June 2007

You may have seen a note about Skypecasts in one of my recent posts. But because there are still some access problems, it wouldn’t be fair to have any mentions of it buried deep in the blogwell. For the freshest information on this, see Ray’s continually updated entry on Heartbeat, but here’s the situation in a nutshell:

• Access to Skypecasts is intermittent for many users
• Those of you using Skype for Mac will not be able to join Skypecasts due to a problem with software-version recognition in the Skypecasts directory

We’re sorry about this. It annoys us too. But believe you me, our engineers are working hard at their ironing boards and hopefully, them wrinkles will be gone before you can memorize the lyrics to the Spanish national anthem.

Update: The problem is now fixed. Wheew! Just be sure to use Skype 2.6 for Mac, as Skypecasts won’t work with earlier versions. On the other hand, the sound quality is so much better with the new audio engine that there’s no reason to doggedly try to use older releases anyway.

Ok, it’s actually three new SkypeIn countries: Chile, New Zealand and Romania. But because the Dominican Republic was added quietly earlier this year, it’s worth an honorable mention.

SkypeIn numbers are now available in 18 countries. Here’s a quick refresher: When you have a SkypeIn number, your friends who don’t have Skype can call a regular phone number. And you will receive the call on your computer or any other piece of gear that runs Skype.

This is one of those posts that strives to inspire y’all to upgrade your version of Skype. So what is it this time? In a word: sound. The sound of music. The sound of silence. The sound of the bearded supplier in Macedonia.

There are many factors that affect the way your Skype-to-Skype call sounds. Some are beyond our reach. Others we — and you — can control.

With each new release, Skype’s engineers improve sound and video quality. And because we’ve replaced our audio engine in our most recent releases — it’s now fully built in-house — it’s worth bearing in mind that you may run into some bumps when a call is placed from an older version of Skype to newer versions.

Maybe the only bumps you encounter are goosebumps. Most people won’t notice a thing. But to set your mind at ease and to get the best possible call quality, it’s definitely worth upgrading.

Our engineers have made Skypecasts sound better than ever before. And we want to make sure you enjoy them more than ever before.

Which is why we’re asking users to upgrade their Skype software. Windows users should download Skype for Windows 3.2 or later, and Mac users should run at least Skype 2.6 for Mac.

Why do all that? As of June 13, older versions will simply no longer be compatible with Skypecasts. Sounds like a bummer, but it’s actually a good thing. The whole Skypecast experience will be better. And upgrading — even just for the hell of it — should make everyone feel good and fashionable anyway..

Update: We’ve found that software-version recognition in the skypecast.com directory needs better glasses. When you are in the directory and click to join a Skypecast, Skype 2.6 for Mac won’t be recognized as such and will be interpreted as an older version. We’re working to fix this bug

You live in Sweden and you have a mobile in your pocket. And a friend in San Nicolás de los Garza. But calling this impossibly beautiful-sounding place in Mexico would burn a hole in said pocket.

Enter Skype To Go. It’s part of Skype Pro and you can use it to ring your Mexican friend — let’s call him Ishmael — from your mobile phone for as long as you want. It’s not entirely free, but at least there’s no burnin’ holes in anybody’s pants.

Allow me to demonstrate:

Continue reading "Skype To Go: international calls from your mobile at local rates" »

You’ve surely noticed that Jaanus, our Revered Staple O’ Skype Blogs, has dropped off the radar screen. Was he captured alongside Finnish fishermen in Iranian waters? Cryogenically frozen in a doomsday vault to tell the Skype story to 32nd-century earthlings? Yes to all of the above, probably. But the official version is this: after three years at Skype, he’s taking a summer off and will then plunge into the Human Computer Interaction Master’s program at Carnegie Mellon. If this sounds like Chuvash to you, here’s an explainer: Besides hydrogen chloride, HCI really stands for “usability”. Anyway, let’s give a big hand to Jaanus for what he’s done for us. We’ll miss ‘im.

To add to your pain, here’s a few words about me. The New Guy.

Continue reading "So who's this new guy anyway?" »

A lot of people have become allergic to any mention of awards, as they no longer carry the weight they once did. They’ve become a conveyer-belt industry and mounds of acrylic junk make it increasingly difficult to spot the few awards that have any real meaning. Luckily, we have satellite imagery, stabilizer-equipped binoculars and solar-powered pigs to sniff out the truffles.

And here’s one of them. Editors at CNET Webware have selected Skype as a finalist in the communications category in the first-ever Webware 100 awards. This new award is meant to recognize the best Web 2.0 sites, services and applications. I’m told that more than 4,000 nominations were submitted by users, so it’s pretty nice to make it to the final stretch.

We’re modest by nature, but if your love is deep, you are welcome to cast a vote for us through June 11, when the top 25 finalists in each category will be listed. Go to www.webware.com/100 to do the deed.

Winners will be announced on June 18.

Update on June 19: Excellent news! And here’s the proof. Thanks CNET! And thanks to all who voted for Skype.

Those of you who worry that your public chat will break under the weight of participants, worry no more. (Or worry less, for a more gradual approach.) It used to be that public chats had a 100-person limit. Chat walls have now been rubberized and can now accommodate 150.

Continue reading "Public chats can now handle 150 participants (and you thought 100 was cool)" »