June 2008

Did you know that we only smile 35% as much as we think we do? And that the longest recorded laughing fit was in a village in Tanzania in 1962 and lasted two years? Two years?!

Well, 1962 was ages ago. At Skype, we've decided it's high time we had another laughter epidemic -- but this time it should be around the world. So, we're creating the world's first and longest giggling fit, and we want you to join it

Just plug in your webcam, watch the start of the chain below, and film yourself watching it. Send us your video and your laugh could be added to the chain.

Find out more about the Laughter Chain (plus find out how many calories a good laugh burns up) at the Skype Laughter Chain website.

We've just launched Skype 4.0 Beta 1 for Windows - probably the most exciting release since Skype first appeared on the scene in 2003.

The plan is this: we're releasing this version now, and we're going to spend all summer gathering, analysing and acting on your feedback. That way, when we launch the final version, it'll be perfect

A summary of what's new:

• Totally new interface, designed to give plenty of space for video calls
• Chatting and calling integrated into the same window, so no more playing hunt-the-chat window
• Better hardware detection - you can switch headset halfway through a call and Skype deal with it
• A single directory screen - find people and businesses all in one place

Update: a full feature list is now available on the Skype Garage blog.

The video below highlights some of the advanced features in the Beta, but the best way to explore is to download it and try it out. Don't forget to send in your feedback, too.