistic way, and usually I use Adium as my model of minimalistic messaging app.
I love the new "Contacts Monitor" but it is a shame that I cannot type in this mode, and have to return to the ginormous iTunes looking new window.
Also, can we add sound themes? The only sounds I use are new message and incoming call, and I can even live without them, so I hate how on every update I have to go back and shut every little sound off.
iPhone video messaging any time soon?
mike.wienick commented Thursday, Nov 4
How do we remove contacts pictures from the message screen. i know how to remove their pictures fromt he sidebar.
ldurrett1 commented Thursday, Nov 4
Hey I like it, for some it is difficult to change. I look forward to doing a lot of conf. calls. Thanks guys.
ssslash commented Thursday, Nov 4
hey guys. i appreciate your work. but please give us back a little piece of minimalism. you just kicked some shortcuts, with 30+ online contacts the liste is way too long. no possiility to hide offline contacts. everything is too big. the nice-clean-light look and feel you hoped to create fells a litte bit to heavy. to much space between everything. and please don't argue with anything like whitespace. currently nothing depends to nothing else around it.
hope you can fix some of our issues.
kind regards, tobi (just reverted to 2.8)
sinan1212 commented Thursday, Nov 4
OMG! It seems that everybody has to use an extra monitor for using the new skype... In daily use its nearly unusable... One contact in the „mini“ contact list needs the same space like three ones in Adium...
I'll revert to the last version also.
haldrogenbomb commented Thursday, Nov 4
A definite step back with regard to the user interface. As others have noted, the windows are HUGE and now take up a significantly greater portion of screen real estate. I'm not looking for a Skype command HQ -- I want an easily accessible, easily *hideable* contact list that can dwell in the background when I don't need it. Boo.
chr_wi commented Thursday, Nov 4
too big and a design that is not acceptable. facebook integration is a 'no go' for me.
just_adi__ commented Thursday, Nov 4
The new layout is really confusing at least for two reasons:
1) I *really* enjoyed the old "contacts" window, with the list of _small_ usernames (online on the top, others below) - it's been there for years, not only in skype but many others IM's and I just don't feel like changing it is a good idea!
2) chat list ordered by the time of last use doesn't work for me either. I want to have ability to order my chats whatever I like, even though some of them are silent for days or weeks.. and again, it's too big! The old list is much more compact and works better for those who have many chats open all the time - one quick glance and you see what's going on and where.
Sorry guys.. reverted to 2.8 without a second thought..
hot_shot_nn commented Thursday, Nov 4
Sometimes less is more, but in the new Beta: less is less. Several turn-offs:
1. The Skype window is way too big, on a 13" MacBook Pro screen it takes more than a half of the desktop, I usually preferred to put Skype with other IM apps in one space, no I can't.
2. No 'classic' mode. The fact I can't choose to arrange my contacts by status or by kind is really annoying, no less the fact that right-clicking a contact gives you a very limited menu options.
3. The floating 'online contacts' windows is pretty useless if it launches the main window of Skype without a separate chat/call window.
4. Lack of Facebook integration. It will be pretty useful, but I guess this is a whole other API to deal with.
I'm sticking with good old 2.8.0.863 for now.
mikiellen commented Thursday, Nov 4
The new interface is atrocious. It looks like the fisher price version of skype. Compact is ALWAYS better, especially when you have limited space on your desktop. C'mon...for a Mac release, we expect MUCH better. Reinstalling the previous version now.
norrisk commented Thursday, Nov 4
I seem to be missing some of the status icons that used to be on previous versions. And I don't see certain icons on my list that I see others showing as their status!! WTH? Also... why did you get rid of the ability to show only Online contacts?????? I, too, want to be able to minimize this more....TOO BIG!
eisa01 commented Thursday, Nov 4
I mainly use Skype to chat, and I think the UI takes way too much space.
First of all the minimum width seems to be 640px. This makes it hard to look at a webpage and chat at the same time, since my screen is 1280px wide (a very common width).
Second, the new contact list is always on top. That doesn't work well with the screen size either, and I wouldn't prefer it even if I had enough space.
Third, I can't have several conversation windows open at once, this makes it hard to chat with multiple people.
Fourth, due to the previous issues I have to show the sidebar. This leads to less than 50% of the width of the window being used for the actual conversation. 1/4 seems to be the sidebar, 1/3 is used for UI for deleting or editing a message. How often do you really do this? I actually just learned a week ago that you even could edit a message, that you could delete it was new to me.
I'm curious what your thoughts are on this.
empirenine commented Thursday, Nov 4
I have to agree with pillory, this is WAY too big!
Do you guys realize that we use skype in the background most of the day, and don't want its gnarly huge windows taking up all the space?
Do you realize that I can only see 6 of my contacts without scrolling? Whitespace is good, but not in a contact list!
And the "compact sidebar" is a joke...it removes the headings and might save 30px.
wdowell commented Thursday, Nov 4
May be i havent found it, but a 'compact' mode would be MUCH appreciated. this is a UI wreck as far as i can see.. Do i really need all that space to the right? not really..
adeliaandandrew commented Thursday, Nov 4
Is there EVER going to be a Linux version?
No, wait. I don't EVER want a Linux version if it's as bloated as this.
Stop adding features only 4 people worldwide want. Fix the call quality issues and undelivered chat messages first.
schempi commented Thursday, Nov 4
- The minimum size of the main window is simply way to big
- users still want seperate windows for chatting / contact list
- The hovering, transparent contact list is a nice idea, however its missing a right click menu and status messages
fabulichatwork commented Thursday, Nov 4
The Submit Feedback button in Skype 5.0 Beta for OSX is broken. When I click on it, nothing happens!
Also, +1, too big. I want to see as many chat messages on screen as possible; right now there's 50 pixels of space between each chat message. I'm sure it looks great in a screenshot, but it's unpleasant to actually USE it like that.
koterelst commented Thursday, Nov 4
The interface is huge! Blug! Should be able to shrink it down a lot! Horrible!
Do like the new features though.
trueisfalse commented Thursday, Nov 4
Awesome!! I will test it as soon as i arrive home! 
Best,
Viajero - Viajes Aventura
console_cc commented Thursday, Nov 4
Thanks for the beta. I really like the new sidebar and "profile details".
Why are you so wasteful with screen estate of the messages? I got a 1280x800 MacBook and can only see five(!) one-line messages. In my opinion this needs to be drastically more compact. Also: I don't need to see the avatar at each message in a non-group conversation.
billchase2 commented Thursday, Nov 4
I agree with the others... why is it so large? Honestly, I hate the new design. One of the great things about Skype was it's simplicity. It was small and functional. There was no need for this major design change. At least give us a compact option to return it to it's previous state!
shard040 commented Thursday, Nov 4
Skype > Provide Skype Feedback menu item.
Does not work - the SUBMIT BUTTON DOES NOT WORK.
So I'll provide my comments here instead:
This new version is certainly huge...and I mean literally, too! Perhaps it looks "big" because I'm on a 13" MacBook, and not viewing on a 20+ inch display.
Would be nice to regain the Skype contacts + Phone contacts grouping (rather than just "Online" + "Offline") grouping. Sure, I can create contact groups in the sidebar for this functionality, but it still would be better the way it was in the previous version. I was much easier visually to sort between...who is a Skype contac, who is not a Skype contact, and who is online/offline. This method in the new Skype 5 does not make it easy in the main window UI.
Would also be nice to add, to Preferences, a "Compact view / Normal view" selection.
I see you have added the Avatar (CoverFlow) view. Not sure if this is very practical yet. Plus, what happens when avatars look blurry (as I notice some of them already do)?
GAMES are still missing in this version. Why? Well whatever, Skype is meant for phone calls mainly anyway.
Not totally bad for a brand new release.
Thanks.
Shawn
Ottawa, Ontario
chmullig commented Thursday, Nov 4
Really excited about multi party video chat. Several times a week at least I'm in multiparty conference calls in skype, and I think video would be an awesome addition.
However the UI is absolutely fucking terrible. It's a travesty. The single window is a HUGE problem, not a feature. The giant, awful, ugly waste of space is awful.
I felt like the Mac v2 interface was the best, and couldn't stand the new windows look either. Please realize that skype is a tool for us, not a destination. I don't want to spend 1 more second than I have to thinking about it.
I'm also finding it regularly using 10-15% of my CPU and 90MB of RAM when just sitting idle after a fresh launch. That's unacceptable.
I'll be keeping it around for multiparty video chats, but 2 is definitely going to remain my default choice.
chmullig commented Thursday, Nov 4
Has anyone found out how much group video calling will cost? It listed it as a free 28 day trial, but I can't find the actual price anywhere.
chmullig commented Thursday, Nov 4
The sidebar is a travesty as well. Why the heck do I need to see that I called some people? Do you want me to nostalgically relive the memories of my 4 minute conference call about a project detail?
euroman3000 commented Thursday, Nov 4
Please offer a compact look that does not fill up the whole screen! It's like the Windows-Version. I hate to say it but I hate it... Please, there is a reason we all use macs... And what about the size of the messages? It's just absurdly big. I know you put a lot of work into it and we so highly appreciate your effort and love for the Mac version, but please, don't make us use this...
eedgar007 commented Thursday, Nov 4
it needs to be able to sort by the last message recieved .. or vise versa .. oldest message on top that hasnt been read.
mr.michael.gibson commented Thursday, Nov 4
I have to totally agree as well. Some constructive criticism here for the devs at Skype...
1) Size - just a no-go for me. I need it compact and just a simple list, like the older version.
2) Cover-Flow type list - not needed. Save it for iTunes 
3) Contact list - just needs to be simple. Show me who's online, in a small window.
Honestly, I went right back to 2.8 within 10 minutes. What I would love is to keep the minimalist design of the 2.x version, and add in the functionality of the 5.x version. I understand wanting to add in tons of bells and whistles, but this was severe overkill.
Thanks!
jackfreud commented Thursday, Nov 4
I love skype but this is huge and gets in the way. No way to even reduce the font size! I can't right-click on anything. I disliked the new integrated and big Windows version, and now this is worse too. I guess I'll go back to the old version.
corrado-eeos commented Thursday, Nov 4
Please, release 5.0 for Linux .... you cannot keep us waiting any longer!!!!
ajay.k.goel commented Thursday, Nov 4
Good
1) Group video works great
2) The search is cool. I can search for any chat topic and switch to it without using mouse
3) Being able to add phone number to contact and call their phone
4) New call control bar is cool where I can hang up the call while I on other apps
Bad
1) Can't re-size chat window where we type
2) Chat messages window where messages appear is spaced out a lot
3) Different font in chat window Vs message window
4) Can't suppress messages like "Call Started", "Call ended"
5) Moving between chat messages using key does not work. Thank God I have Keyboard Maestro and I simulate menu click using a key
gabriele.paolacci commented Thursday, Nov 4
Everything has been said already. I just add one word: Terrible. This is terrible. What the heck are you doing guys? Back to simplicity and usability please.
akelsall commented Thursday, Nov 4
I think we all welcome a big long overdue update but even on a 27" iMac the contact list takes up way too much space, on a MacBook it's ludicrous. It at least needs some compact view options. Mac users are used to efficient interfaces.
Please reduce the wasted space and also provide at least one decent compact view option which uses a similar amount of space as the old version.
On a more positive note it has some of the features that were previously only available on Windows, such as being able to add numbers to a contact's profile. It also now loads very quickly.
Someone mentioned that we should be able to hide the sidebar. You just drag it to hide but you're just left with more white space in the contact list.
maciejtarmas commented Thursday, Nov 4
@trueisfalse
Don't waste your time.
Really, what's up with the chaotic and overgrown interface? I was really excited to try out the beta, but I got rid of it a couple minutes later. It's completely unintuitive, it takes up almost 1/6 of a 24" screen, it's... it's... it's just wrong! Every part of the interface is wrong!
I don't know what your designers have been smoking, but I want some of it!
I really appreciate the new features like conference calls, but please stop experimenting with the UI, because you guys obviously don't know what you're doing. This monster is supposed to be more Mac-like?! You've got to be kidding!
Try as I might, I can't find any single thing about the new design that I like. Sorry guys, it's a complete failure.
I have reverted to the current stable version and I don't intend to upgrade if you don't do something serious about the UI of this beta.
siegfriedcw commented Thursday, Nov 4
Please tell me that this is an Aprils fool joke! I immediately went back to the old version on my MacBook 13 inch. The v5 beta takes so much screen estate that I couldn't stand it for more than thirty minutes.
ovipas commented Thursday, Nov 4
Was this your idea of Halloween scare? Some things are good -like the floating translucent contact list - but that monster eating main window with that ugly message style??? The conversation cannot be closed by hitting the backspace key, terrible…
jonsamson commented Thursday, Nov 4
Seriously - you gotta be kidding me. The window is so bloody big. Who the hell designed this? I want my compact design - simple and elegent - you had a small box with who was online and not and quick calling etc. Now its a massive obstruction. Fix this now!
tama_pugsley commented Thursday, Nov 4
New interface design is AWFUL. Skype is a tool not an application I have open all the time.
baruag commented Thursday, Nov 4
I echo all the comments before me.
"PLEASE MAKE THIS LOOK LIKE AN IM 'MINI-APP' AND NOT A FULL BLOWN 'APPLICATION'. THE SPACING BETWEEN THE CONTACTS IS NOT JUSTIFIED. THERE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A COMPACT MODE THAT SHRINKS IT TO THE PREVIOUS VERSION.
WE ALL LOVE SKYPE. BUT IF YOU KEEP THIS VERSION IT WILL DRIVE A LOT OF US AWAY AND WE WILL START USING 3RD PARTY APPS OR GOOGLE TALK. SAVE US FROM MOVING TO OTHER APPS. !!!
Skype is a supportive platform that can be used in the background. Many people usually minimize their Windows and keep around 150 px on the left or right to just glance at their Skype contacts. As mentioned by many others, please study your user group and the use cases.
matz-home commented Thursday, Nov 4
the first way: back to V2.8!!! skype isnt a programm i have to work with...its an app, which always runs in the BACKGROUND...and also the skype-window should be in the background and not fully filling my screen! its just a message and phone app and not an app like photoshop, numbers, pages, excel, word, ....! its not necessary that i have to use skype always in "FULL SCREEN MODE"!!!! nobody need this!!!
danirsaf commented Thursday, Nov 4
Can add new features, but please save the design of Skype 2.8! All Mac users are accustomed to a simple and convenient design.
The new design is terrible! I will not use "windows-version" with enormous and useless areas. Will stay on version 2.8. Also do not like the voice of an incoming call.
I hope all the requests from users will be applied in the final release.
eriza86 commented Thursday, Nov 4
The new design is just HORRIBLE! I hate it with a passion. Please revert to the compact design, or at least give the user the ability to revert to the old layout. This huge-ass window is driving me crazy!
danirsaf commented Thursday, Nov 4
Can add new features, but please save the design of Skype 2.8! All Mac users are accustomed to a simple and convenient design.
The new design is terrible! I will not use "windows-version" with enormous and useless areas. Will stay on version 2.8. Also do not like the voice of an incoming call.
I hope all the requests from users will be applied in the final release.
suvash.thapaliya commented Thursday, Nov 4
Can't say it enough ! UI Fail, seems like Skype 5 team forgot the difference between a Mac and an iPad.
jfroese commented Thursday, Nov 4
This is horrible, it is the worst desing I've seen.
It eats up to a quarter of my 27" screen and I still can't see all of my contacts. That is a pure joke. As other users already said, this needs a complete redesign. Everything is too big, too fat and not even a little bit resizeable. That is so useless.
I'm deleting it and restore my tiny old version.
boecko commented Thursday, Nov 4
maybe you should release the skypekit so some can integrate the whole thing in adium, pidgin
adsmith2 commented Thursday, Nov 4
I realize new features and design will dominate the discussion, but is there any news about how this beta will affect practical things like computer resource usage and call quality, particularly on Skype Out calls?
If you guys ever want to make serious money, you will need to be a serious phone replacement, as good as a traditional landline and you haven't been anywhere near that as yet.
tama_pugsley commented Thursday, Nov 4
On a slightly more constructive note... the small hovering call window is awesome!
pmiitel commented Thursday, Nov 4
UI is far too big unfortunately, should add alternative "minimalistic" mode
Optimize the CPU usage please, YTD every skype release i have used on my unibody MBP is decreasing battery life once 100% full and using video to ~1,5hours approx.
...64bit?
detlef.hoepfner commented Thursday, Nov 4
This is the worst UI I have ever seen. Uninstalled it within seconds and went back to the old version. Make it SMALL and even smaller! Cover flow - what a strange nonsense!
paullloydjohnson commented Thursday, Nov 4
I can understand why you've done what you've done to try and make the new Skype look like a finder window, however I would have thought that the side bar would make a perfect contact list, with the main section used for chats and video calls. That section could even be 'drawer' like so it is only visible when being used.
I have to agree with the others here, I'm going back to 2.8. Sorry guys!
fairlight3040 commented Thursday, Nov 4
Although I got really excited after reading about the new features, I have to agree that the new interface makes it totally unusable for me (on a MacBook 13"). It is not only for the ridiculous size but for the general handling of it. Maybe some things could be fixed by adding more options for resizing fonts/removing bloat (e.g. icons) or adding more functionality to the 'contact list replacement' (as in toggle Always On Top, toggle grouping, display number of unred messages next to contact)...on the other hand, offering a classic view might be the simpler way to go. Until then...back to 2.8
rakeshkshah commented Thursday, Nov 4
All I really want is video conferencing, and I have to use this crappy user interface and is impossible to read. It simply is too big read, and I can only read a few contacts because of the giant rows. "Cover flow" for contacts is pretty useless. It's much harder to navigate compared to previous versions. Is there anyone who is responsible for sane UI design at Skype???
Please fix this ASAP.
andguly commented Thursday, Nov 4
OMG, this thing is gianormous. Where is the minimalistic design that made skype for Mac so convenient and always on?
I hate it!
remnant81 commented Thursday, Nov 4
i think this version of skype has a big problem. It seems as when i am on video call with someone and also want to IM that person. the video screen is completely gone and i cannot find any way to get video cam back on my screen. I am not sure i am the only one who is expriencing but if it is not it is huge bug.
jacques.lema commented Thursday, Nov 4
I have a 17 inch macbook pro and I find this too large. I don't event want to think about how it looks on a 13 inch. This was obviously designed on a 27 inch iMac. I have done the same error though. The pixels are small and the screen huge so you tend to design things that look enormous on average people's machines.
I like having the *option* to have big chars in chats so I can read from a good distance but this is comically huge and not exactly mac-like.
I do like the better Adress Book integration though.
gkarag commented Thursday, Nov 4
Not happy with the new design
- It wastes a LOT of desktop space, the inspector like windows stay constantly on top and cannot be selected using expose.
- I am totally uninterested in the "recent" groups, I have enough chats and calls with different people per day to make them useless. If they are to stay I'd like to hide these
- The new design needs a possibility to resize the rows in the panes
- Maybe the pane which has changing content needs internet browser like back and forward buttons
- I'd like to switch to active only contacts view in the contact lists pane and not in an inspector like window
- Auto sorting the contact lists by their names needs to be optional
- Maybe I would experiment with the new design but I need the option to switch to the mac classic design
Now I will revert to the good old 2.8
anthonysbarro commented Thursday, Nov 4
No, no, no, no, no, no. You're doing it wrong!!!
This is horrible. There's nothing I would like to see changed with the current 2.8 version. I have Windows running in Parallels and always choose to use the Mac version of Skype over the Windows version because it's so damn BIG.
thomas.meidinger commented Thursday, Nov 4
I agree with the others. The new design is awfull. It's FAR to large. It took me 5 minutes to decide to revert to the old version. I never used Skype as a full screen App and I'm not going to do in the future. Keep it simple clean and slim.
someonlinedude commented Thursday, Nov 4
Wow, seriously! Everybody i know uses skype in a multitasking fashion. So there should be a option to make skype as small as possible!! So that you can have it open side by side with other programs. 2.8 does a great job of just that.
dave.stawinski commented Thursday, Nov 4
Where is screen sharing? How do you add people to a call in progress? There is a button for it, and a search widget, but damed if I can figure out how to add another contact to a call. I'm goin back to 2.8.
jcbone commented Thursday, Nov 4
Well - Adium still works with the Skype plugin… I use prefer the Adium GUI over the Skype GUI anyway, so for chat, i can hide Skype and use Adium. For group video chats I would use Skype itself. No harm done that way. But boy, this version IS ugly.
francesco.gola commented Thursday, Nov 4
Chat doesn't work
Missing Facebook Connect
Missing hide offline
Bad UI
FAIL
skype_ccj commented Thursday, Nov 4
Skype for Mac Beta 5 feedback:
Some of the features are nice e.g. group calling. But what has happened to the concise list view? Now I have a great big clunky interface window with massive amounts of wasted space and oversized buttons. I don't need this for Skype. I just needed the call list.
The avatar / cover flow view is useless and a quirky addition that no-one seriously uses to manage their contacts. Not to mention all the graphics are low quality.
Please give me back my list view and STOP using so much screen space.
Skype for Mac could be a Menu Bar app at the most. It's that simple.
Please get Skype OUT of my dock and be more conservative with space real estate. Thanks. A Skype on the Mac fan, but not v5 BETA
visualseed commented Thursday, Nov 4
Ok - too much screen real estate wasted on showing contacts. The chat window is huge and very little additional information. Why do we need coverflow for contacts? Make it smaller. Make it faster Less obtrusive. Make it integrate with our workflow not dominate our screens. Even the login screen is too big. Due to the slow updates to the iPhone app and now this I am searching for a voip solution that is more practical. In the meantime I'm downgrading to the previous version. I hope you value the opinions of your beta testers and don't release the pile of crap. This makes using the windows version seem like heaven now... that is sad.
cr0ak3r commented Thursday, Nov 4
This is a complete and utter failure.
Everything being oversized is just poor usability. I can however live with that if I have to. Same with the unified window. But taking away my keyboard shortcuts, that's not cool at all.
This goes right in the trash and I am going back to 2.8.
david.henderson.kl commented Thursday, Nov 4
Please, go back to the drawing board. This is a diabolical mess - I've gone straight back to 2.8. I just want a minimal view that just shows which of my contacts are online in a tiny window that I can keep open to the side of my screen. This massive bloated interface is unacceptable - I love the skype service but I will not have this monstrosity on my mac. You must understand that mac folks are the sort of people who appreciate an uncluttered user interface. The lean interface of 2.8 is almost perfect. You've taken something that was excellent and completely ruined it. What on earth were you thinking?
andy.j.arnold commented Thursday, Nov 4
Really.... really... bad guys. You just stole the whole of my screen! i really hope you listen to all the feedback and go back and change the ui and not rush to release - this is a big screen stealing mistake
2.8 looks outdated and we see where you're trying to go with this, but this is a real rookie UI. Please sit down with a 15" laptop for a few days and see why!
But thanks guys, skype is awesome!
tahskype commented Thursday, Nov 4
1. To big, main window, chat and video. My daily use include a small contact list and a chat window hanging at the right side of the screen, sometimes several small chat windows. That is not possible any more. With the beta it is not possible to use Skype while using other applications!
2. No full screen mode when i video chat.
3. No way to share screen selection, only full screen. I have used screen selection a lot when working on web pages and other stuff to send only the interesting parts of the screen.
This is a hugh step backwards and will make Skype much less usable. Multi part video is a great feature but the other changes have to be an option. I am very displeased with the changes and have reverted to 2.8.
relaxedguy commented Thursday, Nov 4
Agree with complaints that its *much* to wide. Preferred the old smaller format about 1,000 percent. On a laptop it takes up 1/4 of the screen. Shrink everything back to the way it was, and for me, Coverflow is never going to be used. Might end up going back to old style, this is just to large.
"At least give us a compact option to return it to it's previous state!" Yes to this.
bherbert01 commented Thursday, Nov 4
I will also be going back to the old version. The interface is way too big. If I had the ability to change font size and the padding between messages, reintroduce a horizontal list of members of a chat, I might consider upgrading.
pgrinch commented Thursday, Nov 4
it is hugh!!!! downloaded the 5.0 a few minutes ago and switched back to 2.8, its too big, takes to much space and everything looks like it was made for touchscreen computers
jared.pool commented Thursday, Nov 4
Horrible interface.
I'll be sticking with 2.7 until they sort this mess out.
clint.walker commented Thursday, Nov 4
There are so many tiny things that *flat out suck* about this new design. Sorta nice ideas that got implemented really badly. You know you screwed up when your old version is a lot more practically functional than the new.
Tried it. Wanted to love it. Tried to love it. Whole team reverted back to 2.8 within half an hour out of sheer frustration.
merkbefreit commented Thursday, Nov 4
Is this really Skype 5.0 for Mac or is it Skype 1.0 for iPad?
This is too large for my Hackintosh (1024x600) and we don't have Lion with its fullscreen applications yet. I have switched back to the old version.
milo.yiannopoulos commented Thursday, Nov 4
Sorry to be harsh but this is a total trainwreck. It's unusable. I've rolled back to the previous version and won't be updating until it's fixed. The design of the contact list is just ludicrous.
fo_jeriksson commented Thursday, Nov 4
Yes, the design is currently damaged unfortunately. Too big and it also seemed to have broken some of the basic functionality.
1) It used to be easy to send a file to just one person ina group chat. Now it is very hard to do.
2) I used to be able to cancel a file transfer to one person in a group chat but let everyone else keep on downloading the file. This is now impossible.
3) It used to be easy to see which people I had in a group chat without having to click on it. Now I need to click on a chat and click an additional button ("and 6 more") to be able to do so
4) What is with the huge white space? You could make the window soo much smaller by reducing all the white space.
skorvus commented Thursday, Nov 4
I downloaded. I saw. I deleted. Count me among those above who saw the absolutely awful UI and went right back to 2.8.
One reason people expect to see screenshots of applications when they go to a developer's site, is to quickly gauge the professionalism and quality of the application. Shoddy design and lack of attention to detail quickly shows through, and so they won't bother downloading the app.
This is horrible: the worst kind of visual bloat. It's not simply a matter of things being *big*, but showing the user too much of what they do *not* need, and not enough of what they do. We don't need eyecandy, vast amounts of whitespace, or big pictures of our friends. We need:
• A way to quickly determine who is available, out of all our contacts (20+)
• A quick way to chat, call, video (without annoying hover-effects). Two clicks is fine: click name, click toolbar button, menu, or rightclick. You don't need a button for every action, beside every name.
• The immediate information we've requested: chat history, call window, user info etc. If we haven't requested it, we don't need to see it.
Please go back to the drawing board as regards the UI for Skype on Mac.
Skype is a leader in VOIP software. We expect a robust feature set: high quality audio, video, reliable connections, useful chat interface, usable contact list, screen sharing, outbound dialing, etc. And we expect an easy to use, functional, and unpretentious and unobtrusive interface to use these features.
Driving away customers by making your software look like a toy is a good way to help give the competition a boost.
jmenendezkc commented Thursday, Nov 4
First, I want to say I am a HUGE fan of Skype (my main phone for the last couple of years after having finally dropped the landline). However, I am going to have to agree with most posters here. The window is just too big in this version. The first thing I did was try to find an option to minimize its size (couldn't find it). I use Skype on a 13 inch screen laptop and Skype filled most of the screen.
As for CPU usage, after checking Activity monitor I noticed how I went from 0.1% when idle to 21.3% (when idle too using the new version).
I am afraid I have already gone back to 2.8. Keep trying, though. You are getting a lot of feedback here.
remnant81 commented Thursday, Nov 4
beta seems nice however there are few issues i've faced.
1.It uses way too much of cpu usage
2.During video call with someone, when I send instant message to that person I cannot view my cam nor the other person's cam anymore. (the person that i am talking to can see me on cam but I can no longer view my cam nor other person's cam. simply there is no way to refer back to video call mode)
3.It crashes way too often.
lbollerup commented Thursday, Nov 4
Hi Skype,
We werent sure who or where to contact you - Exited as we were we tested skype beta for mac today, and to our big suprise its notthing like we had hoped.
We have a mixed envoirment of Windows and Mac Users, and while the latest windows version is looking good.. the latest mac version.. is not...
1. The "all" contacts list is to the right.. what?!?!. .on Windows its part of the list to the left.. confusing not to say the least
2. Text chats are confusing compared to the windows version
3. Its Slow compared to the Windows version
4. New messages is not all ways shown in the text window
5. When you see new messages in the contact list, clicking on the contact dosent allways show the message, and when it does, it still says that you have new messages
6. There is no option to remove "all" of the messages to keep your list clean..
Please skype, could please reconsider you design ideas, i mean, you have a good windows product, why not make it the same on OSX, even Microsoft is learning that now with their office package.. Our company CEO called my up earlier, and said out right... "Leon, i just upgraded my skype, and its shit.. how do i downgrade again.. i suspect i will use most of the day tomorrow to downgrade users" - so please.. fix this...
ps.
I love the idea about having everything in one window, but what we would like to see is just a contact list, and when you click on that contact you see the chat, not like what you have done now.. its confusing...
hargreaves_s commented Thursday, Nov 4
my goodness that new user interface is just awful. I mean, awful beyond words. Why am I suddenly having to scroll forever just to see who's online? Why would anyone want to have all their random conversations in a sidebar?
Seriously guys, I'm a huge Skype fan but this is a terrible upgrade. I've reinstalled 2.8 and will be keeping that going until some proper thought is being given to user interface design.
andrew.mccann commented Thursday, Nov 4
wow, seriously disappointed.
I have to wonder if anyone in development process tried using this as an actual product.
Aesthetically, This may look alright. Previous Mac Skype seemed to be designed around actual functional use cases.
This feels like it was designed by someone who's never actually communicated online with more than one person.
ernst_mulder commented Thursday, Nov 4
it's so HUGE! Too HUGE actually. I do not like the new look at all. I am looking for a "classic look" checkbox and can't find one. The basic window (that usually sits top left on my screen) is at least six times larger with this version. Deleted it and reverted to the previous 2.8 version. Will go to 5 only when a MUCH smaller "classic" view is available.
zdravcho commented Thursday, Nov 4
UGLY as hell! I don't believe it!?!? Did the skype team ever notice the HUGE difference between Mac and pcs?? Previous version was ok, but this one sucks! Sorry skype fellas, I am deleting your beta and will continue using the old one. I am using pc at the office and can't wait to get home and use my handsome mac-ish (old)skype, if you know what i mean. Or is it really time to switch to FaceTime?...
cougarcat commented Thursday, Nov 4
Where the hell is screen sharing???
It would be nice if you told us of features you *removed*, before we install.
rockheartpopovjr commented Thursday, Nov 4
Finally a new version for Mac! We've been waiting for long long long time, didn't you know?
However, that's a good beta, all in all! In the final release, I would like the possibility to change the characters width, now it's all too huge and big! I would remove the most recent bar, replacing it with a contacts lateral bar; I would also like to be able to chat and at the same time videocall my contacts...
So: i'd like a version nearer to Windows versione, but still preserving a minimalist Mac-like style! 
Good job!
rbennion commented Thursday, Nov 4
New features are great but this interface is a major step in the wrong direction. Where did screen sharing go?
andy.miller commented Thursday, Nov 4
Fully agree with everyone's comments about the HUGEness of the new Skype 5 Beta. To help, we quickly hacked up the CSS to make it more usable. Check out the results:
http://www.rockettheme.com/blog/75-mac/948-a-prettier-more-usable-skype-5-mac-beta
peterrrskype commented Thursday, Nov 4
This looks nearly as bloated as the Windows version. Contact list and conversations are now combined in one window and take up more space than before?
It would be nice if you published a Skype SDK and one could develop custom clients without using the official one.
Back on Windows I used to use Miranda also for Skype instant messaging because it was so much less painful.
luca.rimoldi commented Thursday, Nov 4
It looks like Windows, downgrade to 2.8!!!! I hope skype stuff will consider our suggestions
veritas.divina commented Thursday, Nov 4
This is just horrible. Hire a Mac OS X UI designer already. Don't forget what the core functionality of your application is. Support that and do it well. The rest is just bells and whistles.
Honestly, I'm shocked that someone thought this is an improvement????
Skype, you are just a chat/VOIP app, you are NOT essential system service or full screen single task video editing application. People often talk to other people while they do actual work. You need to be able to get out of the way and provide good VOIP service/unobtrusive chat functionality (look at Google Talk, simple, beautiful app).
I don't know why are engineers these days afraid of simplicity. Everyone thinks their app has to be complex or else won't be good. But Apple made their fortune on simplicity and minimalism. If you want to make it in the same market (OS X users) you will have to do the same. Your OS X users just won't accept something like this.
ngsandi commented Thursday, Nov 4
The window is way to big. Why do you decide whats the minimum size of my window? And the sidebar just sucks. What was wrong with the old design? You said its more mac like now, but you are wrong. Mac design is minimalistic and beautiful. This is just bloated and confusing. Switching back to the old version as long its still available for download.
jamesnp commented Thursday, Nov 4
I was really excited about this, but now I'm worried. The interface is HUGE. I find it shocking that I can't do something as basic as break out a chat window — the whole thing feels bloated and clumsy.
In terms of HIG, this seems to be all over the shop. I respect the fact that you're bringing new features to the Mac, but this UI is a major step back. Please sort it before it's launched!
kemodan commented Thursday, Nov 4
Horrible UI. If the design is not changed for the better, according to all the other comments on here, I'm sticking with 2.8 until it stops working. Group video calls are not worth the screen real estate and eye sore.
matthewjohnson_3 commented Thursday, Nov 4
This would be great for my mom.... or someone who has never used a computer before. But the new design is TERRIBLE for anyone between the ages of 9 - 60. Seeing as the site is designed the same way you have two choices. 1. lose a huge percent of your mac users 2. Scrap the design and start over.... and back to 2.8 I go!
scttgra commented Thursday, Nov 4
Skype China, Tom Group, stinks. I cannot access the US site except this window. Tom G keeps hijacking my browser. If I wanted Tom Grasp I would type it in. I DON'T.
Further they apparently don't have Mac support, they don't seem to have the beta, their English pages are only partly in English, their website does not work well with Firefox, and on and on.
Now I need to find another way to make calls via someone with customer service.
wes386 commented Thursday, Nov 4
Like everyone has said before... THIS UPDATE SUCKKSSS!!!!
I once was on my friend's PC and I noticed how cluttered his skype was compared to the Mac version and I was so thankful for the minimalistic, clean interface. However, now it just's horrible! It's too big, there's too many options for not doing what you want to actually do, and it takes up a significant part of your screen (which you cannot change).
SKYPE! PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR MAC USERS AND REVERT TO THE OLDER VERSION SOMEHOW! PLEASSEEEEEE!!!!
-2.8 user until there is some fix, I'll give up the group chat for better interface
danieldreed commented Thursday, Nov 4
For the number of users, Skype is really clueless. First, I'm a paying user and the tech support is not helpful. With this new design, we can all see how little Skype understands about how its users use their software.
jjciii65 commented Friday, Nov 5
Next comment --
Is there any reason why, when I right-click on a contact in the contact list, I still have no option to remove this contact?
ladderedge commented Friday, Nov 5
Horrid. A classic case of spoiling perfection.
It's so BIG, clumsy, clunky and cluttered.
I have reverted back as fast as I could.
I liked the simple small window, it told me everything I wanted to know in a concise form, tidily.
I do NOT repeat NOT want any bling, Facebook interconnection, or anything that distracts from the main purpose, that of communicating with people.
It is so HUGE, it takes up the entire window, I need to scroll through it to see who is where, I don't like the fact that I don't feel in control of it anymore.
Sorry SKYPE people, you have failed.
I applaud any Beta. It is the only way to find out what the customers think.
Please revert back to simplicity.
KISS.
maher_souhabi commented Friday, Nov 5
Frst off all, I don't have a 30 inch display, and I suppose I'm not the only one. Second, we loose features instead of having improvements. No more "login as another user", no more history control except on the most recent. Ok it's in a beta stage, but please take a moment to revise deeply the interface and keep at least the features we already have. I'm back to version 2.8
There is a proverb in french that describe that : La montagne accouche d'une souris (The mountain gave birth to a mouse)...
howardgrigg commented Friday, Nov 5
I have Skype open at all times but on my laptop it now takes up ridiculous amounts of space, I don't really dislike the new design but there needs to be a compact view option!
kbjarner commented Friday, Nov 5
Skype for Mac is one of the most important tools in my work space together with my e-mail, as I am using Skype at least 2-3h a day for chats, calls and file transfers. I was really looking forward to this update with group video calling and an even better mac feel - I couldn't have been more disappointed!
It is like you don't even understand how I use Skype (saw that comment from another user, and I feel the exact same way). I don't want skype to take over my entire screen. It is an essential tool, but as an utility I use when working in other programs, not something that should fill my entire screen. I have a lot of contacts and at most time I have 30+ online, meaning that with the new design and the HUGE images, I need to scroll and scroll and scroll (you get the point) to see who's online, and sorry, but the design is just straight ugly. I will say; Daddy is not mad, he is DISAPPOINTED!
drewbie_85 commented Friday, Nov 5
I like it but I do agree we should be able to shrink it smaller or have a classic design view option.
profcode commented Friday, Nov 5
It took me 2 minutes to downgrade, after facing this "update". Who is in charge for UI-Design? epic fail, sorry. I will definitely not "upgrade" with v5 having this UI. Just keep it as in 2.8!
jasondeppen commented Friday, Nov 5
Thanks for the update, keep working on it.
5.0 back to 2.8 after the first call. Where did the IM window go during the call? This it too big. Also give us an option to remove it from the Dock.
typecase commented Friday, Nov 5
Awful! The interface is big and clunky with no way to shrink it down. It looks like iTunes, all bloated. Where did all of my recent history go? I had a call history that spanned back over a year. Uninstalled within seconds. 2.8 back on my Mac.
macdigger commented Friday, Nov 5
The new UI is awful. Agree with the others as well. Skype probably wants to become the alpha and the omega of all IM clients, and thinks that taking over the whole computer screen is the way to go.
Well guess what? It is not. Skype 2.8 list is so much more pleasant to use. Unobtrusive, doesn't take 1/3 of my 27" screen, I can see more than a few contacts at the same time, no space wasted, and overall very nice and clean interface.
On the contrary, Skype 5 is its ugly twin. Wasted space, the functionality nobody ever asked for (cover flow for contacts?? come on!), the whole UI is a mess. I'm not sure what you guys are proud of.
Back to Skype 2.8 now and if feel soooooooooo good. Small window, with all the info I need, not trying to be overlord of my computer. Nice.
glennrempe commented Friday, Nov 5
Seriously, the giant window in the new beta for OS X has got to go. I need to be able to drag the lower right corner to shrink it down to a simple contacts list where I can double click a contact to chat/call. You now you prevent me from making it any smaller than a full 25% of my 23" Cinema Display size which is ridiculous. Look at tools like Adium for inspiration, not a full screen app which is where you seem to think we are headed. I suggest you think hard about how real people will use this. Would you rather I keep a smaller window open and visible at all times? Or hide skype (or quit it altogether) by default?
You have later beta's to fix this. I hope the massive and negative feedback about the UI is heard (just look at the comments on this page, or the Twitter stream). You need to not be defensive about this feedback and *react* with real change.
glennrempe commented Friday, Nov 5
PS - The feedback form in the new beta doesn't even work (Skype > Provide Skype Feedback...). I'd like to not be cynical and say you left that part broken on purpose; but I'm having a hard time with that...
federicodc commented Friday, Nov 5
New features are always welcome.
But the new user interface is crap. To big, not practical for the day by day use.
I went back to the version 2.8.
The actual user interface of version 2.8. is nice to use and very compact. Why change thing that works? Just keep the actual user interface of version 2.8. make some little improvements add the new feature of version 5. Thats the best you can do!
bernd_muc commented Friday, Nov 5
It has all been said: Contact list to big (or floating on top), only one window. Those other floating thingies - do they even show up while giving a presentation with Keynote or Powerpoint?
I like multiple windows, one for each chat. Take the 2.8 design and take it from there, e.g. show a little red dot in the contact list when a new message was written by someone - sometimes windows pop up somewhere behind my 20 other open windows.
Please! No tabbed interface only! Make it an option if you must, it seems to have its fans.
I know it's horrible to be trashed like this. Sorry for that. But be thankful for honest users and start over with us in mind.
crowded.elevator commented Friday, Nov 5
I'm a designer. I've been designing websites, software and apps for almost 10 years now and I have to agree with everyone above. The new 'design' is far to big. There is just too much padding around everything. I want to see more of my conversation and I want to see who is online in a small list on the left sidebar.
nabergoj commented Friday, Nov 5
W.T.F.? fire you UX design team asap and hire someone from Facebook.
native? you guy's are a social network and not iTunes! wake up before Jobs kills you and Zuck eats you for breakfast.
tollermeiki commented Friday, Nov 5
I am happy to see progress in Skype for the Mac. However, I have to agree with everyone else. I am fine with the unified window, but there is just so much white space. It's way too big on the screen. at least offer a compact mode, please, will you? And if you implement a seemingly useless feature such as coverflow, then do it right. Did you ever compare the Skype animation with the Finder's?
Don't be discouraged by all this feedback! All this will give you a chance to put out a great product. Just keep in mind: the more cumbersome to use and the less good looking Skype is, the less customers you'll get. That's not what you want, is it?
Thanks.
kevinjosephwalsh commented Friday, Nov 5
I like the new sidebar, but i have to agree with the bulk of comments here,
1) the huge avatars on the List view are super annoying, i like just seeing names. Think gtalk, or most people's Adium config. I have 100+ skype contacts, i don't want to scroll down 5 page lengths to see if someone is online. maybe make the avatars optional on the list mode, so people with 5 contacts will be happy? personally, I want a compact list.
2) The chat is dreadfully sprawling. Tighten it up pls!!!
3) My notification settings got reset with the upgrade, you might want to fix that too.
jamie_mclellan commented Friday, Nov 5
Really like the stated intent of the new Skype - consolidating everything into one place, simple access to Skype controls when chatting, group video calls etc. however it seems there's a lot of refinement required. Have only been using it for a couple of hours but already noticed the following:
- Everything way too big. Contacts for some reason are enormous, taking up so much vertical space each I can only see 10 at a time.
- Text box for typing instant messages is however tiny, so small it took me a while to even locate it.
- Can't seem to message whilst on a phone call.
- Coverflow-esque contacts feature seems superfluous and somehow feels faux-Mac.
- When in a full screen video call and / or screen sharing, I am finding some of the icons confusing.. maybe I will figure them out with time, but still they don't seem very universal or even intuitive.
Look forward to future versions of this new Skype once the issues are sorted out. Does feel a bit early to be calling it a Beta I would have thought..
cyrrius commented Friday, Nov 5
PLEASE include a classic design mode!
The new features are great - this new large design is horrible!!
gabrielwhite commented Friday, Nov 5
Oh dear. I agree about the hugeness. It's a mess. And the list on the left hand side is very hard to parse. But even worse you still haven't fixed your notification system design. In the old version it was impossible to dismiss notifications, and in this one it's now impossible to find them.
phaheim commented Friday, Nov 5
Seriously? Look, we're all excited about the multi-way video but you've got to realize that Skype is supposed to run in the background, not take over the whole screen. Or is your Mac already using a Retina display?
In all honesty the HUD view is great, but the main window is a mess of inappropriate font sizes, inefficient layouts, and unnecessary resizing restrictions. Mac users aren't used to so much clutter. Why don't you study the new Quicktime, or even the new (and rather incomplete) FaceTime, and see how they minimized the UI. Now compare their approach with yours...
Quick suggestion: Give me an option to see the list of online contacts when I click the Skype icon in the menu bar. Keep it simple... most of the time we don't need to know who is NOT online!
bendogau commented Friday, Nov 5
Where can i find a theme for this? something to change the way the chat window looks, revert it back to looking at least a little bit like how it used to look.
the contact list is COMPLETELY unworkable.
this is potentially the worst update to an already good bit of software i think i've ever seen... all i wanted was group video calling, i didn't want you to ruin all the things i actually use.
i usually don't comment on things like this, but you really need to know how much i dislike what you have done to one of my (previously) favourite apps for the mac.
please fix this up, or at least release a theme so i can have something a little less HUGE and maybe a contact list that isn't ALWAYS ON TOP!
alarmatwork commented Friday, Nov 5
I need "type to find contact" feature badly. In widows version I'm used to browse my contact list just by typing contact or chat name.. but here I have to focus Search field first.
Other than that I still missing classical layout.. as in vertical open chat list it is very-very easy to mix up your chat and It could lead up to awkward situations if you say someting wrong to your businesspartners which was ment to your personal chat.
Maybe option to change background colors of your chats would help me out here...
jf.galtenco commented Friday, Nov 5
This is a Joe isnt's it you cannot be serious with such a crappy ergonomic/design choice..
do you really know/care how user use your product...??
odaiwai commented Friday, Nov 5
The new design gets a thumbs down from me! I like to have the compact address book in one window, and my various chats open in another window.
Someone get the UI designer a small MacBook to test this stuff on, and a chat full of long URLs and see how long the silly whitespace stays!
lbollerup commented Friday, Nov 5
We have a mixed envoirment of Windows and Mac Users, and while the latest windows version is looking good.. the latest mac version.. is not...
1. The "all" contacts list is to the right.. what?!?!. .on Windows its part of the list to the left.. confusing not to say the least
2. Text chats are confusing compared to the windows version
3. Its Slow compared to the Windows version
4. New messages is not all ways shown in the text window
5. When you see new messages in the contact list, clicking on the contact dosent allways show the message, and when it does, it still says that you have new messages
6. There is no option to remove "all" of the messages to keep your list clean..
pnuding commented Friday, Nov 5
A very sad case of UI innovation gone in a completely wrong direction. Please revise this style thoroughly before releasing any other beta or final version.
A few examples:
-Why is the default contact list so huge and full of white space that it requires lots of scrolling to go anywhere? (27" iMac here, so it's really not a screen space issue)
-I usually have a few ongoing conversations when i'm working through Skype with colleagues and having them somewhere in a corner to keep an eye on when they write something. With the new single-window approach keeping an eye on a conversation becomes a complete mess.
-The small contact monitor window is more of what I'd have expected, unfortunately it only serves for viewing contact status and as soon as you talk with someone you're with the huge window again. If you had taken the whole app more towards such an unobtrusive and compact approach this could have been fantastic.
-Why is the selection of contact groups residing in the same space as the history of previous calls/chats? I do often need to switch context (between personal and work contacts, for example) but that forces me to show a huge space of information I don't need
-What's the use case for this coverflow-style view option for the contact list? I don't think people realistically go browsing "humm, who do I call today? Let's pick a picture" and even if they did it's not smooth enough for that either
nasser.al-sowaidi commented Friday, Nov 5
yea size issue, and why i couldn't send a text for a person who i'm talking with during the conference....
arisalomon commented Friday, Nov 5
i agree the extra whitespace is not useful. it's great to have video and chat in one window but it should be much more obvious how to create that view. once i started chat it took a long time to 'pull' the video back down and into view. and video wants to be wide but chat wants to have a narrow column so being able to break the windows apart would be ideal.
Group video calling - looks great but i can't figure out what it will cost.
i am very happy with improved video quality. but the interface needs lots of work.
also really sad to see full screen view gone. and i can't share just part of my screen anymore. why remove super useful features?
hans.cool commented Friday, Nov 5
The new features are great. Don't like the contacts window, though. Why are the contacts SO big? On my Macbook I can only see 7 of them, then have to scroll down. Why not introduce a preference setting to change the size of the contacts?
bdatco commented Friday, Nov 5
Takes up far too much space. Video conferencing and adding address book integration both good, but the old UI was much much better.
kkoumantaros commented Friday, Nov 5
you must be joking this is crap, the UI is simply unacceptable.
kkoumantaros commented Friday, Nov 5
I've just returned to 2.8.x its much better than this ugly giant
gavkingsley commented Friday, Nov 5
What are you thinking ??? Skype is just Skype - it doesn't deserve to take up 3/4 of my workspace. Switched back to the old version already and will never update to a newer version again until you have a design rethink. Small = better. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE listen to people's comments - this is a major mistake.
rst_cologne commented Friday, Nov 5
Like the new features, hate the new design. Why on earth do you believe that wasting huge amounts of screen realestate is a good idea?
vanagsa commented Friday, Nov 5
Sorry, downgrading to 2.8. which is an example of fairly good looking UI, not perfect, but rather great. This one? There are a few nice individual elements, but the overall user experience is very disappointing.
emeka_mosanya commented Friday, Nov 5
Just "upgraded" to the new version...
TOO MUCH SCREEN REAL ESTATE!!!
Also, why this hovering thing?
Downgrading right away.
Sorry.
parris.gareth commented Friday, Nov 5
Thanks for the update but seriously guys this things is huuuge. You really could take some design tips from the Adium team. We want functionality yes, but a minimal unobtrusive GUI.
Pull your fingers out guys!
tomgidden commented Friday, Nov 5
I agree with most of the comments above, but the one thing that's really bugged me was that it's lost the flexibility of 2.8. Previously, there were different ways of working with it: unified -v- separate conversation windows; all contacts -v- online contacts only; flat -v- grouped contacts; and so forth.
Now, those choices are fixed, and it really only supports one way of working: unfortunately, not the way I've been using it.
I'm sensitive to the fact that this is a beta, but these aren't quality issues: they're fundamental design issues. I've reverted to 2.8, and I'm really hoping you go back to the drawing board.
idchenderson commented Friday, Nov 5
Umm, did I accidentally download the iPad version of Skype? Because the new version is taking up the whole screen and all the buttons are big enough to be hit by the fingers of a drunken giant.
I don't know about other users, but for me, Skype is primarily a background app. It should be unobtrusive, (like 2.8) so it doesn't clutter up my work space during the 95% of the time I'm not using it. 2.8 was small enough to keep open on the side of my screen so I could monitor who's online/offline. 5 is so massive I keep it minimised so it doesn't get in my way.
roland.karl commented Friday, Nov 5
Well, reduce CPU usage and make it as minimal as possible would have been the better way. I ask myself if they asked the users what they actually want... Perhaps focussing on core features is more useful than adding new fancy crap. Integration of the contacts and video conferencing is really fine, but never forget k.i.s.s.
thevisualizer commented Friday, Nov 5
yeah terrible design decision. unlike itunes that is designde to deal with million of songs and ois hidden most of the time. a messenger software like skype has to be able to take up MINIMAL screen estate. if you really want to stick to the one-window idea you could have put all the conatcs on the left side and the mesages on the right. putting all your friends into the »favorite section« manually is pretty tedious…please put your beta back to late alpha and rework the interface!
richard.kall commented Friday, Nov 5
The interface is way to big and ugly!
I like the "Contacts Monitor" but you can't do anything with it, what about a right-click menu?
And by the way, I tried the IM and it doesn't work for me. The incoming messages show up in Growl but the conversation is empty.
jan.slusarczyk commented Friday, Nov 5
I am going back to 2.8. This version is unusable. It seems to be trying to force me to use function I don't need. I want a small list of people online and easy way to chat with them. Occasionally I will want to call someone and I'd love to have this ability somewhere on top and not buried deep in menus.
And CPU usage at 13 - 15% when idle on on my i5 macbook pro is really hard to justify.
rhum17 commented Friday, Nov 5
The features are cool... but the look is horible... It's not a tool anymore, it's a gigantic app. You can't chat while doing other stuff anymore !! Please Reduce the size of the new GIGANTIC main windows !! (there's a lot of wasted blank spaces in the chat part).
smilespray commented Friday, Nov 5
The heaviest paying Skype users are telecommuters who need a communications tool, not something that looks like it skipped fat camp. No wonder Skype is looking for Mac and iOS developers these days — things are getting worse, not better.
stovelkor commented Friday, Nov 5
Yeah, this new design is a monstrosity. Why do I need contacts on the left AND the right? I don't want my recent activity displayed. It's fine to have the option, but there's no way to turn it off and it's going to get really annoying going in and clearing it out constantly. Also, you took away the option to hide offline contacts. Why would you take away options when you're upgrading to a new version. That makes no sense.
I agree with everyone else, make a more compact contact list. It's fine to have the call window or contact information pop out to the side (like the new Twitter), but to always take up this much room is just too much.
joeldrapper commented Friday, Nov 5
What on earth are you thinking? That has got to be one of the worst user interfaces I have ever seen. Whatever you do please don't disable the current version!
It looks like you designed it for 5 year olds with all these great big buttons, and no decent keyboard navigation. Also it takes up way too much of my screen.
ninjordi commented Friday, Nov 5
8 minutes.
That's how long it remained installed in my system. And how long it took me to realize that everybody was right.
The thing is awful. I love the idea of the new features. After all, it's been only a handful of years since iChat had them but I'm not going to complain about that (We all know that Skype has never bothered to take care of the Mac community as well as other platforms.) I've been waiting for so long for this new version that it only makes the disappointment even greater. As everyone said above, get rid of the stupid white space and let us tweak the interface following the Mac standards.
In one word: Minimalism. Meanwhile, I'm sticking to 2.8.
zegalo_150 commented Friday, Nov 5
In Linux will be have a skype 5 version ??
If no, why only mac and windows users has skype 5 ?
This is not just, its discrimination !
Im a long time, Linux user, and by these comments has many LInux users, please consider this !
It fault a skype 5 version for Linux !
And the skype 5 beta for Mac, must be light, with so muth bugfixes .... !
Otherwise, it is not usable !
The somme aply to possible future version for Linux !
allistair.crossley commented Friday, Nov 5
I've not tried it on my MacBook yet but on my iMac I love the new Skype. For those who claim that it is not Mac I disagree strongly. It is the same basic layout as loads of Mac apps - Mac Mail being the obvious one. Doing away with lots of windows is also Mac - those of you who like lots of windows should be on Windows. I was fed up using Expose to track Skype windows. Now I can just click the Skype logo and the whole app is there with conversations essentially tabbed on the left. Excellent. It's also very web 2.0 with the rollover actions per message - I love this. The categorisation of contacts with respect to how often I chat with them is superbly useful, I didn't need to look for who I wanted to talk to this morning. And the spacing - I love it - could be a touch smaller I suppose - but it sounds like it does not scale down to smaller screens - surely you are using the viewport size in your size calculations? If not that would solve it I guess - or allow some kind of space-related (lines?) setting. Overall this is way better.
russjohnson commented Friday, Nov 5
Agree with most of the folks already. I do like the single window interface. The compact view of the contact list is better than the default, but we REALLY need a way to at least change the font sizes in the chat windows to help reduce the amount of space it uses. It is really BIG.
funky2meters commented Friday, Nov 5
Are you serious?!!! Your design team didn't understand what Apple-users want! We want a snatchy, small and powerful app. A simple and minimalistic tool. It's just a messenger, not the center of our OS. Calm down, and give us back this simple app. The first reaction onto your "design" was so straight! All! of my contacts said: OMG!!! Nobody (!) wants this HUGE overstyled bullshit! We just want to keep it simple...! Thanks.
BTW: A lot of windows user would like to have the latest MAC design, as well. The new UI/design is just bad.
frstep commented Friday, Nov 5
Gratuitous eye candy and waste of screen space should be enough to condemn this whole UI "improvement" to the bin and force Skype to start again (preferably this time employing some usability people, or at least some people who actually use Skype for productive work).
However the biggest problem with the new UI is the number of things you can no longer do... like chat to someone while you are on a call with someone else? ...like having multiple chat windows open and visible at the same time? ... like being able to display who is online in a compact and screen efficient way (people do use skype at the same time as other applications, you know!).
If Skype don't reconsider the direction they are taking their software they are going to lose a lot of customers very fast. I for one will vote with my feet and abandon Skype if forced to use the new UI.
vinutien commented Friday, Nov 5
When calling from 5.0, will this work with ASUS Skype video phone, which runs a completely different version (Linux I think) of Skype? I don't even want to try unless I know for sure. Anyone have experience ?
vincegosselin commented Friday, Nov 5
No offense on your hard work but this has to be the most dysfunctional interface I've seen in a long time. You managed to turn a professional and good looking UI/UX into an amateur bloated experience. Please go back to the drawing board?
cyberskull commented Friday, Nov 5
Why is the new Skype 10.5 compatible and not a Universal Binary? If your going to support 10.5 you should support PPC users.
estaphuam commented Friday, Nov 5
Compared to both the older version and the windows version, the design of Skype 5 for Mac is simply hideous. I do not understand how it was even approved for a beta release.
Suggestions:
1. If you insist on bringing Windows design elements to the Mac version, at least give us the same polished feel the Windows version has. Smaller icons, smaller fonts and definitely textures that don't seem like they have been lifted off Windows 3.1.
2. Lose the avatars. They're useless. The contact list should be small and functional.
I hope you take the many comments you have received into consideration before this is finally released to the public.
cliffhales commented Friday, Nov 5
I'm another +1 for the It's SO big crowd. I did notice in preferences that there's an option to choose chat styles. Digging inside the app (Right click-> Show Package Contents->Contents/Resources/ChatStyles/ there's just one chat style (Panamericana). I duplicated this and renamed it and fiddled with the .css inside the copy. The Panamericana style actually contains Compact and Ulta Compact variants, so I just copied the compact into the main style in my custom copy. It doesn't fix the whole layout, but at least it shrinks the chat area a bit. This is a beta and I imagine more styles will be available eventually.
dariaresca commented Friday, Nov 5
Agree to all the comments here and in the others blog sections.
Reverted to old good 2.8 version too.
Skype for Mac was always a lot better than the windows version, minimal, essential and immediate.
This is an awful renewal...
People using skype at work don't like to have the entire desktop occupied.
More, when someone opens a new chat with you, you can hear only the sound alert, but you don't get a chat window: it is all messed up with enormous contacts and so on...
Hopefully the final version will return to a more Mac-friendly mood!
Thanks anyway for your work: Skype is getting more and more essential for my work and my life!
mytixx commented Friday, Nov 5
Please don't force switching to nVidia gpu for no apparent reason. That's way I only open Skype when I'm forced to. I never leave it on because it just drains macbook pro battery very quickly. I have a mid 2010 MBP.
las1901 commented Friday, Nov 5
I have mixed feelings about the new UI and navigation/usability changes:
- As others seem to agree on, everything is just WAY too big. Lose some of the whitespace, make the icons slightly smaller and make the whole contact list way more compact (an option to hide the avatars, they're practically useless anyway - especially the CoverFlow-style view is a terrifiying example of lets-just-blindly-do-it-like-apple-because-that-must-be-right).
- The one-window approach does have some advantages, e.g. your're never unsure which window to go to, but when having conversations or calls with multiple people, it would be way more handy that the dialogue would be consolidated in a separate window for that person. I think most people use Skype for single, occasional use, and grouping all person-related activity into one clean-cut window would support this more intuitively.
- In addition to the bullet above, I am often unsure what exactly I have "going on" at the moment - a call on hold and a chat conversation seems to hide in the sidebar and doesn't really make you instantly get an overview of current activity going on. One window per person would help this, as many people solely use Skype for once-in-a-while calls.
- The small "Online contacts" dashboard-style pop-up is nicely minimalistic and provides a simple alternative for the huge list/app problems others have mentioned. It however have some caveats: it's not connected as a window to the Application itself and becomes extremely unhandy when you wanna find the window among your 20+ others you have open for other applications. Also, the items needs to be interactive with direct call + chat buttons and/or a right-click contextual menu.
- Then person based history-view is great. The more integrated address book is also nice, but again, more compact lists.
- Video conference is a +++ - good job and thanks!
In general, I think the Skype team (you) should consider early alpha feedback in the development process directly from the users. Crowdsourcing the opinions and use-cases for how people actually use it (as it's obviously very different) should get you a better insight in the needs and demands BEFORE all the heavy time consuming is done. This is key.
wiltonhall commented Friday, Nov 5
CHAT WINDOW WHITE SPACE TAKES UP TOO MUCH ROOM.
DISASTER.
FIX THIS RIGHT AWAY OR PEOPLE WILL DROP SKYPE FOR CHAT.
bakalek commented Friday, Nov 5
You won the award for the worst UI ever!
Design is fine, but the rest doesn't make any sense:
- font size
- screen size
- cant really detach contacts (contact monitor is a joke)
- cover flow view - really?
Epic fail, even though its just a beta!
Immediate uninstall!
alfredjaykwak commented Friday, Nov 5
Due to the huge screen estate this now wastes:
2.8 > 5.0
please add a 2.8 style contact list. There are plenty of people out there perfectly happy with the way things were.
sean.jamshidi commented Friday, Nov 5
I don't even know where to begin. It feels like the mac version and the windows version had a baby and something went horribly wrong.
1.) Installed
2.) Threw up
3.) Uninstalled
Please, please read trough the comments by the community.
I know this still is in beta, but how this got released is beyond me.
Looks like Skype needs to hire a new designer.
luciferdarkking commented Friday, Nov 5
I dont mind this version so much. I can get used to the huge screen but it really needs the join call feature that windows has. It is such a hassle to have to wait to be added to an existing conference call. PLEASE ADD JOIN CALL FEATURE!!!
arhymingape12 commented Friday, Nov 5
Anybody know how to go back to viewing my contact's video feed? I tried to IM something and now i can't get her video to come back up
gabriel612 commented Friday, Nov 5
This is a big FAIL for the UI design team, Skype guys and gals. It's like the UI was kidnapped and then horribly mauled by an angry piranha-moose and barfed out, only to be popped full of size-altering Alice in Wonderland pills.
I honestly tried to like it for 24 hours before I switched back to 2.8. Unusable. On top of that, for some reason, even though I had the sound for Contact Connected off, the sound kept playing every time someone connected.
And that's my $0.02. Here's hoping for a better and improved 5 beta down the road.
lcristante commented Friday, Nov 5
I was just wondering when will be available a new release for Linux ...
massimocapoccia commented Friday, Nov 5
terrible design, going back to 2.8. where are you getting this ideas.....listening to your customers or some engineers who lost their mind?
rhdetiger commented Friday, Nov 5
I'm using Skype (on Windows) since the first day it came out and I have seen it growing to what it is today, but Skype took the wrong direction with this version for the Mac. I fully agree with user "joseph.carney" and what most of the people say on this board. It is simply way too big. I know it is a beta version, but hopefully a lot of positive changes will follow, because this version seriously disappoints me.
m.pirazzoli commented Friday, Nov 5
Contact list huge. Useless.
Avatar in each message. Useless and a useless waste of space.
Contact list joined with the chat window. Useless.
Recent chats: WHO THE FUCK ASKED YOU FOR THEM? If I close a chat, that means that I AM NOT INTERESTED ANYMORE IN IT! Where is the contact list ON THE LEFT?
Do you know what SMALL means? How can I shrink the space between chat text messages? I don't have a 25 inches monitor.
How can I hide USELESS avatars in the contact list?
2.8 FOREVER. Re-design this new shit FROM THE SCRATCH. Awful I think is a COMPLIMENT, because this is DISGUSTING.
Didn't you learn anything when Skype v4 for windows has been released? WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THIS. And remember that MAC USERS are even more PISSED of with shitty interfaces such as the new one.
I PAY for your services (skypeout), but perhaps you don't want my money anymore.
wediger commented Friday, Nov 5
2.8 has never looked so good!
I use Skype to help international professionals with English acquisition and use. I use video calls, the chat window, and screen sharing during all sessions and must move back and forth seamlessly among them. In addition, I often need to monitor the online presence of students and prospects.
Today I tried 5.0. It took up too much space - and I use MB and Cinema Screen screens simultaneously. I could find no way to initiate chat while on video call (I had to end call and then create a chat session); I clicked on every icon and looked at every menu. I never found screen sharing. And then there were these little "floaters" that added no value to the call as far as I could tell - one across the face of my student w/her name and the other mirrored the controls at the top of the video panel when I clicked on Safari or something else on my screen.
I would agree with what someone earlier said: the design does not reflect the best in UI design which is ironic because this is what sets Mac products apart (when they come from Apple). And the design doesn't reflect the way I and, from the comments, many others work with Skype.
The problem was exacerbated because, though I searched, I could find no good help files to help me solve my problems. This is another area in which Skype (in general) could, IMO, think more about what they offer and how it's organized.
Meanwhile, back to 2.8 .... and a shattered dream.
temmink commented Friday, Nov 5
Please change the Interface.
I want to have something more like the iphone interface and at least a lot smaller then what the beta is now.
Also in mine opinion use the standard osx GUI interface guidelines from Apple.
It will make the application a lot more useable then what it is now.
henkpoley commented Friday, Nov 5
Why can't we just have contact list and separate tabbed conversation window?
Just enough UI so you can find your people and peer off to a (voice-, video-,) chat window. Neat for multitasking, not blocking the view of my apps.
vfx2k4 commented Friday, Nov 5
Gah- ginormous. Why???? Did you even test this on a laptop- takes up the whole bloody screen. Apple offers excellent human interface design guidelines that you didn't follow here at all. If you're going to reinvent the wheel please do better.
tj_napatech commented Friday, Nov 5
Hi Skype, nice with a new version, BUT: please shrink the contact list. I can barely see 5 contacts at a time. I do not want to scroll up and down to see who is online. Make it a list and only show profile photos in "Avatar View". Reverting back to previous version until this is fixed.
samhmusic commented Friday, Nov 5
Ugh!! Sorry guys, but you need to hire proper user interface designers to work on Skype 5. This is not an "Mac-like" experience at all. It's too "big" and clunky. How come we can't hide offline contacts anymore? Also, I was in a video chat, and chose "instant message" but could NOT for the life of me figure out how to get back to the video feed. Not good. Good user interfaces are self-explanatory, and should never cause user frustration. And I'm an expert user, too.
PLEASE for the love of all that is sacred, address all these issues before release. If this were the final product, I would never upgrade.
piraats008 commented Friday, Nov 5
Unless there will be a checkbox to turn the classic view on I will not be upgrading. Once support for 2.8 is dropped im gone.
edrozenberg commented Friday, Nov 5
Love the single window! No longer have to hunt for the main window vs. the chats window vs. the active call window. This improvement alone is worth it in a big way. Also like the ability to search/call from mac address book - great.
Would like to suggest some improvements:
* Make contact pictures optional/able to disable. Most people don't add pictures or they use cartoons which are useless for picking the right person. Personally I never use and don't want to see pictures or have them take up space
* Ability to select font/font size in contacts window
* Would like the old ability to sort by name, not status - some contacts I want to call may
show as offline or may be landlines
* Would be nice to be able to drag and reorganize the order of the groups in the side pane
* When selected in the Address Book group, search still returns contacts from the skype list (bug?)
* When viewing profile on an Address Book contact, the first phone number is always shown as a skype number - incorrect
tmread1509 commented Saturday, Nov 6
Downgraded after a day of struggling with it. I use other apps simultaneously with skype, that's been the beauty of it. The new UI is a clunky, uninformative mess that gets in the way of me getting stuff done.
Also, please bear in mind that a good portion of your mac users are on laptops and don't necessarily have a mile of screen real estate to use. It's completely impractical on my older Macbook Air.
terry50788 commented Saturday, Nov 6
I have not tried the beat. I am having a problem and can find no flipping way to get a person at Skype to communicate with. I am in Taiwan and need to call the states. I click on the "Make Call Link" and continuously get a page pop up that states the web page cannot be displayed. I have $13.00 in my account and can't use a penny of it. PLEASE POINT ME TO A SOLUTION.
be.nguyen commented Saturday, Nov 6
I prefer to switch back to ver 2.8.
The 5.0 prevents me from quitting iTunes. And also makes my Mac very hot. Bad design too.
kentgoldingay commented Saturday, Nov 6
this new skype is the biggest piece of ass ever make it smaller!!!
luhovoy commented Saturday, Nov 6
It took me less then 1 minute to hate the bloated GUI and the childish buttons and return to the previous version.
If Steve Jobs would have seen remotely a design like that on his campus in a trash can he would have gone in berserk mode. Its not easy to criticize the GUI without emotion, as it is so ugly that its hard to find anything not to dislike dearly.
And I use Skype &Skype out for many years - and love it.
In the former Mac version
bernhardsmith commented Saturday, Nov 6
Very disappointed. I love Skype, but the interface is unintuitive and too intrusive. I also have issues pulling up some mobile numbers for SMS messages - not sure if this is a design issue or beta glitch. Skype, please listen to your users here.
richard.bedford commented Saturday, Nov 6
Hi Skype, glad to see group video calling on the Mac. But... why so large? for those of us that use a smaller screened MacBook Pro 13, the smallest I can make skype is half of my screen!
Other comments:
* Too big! And I can't change the font size either. Much prefer the previous version's compact view - much neater.
* Can I have multiple IM conversation windows please? Like the previous version - I don't want all my different IMs in one app, I want to be able to glance at all of the open versions at once.
* I know it's a Beta, but the Skype icon in the menu bar used to give me the ability to call contacts and phone numbers without having to return to the main app - that's not there. Please can we have that back? All I have now is the ability to change my status.
* floating contacts list - like the idea, but I want to be able to have the option to hide it behind other apps - did I mention I use a small screened mac??
* Please make the contacts list smaller! Remember those on smaller screened Macs!
Thanks,
Richard
sandbar69 commented Saturday, Nov 6
Hah! I love how the "Submit" button on the Provide Skype Feedback doesn't work.
bogdans10 commented Saturday, Nov 6
Thank's for the mac update. You have to agree that the space is quite wasted (I have a 15" mac and a 24" display and I cannot bring the entire ONLINE friends list on my display). With the version 4 It used maybe 1/3 of the screen height.
The contact monitor is cool, but I miss here the option to open a standalone chat box. You never just look at your contacts, you talk/write to them.
Nevertheless I see a more pressing issue with audio (also video) conference calls: not all users have the same volume settings and there is no way to change that if if you host a group call. So basically 1 user is "shouting" and the other two cannot be heared at all since they are "whispering". Is there a way to fix this, at least by the conference host, but automatically would be much better.
Hope these comments may help you improve the final version.
sha99ice commented Saturday, Nov 6
I have two skype profile (I need one for work and one for friends) and in this huge new version I cannot find a way to switch between them.
Reverting to 2.8 right now, I am sorry but I would like much more the video call on my iphone 4 that this useless big muchin space new skype mac version.
-1 user (now that yahoo messanger supports video calling also on iphone 4 and that there is facetime on mac... Skype is going down like my belowed ICQ)
And also one more thing: if you think that closing your standards to third part programs like Nimbuzz or Fring or Adium is a good idea... well you are going completely nuts.
You have to create the protocol standard and create a real good software client (for iphone 4? wake upp we need video call!) not conducting legal war to minor clients that are not so useful when all the contact I need are on Skype because it faster, better and permits video call between VARIOUS devices..
Just my two cents fellow..
I am so sorry to leave you, but you are making the wrong choice...
We don't need another facebook, we need a flexible, mobile, multiplatform, customizable, minimal IM with video call support..
bye to all
criscris73 commented Saturday, Nov 6
I like it but there's a major problem which I believe to be a bug.
When I'm video chatting and need to send a chat text message (i.e. sharing a link) after I switch to text there's no way to go back to video!!! Any suggestion please?
Thanks
Cx
demisuisse commented Saturday, Nov 6
i am Skype user from really llong long , Skype always be better in PC than Mac but this time you should win a trophee for made a so ugly … yet i downgrade to the 2.8 as the 5.0 it’s impossile to use it … next time try to send out a real version not crapy one .
Yet you are on the road to loose all by your stupid behavior , you are not the only one VOIP
marky.nguyen commented Saturday, Nov 6
this gui isn't streamlined at all. too much unnecessary clutter. skype to me should integrate seamlessly into an O/S - and you've done that well by integrating it into some internet browsers. However, SKYPE should NOT be another O/S altogether - which it seems like the direction you're heading in by covering up almost 80% of my 13 inch screen real estate with your interface....please please please listen to your end-users and overhaul your design. Streamlining people, STREAMLINING!!!
timscole commented Saturday, Nov 6
Really sorry Skype people... I can see you must have spent a lot of time on this, but I have to agree with almost everyone else who has commented - I want the old UI back. I was quite happy with the way it looked and worked... personally, all I really wanted was new features (esp. group calling) and improved call quality where possible. This feels like a case of changing something for the sake of changing it.. and, like most others commenting, I feel it is in no way a change for the better.
Sorry... take a lesson from GAP - listen to your customers.
mantiev commented Saturday, Nov 6
Ridiculous interface! Is Skype in league with monitor manufacturers? I only ask as the only folks with any screen real estate left after running Skype are those with 42" monitors. (And I use Spaces and two 23" monitors.)
That's all I have to say about it. That, and the fact that I'm reinstalling the old version now.
drakeanubis commented Saturday, Nov 6
I downloaded the beta, but switched back to 2.8 for all the reasons above.
hillboy8 commented Saturday, Nov 6
I heard about it, downloaded it, installed it, ran it. Uninstalled it, went back to 2.8. Completely unusable. It's huge, it's intrusive and there's no way to make it smaller other than minimizing it to the task bar/dock. Too much visual clutter and no way to quickly and easily see just who is online. Getting multicamera video chat is not worth this monstrosity. The features you want to implement are worthy, they were just not implemented well, or elegantly. Heavy handed.
anton4488 commented Saturday, Nov 6
This is really big. I completely agree with users phlebotomus and koterelst.
bojaneee commented Saturday, Nov 6
and yeah... fix the darn icon notifications already... this can't be too hard - the only app icon that i've ever seen not working properly on mac is your skype icon...
ultra-fine commented Saturday, Nov 6
Is Skype for Linux abandoned?
It's been stalled at version 2 for almost 5 years, no new Windows features are being added, and it now bears little resemblance to its Windows counterpart.
I thought Skype is written using Qt, then it mustn't be that difficult to port it to Linux. After all Qt is a crossplatform toolkit.
oscar.duncsak commented Saturday, Nov 6
It takes up my whole screen Really annoying. I will avoid using it as long as possible.
briangladstein commented Saturday, Nov 6
Sorry guys - this is not a usable release. I agree with all the comments in this thread. I'm downgrading back to 2.8.
dj22091 commented Saturday, Nov 6
Totally unacceptable. After downloading 5.0 and spending a good 20 minutes with it I reverted back down to 2.8. I honestly see no reason why Skype has to take up this much of my screen in 5.0 when the old format in 2.8 worked like a charm. This looks like a mashup of iTunes and the new Facetime Beta, who separately do their jobs well but together are a total train wreak. This size issue is a major concern that must be resolved, for if it is not I can see many people dropping Skype and heading elsewhere.
To be honest, this looks like something that was made for the iPad, NOT fit for the desktop environment at all. Please give those of us unhappy with this design a suitable compact view similar to the one available in 2.8. I'm sure if that were to be done then everyone could be happy with 5.0.
psherlock commented Sunday, Nov 7
guys.. where to start really.. its now terrible!
Managing contacts should be easy but is increasingly difficult. I have contacts with multiple numbers, so i want to add mobile, home, work, skype etc.. number types. once you add a number type - you cant chamge it. once you add a number - you cant delete it. you cant set a default number, you cant add multiple skype ID's to one contact (me at work, me at home) you can't merege contacts;
there's no tooltips on the new chat|voice|video icons.
there appears to be no dtmf/dialling sounds now. its silence until the remote party starts ringing
you should be able to add the skype online contacts widget to the mac dashboard. then once you've done that - allow it to single click to dial the default number.
hate the new low-res coverflow.
hate the massive ui footprint.
hate the 78 different views of my contacts (today, yesterday, last week, latest year, last century etc..)
mac isight camera is now not working
and that's just after 5 minutes of playing... i'm sure there are more. i think we appreciate the development efforts - but take a look at how cell phone software manages contacts, defaults, preferences and dialling rules to truly make this a viable communication centre
rediguananz commented Sunday, Nov 7
White space is good in some UI design. But not for a messaging client. Sorry but this Mac 5.0 is ugly and takes up way too much space. A messaging client (and I use chat a lot) really needs to be compact to be useful. If 5.0 remains this ugly and large, I'm definitely going to be reverting to other IM networks like GMail for text chatting with people. And why the different window styles? Two opaque windows, and one solid window. Seems rather inconsistent to me. Skype suits a compact design, not something that wants to take over every last pixel on my 17" MBP!
timchild commented Sunday, Nov 7
I just had to downgrade to version 2.x. Seriously I can't remember the last time I had to do that because of UI changes, even if it took some time to get use to most changes are usable.
But this is taking up far too large amount of real estate - I am using Adium, Skype, IRC on one window and now it is just taking up too much space for no reason. Coverflow is not needed for contacts, whitespace is good, but its over the top.
With 2.8, at a glance I can see immediately who is on/offline. With 5.0 I don't have a clue without scrolling down a huge list. The text information displayed in this list is far too big and wastes way too much screen space. It's confusing, completely uninformative and a waste of time.
I can't see at a glance who is online or offline, somewhat high on the importance of what the application does.
It feels like your developers don't actually use the application which is a pity because you get a lot of other things right.
marek.paul commented Sunday, Nov 7
Its awful. Its huge. Its not mac-like at all. There is nothing wrong with 2.8. The multiway video calling is a bit of functionality that is dubious at best. Why mess with something that works so well ? You managed to completely mess up the Android version of Skype and now you are doing it again on the Mac!
blue.lucifer commented Sunday, Nov 7
It is a beta version and it is CRAP at the moment
Needs rethinking and needs holding back until it is a WHOLE LOT BETTER.
The people concerned with this version could all get jobs with Microsoft (unless they already work for them)
honestcreative commented Sunday, Nov 7
It's large, but, hey, so's iTunes. Has everyone forgotten about the apple key-H (hide command)?
Personally, I think this version is much improved in every respect.
What it seem to be missing (or I'm just not finding) is a full screen video chat button. Anyone spotted one?
Also, any update to Facetime integration?
JB
saschatroll commented Sunday, Nov 7
Learn from Adium or make the protocol available for them !
I hate the new design, too.
Keep it small and nice.
gato-bernsfeld commented Sunday, Nov 7
Simply awful and highly unpractical. A big step backwards. I've downgraded to 2.8 and, if this is the way Skype for Mac's going to be, I'll be switching to another service. Do something about the call-quality issues and bring back a usable tool bar instead something like this, don't you think?
baux93 commented Sunday, Nov 7
Yeah, this looks pretty ridiculous. I never liked the Windows version because I thought it was bloated and confusing, the Mac version was always simpler and streamlined. But this looks like an attempt to make the Mac version just as complicated as the Windows verstion.
Back to the drawing board I hope, for some serious revisions.
mikeybee commented Sunday, Nov 7
Just awful!
I am up for new things and a change but come on, this looks terrible, seems to be going backwards in design.
Why can I not shrink it down to a much, much, smaller size? I use 3 other chat clients and have sized them all to be the same, the new Skype just takes over the desktop.
Thinking of doing away with it all together now!
akinkaraman commented Sunday, Nov 7
I aggree.. It is really terrible. what a huge interface. I hate this. I uninstalled it reinstalled 2.8
I don't understand the developers of Skype. They have a great Skype, instead of develop it everyday they are destroying, huh.. Skype 5.0 Beta really sucks..
akinkaraman commented Sunday, Nov 7
really terrible. what a huge interface. I hate this. I uninstalled it reinstalled 2.8
I don't understand the developers of Skype. They have a great Skype, instead of develop it everyday they are destroying, huh.. Skype 5.0 Beta really sucks..
akinkaraman commented Sunday, Nov 7
really terrible. what a huge interface. I hate this. I uninstalled it reinstalled 2.8
I don't understand the developers of Skype. They have a great Skype, instead of develop it everyday they are destroying, huh.. Skype 5.0 Beta really sucks..
springshere commented Sunday, Nov 7
Way too large, hard to find contact list, hard to find share screen but like 3 way calling feature and the ability to get messages off line.. Go back to the design of 2.8 with the new features I just listed.. Too large, too obtrusive too.. too much.. I upgraded, saw it and Quickly deleted it and went back to 2.8..
brucestovall commented Sunday, Nov 7
From a business user stand point, it uses a lot of real estate on the screen. I have spreadsheets, a database and now skype is taking a third of my screen. It's very onerous compared to the previous compact, screens that I could minimize to a corner until I received or made a call. Help on resizing?
cleayp commented Sunday, Nov 7
20+ pixels of padding around items in a chat? - whitespace is nice in a magazine payout, but I want efficient use of my screen in an app UI. Take a cue from the iTunes UI (everyone else does!).
I have dozens of contacts that I rarely communicate with but want to keep, I could care less if they are online - how about a way to hide a contact completely until I need it?
raffid commented Sunday, Nov 7
Honestly... I'd recommend the devs take a look at this thread for some feedback: http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/950944-skype-50-beta-for-mac-os-x-available/
General sentiment: The effort is appreciated, but please try again.
mr.bsod commented Sunday, Nov 7
Yep, I agree with the majority said here. Way too big contact list, no way of easily telling which contacts are online or offline, and the coverflow view is just a mere curiosity that won't display nicely with such small resolution avatars!
But this is a beta version, so further work will probably be done here. I will follow the developments and hope for the best!
miknos commented Sunday, Nov 7
This reminds me ICQ. They started BLOATING the application making it the perfect crap.
CLEAN and MINIMALISTIC is the way to go. If it's not needed, don't put it. Facebook integration? What a mess...
KEEP IT SIMPLE!
thoan.skype commented Sunday, Nov 7
Hallo,
do you remember that easy menu choice to switch user?
It is gone.
No way to switch your skype to another user from the huge useless interface.
There is a lot of competition now in video calling around, no time for sleeping!
Ciao
wizx2126 commented Sunday, Nov 7
Yes, again, as with the others, it's obscenely too large. I loved my small, rectangular window from the previous version, and it told me everything I needed to know; my status, my mood message, who's online, their statuses, and their mood statuses. That's all I need. The message windows themselves have far too much white space; I can only see a few lines. Why was there a need to change that?
Although, I do like the transparency of the "Contacts Monitor". My ideal Skype program would be essentially the same design plan as Skype 2.7, but with the transparency factor involved. Or at least the option. Until then, I'm reverting back to the previous version.
srcosmo commented Monday, Nov 8
What's bad about the new beta:
- Every contact has an avatar, which wastes space, and is pointless if you call a lot of SkypeOut numbers, who don't have any avatars.
- Cover flow is just not useful for browsing contacts
- Calls should not be integrated into the main window: it makes it even more huge
- The sidebar on the left is pointless. Call status could easily be shown in the main contacts pane
john.eberly commented Monday, Nov 8
I like the features added, but the new UI is horrible. Downgrading for now.
dave.s.king commented Monday, Nov 8
Is this a joke? I'd love to see the user research you did that drove you to make this design. I can't imagine. I have 100 contacts in my account. I can see 12 of them in my buddy list at a time on my Macbook Pro 15". And I LOVED having a separate chat window. Now when I start a chat it HIDES my contacts list. Are you HIGH? I'm reverting to 2.8.
epoullet commented Monday, Nov 8
Installed and uninstalled in 5 minutes. Too big, no way to hide disconnected contacts, no way to open chat discussions as separate windows, etc.
I'm back to version 2.8 and will stick to it.
darrylxxx commented Monday, Nov 8
I have lived with the new version for a week. What a disappointment. I was very much looking forward to this version, but your design choices are woeful. Big and clunky. It's become almost unusable. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do a quick update to enable a minimalist view or something. Compact view is essential.
da10000000 commented Monday, Nov 8
Please can we have full screen video (no menu bar), the 'Not Available' status and the minimalist theme back please?
sameer.patil commented Monday, Nov 8
I am usually the first to adopt latest versions, even if they are beta. But this is the first time in my life that within 5 minutes of installing the beta, I trashed it. It seems that the designers are Skype are not only ignorant of the Mac experience but also of how their users use the software. And ironically, they seem to believe this is "tailored" for the Mac! *sigh*
discerptor commented Monday, Nov 8
I don't understand all the negative. Mac users have been clamoring for Skype for Mac to be brought up to date with Skype for Windows for years now, and this is perfectly in line with what Skype for Windows has looked like since 3.0. What did people think was going to happen? I, for one, am glad Skype for Mac was bumped all the way to 5.0 with group video chat from 2.8. Will be testing it heavily in the coming week.
denyson commented Monday, Nov 8
Skype 5.0 is too big takes up all my space. I'm on a laptop. I need separate windows for chat so is easy to know who I'm taking to. I would love to see the ability to make Skype transparent. Give the users option so they can run Skype like them want to. I'll love to see a button to make the Skype take the minimum space possible. Now day most people are using a laptop so smaller screens you can not have an application that takes almost half of a 15" screen.
discerptor commented Monday, Nov 8
Ok, there is one big problem here: Doing absolutely NOTHING, the new Skype uses 20% CPU on my MacBook Pro (early 2008). Is there some huge background process of which I'm not aware?
erykroderyk commented Monday, Nov 8
This is the first time I had to downgrade Skype back to the previous version.
The UI is so bad, the only sensible thing for the Skype team to do now is to come back to the drawing board and start with 2.8 which–as much as it isn't ideal–is how people are used to seeing Skype.
jeremy.gallas commented Monday, Nov 8
This is HUGE (in a bad way). Skype for Mac needs to be 99% out of the way, unless specifically doing a video call. On a 27" iMac i can only see 7 contact names in the upper 1/4 of my screen. Skype is critical to my business, but secondary in my machine work-flow.
The search bar in the old version would let you make a phone call if you typed in the phone number. I don't care about the pop-up dial pad, i'm copy/pasting numbers into there for quick access for dialing. Now, i have one more window to manage in a popup.
Good: Adding Features
Bad: Changing the user experience with every version
kvalme commented Monday, Nov 8
Nicely laid out. I don't care about the size of the icons, since VoiceOver doesn't care about that stuff in the first place. I find it easy to navigate, though some items, like the "Add people" don't work quite that well. Also, it seems too quickly released to me...bugs that should've been squashed by the developers themselves, since they're so obvious they slap even novice Mac users in the face. The "Join calls" feature, for instance, is just one of them. Of course, I submitted this, and I certainly hope this is looked into. I'm pretty disappointed, mostly with the functionality that is half-assed implemented. I expected to discover hard-to-find bugs, not bugs that are blatantly obvious.
bernd_muc commented Monday, Nov 8
In addition to my post further up: The video conference is nice. Add it to 2.8, please.
And add support for multiple accounts (e.g. work and private) that can be connected at the same time.
bubbler63 commented Monday, Nov 8
Guys, please don't change Skype to this new UI. It's horrible! No one wants a fat window lying around when they're logged onto skype. That mini HUD that you have is also pathetic, you can't do anything but click on a user and have the fat window open up again. There's a reason why all the other chat clients have simple slim window: it works!
keentoon commented Monday, Nov 8
Is the final version of this update only going to be available for 10.5 Leopard?!! I have version 10.4.11 Tiger and I've been waiting for a decent Skype for Mac update seemingly forever. I was so pleased about this beta but suddenly horrified to find I needed completely different Apple software for it! PLEASE make the final version of this update available for 10.4.11 too! PLEEEEEEAAAAAASSSSSSSSSEE!!!
davenicoll commented Tuesday, Nov 9
What is going on at Skype HQ?? This latest design is shocking - either you're paying your UI designers minimum wage, or you really don't understand how people use Skype. Go download and try Windows Messenger, Adium, AIM, Sametime, ICQ, etc - use them for 28 days. They're not "phone replacements", but at least they're honest about what they are - IM clients with video. The same as the Skype client.
I have a feeling you're going to lose a ton of users if you ship a final release that looks like this. I for one will ditch Skype, and the guys gathered around my desk gawking at the fugly beta are saying the same thing.
wally1047 commented Tuesday, Nov 9
Takes up far too much screen real estate even on the beautiful 27inch screen as I've always left the Skype window open, there's no way I'll upgrade to this "windows" lookalike.
cortizsc commented Tuesday, Nov 9
I use Skype and my Mac A LOT. I have paid skype for it services for a long time and I've been very happy with the results until now... The new version for Mac uses has made us wait for so long... and now "THIS" is what you come out with.
This design is just HORRIBLE!! the Mac OS X style... oh come on!!! Have you seen the new FaceTime for Mac????? THAT may be where Mac OS design is heading to... don't you think? I strongly encourage you to GET TO WORK.
musamane2421 commented Tuesday, Nov 9
Seriously! What's wrong with you. All you have to do is just give us to Windows design. I mean if you have want to come up with something really nice for Mac "AND CANT", then just go ahead a COPY. But please not this! I am downgrading to previous version for now cause I just can't stand this one on my screen. Maybe it's called Beta for a reason, so that you come up with a "USEFUL" design....
mupp3tb0y commented Tuesday, Nov 9
Really dreadful UI changes. Some things are better - group video chat, small hover window, but the whole experience is just horrible. It's not like 4.0 was exactly brilliant UI either but it's head and shoulders above this. I'm going to have to switch back.
dyerucf commented Tuesday, Nov 9
Skype Team,
Don't know how else to say then other then, wow you guys pooched this release, it's BADDDDDDD!.... IMHO this interface is bloated, I mean it requires a 22"+ monitors otherwise it's nearly unusable. The other major issue I personally have is that you are forcing power users to use the mouse to be productive, what happened to proper hot key combos (eg Skype 2.8 we could use cmd-1 to load the contact list, and then start searching immediately, however now the equivalent (cmd-opt-f) in Skype 5.0 requires you actually click the results (eg use the mouse)? Any decent UI, especially an OSX one should allow nearly all functionality to be achieved w/o the use of a mouse via hotkeys. This is one tennet of OSX UI Design that you guys dropped the ball on, and big time... Few other items you guys may want to address are outlined below, and I know this is a beta, but I hope you guys take public opinion seriously and make the next revision 5.5, rather then 5.0.1, because these are more then bugs, they fall into the category of flaws.
- Inability to sort chat lists
- Can change fonts w/o hacking CSS
- Can get rid of contact picture
- Resolution SUCKS
- Bonjour ? I hope you guys fix at least the search functions, because until then I will be archiving my 2.8 installer, to make sure I never am forced to upgrade.
-John
arirving commented Tuesday, Nov 9
Nice try skype, I'm sure once I get used to where everything is in V5 I will feel a lot better. Unfortunately the super-large format totally assassinates my screen real estate. As for the cover flow view, this would be great with some proper physics and easing applied to the movement or lack there of.
chrisjscott commented Tuesday, Nov 9
Been trying this 5beta for the past week and I just can't stand the UI, for the same reasons mentioned by other - downgrading back to 2.8.
I don't need/want a cutsy-poo interface that waste mindboggling amounts of my screenspace, guys. Make it functional. Make it clean. Make it fast.
menteinfinita commented Tuesday, Nov 9
@Skype 5 beta for Mac OS X:
These are the main annoyances for me:
1. I user keyboard shortcuts to switch between conversations. When I switch conversations using CMD+OPT+R/L-Arrow the textarea (where you tipe the messages) is not automatically focused. This works when switching conversations by mouseclick.
2. Sharing of screen selectionsno longer works. I can share either my full screen (and select a display) or nothing. In the past I mainly shared selections. The reason is that I have a very high screen resolution which cannot be matched by most of my conversation partners. Using only a selection of my screen makes it easier for my partner to see what I'm showing. Right now screen sharing is of no use for me because of this. Changing my resolution just to show s.th. and then changing it back is no solution for me. I won't do that. It makes me waste time.
3. When s.o. is sharing his screen with me, I cannot detach the sharing from the main window. I have to go fullscreen with skype, hide contacts bar and pull the call area as big as possible. If I want to use the chat, i have to pull the call area again smaller to get the chat. I'm constantly resizing the call area. What a waste of time.
4. The contacts-coverflow is a nice idea, but in the end the contact pics are too low-res. It simply doesnt look good. Also the scrolling isnt very precise. While in Finder's or iTunes' coverflow (which I never use) scrolling through and selecting items with my current scrolling speed settings is no problem at all, it's almost impossible in Skype's contact-coverflow to stop at the contact I want to select. As long as it is not possible attaching own pictures to the contacts and scrolling though the contact-coverflow is that imprecise, that feature is, sorry, a useless nice-to-have.
5. I Ussualy work with 2 high-res displays, so the waste of space doesnt annoy me that much, but when I'm using only one display, it feels simply to big. You're wasting to much (white)space. Why doesnt it go globally to compact mode when I choose "compact sidebar"? Or at least a "Compact chat"-option in View-menu causing less space waste would be nice.
6. Why can't i choose somewhere to use small icons? Do they have to be so huge? There sould be a "Use small icons"-option somewhere or at least automatically use small icons when using compact contact list view.
7. The compact sidebar option shows the sidebar in a more compact way, yes, but it wastes lots of space though. A little more "compact", please (but don't exaggerate, huh?).
When I switched from Windows to Mac, I was missing the single window Skype mode, but now that I got used to the lightweight Mac version, I prefer that one. Even on Windows. Mac users ussualy have a different window-workflow. They don't use fullscreen that much. The new Skype is a fullscreen application. Not very Mac'ish. It may please current Windows-to-Mac-switchers, but i'm pretty sure most experienced Mac users won't like it.
I don't know about Skype 5 for Windows, but, as far as I can remember, the last version had an option to switch to the, let me call it "classic"-Mode (the lightweight one). Where's that option in Skype 5 for Mac OX X??
I've used Skype 5 beta for OSX for 6 days. Honestly, I think the one window approach is a very good one, but there is still a lot to do to make that approach, let's say Mac-compatible. The current beta makes me waste time and (screen)space where the previous version didn't. As i'm using Skype in a productive way on daily basis, I'm forced to switch back. I simply cannot work with the new version. I tried, as mentioned above, for days to get used to it (I didn't want to give up too fast) but I had to realize: I won't.
saundhaus commented Tuesday, Nov 9
I have to agree with everyone here in that the screen is WAAAAAAY to big. If there was a way to compact it down to be the size of the old skype that would be better and what I still can't find is:
New call control bar — Hang up, mute and more from a mini Skype toolbar that sits on top of any web pages, documents or photos you’ve got open
Where is this new control bar that supposed to sit on top of any web pages, documents or photos?
s.labuschagne commented Wednesday, Nov 10
What a huge let-down!
It's too big - too much White space. Text and buttons are also too big.
I need to see online contacts in one glance.
Screen sharing?
Games?
ff6600 commented Wednesday, Nov 10
this version is truly beta....
or more like an alpha version...
but far away from public beta...
davidmilet commented Wednesday, Nov 10
I did a "Check for update" and ended up with the new Skype 5.0 on my Mac. Ugly, unusable, unfinished, unreal!
Video is lost during calls every couple of minutes.
please, please, please, get rid of that new user interface. That is totally unusable. Many of my contacts are phone contacts, and I don't need to see they're offline with enomous icons. How old do you think the average Skype user is ? 75 ?
And please give us back the option to switch accounts
jthomas.wdevn commented Wednesday, Nov 10
The 5.0 version has a lot of bugs. Mac users have been waiting a long time and this version is far from ready.
1. Fonts wastes a lot of space. Form factor to BIG! Trying to keep everything together is
a good idea, but this isn't working.
2. Video quality gets very bad when BOTH sides are in video chat mode.
3. In the old version, changing user IDs was simple and fast.
BRING THIS FEATURE BACK PLEASE!
4. The iTunes cover view view is very bad with low res. images. Dump it!
5. Audio compression is very poor.
6. Look very bad on hi-res monitors
7. Eats up CPU on my Macbook Pro (2009) ... 20 - 25%!
8. Chats get lost in the screen.
9. What! No Bonjour!
10. Quick Key stroke functions not working.
12. The contact panel needs an overhaul.
13. Some HD UVC don't well (Logitech C910, C510)
14.Needs a true compact mode.
15. ... many more bugs to list...
The people at Skype should be ashamed to have MAC users wait so long for this poor beta which should be called an alpha version. This version was made in the PC state of mind. Overall bad design.
bente.meijer commented Wednesday, Nov 10
I don't how to create a public chat now, were you can be the moderator .
harryschaefer commented Wednesday, Nov 10
I think that they should call this version Skype Vista for Mac.
nicholasdeleo commented Wednesday, Nov 10
What a mess!
This UI is horrible, even worse than the last Windows version!
I thought that even version 2.8 was too obtrusive and space-hogging but this looks like a joke! Everything is cramped in one, huge window which takes almost 1/3 of my screen (a 27 inch iMac!!!) and it looks like a giant Tomy toy!
I just want a very lean contact list with a small symbol showing whether the contacts are online or not (which could ideally be pinned to the desktop), that's all!
This thing does not respect Mac OS GUI guidelines at all!
eddieajau commented Wednesday, Nov 10
Overall like where you are heading, but a couple of problems for me:
1. Skype -> Provide Skype Feedback is not working (oops - I'd use that instead of these comments if it was working).
2. Need the ability to make sidebar and chat more compact (assume chat will be able to be configured through styles).
3. A "mark" feature for chats would be extremely handy like you have in IRC land.
4. New chats sometimes come but they were from a couple of days ago because respective peers where not open at the same time. You get the new message "blip" but you'll find the message buried in This Week or earlier because that's when the message was written, not when the client actually received it.
5. Need to be able to collapse Contacts, Favourites, Today, Yesterday and so on and those headings should have the total number of unread messages.
On the plus, fires up much faster, the one window is much better and a lot of links that weren't really handy now are. Well done overall.
rogerhsueh commented Thursday, Nov 11
I hate the new interface.
It is so big yet does so little. Such a waste of space. Full of useless chrome.
I cringe every time I use it.
brock1216 commented Thursday, Nov 11
you guys should have made this skype for mac os x 10.4 ppc mac users too. this is a shame. i have been waiting this for a long time, and then i get let down
ldcoles commented Thursday, Nov 11
I have to agree with the majority of comments here. What is this? 1994? One bloated window? Avatars?! Seriously!
Give me the option to revert to minimalism - it just looks like you completely misunderstand your target audience ...
"A more Mac-like experience"?! FAIL.
I'm not interested in apps that shout "Look at me!" A good app is functional and gets out of the way when not being actively used. This UI fails on so many levels it's unbelievable!
slores commented Thursday, Nov 11
I tried it MAC 5.0 version for a couple of days but going back to 2.8. I have used Skype for for a loooooooong time (both windows and MAC). Beside being very un-user-friendly, 5.0 has a few bugs:
I do understand that this is beta...I just want you guys to know this.
1 - Conference call and chat window (hard to find or does not exist
2 - Addressbook contacts - Not all numbers available
3 - Crashed on me a couple of times
I do love Skype tho,
davidchan04 commented Thursday, Nov 11
I had a problem about the connetion of Skype....
Why do I see a user as offline when I know they are online?
I had waited for a long time...may be 30mins or above,but my friend are still show me offline....and she had the same problem with me...just me in her contant list have this problem....are there any porblem of our Skype ID??
My Skype ID: davidchan04
E-mail: davidchan04@hotmail.com
Thx for your help=]
skyfii commented Thursday, Nov 11
I have been waiting for window integration since for ever. But this is not the answer. I can only add to the clamour for better use of space - and I have a 30" display. I HAVE A 30" DISPLAY and this is too big - for real world use. You seem to assume that skype is the only thing we have going on. Professional use means sharing the window with others. It's nice to share. Please be nice. Sadly, because I really did look forward to 5.0, its back to 2.8 for me, and probably 99% of your users.
mitchell.john.edward.repp commented Thursday, Nov 11
hey...how about chat that is INCLUDED IN VIDEO, not two separate windows...what if i wanna full screen and message chat at the same time like in windows version...oh nope cant do that....fix the mac version within 6 months or i'm leaving Skype. -Mitchell
workingconcept commented Thursday, Nov 11
I've gradually been relying more and more on Skype and love it, and my $.02 falls in line with many commenters.
It seems like the larger, one-window approach allows for new functional opportunities with the increased real estate, though on its own neglects the (apparently) common goal of wanting Skype to be unobtrusive.
My suggestion: don't abandon the one-window approach, but don't rely entirely on it either. Like iTunes, it could have different display states: full window, minimal contact list, and (ideally) even an option to reside in the menu bar and take screen real estate only when toggled by click or keyboard shortcut (thinking of Tweetie).
Best of luck! I'm avoiding the upgrade for now but am confident that a more polished and flexible UI is around the corner.
gwallisc commented Friday, Nov 12
I love the video conferencing.
I hate the new contact list, how big it is, it should be minimalistic to keep with the mac line, it's not intuitive at all.
Sorry guys but I think I'm rolling back.
ellis.adamm commented Friday, Nov 12
I am a medical student and use my skype to talk to family and friends at home and to talk to my classmates using chat. I am usually in class or studying and liked the small chat window since I could keep in open while studying a powerpoint or word file in class or at the library. I will not be downloading the new skype 5.0 and will continue to use the 2.8 version. In future versions I hope to see the smaller chat window back along with the choice to have notifications pop up. I would also like a facebook chat integration.
guy-o-rama commented Friday, Nov 12
No Save or Save As? There is no longer a way to save chats in Beta 5 for Mac.
Also, the option to view the chat history in a browser (Contacts \ View History) is gone.
I used these functions daily in 2.8. The only way I could figure out how to save a chat is to copy the chat and paste it to a text file. This is a step backward, and I hope these functions are restored.
unkiebeats commented Friday, Nov 12
yeeeeaaaaah soooooo, this new skype F@%&ing sucks. keeps dropping my isight, my friends keep dropping me, they can't even get it to work with their cameras. jesus just add a new look to the old shit, don't change code if it works already. i mean i don't even know how to make a program but shit, if it works one way, add to it, don't totally change it. now i just use google chat to do video, fuck you skype, and good luck
monsterlikerawr commented Saturday, Nov 13
im glad theres finally an update! woo! but! im not enjoying the user interface experience so far... its HUGE! it takes up half of my screen even in "compact sidebar" mode. it looks like it was designed for the visually impaired.. of course theres nothing wrong with that, but we should have the option to go smaller. i'll go back to the original version for now, hold off on the group video calling and go back to having my compact little skype hanging out in the background.
brycehug commented Saturday, Nov 13
After a day of use I can't stand the new user interface. Its big, bulky, and extremely un-Mac-like. The huge "Skype" window that won't shrink and the "Contact Monitor" which wont move to the background make it unusable.
The old Mac interface was the nicest of all the Skype versions. Here's hopping the dev team gets the message and rolls it back for release 2!
fbrose commented Saturday, Nov 13
Great that you are updating the program for Mac - Thank you!
The new design is WAY to big - I think a lot of people like the ability to have Skype open as a small window / contact list - We NEED this option in the new version! - The waste of screen space is just crazy.
Please also add the possibility of hiding the history - Why would I want to see the last 5-10 people that I had a conversation with - If I need to see an old conversation I will just click on the contact to see it?
Looking forward to an updated beta!
anderson.onir commented Saturday, Nov 13
I hate the new design, it's horrible.
i want the old interface!!!!
if this not go back. Skype will lost a lot of users. not just me.
akoki89 commented Sunday, Nov 14
the new design is dificult to manage
mac users just want the 2.8 design with the group calling option
burnheavenraisehell commented Sunday, Nov 14
I'm not going so far as to downgrade back to 2.8 like the rest of the extremist posters. But by god, I'm jumping on a couple bandwagons:
1) The window is too big for us 13" Macbook users. Skype is not the only application that is in use in the current space, and it should not require its own space. I often use Skype in tandem with my browser. All in all, window unification was a terrible choice. I liked having my small chat window that was sometimes used just for that. I know Skype mainly exists as a front-runner in the VOIP market, but you guys have to understand that the video/voicechat IS sometimes a secondary feature, and should have its own window that does not restrict the size of the chat window. Scrap the unification (but do keep the floating dialer and online contacts. Those are excellent modifications)
2) What happened to the malleability of the skype window?
-contacts drawer is gone
-contacts can no longer be rearranged
-no customizable toolbar
3)Where did fullscreen go? Sometimes I like to get away from the rest of my computer and devote all my attention on a person.
pablodelpozo commented Sunday, Nov 14
WHAT A FIASCO!
5.0 Beta for Mac is absolutely bulky, obstructive, horrible, difficult to understand, absurdly complicated, totally user-unfriendly.
Who needs so much screen real state taken by Skype? Who needs a gigantic list of contacts? Who needs to scroll down the list of contacts that should be accessible at a glance? Who wants new sounds that tell the user nothing until familiarized with them, instead of the old, familiar "classic sounds"?
Skype should have changed whatever needed to be changed/improved under the hood, and only further compact the previous version. Skype should see itself as providing a tool, not a toy.
Bottom line: Do not install. Like 99.90% else, I'm reverting to an older version.
pablodelpozo commented Sunday, Nov 14
... back to 2.8, and when it's discontinued, I'll move to to Google-Call.
If 5.0 is Skype's response to Google-Call... well, it looks like we have a winner.
yorkshire_jonny commented Sunday, Nov 14
College athlete to couch potato!
Dear Skype,
You gave us a college athlete and we loved you for it. With a few refinements in speed, performance and style we could have been using an Olympic superstar. But you decided to give us a couch potato. Why?
I know change is a difficult thing for us to take, but we liked how Skype fitted in with our productivity - compact, ready to go and easy to find our contacts. I've ditched home and business landlines for Skype and have been with you for 6+ years now.
Please take note of what your Mac fans and supporters are telling you loud and clear. Retired the couch potato double quick as a beta and give us the Olympic athlete we know you can produce.
Good luck getting it right - you were so very close...
whitgurley commented Monday, Nov 15
Oh. My. God.
I just opened the beta for the first time. Are you kidding me? Why on earth is the list so f-ing enormous? Here's a great way to make sure that I abandon Skype forever: force that colossal waste of space down my throat. FAIL, FAIL, FAIL. I don't know what you people are thinking, but it's wrong.
Reverting to old version....... now.
mackdacre commented Monday, Nov 15
It's.
So.
FAT.
Completely unusable. Do you think this is the only program I have open or something?
than4president commented Monday, Nov 15
For the most part I'm just agreeing with those that have already spoken, but this beta is more of a downgrade than an upgrade. Just because the Windows Version of Skype has this layout doesn't mean you need to make the Mac Version of Skype go the same direction. I remember listening to my friends on Windows complain for hours about the new and "improved" Skype. Well, I guess it's fair that they get to hear me complain now.
Assuming someone who actually has power to change anything reads these, here are my major complaints:
1 - The Layout. The new one-window layout ends up taking more space than the original did. In the original, you can make your contacts list go away with a single mouse click, and, alternatively, you can make your chats go away with a single click. With the new version, you can make the contacts go away, but not the chat "window." In this case the new layout makes it more difficult (or in the second case, impossible) to simplify what you see. More difficult is bad, not an improvement.
The new one-window layout makes looking at profiles more difficult. In the original version of the layout, the profile window was a window, not on top of the chat. What if I want to chat with someone and look at two different profiles at once? With the new version, I can't because they exist in the same place. This is not better because it makes it more difficult to look up people's information and chat at the same time. Again, not an improvement.
The new one-window layout makes finding contacts more time-consuming. In the original version, contacts could be formatted to take up a single line of text, allowing those of us with more than 8 contacts to see all of them without scrolling. For those of us who have more than 8 contacts (if you include Phone numbers and/or address book contacts it's not hard to go over 100) it makes much more difficult to navigate. This is definitely not an improvement.
2 - Removed Features. You have removed some features from the original Skype you probably considered "bloated" the program. This is a false assumption, as many features I actually *used* were removed. For example: In the original version of the program there were automatically updating "smart groups" of specific contacts. Some remain in the new version, but the useful ones, such as "Skype" and "Saved Phone Numbers" are removed. This means if I want to add a new number to the program and have it in a separate group than my Skype contacts, I have to create TWO new groups and make sure that I add them to their respective one by hand. This is more difficult, and therefore, not an improvement.
The new one-window layout got rid of the chat drawer in favor of "recent" chats. In the original version of the layout, you could order your chats by whatever you want, date, alphabetical, most important, how much they like bacon, or manually. By removing the ability to change that, you have made it impossible to organize chats, and since recent cannot be changed, force us to order by date. This is make it more difficult to navigate, and is, as I've said, not an improvement.
3 - Pseudo Features. You added some pseudo features, things that are new, but aren't necessarily good. A wonderful example of that is the call monitor. It only shows up when Skype is in the background and you're in a call. The actual call however is taking over the main part of your Skype window. Need I remind you that one version prior to that, the call window was the same size as the new call monitor is? Why do we need the WHOLE Skype window eaten by the call? On top of this, when you're in a call with another person on Skype, the text chat disappears. If you want to send someone a link to a website, you have to mess around with buttons to find the one that says "Send Instant Message" for the chat thing to come back (or you have to be smarter than me and realize that dragging the bottom up does the same thing, but the point remains.) There's no reason for this change, and it ends up making the users life more difficult. Therefore, it's not an improvement.
The second pseudo feature I found is the pop-outable contact list. This would be a good thing if it wasn't completely useless. Okay, well, it's not *completely* useless, just mostly. In a contact list, I want to be able to do anything. Start a call, a chat, send a file, block, rename, show profile, etc,. With the pop-out contact list, all you can do is chat. That's it. Then what does it do? It brings back the original window anyways, begging the question why you have the pop-out list anyways. It's useless and therefore, is not an improvement.
Those are my main "logical" issues with the program. Issues that are backed by research and science and fact. The next few issues are completely opinion, but I'm certain I'm not the only one.
The layout is horrid. There is simply too much white space in between everything for it to be efficient, and there is no way to change that. In the old version, you could have your chat window's drawer with people's names and pictures the size that you can only have with names in the new one. More importantly, the chats cannot be removed from the window. Even in the release version where you have the window with the chat drawer you can still remove the chats and make several windows. Where the old version is relaxed and flexible, the new version is stiff and stuffy and dresses in the sort of clothes that should only be used as rags to change your cars oil.
I'm sad to think that eventually you're going to stuff this program down our throats. I do not see you discontinuing what you've done with this version since you've put time and effort into it. I understand that frame of mind, but nonetheless, I wish you would. I know that I, and all of my Mac Skype friends, will be sticking with 2.8 until you no longer support it. Unless you give us a layout that actually is and improvement.
adam60i commented Monday, Nov 15
The UI is sucks, I took me ages to find simple function like send text while I do video chat or share my screen. Facebook integration missing. I guess its not the right way you on....
jdcrunchman commented Tuesday, Nov 16
you guys at Skype have not yet fixed the issue with MacSpeech Dictate. There was some improvement in 5.0. But whenever I get a Skype call it uses the audio or video, from that point on, I have to quit MacSpeech Dictate, and restart it again. I find this particularly annoying, in Lou of the fact that I am paralyzed in my hands, and cannot use a keyboard. MacSpeech Dictate is my capability software that allows me to speak at having my computer type what I say. I am happy with the program, as it's 95% accurate. But whenever I get a Skype call, I have to kiss MacSpeech goodbye. Sometimes when it comes back up, it still doesn't work, I have to go to the settings all over again. Luckily, I don't have to retrain it. But if anybody out there has a workaround, I really need to have it. Or better yet, asking the Skype engineers to look into the matter. It's probably just a matter of not releasing the resources, and restoring it to what it was before Skype used the audio and video.
John (jdcrunchman)
mrs.freesoul commented Tuesday, Nov 16
Although the group call functionality seems very promising, I think I will stay with 2.8 as I dislike the UI a lot. It is not clearly arranged as others already mentioned. I don't want to see all my recent conversations from last week. It just takes up a lot of space and I usually don't need it.
And I really don't understand why I would want to take a look at the profile pics of my friends in horrible quality. I want to call them and see them live or chat with them. This feature seems pretty much useless to me.
And what about this huge window? I liked the small window, as my Skype is usually running in the back all day. Also I can not really follow your idea of having everything in one window but then have the dial-pad separately as well as a contact list, whose only purpose is to open up the huge window again.
By the way... why do I need two different ways of adding contacts? Isn't one enough?
bloodsis16 commented Wednesday, Nov 17
I want the SCREENSHARE feature back!
But Thank you for the feature upgrades! just please refer back to the old minimal and simple skype designs. =)
antonagerbo commented Wednesday, Nov 17
OMG i really dislike this new Skype interface.
1) too many steps to get my contacts open. I used to be able to click the Skpe status icon in the menu bar and open my contacts, now, gone.... BOO
2) when in a video call, it is UNINTUITIVE to find the chat window for sending files. bloody wrong. BOO
3) CAN I HAZ MOAR BIGGER ICONS PLZ? Okay, sarcasm. I like my interfaces to be clean and simple, not looking like some half-blind grade school girl designed it. I'd rather watch lolcats videos. How the Hell do i resize the width smaller? What? Impossible? BOO
4) That is just the beginning of my complaints. it has taken a really bad turn. what is the expression? 2 steps forward, 193858203 steps back?
So, fire all those programmer jerks that played this cruel joke on you.
lukes70 commented Wednesday, Nov 17
I am amazed by how such a good application, Skype, that was always in a corner of my desktop, is now unusable because of the enormous size of the window, because of the useless information it shows (instead of the online contacts, I now get a pound of senseless info).
Guys, have you ever imagined how Skype is used by a big part of the users ? They do not have a monitor for skype on its own ! It must be a tiny window showing the contacts online and providing minimal commands to make a call.
Would you like having a telephone of 1x1x1 m in your living room ?
Rarely seen such a big flop for not understanding how the product is used.
I am going back to the previous version.
cloudofdata commented Wednesday, Nov 17
Skype is a key part of my working day and, as such, used to sit surreptitiously in the corner of my monitor until needed. Frequently, several text chat windows will be open at once, and I'll occasionally keep an eye on the (usefully small!) contact list for people coming online that I want to reach. Audio and video calls are a daily part of the routine too.
All of that has changed with this dreadful beta release. Multi-party video calls are a genuinely useful addition to the toolset. Absolutely EVERY OTHER THING is bad. HUGE ugly windows that try to subsume every function, and seem to assume that you'll happily let them fill your screen all day long? Text chats lumped uselessly together in that big window, meaning that you need to click between them? Some very odd UI choices that, for example, ALWAYS show a green video call icon for contacts... even if you only have a landline number for them? You used to be able to tell how people could be contacted... the new UI implies similar functionality, but then seems to assume that any number can be called in any way?
Keep the multi-party video chat. Throw the rest of the UI away very, very quickly... and give us back the old one.
And this isn't some knee-jerk reaction to change. I've been TRYING to fit this loathesome mess into my workflow every single day since it was released.
It just doesn't work. Please roll back.
strayduck007 commented Wednesday, Nov 17
I get the feeling that this is not Skype 5.0 at all, but rather a brand new Skype 1.0 alpha. Not only did EVERY interface item apparently change, but we've lost very useful features that we've come to love.
While multi person video is great (really great, actually), on what planet does it make sense to get rid of "full screen" video? The whole point of video conferencing is to SEE the other person(s).
Also I agree that it was a bad move to remove the ability to share a select part of your screen.
Bad. Bad. BAD.
So this isn't all doom-and-gloom: after some adjustment it does make sense to have the text chat for any given call or video be below the image and not floating elsewhere so yay for that.
Looking forward to getting our useful features back!
nicolino.magno commented Wednesday, Nov 17
I want to share my thoughts. skype 2.8 is perfect, it loads fast, it works fine, never crashes, it has a very minimal interface and at the same time it gives you all the options you would need to chat/have conversations etc etc. at first glance you can tell who's online and who's not. It's very mac. just add to that interface the group call and we're done, we seriously don't need all this waste of screen space.
thanks
firekr commented Thursday, Nov 18
Three issues in order of importance:
1) Let me resize fonts.
2) Let me resize the window smaller than current minimum
3) Let me disable icons in chat
kyle.dumovic commented Thursday, Nov 18
What bothers me is that it still triggers the nVidia graphics card when using the Intel one would be sufficient. Wouldn't be a problem on a desktop, but on a notebook I want my battery to last as long as possible.
I'm using an mid-2010 MBP.
----------------------------------
THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wcarroll commented Thursday, Nov 18
New UI is way HUGE, not good, not mac-like at all. You really need a good Mac UI person.
alanh2a commented Thursday, Nov 18
the new skype for mac really needs a compact view, it is taking over my whole screen
oleksa_r commented Thursday, Nov 18
1) Make the new design more customizable:
a) It is now ugly huge -- good for old people, but could u make it possible to "scale" contacts appearance, etc.?
b) Return the possibility to sort groups by drag-and-drop, pls.
c) Make detachable conversations for different people.
d) Add the possibility to insert custom avatars, custom growl notifications for particular contacts/groups.
2) Return the ease of screen sharing, pls.
3) The detachable Contacts pad is very nice due to its transparency, but stays on top of other windows. Make it a regular window, pls, so it is not necessary to press cmd+h all the time.
In general, increase the "user-friendliness", please.
kevrossignon commented Friday, Nov 19
I've been waiting for this update for a LONG time, but to be honest after installing it I am in mixed reviews. I sure hope Skype Developpers read this and consider making some changes:
In Skype 2.8 we had a very easy way to see all of our contacts that were online/offline. In 5.0 this task has become a painful process. The contact list is HUGE, we should have the option to reduce the font size or something as not everyone is blind. But literally on my 13" when opened full screen I get to display 8 contacts at the time. Not worth the hassle to go down all the time. However, I understand that the search feature is extremely useful and allows us to send message even when the contact is off-line. But we could also do that in 2.8 to an extend.
Also what happened to screen sharing?
The contact bar should made hide-able and perhaps have a shortcuts to jump between conversations.
anamkhai commented Saturday, Nov 20
Please oh please ! I'm begging you to go back to previous design ! This is HORRIBLE ! I never sweared that much of my entire life. Each single new thing made me jump and make holes in the ceileing :
1 : All in one window : Horrible horrible horrible idea
2. Can't separate windows : Super horrible
3. You're on webcam and check an IM it hides the webcam (horrible horrible)
4. The size of the window : Omg horrible to maximum level ! I use many applications (ichat, yahoo, msn, skype at the same time, imagine if they were all that size) (NONE REDUCTIBLE !!! HORRIBLE
5. The button that is the full screen buttons is also used to send file and other stuff ! I mean could it be more none sense ?
6. The tiny transparent windows to get your friendlist in a special window : NO NO and NO !!!!!! Stop the bullshits please 
Did you hire the son of the boss and had to let him do stupidities or what ? is this a joke ?
7. Since i put the update i get random stupid bugs : history from random people coming slowly, tons of old conversation windows opened...
8. The apple like slideshow of your contacts : totally useless (it's useless on itunes already so imagine on skype)
9. Please please please please please fix that horrible version. You don't have to change everything to make it better :'(
10. The WHOLE design is wrong, i mean really the whole design, we don't need to see these spaces "chat - audio - webcam" icon in front of each contact and it's so big it looks like it's a special upgrade for people that can't see anything.
11. side bar with contacts = NO ! just the contact window like in the good old time :'(
12. previous and next window : it's like going back in the past ! Can't a computer process two windows anymore ? come on ! this is horrible ! you click on your profile and you can't see anything else than your profile ! please please Stop the ONE WINDOW thing !
13. You can't change account from the menu, you now have to go in the menu and choose "close session" and then select the new one !
I MEAN SERIOUSLY ! WHO DECIDED THAT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO REMOVE ALL THE GREAT JOB AND REMPLACE IT WITH SUCH DISAPOINTING STUFF ?
I'm not an old dude, i'm a music producer, i'm 26, i have a mac since forever, this is not coming from an old 97 years old dude that can't adapt himself to new stuff. This is anti friendly user to its maximum level, i was on the phone with my friend girlfriend and I was SO PISSED about the update i did that i couldn't focus on anything else than complain about skype new features.
davidgaia commented Saturday, Nov 20
Why oh Why oh Why did you have to make it so big? Seriously bad, I am sure you have spent much time developing this but it is simply awful. No Facebook integration, Video iSight does not work, coverflow is ugly, the only reason I would want to use this would be for group video, however as the iSight on my 2009 MBP works perfectly with all other apps using it, I am reverting to 2.8, Sorry Skype for all your work on this version, it simply does not come up to scratch. The vast majority of comments here would seem to agree, back to the drawing board I am afraid, oh and why 5? what happened to 3 and 4?? If you could simple add group video to 2.8 I would be happy.
thrandeston commented Saturday, Nov 20
dreadful. So big it whites out my screen. Just rang my Mum and couldn't hang up. Please take the advice on this blog and wind back to something minimalist and functional.
lucaluca8381 commented Saturday, Nov 20
When is going to be released the Skype 5.0 for Linux. Linux communities are developing stable system once every 6 months. Are 3 years that you guys do not develop a proper working Skype for the Linux platform. I think you are making the big mistake to leave behing a promising market, since there are always more user than what you think.
At this stage I hope that google is going to smell the coffee with their google talk so we can all switch to them, since here I do not see gears moving unless you want tell us a sort of date when the skype 5.0 for linux will be released.
ptrubert commented Saturday, Nov 20
As almost everybody, I turned back in 5 minutes to 2.8 version.
Please give us a way to switch the layout to the older 2.8 style.
patrickriley2010 commented Saturday, Nov 20
Not to sure if you morons posting know how to use a mac? there is a little thing called spaces... you can also minimize.
yourbestfriendjax commented Sunday, Nov 21
you should do what Techsmith (snagit) did, have a separate beta portion of your site and allow users to make specific recommendations. And do your best to incorporate them into the mac version. Techsmith did this and after 1 year of beta, they made a "perfect" screenshot capturing program. Mac users are willing to give you the feedback FOR FREE. As the developer, you have to take it and transform it into programmable features.
danjroberts commented Sunday, Nov 21
Overall the Beta is really good but I do have one major issue: I have downloaded the Mac beta on three Mac and have been attempting to set up a group call. After a number of attempts we were able to set up a three way call. The three way video lasted for about two minutes and then the video dropped. After trying various things (e.g. selecting and then de-selecting "send video") we were able to get video back between two of the participants but were only able to get video between all three of us. We've tried various things to re-establish the call including restarting each of the Mac and checking the video preferences to ensure that video is set up and checking that the i-sight webcam indicator is green on all three machines). I suspect that there may be a bug in the Beta that is causing this.
stuckeya96 commented Monday, Nov 22
The new UI sucks! I mean seriously, WTF! It looks worse than the Windows version (which sucks a lot). I loved the way the old Skype for Mac kept everything separate and minimalist. This is just obtrusive and ugly. Who wants the majority of their screen taken up with Skype. I like to have a small window open in the corner, not the focus of my screen.
But the group video calling is great! Please keep the old UI and just add group video chat.
alland138 commented Tuesday, Nov 23
I have been reviewing software for 20 years for a national radio show on technology — this has to be one of the worst software upgrades I have ever seen in all that time. Total indifference to the way your customers use the product and a UI so bad that I'm embarrassed (for the engineering team that created it) when I use it.
This product is so bad that if Skype tries to force me to use to this I will almost certainly move to another system. That's really sad when you consider that I've been using this technology since early on; I call with it all day long and it's my main contact number.
There's no point in re-hashing everybody else's complaints and protests; but one thing's clear to me, 2.8 wasn't perfect but I was able to get the job done efficiently, effectively and reliably. Now all of a sudden I can't even figure out how to do put together even basic stuff without a lot of effort and research. I'm not ready to waste that kind of time and effort when the old UI did the job just fine.
Bottom line, please revert to the old UI and refine it — it wasn't broken so please don't fix it!
roballen-skype commented Tuesday, Nov 23
Hey devs, is this the most depressing and thumbs down release ever? Maybe a few mock up screen shots could have said you stacks of work. The look and feel is wrong, without even getting started on the functionality.
cavell-ao commented Tuesday, Nov 23
Like the new options - buy the Interface is a real problem. Can only agree with all who commented that this for me (as a long term, heavy user) is absolute unusable and unacceptable. Good that the interface at skype-start-time was not this confusing and unfriendly, else I would have never started on it !!
- almost impossible to find the most common functions, as adding users to confcalls or starting a confcall
- hard to navigate around
- too BIIIIGG navigation window, with IM unstructured and hard to locate things
- online contact list useless, if I cannot directly from there 'call/im' folks.
Dont line it !!! Pse return the old interface with the new functionality !!! pleaaassse !!!
drew.mardis commented Tuesday, Nov 23
WAY too BIG. Looks like an iPad app or something.
If I didn't need the multiple video conference I'd switch back.
Please fix.
hologr4m commented Tuesday, Nov 23
Why does videochat hide the IM's How do I get back to them?
I downgraded to previous version. This GUI's horrible.
miltonsa_obl commented Wednesday, Nov 24
First off @patrickriley2010, some of us "morons" like to actually work/read/play something and have a VIDEO CALL with someone at the same time. For example, I play video-games and have a VIDEO CALL with my girlfriend at the same time. With Skype 2.8, no problem, I have a big window with the game on the left, and a small window on the top right corner.
With Skype 5.0, impossible, besides that thing being ugly and big like a big fat walrus, occupying a lot of space, it doesn't even have an always on top option…
That being said, that makes Spaces and minimizing USELESS! So think again before you post and call us "morons"
dedezazas commented Wednesday, Nov 24
It look like itunes - way to huge! how much money you earned making it?
I would cut it in 70% LOL
dwpenner commented Thursday, Nov 25
I agree that while there are many interesting aspects — I love the idea of being able to leave messages to people who are offline or doing video chats with a number of people at once — the user interface takes up too much real estate on my desktop. I tend to work with others. I will be taking dictation from someone and they might send part of it in the chat window or I might be sending a part of it back for verification and perhaps I might share a part of my screen so they can watch what I am typing as I type it. Or... perhaps I might be talking with one person while typing with another and keeping track of something else on a web page... Something that takes up a third or more of my 13 inch MacBook just doesn't work for me.
Now this is going slightly off topic or is it? It happened when I upgraded last night...
Coincidentally — and I don't quite understand this — I downloaded the Mac Beta 5 version last night and when my Girlfriend tried calling my Online Number she could not get through. No busy signal, didn't get forwarded to my voicemail, nothing. She's in Auckland and I have an Auckland number. I called it from here in Canada and... it says the number can't be connected as dialed. What's up with that? I checked privacy and made sure things got set for anyone being able to call the number... but still no joy... Now I have even reinstalled 2.8 and nothing... I tried forwarding to my telelphone and calling with my Skype turned off taking the computer out of the equation and still no joy. So... did Beta 5 change things somehow at Skype? Or... did things get messy because of the US Thanksgiving holiday telephone rush? (I'm in Canada) Is it just a coincidence? This sort of thing happened once before around Christmas and New Years Eve, I think and also when I first got the number. The whole point for me was so that My Girl could call me from Auckland so that number is important... Did Beta 5 do something? Can't see how. For now I am back to 2.8 and have written to Support. I hope things fix themselves and I hope it won't take 48-72 hours to hear "something". Sure wish a communications company could have a communications system for support.
tanariel commented Friday, Nov 26
Installed ... Took half my macbook screen ... deleted.
What an awful design, i just hope it will change.
rmourik commented Friday, Nov 26
I am disappointed for 2 reasons. Firstly the design is too big: fonts are big, lots of waisted screen real estate. I wish there was an option to switch to a compact view. Secondly, it uses 10% processor capacity continuously, even in plain standby. To me that looks like the beta code still needs to be optimised.
punsky commented Friday, Nov 26
i have been using 5.0 since the beta and it is absolute unusable, rolled back to the previous version, whoever is in charge of the usability clearly has no clue!
jasonrosenfeld commented Saturday, Nov 27
Please bring back full screen video mode (video phone). Please shrink the UI down by about 2/3. This is awful. I've downgraded. This is not an improvement in any way.
rambonef commented Saturday, Nov 27
Just tried out the Skype 5 beta for Mac and I must say its terrible. I'ts so friggin' huge and I can't see all my contacts right away (which is a bit of a contradiction) and the layout is terrible. Why do you want to change the current design? If you really have to change it, why don't you make more like Adium? Could you please fire all your designer immediately. Thank You.
christiansteenjorgensen commented Sunday, Nov 28
jesus! where are the facebook integration? is that really so hard and time consuming for you to put in - judging by the overall 5.0 beta, it's clearly a yes. Makes me laugh and cry simultaneously.
jobenjo commented Sunday, Nov 28
What bothers me is that it still triggers the nVidia graphics card when using the Intel one would be sufficient. Wouldn't be a problem on a desktop, but on a notebook I want my battery to last as long as possible.
I'm using an mid-2010 MBP
-----------------
Another +1 for this... this is by far my biggest complaint with Skype right now.
coachvladislav commented Sunday, Nov 28
Yes would be good if you can select classic view of panel
And can you please also make a video on how to do conference calls with this new BETA version, i.e. connect & disconnect a few people on the line via skype & landline numbers as well - thank you!
pollylol commented Monday, Nov 29
Well this was embarrassing, wasn't it guys? You've spent all that time developing it and when it comes out the major feature is "Group video calls!!!" Woo-freaking-hoo. OK, it's probably not a bad feature but why did the rest of the software have to suffer?
I dare you, I double dare you to write an explanation on how to use this contact list efficiently! Why do I have my chats on the right and contacts sorted chronologically (WTF!?) on the left? I don't give a crap about whom I spoke to recently. Give me back my contact list. And no, I'm not going to screw around customizing groups, neither am I going to bring up that retarded floating menu.
Honestly, do you think that when people are making a call, even including video, they just sit and stare into the conversation window? At least I'm not. Then why in the name of rotten socks of Bill O'Reilly can't I resize anything without it turning into crap?
By the way, funny detail. Did you run into some kind of copyright thing with Microsoft or something? How come all the status icons are from version 2 for Windows? Pale, boring and generally unappealing?
randallhayward commented Monday, Nov 29
I've used Skype from the time it was first launched. Version 5 is really disappointing from a design stand point. Its huge, obtrusive and annoying with no way to minimize it. If I wanted it to take up 1/4-/1/2 of my screen size I would have enlarged the other versions. Its hard to appreciate the new features when I am so annoyed with the size of the window. Fortunately I still have Ver 2.8 which I will use until the design team changes the size of the window of Version 5. What were you thinking?!
mkjago commented Monday, Nov 29
I have recently moved to Mac so I was used to the Windows Beta 5.0. I can cope with the interface. However this mac beta has a major bug as mentioned above by hologr4m. I managed to get to the im screen to send a skype text during a video call, but after sending the text, there is no way (that I found) to get back to video. Every call I tried after that I could only see the im page, no video. Had to uninstall and go back to 2.8. Suggest you fix that one skype (or explain why we can't see both video and text on the same screen).
luke-adamson commented Tuesday, Nov 30
Dear Skype,
In my opinion, your new "Skype 5 Beta for Mac" is unfortunately a big step backwards from the "Skype 2.8" you currently ship. I found it so frustrating that I had to actually uninstall it and go back to using Skype 2.8. This is one of the few times I've downgraded, despite a long history of being an early adopter of software.
While I noticed various sharp edges and bugs (to be expected for a beta), I couldn't get past the overwhelming issue of its size. Skype 2.8 is slim, unobtrusive, and easy to have "always running". In contrast, Skype 5 is like more like iTunes or Microsoft Excel, with a visual footprint that dominates the screen.
I'm sure this change was well-intentioned, but I think you've missed the mark. From the hundreds of similar comments on this blog, a staggering percentage of your existing users feel the same.
Please revisit your design for Skype 5. Challenge the app designers about the size. How is the experience "better" by taking up so much space? When Skype is running, should you be forced to be aware of it, like your front-most application? Even when it's in use (through an active call or chat session), how much of the user's attention do you need?
I suggest that the easier you make it to keep Skype running constantly, whether at idle or even in active use (on call, or chatting), the more people will find it friendly to use. The more of their attention you demand with your user interface, the less pleasant it becomes to have it up.
P.S. I searched all over your site for a more "official" way of giving you feedback. Maybe it's there, but I couldn't find it. As a satisfied user (of Skype 2.8) and customer, I wish it was easier to give you feedback and be confident that someone there might read it.
Best regards. Hoping you make Skype 5 amazing!
twawer commented Tuesday, Nov 30
Sorry, I love Skype but I hate the new 5.0 Look! It is too big and ugly. The old mac version was so pretty looking. Please give us the old design back.
Thanks for your work.
Thomas Wawer, Germany
ingamager commented Tuesday, Nov 30
Sorry, but I can't stand it. Although there are a few pluses in the new design, they are greatly overshadowed but the minuses. After a week of having it, I still can't figure the half of it out. It is more than just the obtrusive size:
The keypad does not automatically open when you punch keys. .......I can't easily tell if I have messages or if a message has been sent....Tonight I had a couple of "red" numbers....never did find if there was a message, but the numbers are now gone. Argh. I can no longer erase CHAT MESSAGES, but still keep CALL HISTORY. Soundwise, there is now a lot of interference and problems with folks hearing me now.
ON the plus side, there IS one thing that I like and that is that the SHARE SCREEN command is now right there at one's fingertips.
So sorry, but after a week of having it installed, I too, will go back to the older version.
THANKS for trying...but NO THANKS.
sandymesmer commented Tuesday, Nov 30
I can't find anywhere to post a question so here goes.
I keep getting a "Disk Full" notice when I try to sign in. If I turn off the computer and turn it on again it's fine -- for a while. Then the same notice again. I have cleared my History and I have set it up for not saving any History. How do I either clear whatever it is it is saving or get rid of the notice?
sweetness2269 commented Tuesday, Nov 30
Please, PLEASE add the "take a snapshot" feature to the new mac version. I would love to be able to take random snaps while in video calls like my lovely friends with the windows version do all the time. Thanks!
well.duhn commented Tuesday, Nov 30
Just switched back to 2.8
I was so excited about the 5.0 version for Macs and now I am so disappointed!
I guess Skype was developed on a 27” iMac judging from its size.
How would I describe the 5.0 version for Macs? Bulky, chaotic and useless.
How would I describe the 5.0 version for Windows? Awesome, convenient and MINE!
Mac Version: Where’s Facebook? Where’s Bonjour? The button for a separate window of your online contact should always be available. As soon as I scroll down it’s gone. You should be able to minimize recent activity. The other day I chatted with a friend and now I have my a really long list of recent activities. It shows me her icon 19!!! times, although it was the same person and the chat was on the same day?!?!)
Now here’s what I like about the new version:
I like the design, it looks very fancy It’s now very easy to add contacts (to conversations), create groups, send files, send contacts, and call or text someone.
selfpartwo commented Wednesday, Dec 1
Atrocious! Will not use Skype 5 for Mac in this state. I'm sticking with Skype 2.8. As soon as you stop supporting that, I'm gone so fast.
What were your designers thinking?
trashtrashtrasht commented Wednesday, Dec 1
I agree with the most comments here, I give'd the beta a chance, but I went back to 2.8 release.
stuart.j.taylor commented Thursday, Dec 2
A classic, tragic case of bad UI design, brought about, sadly it seems, by simply not consulting with users. This is the way Microsoft designs software, and I really expected more from Skype. The problem, I believe, stems from a complete misapprehension of how people use Skype and the nature of the software itself. This 'upgrade' appears to take the view that Skype is fundamentally an 'Application' - a foreground activity; whereas in reality, for the vast majority of users it behaves more like a system service - listening for incoming messages, as well as being able to initiate them. And the golden rule for services: the less obtrusive, the better.
Skype appears to believe that Skype can function in a similar way to Mail, given the UI choices they have made with this beta. But to my mind even most mail clients (including Apple Mail) are larger than they need to be, which is why I rely on web-based mail and menu-bar notifiers. So how they can justify the one-window approach for IM, voice and video is unfathomable to me. Really, how much screen estate do you need to focus on an IM, voice, or even video conversation? Most people I know manage with a small window tucked away in a corner, whilst pottering away with something else. Yes, if you want a full person-to-person experience, you can full-screen it, and 2.8 does that well.
This 'upgrade' downgrades the entire Skype experience, and I won't be using it.
scomer commented Thursday, Dec 2
Wow, this is not good at all. Tried it for two weeks and still cant get used to it. Either a very very very early BETA or; Dear Skype Team, back to the drawing boards my friends. You can do muuuch better than this.
Going back to MAC osx version 2.8
PS : build it like your on an ipad in horizontal view.
bastianmiv commented Friday, Dec 3
I've tried it for weeks now and I think it's horrible:
- I don't like the design from a usability standpoint
- I haven't figured out how to go full screen
- Somehow the address book integration is broken since it doesn't find many of the phone numbers.
I'll go back to the previous released version and keep my fingers crossed that this will be better in upcoming releases.
-B
fizwidget01 commented Saturday, Dec 4
Please reconsider the UI design. The current version of Skype for Mac is simple, minimal, and elegant. The UI of the beta version is a colossal waste of space.
ewanmakepeace commented Saturday, Dec 4
OK the design sucks - and is confusing as well, but I could live with that (and actually like the list of contacts sorted by recent activity). However the deal breaker is that some of the phone numbers are wrong. For example for my wife Skype offers the choice of an unknown number (where a man answers) or an old number in a different country - all her numbers are listed in the Address book, but Skype does not load them.
I can't understand what is going on here - the old version read my address book contacts perfectly, where is the new Skype getting its phone numbers from?
I now have to copy and paste from Address book into the dialler - you can imagine how impressed that makes me.
Maybe I will try Viber - I hear its pretty good.
gaurav.g29 commented Sunday, Dec 5
While the features are good... the new GUI is awesomely BAD... reverting back to 2.8
Skype team I hope this is really a beta... and will be corrected in the final version..
norrisk commented Sunday, Dec 5
I've tried to like this, but I find it too bulky and I lose functionality when I call folks... the chat turns to the call window and I cannot share text or links with the person I talking to! WTF?????? Going to go back to 2.8 until you fix this lemon.....
jasonmcaron commented Monday, Dec 6
"It's so big!!!!" ...aaaand that's what she said.
I've always loved Skype, and still do... BUT... this new version, although still a beta, is a HUGE FAIL and BIG MISTAKE. I feel like I'm using a really unstable and very ugly application that is just trying to catch-up to where Apple's "ichat" has already been for years. Mac users like sleek applications, with the ability to change the application size to our own likings. And where is the Facebook Contact integration? And why was the Mac Version so delayed on release date? And what about those who use more than one Operating System and want their experience to feel seamless (or when trying to navigate our parents when explaining how to use it)? And why is it so big? I'm sorry, I'm going back to the old version and deleting this Beta... its too horrible!! Keep at it though, you'll get it.
gluzdov commented Monday, Dec 6
What was the point of this re-design? Video conferencing is obviously very useful. Spell check STILL MISSING - big disappointment. Allow skin customization and revert to "classic", at least for the chat window.
whitneyq commented Tuesday, Dec 7
Add me to the people who HATE this. First, it's a GIANT window. All the things that people say they hate about that holds for me.
But what really has me annoyed is that I was on a video call, sent a chat, and have not managed to find my way back to the video window. Too many secret controls. Honestly: Ctrl + Opt + Cmd + UPArrow is a easy key combination! Not in my book.
Make the easy stuff easy - like it used to be!
billwesterman commented Wednesday, Dec 8
Just wanted to add a "+1" to the complaints that running Skype causes the new MacBook Pro i7 to kick into Nvidia graphics instead of Intel. Not good when running on battery. Any thoughts about fixing this?
samgoates commented Wednesday, Dec 8
Oh I am SOOOOOOO disappointed too!!!!
I downloaded the new Mac Beta version for the Group Video feature... and was horrified by what appeared on the screen. I am a huge Skype user and generally rave about it to all. I have been reading all the posts here as I was hoping to find the way to shrink the new contact window and find the lovely old compact one I generally keep in a wee corner... and am now feeling quite deflated... it seems from other users that all my concerns are well founded.
You have waaaaay missed the mark and it seems I am not alone in how I use Skype. I like the separate windows for Contacts (small as possible, can see instantly who's on, and can change my status in one weeny wee box in the corner of my screen), for chats (again compact and resizeable and for video (again can adjust size to what else I am doing at the time... totally flexible). Smart and simple.
I am not blind. The scale of the window is stupid, the font size is ridiculous and white space/waste is just crazy.
I am putting 2.8 on again immediately.
Please, please, please... listen to the feedback here and go back to something minimal, flexible and functional.
nildeen commented Wednesday, Dec 8
I wish they would just use the old UI and add the new features (or have a "use old UI" option). I tried the beta for a while (couple weeks) but I could not get used to it. Now back to 2.8...
kennydove commented Thursday, Dec 9
This is really an awful design. So I have skype in the background. I can't just right-click on the top menu icon and get a list of contacts or pull up the chat window from there. I've given it a try for 3 weeks now, but give up. Didn't you try user testing?
And the single window design? What was wrong with multiple chat windows, or at least having the online contacts monitor showing me a number for the unseen chats, being able to rightclick and open a call or chat with the person there.
Having to click on the dock to bring up the "big window" bites totally. Switching between chats is worse. OK, so make this an option.
I'm not sure why this design is more mac-like...
Back to 2.8 for me, this is awful...
tddragon commented Thursday, Dec 9
Completely useless UI, huge step back. Will need to install my old 2.8 again.
Aside from the HUGE window being VERY difficult to work with, here is a specific problem that is driving me up the walli
There is no single list of all contacts with easy to see notifications of who is messaging me! - the popup window with online contacts does NOT show who messaged me. So ONLY place I see a notification is onscreen for a second (which do not link to the actual message) and then in the TODAY list (which at that point may have a lot of other people in it so I completely miss received chat messages.) AND i CANNOT delete a single entry from today/yesterday to use it more like a regular chat window where I have multiple tabs for multiple chats - so new messages GET COMPLETELY LOST!
Please guys, is this really the best you can do? Did someone actually really test this UI in real-world environment?
I am VERY disappointed.
Why not allow chat notifications in the pop-out "Online Contacts" window? whats the matter with that?
wizardling commented Sunday, Dec 12
"a more Mac-like experience"??? Are you SERIOUS? To give just a few examples - the cursor changes into a resize COLUMN cursor when I resize the WINDOW. You use non-standard controls to reveal the chat, etc. Your text input field looked like a solid grey part of the clunky UI - I actually had to ask where it was!
Not only that, the one-window UI is AWFUL. In the same space it shows a FRACTION of the info 2.8 did. WTF is with the GIANT fonts and avatars and whitespace everywhere??????
In short - whoever designed this abomination needs to be fired and blacklisted from the industry. It looks like it was designed by an iPad dev who's never even seen decent iPad apps, who also spends their entire day in Skype. HELLO!!! I'm on a MAC. NOT an iPad. I want to use more than one app at once! Do you KNOW what unobtrusive means? (Not to mention words like intuitive, design, elegance...)
katie-whitcomb commented Monday, Dec 13
Here's a little hint for you: If your going to design something for an OS your not using on a daily basis, hire some people who do. This is obviously a Windows "program" masquerading as a Mac OS X "App" and it was ported by Windows lovers looking to play a joke on us. Get some Mac people working on this and keep the Windows people in their own cubicles!
mg.renner57 commented Tuesday, Dec 14
It hardly seems necessary to say again what has so loudly and clearly been said by just about every commenter already, but it's still worth to reinforce the point that the UI is too big, wasting space. This Beta is not intuitive at all and certain important features (like the ability to pre-select contacts for a conference call before starting the call) seem to be missing entirely. I add my voice to those who are asking for a serious rethink on this before the software moves out of Beta territory.
pixelgalactic commented Wednesday, Dec 15
This really is a convoluted clustf*ck. Somehow you took up more real estate and improved nothing. In fact usabilty is much worse than before. How hard would it have been to make a good client? How can you still do such a bad job after all these years iterating? This is your bread and butter and nothing is intuitive. Pay some american UI designers.
bigjhnny commented Friday, Dec 17
Hi, I just reverted back to 2.8. Skype is important to my life. The new UI isn't helpful. How can I dial an stranger by his screen name without adding him? Why do I need to flip thru different groups? It should just show on my list like it was before! Why can't I chat at the same time as I talk? Why is there so much wasted space on the contact list. I want to see my entire contact list.... What happens to the dropdown keypad shortcut when I dial numbers with dial tone?
bigjhnny commented Friday, Dec 17
If you guys need to release this, please at least make it so that people who prefer 2.8 can stick with the original UI and functionality. Thank you! I love skype!
matthewpryor commented Saturday, Dec 18
Like the fact that you're developing and adding features. Dislike the new Window. Where are all the Skype contacts who are online, that's all that matters, not 5,000 people who are not on Skype.
But seriously, some of the vitriol on here is ridiculous. I guess it may show they care, but it borders on the sociopathic.
benbogart commented Tuesday, Dec 21
I don't care about the UI, I need functionality. You didn't give us Hi-Def and you took away screen sharing and other features that have been mentioned above. I can't use this for my work. I want to upgrade but have to stick with the older version.
chris_mcelman commented Tuesday, Dec 21
Reverted to 2.8. Specific issues:
-excessive use of screen real-estate
-no full-screen video?
-(adium issue) contact groups didn't seem to "stick"
philippmirow commented Thursday, Dec 23
good to see skype are still not listening to the users and adding a classic view that doesn't take over the entire display.
mirkokg commented Friday, Dec 24
Unfortunately not Mac friendly at all
I suspect the same team works on Skype for iPhone, they have similar problems.
Slow updates, CPU and Memory hogging etc.
Windows version is much more stable
Now the UI of Mac version is even worst than it was. Really disappointed!
stevenlecomber commented Friday, Dec 24
Unbelievably awful; the worst GUI I have ever seen. Like many other users, I have gone straight back to 2.8, and if this is the best you can do I will ditch Skype and go over entirely to Adium.
victorofthepeople commented Saturday, Dec 25
I love it. I think this is a significant improvement over the previous version and I like the UI.
I'm surprised at the strong reactions from many maybe caused by having gotten used to the previous version. There is probably room to build in some UI options so you can switch modes to work more like the previous version and I'm sure this will come in subsequent releases (remember this is a BETA!).
One of the things I miss which is in the Windows version is the ability to see the time of the person you are calling in the same window that you're chatting in or about to call from. In the Mac version I need to go to the users profile to see if it's a good time to call them.
trent.colbert commented Sunday, Dec 26
I too am not happy with the beta. I think developers should study how people use skype or most communication tools. You don't put your telephone prominently in the middle of your desk do you? It's off in the corner until you need it or it rings. Likewise the new window size just clogs up your desktop, and if you do choose the smaller Contacts 'window' it persists in the top layer of the desktop. Who wants your Contacts showing if there is a movie playing. I also don't understand all the white space, even with the lifehacker.com Panamerica Mini font update it's like staring into the star-lit sky, all space and a handful of stars. I routinely use the Mac and Windows Skype versions and the 2.X versions of Skype are far superior to either the Windows or this new beta. Scrap this one guys.
I've been using Skype for a long time now and love it. I use it skype to skype, to skypeout, and have online number and multiple accounts that I use for different businesses. I'm your star application user and this beta should not go to retail.
donstaff1 commented Monday, Dec 27
I can only say that I'm thankful I didn't waste time trying this monstrosity. katie-whitcomb nailed it, saying "..This is obviously a Windows "program" masquerading as a Mac OS X "App" and it was ported by Windows lovers looking to play a joke on us. Get some Mac people working on this and keep the Windows people in their own cubicles!"
florence.broder commented Monday, Dec 27
I am a PC person that converted to a Mac. I loved this minimal interface. Less is more. It was simple and easy to use. But the features that I loved about the Windows version of Skype are still not here. I want to be able to find new friends via Gmail, Hotmail, etc. Don't you think Mac users have those type of accounts as well? In addition, since I use Entourage and not the Mac Mail program, my contacts did not appear, nor was I given an option to upload them.
While the group video feature is fabulous and long overdue, why doesn't the Mac 5 version interface with Facebook like the Windows version?
poshcoffee commented Wednesday, Dec 29
WAY TOO BIG!
If this is going to be the new standard then you guys have just made me start looking for less intrusive and obnoxious competitors to Skype.
luisrosenthal commented Wednesday, Dec 29
Guys. Please call it a miss and revert the design.
I've just gotten back to the 2.8 version after 3 days of the beta version 5. Such a relief to see all small, tidy and on the way people really use it!
Please don't take this as bad approach to novelty. I'm a great fan of skype designs over time The new one just doesn't work at all for me.
I'm not upgrading until is made compulsory or skype decides to change the design...
gingerbbm commented Wednesday, Dec 29
At the risk of sounding ungrateful, 5.0 is simply too large, so I've gone back to 2.8. Keep up the good work!
jiayangyuan commented Thursday, Dec 30
I have to agree with most of the people here. The new interface is ugly and not easy to use. Welcome the new functions but death to the new interface. Plus my messages some time dont get send out. I have to restart skype to get my message to appear.
sfkleach commented Sunday, Jan 2
As many people have observed it really is far too big. Cannot get rid of the avatar photos, I already know what my contacts actually look like. The text is far too widely spaced vertically. The font sizes cannot be adjusted (I actually need to make the writing bigger but more tightly spaced owing to my imperfect eyesight.
The real problem is that it displays who I have been chatting to anyone who looks over my shoulder. Whether that is in my office or home it invites questions such as "You called them yesterday?! Why was that?! And who is this person?" that may be very unwelcome. There is no way I could use the application as it stands. This is a complete show stopper for me (sorry!).
Although the one window approach is tidier and the appearance is an improvement, it is actually more confusing. I think this is because of the lack of visual theming. I really don't understand what is being shown in the sidebar or how to control it. I could not hide/show the sidebar, which I found very annoying.
I have gone back to version 2.8 after 30 mins of experimentation. Good luck getting it right - avoid displaying private history by default, make it themeable so you personalise it, make it more compact, and make it much easier to understand what you are looking at.
The current version is quite a long way from being an improvement, so please get it right and don't rush it. I like Skype.
sfkleach commented Sunday, Jan 2
P.S. I second the recommendation that the designers take a look at Adium. This is the best chat client I have used on any platform. It is incredibly neat, unobtrusive and intuitive. I love Adium and use it every day. Skype gives a great service, and thank you very much for that, but can be much better from a design viewpoint.
mryan69 commented Tuesday, Jan 4
So...2 months of pretty much nothing but negative comments.
No response? Why hasn't there at least been a 2nd beta to address some of these issues?
It can't get worse...how about a little feedback to let us know what you're doing to make it better?
Don't be Apple...communicate openly with your Mac users. Thanks!
cyberatz commented Tuesday, Jan 4
Ok, so the video features are nice. But unfortunately that is about it. Everything else that has changed, from a GUI perspective, is simply not usable. If the only application i was using was skype, then yes, al almost full screen, super large version of of the app would be ok. but it's not. It's a companion application which should be getting out of the way of everything else. Maybe it would be good to take some OS X design queues from Adium. They're getting it right.
I do have to apologise for what seems to be a negative tone, but unfortunately i feel strongly that the current direction of the application for Mac is simply not the right direction.
Keep up the good work though. The service is still solid and the call quality good.
chemariachi commented Tuesday, Jan 4
I am disappointed by the new user interface. I think it takes too much space. In general I use skype on a 13" macbook and would like to have a smaller interface. Would it be possible to implement a choice between the "old" and "new" looks? It is also taking quite a bit of CPU nearly constantly ~15%. Perhaps I should be patient and wait for all the fixes. Minimalist approach to GUI would be great!
freezingmariner commented Wednesday, Jan 5
The new UI is friggin' huge, what a terrible design and unnecessary waste of screen real estate! Thank God for Spaces. Skype should take the person who designed the iPhone interface and have him/her redo the desktop version. I wish version 2.8 is still up for download.
augustine.foyle commented Wednesday, Jan 5
well i must say this is the biggest, fattest ugliest thing i have ever seen. the features are nice but way to big guys come on, you are better than this
bjb.beng commented Thursday, Jan 6
Sorry guys...I really love supporting new builds and such, but I tried the beta, and couldn't stand it. Went back to good ol' 2.8; nice, tidy, and well designed.
juancgallardo9329 commented Thursday, Jan 6
I have to agree with everyone else here in the comments that this design is first not Mac at all (And the guy in the video says they made it more "Mac native", I wonder what would have they do if it wasn't Mac native), and second a BIG step back for skype.
I like the new features, and I like to see skype growing, is one of my best applications, but I hate this interface that takes so much space in my screen. It looks like a windows app, and the reason I'm not running windows is exactly because I don't want their apps.
I staying one version behind this one, even if I lose some features.
michaelmaser commented Friday, Jan 7
I'm a busy guy, use skype often for intra-org. conference calls, and I joined this forum to echo all the comments here:
The new version is brutal, ugly, inefficient, confusing and irritating.
Someone, or a group of people, should be held accountable for this monstrous 'downgrade'.
I'll now be putting in the time to revert to previous version.
- Michael Maser
ivan.ic.cooper commented Friday, Jan 7
@DevTeam
Guys, are you kidding? The new design of skype 5 is ok as for me but not all 
I think the main problem is very big chatroom! I mean very big fonts and UI inside 
You should redesign this part and make more flexible design for all. I believe in you that you can implement it at its best! 
I keep silent about application stability but first the problem is design of the app!!!
Guys, come on! Let's do this! 
dan.eichling commented Saturday, Jan 8
Wow, I'll be honest and thought people were just way over-reacting to the redesign in Skype 5.0 - but that's not the case. I've used Skype on different platforms for many years, and while I think I see some things they are trying to do with 5.0 for the Mac I think they missed the mark on many key elements and usability features. I have high hopes they will take all this feedback to heart and work on making the actual release version of 5.0 something that people can readily use like 2.8. If you actually USE Skype in any practical way then steer far clear of this and stick with 2.8 - I'm "upgrading" from the beta to 2.8 now and couldn't be happier - guess I didn't know what I was missing til it was all gone.
fatblast40 commented Sunday, Jan 9
so retarded! seriously, who do you think we are????? i run many apps on my screen at once, why the hell would yours be entitled to more than 50% of the display, without even a real "online contacts" pane? skype was ALREADY such a great app the way it was, why did you make it WORSE????? thanks for adding mutli-person video calling, but would it be so hard to just add that feature without sabotaging the entire app along with it???
I was very optimistic for this new version when i heard it existed, and let down right away. + this crashed my OSX on a brand new Macbook Pro.... donwgrading immediately!! back to 2.8
ksb.kinematics commented Monday, Jan 10
way too large.
i always loved to have a small contact list which immediatelly shows who's online, and a chat window that only takes up space when used.
too large, contact list not detachable, to get through contact list i have to scroll, too much whitespace, can't change font size, takes up a huge amount of space even when I'm not chatting.
i'd rather keep the 2.8 design and just get the new features.
bodhipaksa commented Monday, Jan 10
What I like: group video is awesome, and the "curved screen" effect is a nice touch. Unfortunately everything else is a disaster.
Today in a call I switched to chat (the other party was struggling to get her audio working) and I could not work out how to get back to the video. I literally went through every menu looking for a clue, and found nothing. I was left and right-clicking on everything. I now know what it's like to be my 78-year-old father trying to figure things out on a computer. I felt really, really confused. I still have no idea how I actually got back to the video.
Then I tried to find full screen. There's a mention of it in your FAQ, but I could find no way to access full screen.
The contact list is clunkily huge and unmanageable. It takes forever to scroll down the list because the icons are massive. The coverflow is useless eye-candy. I don't have all day to scroll through a horizontal list a mile long. Sure, I can search. Maybe that's the point: make the contact list unusable so that we eventually notice and use the search feature. Bu I'd rather avoid typing, and would prefer to scroll (quickly) to the person I want to find.
Looking at the contact list I frankly have no idea any more which are purely phone contacts and which are Skype contacts. When I mouse over any contact I see a camera icon, suggesting that I can have a video call with them. The icon isn't even grayed-out. Skype can now do video calls with land-lines? Somehow I doubt it. Again, I feel confused, and stupid, and have to work harder to use your program..
I don't want to have my history in the left column. I want to have my contact list there, in a compact form. At least on the old version of Skype I could toggle between the two, although I'd hardly ever look at my history, which is completely useless to me. Let me tell you why. I use Skype for my retail business, and people call all the time with quick questions (and often they with wrong numbers looking for another business). What used to be a useful column of contacts is now a list of random numbers with no names attached. I have no idea whatsoever who any of those numbers belong to.
I'm staggered that this update is so badly thought out. It's all style and no (usability) substance.
daniel_horner commented Monday, Jan 10
I gave this a good solid try since November thinking I'd get used to it. I'm finally giving up and reverting to 2.8.
- The feel is big and bloated: a throwback to the days when applications vied for desktop real-estate.
- Fullscreen video isn't. You have to minimize all sorts of other sidebars and you still end up with distracting window decorations.
- It takes two clicks and a mouse trip across the desktop in order to initiate a new chat:
1) Click "Everyone"
2) Click your contact
3) Head on over to the right side and look for the chat button.
- It takes two clicks on a menu to "close" a conversation in the sidebar.
Good effort, but I need unobtrusive functionality. I thought 2.8 was great and got hoodwinked into this for the multiway video calling.
miss_nunn89 commented Tuesday, Jan 11
i first download the 2.8 yesterday and then downloaded the 5.0 beta and i ended up switching back to the 2.8 i dont like how the 5.0 is so big it just looks ugly i like how small things were on the 2.8. Also i'm having trouble doing things that my friends can do on their skypes but i just figure that because i have a mac that it is not able to do the things that they can since they are probably using windows or hp or something. I like how my one friend can make her video picture all funny and weird and have little cartoons fly by or something. Also she can take a photo of me as were doing video n i cant. As well as i wanted to convert contacts from facebook but it doesnt allow me to do that on any of the two versions. Its actually been frustrating trying to figure it out.
cowan.comms commented Tuesday, Jan 11
Interesting: 429 comments between Nov 4 and Dec 29 and not one response. I thought the point of blogs etc., was to interact, rather than merely giving customers the impression they are being listened to. In any event, thank you all for your feedback. I'm glad I checked this before wasting time installing this version.
tim.jones.001 commented Wednesday, Jan 12
Group actions are not available anymore!
You don't seem to be able to easily start a group chat or group conf call by a quick click on the group in the contacts list => Please put this back in.
I agree with most of the others that this new version is too wasteful of screen space and much more cumbersome to use in terms of clicks.
I liked the minimalist feel to the older version and really appreciate being able to do everything really quickly without having to use the mouse at all.
I use skype a lot at work and at home and encourage others to do likewise, I won't be recommending this version however
edinafrica commented Thursday, Jan 13
I'm been using the beta since it came out and it is still very unusable I am uninstalling today, group calls are hard to set up , using chat will talking with video not easy to do, friends have accidentally called previous group calls by accident, the empty window can not be made smaller - this is the biggest problem - I have a second screen set up for communications - yammer, twitter, 2 email accounts , skype, a journal and clock - Skype is just too big - especially when a conversation is not going on.
zippy314 commented Thursday, Jan 13
Please, please Skype developers. Respect the need to conserve screen real-estate. The UI may be an improvement is layout and organization, but the amount of wasted space and size taken up by chats is inexcusable. Please allow us to customize this appearance.
njbartlett commented Thursday, Jan 13
Skype, please do the sensible thing. Throw away this version, fire the designers, and start again.
If you don't do this, and you drop support for 2.8, well, you're making things really easy for your competitors.
jenner.miemietz commented Friday, Jan 14
Awful awful awful. The interface is far too large, having everything in one window is a royal pain in the @$$, and what's with not being able to have a chat window open at the same time as a video call? Eff this version. /downgrade.
rob.elings commented Friday, Jan 14
With this upgrade I ask myself, what problem are you really trying to solve?
Why is Skype yelling at me — implying their huge size and space it takes up (emotionally, too)? I know you can never please everyone, but why such a dramatic change? Keep what you have and just add features and/or give me options.
You're a multi-billion $ company; can't you hire some UX specialists that test and analyse usage?
Sorry to say but I'm not loving it. The only way I can have a video conference is by telling my contacts to upgrade to the new version. I can't do that to them.
And pls, is there anyone from Skype on this blog reading and commenting?
See you soon, R
troutco commented Saturday, Jan 15
Sadly, I'm going to echo most of the comments above. I've found this version too large, completely non-intuitive to move. I'm constantly searching for ways to do things. When in a skype call, the chat window disappears and you have to hunt for it.
I've spent several hours trying to figure out how to share my screen and never found it. Worst yet, there seems to be no help for the beta. All help language talks about various menus and icons, but has no illustrations so you know what is what. So many different things to click on, spread all over the place.
Its rare that I do this, but I'm uninstalling and going back to 2.8. I am wasting too much time and screen space trying to do the basics that I've always easily done with skype.
(If nothing else -- why not have it mirror the layout of the windows version if you don't want to make it a real Mac app?) I asked some windows friends to tell me where things were, and they said my version looked nothing like theirs either. So why was it designed this way? A non-Mac interface that doesn't even resemble the windows interface?
Sure hope this goes back to the design board before releasing an official 5.0 version.
Thanks for listening.
bodhipaksa commented Sunday, Jan 16
I realize this is a beta, so this is just me pointing out something you need to look at. I tried sending files from the Mac version to someone using the latest Windows version. There was no apparent way for me to see the progress of the file transfer, despite poking around in every menu I could find. No notification of the file transfer was received at the other end.
adrian.anderson commented Monday, Jan 17
no file transfer window?
massive whitespace contact list?
...all for better conference calls?
Terrible beta. I've reinstalled 2.8
kiwibrazuca commented Monday, Jan 17
Please send this message to the head of your marketing.
It's ludicrous to charge €5.99/month for Skype Premium. The only benefits are group video and on-line conversations with a human from Customer Service. A few ignorant subscribers might pay this outrageous fee to get group video, but how long before they find out that your competition, e.g. TokBox and DimDim, offer group video for free?
paul-hardman2 commented Monday, Jan 17
I notice several immediate improvements like call quality and ease of use. The former is much better with the beta version and it seems quite stable. Not had a call drop out since I started using it. So kudos there. It does take up a lot of the screen, but then so does the Windows version when fully open. I have had zero success with group video call and am disappointed that for business purposes you need to be on Windows. That is a big mistake and needs to be rectified. I'd like to take advantage of the business approach, but we have both Macs and PCs. Other than that it works well and even conference calls are less of an issue with voice quality on a lower bandwith. You are on the right tracks, but please don't isolate Mac users from the features in the WIndows version.
robertspenzias commented Tuesday, Jan 18
I'm a new mac user so I have no problems with the design. My issue is with the unwanted callers barging in even when I have my privacy settings set to contacts only. What's up with that? Can that issue get fixed please?
sailorgh commented Thursday, Jan 20
Reading a broad selection of all comments I won't even test the new Beta, as I also like skype to be unobtrusive and am in no hurry for group-video-conference.
(although I do use the group-talk-conference from time to time.)
What I need is a way to group my skype-out contacts in frequently used and others and this in such a way, that only the frequently used (max. 200 contacts) are downloaded on my dualphones. Hope you find a way to solve this problem.
teresamtzs commented Thursday, Jan 20
I just have to say, that if I'd wanted Window's Skype, I would have Windows, not Mac.
This is a huuuge step back for Skype, and judging by the other comments, I'm not the only one who thinks this.
Please Skype team, reconsider your new version.
einsteinx3 commented Friday, Jan 21
Umm basically everything everyone else said about the design, huge, all one window, can't collapse or make anything smaller...
Right at the beginning you say "provides a more Mac-like experience." and then in the next line immediately contradict it with "For example, the Skype app has been brought together in one window for ease-of-use"
Do any of your programmers actually USE Macs? Mac apps are NOT all one window. The whole point is there are separate windows that you can move around and sometimes hide. This interface is garbage, sorry PLEASE revert back to the 2.8 style or at least offer a "classic" option in settings.
einsteinx3 commented Friday, Jan 21
On a positive note though, one thing I do like is the integrated chat in the video window. That was annoying sometimes to find the separate chat window. But still the video window's minimum size is waaay too big, especially when I'm not even in a video call and there's just a huge avatar (or more usually a stock Skype buddy image there) just wasting space.
einsteinx3 commented Friday, Jan 21
OK I've tested it a bit further, and after the initial shock it's actually not bad as long as all the extra useless whitespace is removed. I figured out how to hide the top avatar area during text only chats so that's ok. And I do actually like the chat box integrated in the video box. If all the needless, screen wasting white-space is trimmed off this will actually be a good update. I have a 1080P monitor and even I think it's a huge waste of screen real estate. I can only image what it's like on a laptop screen.