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February 14, 2008 4:12 PM PST

Updated: Skype for Mac

by Jason Parker
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Skype (Credit: CNET Networks)

One of the best choices for online telephony for Mac just got better. The latest Skype update pushes the program to version 2.7.257 adding support for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard and higher-resolution video for face-to-face video calls. The new default resolution is 640x480 pixels at 25 frames per second. You are only limited by your Webcam, so get out there and upgrade so that your friends and family can have a bigger, crisper view of your smiling mug on their desktop.

Skype

The chat client-like interface makes it easy to browse and call contacts.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Skype has always been one of my favorite applications for its familiar chat-like interface, and the capability to talk with users worldwide for free (provided they're also using Skype). For a little extra money, you can sign-up with Skype and make calls to anyone in the world (including land-lines) at a fraction of the price of regular long distance. Got a friend in another country? Skype might be just the solution you need.

What do you think? Have you made any video calls on your Mac? Do you chat with friends in other countries using Skype? Let us know in the comments!

Jason Parker writes software reviews and features for Windows, Mac, and iPhone. If he learned to dance, it would make him a fabled "quadruple threat," but we can't get him to do it.
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by erste February 15, 2008 2:04 PM PST
We use Skype to let the grandparents (on Windows) see the kid, but we use iChat between fellow mac users. Frankly, iChat is far superior.
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by Jagdish007 February 15, 2008 2:20 PM PST
I use skype to chat with my parents back in India. this is the only software allowing a video chat from MAC to PC, and the best
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by Jagdish007 February 15, 2008 2:34 PM PST
BTW, i just jot a spam message, i am not sure how :(
by P_J_Hayseed February 20, 2008 1:24 PM PST
Recently downloaded a new version of MS Messenger 6.0.3. Looks as if it supports video via iChat. Haven't tried it yet, has anyone else? Might be another way for MAC to PC video contacts. (8-})
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by tangerinemilk February 22, 2008 1:15 PM PST
I've been using Skype for ages to webcam between the US and Japan. Since I had a Mac and all my friends had PCs, I never considered iChat. I thought Skype always worked great, but I was excited to try iChat when my brother just recently got a new Mac (before the recent Skype update). He is the only person i have tested iChat with, but I have to say that my experience in terms of video quality have been much better with Skype.
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by BALTHOR1 February 22, 2008 2:28 PM PST
There isn't a comment section in the digital TV conversion article;I feel so compelled that I'm writing my comment here.This dropping analog and going to digital TV conversion doesn't sound like the American Government to me.It may be that over one hundred million digital conversion units will be needed.Many will be without Television for a long time.What is the broadcast distance range for digital?Could the box include all digital channels and the Internet?If you see it on Television or read it in an article it has to be true isn't holding for me.There wasn't even a referendum vote called.
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by jowewo February 22, 2008 8:58 PM PST
This is not the first comment I make a comment about Skype (http://www.news.com/5208-10784_3-0.html?forumID=1&threadID=30221&messageID=301459&start=-1).

Skype is an amazing piece of software. Cross-platform, it allows you to communicate with both Mac & PC users (we use it on a Mac and the quality of both the sound and the video is mind-blowing). It is a great complement to iChat as the Apple application is not - yet - cross-platform).

We use it to communicate with our professional partners around the world as well as to call family and friends abroad. The cost of communication makes Skype a solution worth considering when it comes to international calls. The fact that Skype is free of ads is also a plus. The new Mac version is another step toward perfection for this great chat, call, payment (via integrated PayPal), video conference program.

By the way, Skype Pro gives you an incredible range of "goodies" such as:
- Free call to landlines and cell phones in the USA & Canada.
- International call from your cell phone at Skype rates (when is the last time you called Europe or South America from you mobile for 2 cents a minute).
- Check www.skype.com for a complete list of features available.

Again, I recommend Skype to anyone and everyone. Give it a shot: you will not regret it!
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by bmdickey February 23, 2008 2:28 AM PST
I have not downloaded the newest version of Skype, but it is a great app. The customer service can be clunky and slow, but they will usually get to the bottom of your questions. The only problem I have had with the Mac version is the fact that it wants to automatically load when you start the OS. I had to disable that b/c it was occasionally causing the Mac to hang on starting the OS.
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by SlickRickdaRula February 25, 2008 11:47 AM PST
Umm is everyone conviently forgetting about SIGHTSPEED?!? the excellent video chat service which is far superior to Skype in pretty much every respect if we're just talking video calls. I mean I'll give Skype credit for the whole high def deal with Logitech but really if u haven't tried SightSpeed ur kinda missing out. Real talk.
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by dworkman February 25, 2008 2:25 PM PST
Been using it on my Mac for a long time for video between San Fran and Sydney. Great vid and voice quality, better than iChat.
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by ab5f February 27, 2008 8:00 PM PST
I have OS X 10.4.11 and have tried downloading SKYPE three different times and still can't open the program. Any commit?
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by vjinchina December 11, 2008 12:52 AM PST
I am sitting in Nanjing, China trying to download Skype on Powerbook G4 running MAC OSX 10.4.11. Whether I use Firefox or Safari - the download doesn't even start.

Any ideas?
by redpuffygurl June 4, 2008 2:42 AM PDT
Skype is always great.
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