Skype for Mac beta

Today we have released an update to Skype 2.8 Beta for Mac.

We've ironed out some of the issues which found their way into the first beta release, most visibly you'll see improvements to Skype Access and screen sharing.

We highly recommend that everyone on Skype 2.8 Beta for Mac upgrade to the new version and for others who are willing to experiment a bit to try it out. Please keep in mind that it's still a beta version so it might show not act exactly as you expect from time to time. If you notice anything then please let us know about it by commenting on this blog, discussing things on our forums or by submitting an issue report on our issue tracker.

The full list of changes for the new version (2.8.0.438) are:

* improvement: added Retry button to the Skype Access window
* improvement: consistency with other Mac apps: added shortcut for Show Offline Contacts, moved Make Text commands to View menu, use Clear instead of Delete wording
* improvement: improved enabling of the video and screensharing buttons based on the receiver's capabilities
* improvement: improved toolbar button image rendering
* improvement: improved new chat handling
* improvement: some string adjustments
* improvement: some internal optimizations and improvements
* change: spectator window for screen sharing
* change: My Account page embedded in the client
* bugfix: Skype didn't hide on OS X login
* bugfix: copy/paste from chats was not working correctly
* bugfix: sometimes Skype froze for a couple of seconds when starting or stopping screen sharing
* bugfix: screen sharing windows could be left on screen when a call was joined to a conference
* bugfix: PiP didn't appear in full screen when receiving screen sharing
* bugfix: the overlay didn't appear for fullscreen screen sharing and then the exit fullscreen button didn't work
* bugfix: fullscreen mode would exit after a held call was resumed
* bugfix: call could not be ended after being redirected to voicemail
* bugfix: the call window layout was broken if the dialpad was shown during a video call
* bugfix: URLs inside brackets were not clickable
* bugfix: sometimes Skype crashed after deleting missed events without reading them
* bugfix: sometimes Skype Access sessions were not terminated properly
* bugfix: sometimes Skype Access session durations were not displayed accurately
* bugfix: sometimes extending a Skype Access session didn't work as expected
* bugfix: after signing in as another user, it was not possible to start a Skype Access session
* bugfix: it was possible to start a new Skype Access session before previous one had finished
* bugfix: Start Skype Access menu item was disabled when not signed in
* bugfix: Skype Access session appeared in red after extending the session
* bugfix: sometimes there were two controversial messages about Skype Access availability
* bugfix: sometimes Skype crashed when leaving a chat
* bugfix: history was not picking up display names from Address Book for text messages
* bugfix: text on screen sharing selection buttons was misaligned on Tiger
* bugfix: warning icon was not removed after extending online number
* bugfix: after auto-recharge, balance pane had space on the right
* bugfix: fixed enabling of Quick Add button in text-only toolbar mode
* bugfix: sometimes (null) was added as a SkypeOut display name instead of the one specified
* bugfix: ESC key now closes emoticon roster as it should
* bugfix: fixed text positioning on Tiger for screen sharing selection window buttons
* bugfix: if remote contact cancels a file transfer then sometimes it still appeared as pending on the receiver side
* bugfix: do not set to status to away during screensaver when auto away is set to 0 minutes
* bugfix: the PiP video could draw over Mute/Hold/Transfer overlays
* bugfix: fixed video toolbar button enabling for the case where there is no camera or video is disabled
* bugfix: fullscreen button and PiP views did not appear on Panther and Tiger if "keep call windows in front" option was turned on
* bugfix: fullscreen view was not displayed correctly when entering full screen from the screen sharing spectator window
* bugfix: multiple call windows were left open when calls failed
* bugfix: call overlay window could appear without the call window if the call window was minimised while the other party was starting video
* bugfix: fixed window resizing issues when the other party was starting and stopping video which occurred because the wrong window sizes were being stored in defaults
* bugfix: call window would resize incorrectly when the call was put on hold then resumed
* bugfix: the call window's fullscreen button could end up in the wrong position when exiting full screen while receiving screen sharing
* bugfix: call window resizes when entering and exiting full screen mode while receiving screen sharing
* bugfix: emoticon button rendered before the chat window
* bugfix: fixed double free error when exiting fullscreen using the escape key
* bugfix: fixed crash on chat close because overlay window was being double deallocated
* bugfix: fixed incorrect call window layout which sometimes occurred if the connection was dropped
* bugfix: window did not resize correctly when showing the dialpad (it could extend offscreen) if the computer had multiple displays
* bugfix: dialpad was not shown when exiting full screen
* bugfix: fixed bad volume slider layout in call window which could occur when answering a video call during an existing video call
* bugfix: fixed exception being thrown because emoticon button was observing a dealloced chat
* bugfix: fixed Quick Add window positioning when item was not first in the toolbar
* bugfix: the Quick Add toolbar item appears pressed in all chat windows
* bugfix: the dialpad could expand partially offscreen when it was shown, by moving the call window fully onscreen after the dialpad is shown
* bugfix: the call window layout was broken if the toolbar was shown or hidden during a video call
* bugfix: when assigning multiple contacts to groups screen refreshing was very slow
* bugfix: adjusted layout of Quick Add window and make sure it doesn't run under the Dock when it's on the left or right
* bugfix: added limits to the maximum width of the slider in the call window
* bugfix: removed a small visual glitch after reducing size of contact list
* bugfix: fixed small problem with rendering flags in chat
* bugfix: after restart, second chat window didn't remember its size and position
* bugfix: prevent the user from calling their own online number
* bugfix: chat window was not closed after database mount error
* localizations updated
* Skype API: implemented get skypeversion
* Skype API: implemented: get chat x dialog_partner
* Skype API: open options command only accepted uppercase properties
* Skype API: implemented ping

 Just in time for the biggest Mac event in the world we're ready to announce to you the beta version of Skype 2.8 for Mac.

This newly released client brings to you two new features which haven't been seen in any Skype version before. Skype Access enables you to connect seamlessly to different WiFi Hotspots around the globe and pay with Skype Credit.

You can now also share your screen with others to show what you're doing, or to ask for help from a friend.

You can read more about the features in our Mac product page or in our main blog.

You can download the new version right away, but please remember that it's a beta version which means that it might be a bit wobbly from time to time. If you experience something unexpected while using Skype 2.8 beta, please let us know about it through our public issue tracker Jira or discuss it in the Skype Community.

Full release notes for the newborn, 2.8.0.324 are:

• feature: Skype Access
• feature: Screen sharing
• feature: Sort chats in the chat drawer
• feature: Set priorities to chats
• feature: Quick Add: quick and simple way to add people to chats
• feature: Mood message chat: mood updates from your contacts listed in a chat
• feature: Large avatars: 256x256 pixels
• feature: Add your own notes to contacts
• feature: Profile picture selector (Mac OS X 10.5 only)
• feature: Support of Spotify links in your mood and chats
  
  

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Skype has released a updated Skype 2.7 for Mac Beta version client.

This new version come to you with lot of improvements, especially on video calls side which have now higher resolution, frame rate and we have here the promised lovely relationship with Leopards firewall. In addition to improvements and new features we have taken a time to stretch out numerous glitches and rough edges which were found in previous version, but I would still like to remind to you that this is a beta version of software which means that there might be still some occasional hiccups or guircks in.

A big in front of Everyone who has reported to us their feelings and thoughts on the Skype 2.7 for Mac Beta.

We would like to encourage you to keep the information flowing if you still should see something what seems to be odd in the current release. You can discuss the finding is our forums and report issues on our issue tracker Jira. Doing it will help us to improve the Skype 2.7 for Mac even more for you.

Download the new version while it's still hot.

Continue reading "Skype 2.7 for Mac Beta update" »

Today we have made another big step forward to be with Skype for Mac client on the same feature set as we are with Windows.

We have released a initial beta version of Skype 2.7 for Mac Beta version, grab it straight from here. I will remind to you that this is a public beta release, which means that it is not yet fully ready for production use, as it may have some rough edges in.

This new open beta incorporates many amusing new features, like:

* Address Book contacts in contact list
* Auto redial
* Contact groups
* Public chat creation
* Transfer preferences
* Volume slider in call window
* Added Norwegian (Bokmål), Czech (Čeština) Localizations. Thanks to Kenneth Stevenson, Lukáš Vajda.

You can read more about the new features and numerous improvements on our Skype for Mac blog.

As always we encourage you to leave us feedback how our new and shiny version works for you, so we can give it a final polishing for prime usage.

You can report problems to us on our public public issue tracker Jira, read how to do it on our Skype for Mac developement page or discuss things on dedicated forum for Skype 2.7 for Mac Beta.

Continue reading "Skype 2.7 for Mac Beta release" »

Today we have release Skype for Mac 2.6 beta.

Newly released version includes many new features and even more impressive list of fixed bugs.

You can read more about these new features from our Mac blog

You are more than welcomed to give us feedback on your feelings and thoughts about this version. You can do it on our Skype for Mac 2.6 Beta forum or report issues in our issue tracker Jira, read how to do it on our Skype for Mac development page.

Released version is 2.6.0.72 and full release note are:

* new feature: Chat typing indicator
* new feature: Chat alert highlighting
* new feature: Call transfer
* new feature: Automatic Updates
* new feature: DTMF tones in Skype-to-Skype calls
* new feature: Public chat support (Join)
* new feature: Payments for Skype Prime premium services

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Today we have released new beta version of Skype for Mac 2.5.

It includes many fixes and improvements compared to previous version. Experienced users are welcomed to try it out and give us feedback to further improve it.

You can download updated beta from here.

Version released is 2.5.0.63 and it has following changes compared to previous version:

* known issue: A data file gets written to the hard disk when in a call. This file grows bigger whilst in the video call and is reset to 0 each video call
* known issue: Fullscreen video calls on G4's can cause your computer to appear to have 'hung'. Once the call is hung up, system is responsive again.
* new feature: links in mood messages
* new feature: 8 new emoticons
* improvement: video resolution on G4 1.25ghz+ and any Dual G4 is now the same as G5, Intel. (Increased)
* improvement: updated localizations
* improvement: sometimes adding an event to history list took too long time and caused Skype to freeze for a couple of seconds
* improvement: resizing of conference call window improved
* improvement: number of Skype contacts shown in the Edit Profile window
* improvement: in the Create Account window, limited the length of Skype Name field to 32 characters
* improvement: improved handling of errors during Entourage, Palm contacts import
* improvement: country flags in the SkypeOut dialler window
* improvement: compact mode of conference call participants
* improvement: better error messages instead of some misc error numbers
* improvement: added "Create Account" menu item to the Account menu for novice users
* improvement: SkypeIn number displayed in the services area of the My Skype panel

Continue reading "Skype for Mac 2.5 Beta update" »