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Peter Parkes

Skype 2.8 Gold for Mac out now

By My status Peter Parkes on July 20, 2009 in Skype for Mac.

Skype 2.8 Gold for Mac out now

We’ve just released the final version of Skype 2.8 for Mac – it’s ready for you to download now.

Those of you who have already been using the beta version won’t notice any new features, but we’ve fixed a number of bugs. Raul’s post on the Garage blog has all the details.

For those of you downloading for the first time, here’s a rundown of the new features since 2.7:

Screen Sharing

Skype for Mac - screen sharingSometimes trying to explain what you are seeing on your screen to someone on a call just doesn’t work. With screen sharing you can easily show exactly what you are looking at by simply calling your Skype contact and sharing all or part of your desktop.

It’s great for sharing presentations with colleagues, or for showing off a killer move in a game. It’s easy to do, and totally free.

You can share your screen with anyone using a video-capable version of Skype, and screen sharing is also available in Skype 4.1 for Windows, enabling cross-platform collaboration.

Skype Access (BETA)

When you’re on your travels, connecting to WiFi hotspots can be, well, a right pain. Fiddling with your credit card, inserting numbers, etc. Skype Access removes that hassle – simply pay by the minute for the time you need with Skype Credit.

Please note: Skype Access is still in beta in the Gold version of 2.8. We’re keen to hear your feedback, so please let us know how you get on. Leave a comment below, or file an issue in our tracker.

Other new features

Improved chat management

If (like me) you’re in loads of Skype chats at the same time – my current count is 456 – you’ll welcome this one. You can now sort chats in the drawer and set priorities to chats, so you can deal with the most important messages first.

Quick Add

It’s now much easier to add people to chats. Click Add in a chat window toolbar, and the Quick Add window appears. Start typing and it’ll search your contact list. To add someone to the chat, click their name in the Quick Add window.

Mood message chat

You can use the mood message chat to keep up with your friends’ updates, and also update your own mood message. It’s a bit like Twitter, but don’t tell them we said that.

To switch on the mood message chat, check Show buddy mood messages in chat in the Advanced section of the Preferences window.

Large profile pictures

Just like Skype 4.1 for Windows, you can now use images of up to 256 x 256 pixels.

Hidden avatars in incoming contact requests

A small minority of Skype users have profile pictures which others may find unpleasant, and so they’re now hidden by default in contact requests.

Add notes to contacts

You can add notes to a contact in their profile window – handy for keeping track of who’s who.

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Comments

Okay, I'm gonna say the dumbest, but it's a Interface thing... just a small, tiny detail...

On Mac OS X, users switch between Apps, not Windows. When you have an active application, it should not matter wether you have any window displaying or not, since you have the menu bar to open any. That is so, all applications that use multiple windows have none of them called "Adium" or "Mail" or "Pages" (and if they do, they specify the opened file if that's the case).

Coming to a conclusion, I think the contact list window should be called Contacts or Contacts list, or similar, but not Skype, since when you see the list of opened windows like chats, preferences, contacts list, etc... It may be confusing having "Skype" instead of "Contacts list".

it's stupid, I know, but it's an opinion... sorry for wasting your time if any read this T_T bye!

artpulse | Monday, Jul 20

I am very glad screen sharing is finally out of beta, but I remain concerned about some of the interface glitches I am still observing under Leopard. Specifically, the login window unnecessarily prompts for password instead of moving the text cursor to the password field when the username is selected using arrow keys.

spiritusobscurus | Tuesday, Jul 21

Hmm, I'm seeing two new issues with this final version:

1) An incoming call doesn't silence iTunes anymore and the ring is so faint I can barely hear it.

2) The call window can't be made really small anymore, there's always black space at the bottom.

efeingold | Tuesday, Jul 21

Hi,
I just had the automatic download of the new version that sustituted my old the Beta version. I have found to my susprise that the list of contacts does not show up and it is permanently doing the initial logging action, even though the application is already connected. Then I tried to go back to the old Beta version but it is not anymore in the web page.
I did reinstall again the new version, but it was useless. What to do?
Imac 2008 2.4 Intel Core 2 Duo, OSX 10.5.7
I would appreciate any help in my email: aoreyes@telefonica.net
Thanks

aoreyes | Tuesday, Jul 21

Hiya

I've probably missed a setting somewhere, but before this release (even in the Beta version) there was an unread count in the dock to show that messages had arrived.

Now there's nothing and I've been missing messages and am having to set the icon to bounce on the dock to get some visual prompt.

Thanks

mike_finister | Tuesday, Jul 21

Why were all pretty icons replaced with ugly ones? The new ones really suck, they're totally not Macish. Please reconsider...

thoiz_vd | Tuesday, Jul 21

Updated to latest version of Skype (2.8.0659) on Mac OS X 10.5.7, Macbook Pro 2.5 Ghz Intel core 2 Duo, 2 Gbyte Ram:

Skype repeatedly and systematically crashes, after few minutes it is on.

How do I go back to the previous version?

meekeee | Tuesday, Jul 21

omg, i hate the new call window, why did they change the design so much??? don't know anybody who likes it, i'll go back to 2.7...

wer-ist-sonny | Tuesday, Jul 21

You now have three different buttons for "Chat".
http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV1zPAIJ
Does it have to be so inconsistent?

christrusch | Wednesday, Jul 22

... but thanks for still supporting 10.3, anyway.

christrusch | Wednesday, Jul 22

Same problem with missing unread messages notification on dock

kinglagos | Wednesday, Jul 22

Please, please, PLEASE make the dock closed by default, so it only opens when you have multiple chats going. It's REALLY annoying to have it open EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I open a chat window. It's such a simple thing to do, why hasn't it been done yet?

adventhorizon | Wednesday, Jul 22

I encountered a strange bug which makes the menu bar on top of the screen disappear if a contact initiates a chat. It's there if you switch to other applications, but in Skype it's gone until you close the chat window.

Also, to confirm Hiya's report, the chat message counter in the dock icon is nonfunctional.

The no video bug when switching back from full screen mode under 10.3 hasn't been fixed, either.

The new icons are visually much less pleasing than the old ones.

All in all, i will revert to 2.7 now, sorry. This version of 2.8 isn't "gold" at all.

Skype 2.8.0.659 on Mac OS X 10.3.9

christrusch | Wednesday, Jul 22

I got a problem with OS X Snow Leopard Developer: Skype crashes after entering login-data. I already tried killing all skype-files and reinstalling it, but that did not work... maybe you could fix that?

forceofevil | Friday, Jul 24

Hi,

I'm also having problems with the volume of the ring, including when iTunes is on. And the calls keep crashing, specially when the video is on (strange, considering both conections used are high speed). I don't know that if it is because I got to suspicious, but I think the quality of the video is worse and keeps freezing!
I hope it helps.

lucas.coelho.brandao | Friday, Jul 24

There is a typo on the home page website announcement for 2.8
"two exiting new features in our latest version" unless the features are leaving I believe that should be exciting.

crackedbeak | Saturday, Jul 25

Mac OS X 10.5.7 with the latest version of Skype 2.8.0.659 crashes on startup. I have a dual monitor setup, but that's presumably commonplace these days. I've reinstalled it several times, which actually seemed to work for around 12 hours before the previous pattern of crash on takeoff resumed. So the typo on the home page, "two exiting new features" is oddly apropos. Please fix at least the crash problem, and provide a convenient way to get to the previous version.

dirkcoldewey | Monday, Jul 27

I used Skype Access at Heathrow Airport two days ago! Fantastic! But could you make skype access charges paid appear on the account? They do not right now.

afruscione | Thursday, Aug 6

Skype 2.8 on Mac OS 10.5.8 has been working great for me (as has the iPhone version so far since iPhone OS 3.0). One thing that gives me lots of annoyance though is the warning dialog that appears when quitting Skype.

Whenever I shut down or need to restart my Mac the warning about logging off comes up. That may be great for some users, but if I don't make a point to remember and stick around to watch for it, the Mac's shutdown sequence times out because of Skype's dialog box. Can't there be an option in the prefs to turn that dialog warning off??

twcatc | Thursday, Aug 13

I have attempted to download the new MAC upgrade several times without success. Help. Thanks.

danieldketchum | Friday, Aug 14

I have tried installing 2.8 under many different circumstances (e.g. downloading the files through different browsers, restarting the computer before I run the program, etc.), but everytime I open Skype, the program unexpectedly quits. I don't know why this is a problem, but the old version worked great! Where can I find the old version?

alex-pletcher | Friday, Aug 14

TOTAL FRUSTRATION WITH SKYPE ON A MAC: I am a paying Skype customer, having spent around $500 last year on Skype services. For the past couple of months, I have not been able to get my voicemail to pick up. I have reloaded Skype several times, deleting old versions. With these past couple of latest fruitless attempts, my mike has been shut off so no one can hear me, although it is not on mute. I have been shocked by the poor quality of customer service, the slowness of response and the complete lack of any ability to speak with a human being. I urgently want to leave Skype, but am not sure how I can transfer my Skypeln number to another service. I feel completely trapped, have spent far, far too much time on it, have put the number on all sorts of documents and papers, and need to be reached with it. And NOTHING works. I cannot be the only one with this problem. This is not about some little add on on Skype. If I cannot get the voicemail I have paid for - going on four months now - and no one can hear my voice - that is getting pretty basic. I cannot be the only one with this problem. Please contact me at paul@dodds.us if you have ideas about how to transfer a US based Skypeln number to Gizmo or an alternative service. Skype has completely failed me enough times that I just cannot waste another minute with it. Thanks.

paulddodds | Sunday, Aug 16

I was hoping the new version would take care of the constant crashing, but no such luck.

mmromig | Monday, Aug 17

I've got a weird bug. I can't call, modify or edit one contact in my contact list. I can't even select it. In a Win version of Skype everything works okay, but in Mac version this one contact is unworkable, I've tried deleting and adding it again in Windows, but it didn't help. Hope you'd fix the problem in following builds.

fyodor_prilipko | Monday, Aug 17

Wooooo I'm so happy with the screensharing!

And the arrow-up key to edit the latest message is really really handy. I don't know if it was in earlier versions but I just noticed it. Would be even handier if you could use shift-arrow up (or something) to edit the message before the previous or something to toggle between all editable messages.

Now all that is left, something I've wanted for ages: offline messages server. I know Skype messages work P2P with no inbetween server which is really GREAT, but it would be really nice to have messages arrive before both people are online... Could an offline server be implemented separately from the usual message-route?

nimsatasmin | Tuesday, Aug 25

Skype 2.8.0.659 is USELESS!! I installed it on my MacBook Pro running OSX 10.58 and made two Skype calls (which worked perfectly) and now it repeatedly crashes every time it starts up. I tried a fresh install but alas it is still crashing. Now attempting to re-install 2.7.0.33 ,which I found at http://mac.oldapps.com/skype.php?old_skype=32#Download (since Skype doesn't give access to previous versions!!). Please fix this premature release!!

jevon_d | Wednesday, Aug 26

I have had no problems with 2.8. 24" IMac, MacBook Pro, iMac G4 and G4 Tower. But OS 10.6 is in the mail. Now I'm reading that the current 2.8 version of SKYPE doesn't like Snow Leopard. It's making me sick to my stomach. What is the prognosis?

curkat | Monday, Sep 7

Please consider a couple enhancements to minimize little annoyances for Mac users.

Consider auto-positioning the video self-window to the upper right or left in Skype for Mac, not at the bottom like Skype for Windows.

Since all recent Macs have top-center built-in iSights, this window positioning is better so Skype users is not looking down during a video call, rather...into the iSight webcam to allow natural eye-contact. (Also will save manual moving every time a Mac Skype video call is started.)

Also, add an auto-full-screen PREF when starting a video call. Way too much clicking to position or manage Skype windows...even with Mac Exposé helping a bit.

Consider docking all the Skype windows together to keep them together when Mac users are using Exposé or Spaces to manage windows and screens on their Mac. Currently, it really forces too much niggling effort with Mac users to find and click their chat window, then their Skype Contacts, then their video window, etc... (Maybe Snow Leopard's new app-specific Dock Exposé will help, but the window-docking would be handy on your part.)

With screen-sharing, I was surprised to see no cursor control. Hopefully you can add that, since so many friends/family need halp with doing something on their Windows machines. Installing TeamViewer is fine, but a hassle for others many times. (Screen-sharing control with iChat is only Mac Leopard/SL to Leopard/SL.)

Hope this helps. Thx for your world-changing app. ;)

kamalesh1 | Tuesday, Sep 8

Btw, please add a REDIAL capability via button/keyboard-shortcut. The amount of time and clicks to do a very popular calling operation like this is too tedious (history menu, re-sort list, click on the tiny call icon...many will open the "dial number pad", but will be frustrated that a click on the CALL button will prompt for a number instead of redialing the last number -- like how every cell phone works).

Auto-redial feature doesn't address this problem. Hope you can add this trivial feature to aid VOIP calling shortly.

kamalesh1 | Tuesday, Sep 8

i think that the mac version for skype should be updated and should be exactly like the skype for mac. All my friends have the windows version for skype, in which they can play games, save a picture as their icon, and more that the mac version of skype cannot do. I just think the mac version could be updated a little more so we can do as much as the windows version can do. thank you.

alyssamariano | Tuesday, Sep 8

i think that the mac version for skype should be updated and should be exactly like the skype for mac. All my friends have the windows version for skype, in which they can play games, save a picture as their icon, and more that the mac version of skype cannot do. I just think the mac version could be updated a little more so we can do as much as the windows version can do. thank you.

alyssamariano | Tuesday, Sep 8

I'd like it if you guys would focus more effort on the Linux version of Skype. In my opinion, all versions should be identical regardless of the user's platform of choice. Also, I don't even own a mac, but I agree with alyssamariano that the Windows version has waaaay more features than the linux and mac versions. Also, there is almost no reason for the Linux version to be too far behind the Mac version, as both are UNIX-based operating systems, and both use bash for their terminals. The similarities in the two operating systems are remarkable...

aliendude5300 | Wednesday, Sep 9

life is all about the little things,
why is there no animation effects for video chats on the mac version but there is on windows? dumb

marklyder10 | Thursday, Sep 10

just upgraded to Snow Leopard yesterday, and now none of my view options work. can only see those contacts that are presently online, for instance only the 3/8 online, and must search the entire address book for the other contacts; their Skype data is not visable. anyone else have this problem? how did you solve it?

lesliefv | Friday, Sep 11

I've got same problem at the log-in as anyone else who use OS X snow leopard have. I can no longer use skype on my new Mac. just sad

daishiyui | Saturday, Sep 12

How do I capture a snopshot when doing a video call with others? It was there in 2.7 but not in 2.8 any more, why!?

And it's also available on Windows versions. How do a do it now?

terriie | Tuesday, Sep 15

Now the only way to capture a video snapshot is by using the cmd+shift+4 then space, choose the window. I'll lose the best moment when doing this. Could you please check and let me know?

terriie | Tuesday, Sep 15

Would love to see Spotlight searching added to index Skype chats and contacts. Would be much faster than finding the contact, opening a chat window, clicking on history, then doing a "find in page" in my Opera browser for the chat info... Hope you're working in this for v3.0 maybe. ;)

kamalesh1 | Tuesday, Sep 22

I think the general software is good, but the UI changes are (to be honest) not that nice. Especially the new graphis for contact groups is really ugly. There must be a nicer way to do it. Look at a good OS X app such as Things. Everything isn't good in iChat, but you could take a look at it too.

alexandersandstrom | Tuesday, Oct 6

I reinforce the claiming for better icons! This new look 'n' feel is definitely not what Mac users expect.

lucasrla | Wednesday, Oct 7

hey, i don't know if this is just me, but i noticed after upgrading to the newest version of skype, that the short notifications in the upper right corner of the screen are missing (for instance friends going on- or offline, new messages) !!

at first i thought it was some setting that i had to change back to how i wanted it, especially because a friend of mine said it was working fine for him (he's a windows guy though), but alas, i have not found this setting yet - can anyone help? is it even provided in the new version, or am i just not seeing it?

kill-the-kilians | Monday, Oct 12

Hi,
Can not make skype out call to Haiti with pay as you go. Voice recording to call operator for this call. Skype 2.8 Mac(Leopard).

soucay | Sunday, Nov 1

so how come i cant see the group chat avatar, but i can remove it on mac? any news if you will enable the mac users to see the group chat avatar?

krismatura | Saturday, Nov 7

I don't know why, but I think Skype treats us Mac users as the "underdogs." All of the PC users have a better Skype version than we do! They have all of these Skype character pictures to use and we have to use one of our own. I think Skype should treat everyone the same and make us have the same sort of version.

italiangeek12 | Tuesday, Nov 10

Would be great to have some news.
Skype is crashing for everyone in my company (5 Macbook Pros, having 10.5.8 installed to 10.6.1). A true disaster. At least have the courtesy to update us on what is going on.

henrik.stridsman | Wednesday, Nov 11

@twcatc I agree completely! It's so frustrating to have any logouts, at all, time out because Skype didn't just turn off, for things like Software Update or even if you just choose to logout with Skype still open. The thing is that it's not just because I'm logging out with a chat open, it happens when no chats are open, and it even confirms when I'm offline! How are chats and file transfers still open when I'm offline, and I say, from within the program, to quit? At some point it's okay to assume the user knows what they mean to do. :-P

gr.scott.jo | Sunday, Nov 15

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