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CNET Editors' review
Popular and preeminent VoIP service Skype has wooed its fair share of people with an itch to ditch the landline and an Internet connection, especially those with international contacts. With its latest update to version 5, the company hopes to win over even more customers and keeping the current ones happy. Skype 5.0 features a streamlined interface, Facebok integration, and videoconferencing functionality.
First, Skype tackled the overall user experience of the software. The new Home page integrates a feed of mood messages from your contacts and yourself, and it offers a variety of tutorials to help you use the various features of the service, from making a video call to signing up for a subscription. The company also aimed to simplify the overall interface in order to make calling, messaging, screen sharing, and file transferring more intuitive and easier to navigate. In addition, the contact search screen now features images and mood messages and offers real-time results.
Skype is also offering a new group-video-calling feature. According to company data, about 40 percent of all Skype-to-Skype minutes were used on video calling. The logical step was to provide a feature that allowed users to chat with more than just one other person. Anyone who downloads version 5 will have a chance to test out the new functionality for free, though it will be a paid extra down the line.
The videoconferencing feature offers a few viewing options. One is the typical side-by-side screen with participants lined up in equal sizes. Then there's the more interesting dynamic view, which increases the size of the person doing most of the talking at any given moment. We got to check this out in a live demo and can see how it would be particularly useful for business calls.
The group video screen also prominently displays the relevant controls along the bottom, as well as a meter that measures call quality. Skype has added a call quality manager that gauges audio and video quality during calls. Automatic call recovery is another new feature that helps users quickly reconnect calls that are interrupted because of Internet connection problems.
Last but not least, Skype now has Facebook integrated seamlessly into the interface. A tab along the top of the screen will take you into your news feed, where you can update your status as well as start Skype calls with various contacts.
Watch the CNET video review of Skype:
Publisher's Description
From Skype:
Skype is software that enables you to make free calls anywhere in the world. Skype uses P2P (peer-to-peer) technology to connect you with other users. It offers several features, including SkypeOut calling from Skype to regular and mobile phones worldwide, conference calling, and secure file transferring. You can also now share your screen with other users. Skype calls focus on video and audio quality, and secure the calls with end-to-end encryption.
What's new in this version:
- Full HD video calling
- Support for Facebook audio and video calls
- Group screen sharing
- Hide offline Facebook contacts
- Push to Talk
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All versions:
3.9 starsout of 1,790 votes
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Current version:
0 stars Be the first to review this product -
My rating:
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"Very good software!"
Version: Skype 5.5.59.124
Pros
Free chatting with friends.
Video & audio chat.Cons
Nothing I could find.
Summary
Very good chatting software. It's alot better then GTalk in my opinion!
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"More glitches with the new version"
Version: Skype 5.5.59.124
Pros
None that I can see
Cons
Many more glitches in the new version, video quality is more erratic than the old version.
Summary
I rarely had problems with the old version, but ever since I got the new version, my video calls are not any better quality, and some websites that I try to access freeze up and I get the message that the Skype Toolbars has crashed.
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"EXCELLENT."
Version: Skype 5.5.59.124
Pros
I LOVE IT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KEEP IT UP, EXCELLENT.
Cons
I LOVE IT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KEEP IT UP, EXCELLENT.
Summary
I LOVE IT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KEEP IT UP, EXCELLENT.
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"Useful, Free, but with bugs."
Version: Skype 5.5.59.124
Pros
Good voice and video calls online. Medium low prices for phone calls ($6 a month for incoming, $0.10 for outgoing).
Cons
Moderate quality calls over phone lines in Eastern Idaho. Not sure why this area has lower quality but it seems to work great when I've used it in other areas.
Also it crashes occasionally and takes longer to load than earlier versions.Summary
Since Microsoft took over Skype it's become rather buggy. I don't know what it is but all Microsoft has to do is look at a program and it's file size doubles and it starts crashing on occasion.
In the usual Microsoft way they seem to care less if you report bugs and problems so good luck if it doesn't work...
It's still a handy program and I use it every day. -
"so popular"
Version: Skype 5.5.59.124
Pros
this one has becoming so popular especially among young people,it has become a new tool for people to keep in touch with each other,it has fast speed and easy install,it is well welcomed
Cons
nothing i can say,you will like this app
Summary
excellent wonderful perfect great
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"OK, Old Version Better"
Version: Skype 5.5.59.124
Pros
Price
SimplicityCons
Video Quality
Many errorsSummary
Not the Best product out there, but manageable
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"Old version great, New version crap"
Version: Skype 5.5.59.124
Pros
This program is Free
Cons
Doesn't work
Summary
Get Error message "skype has stopped working" anytime I try to connect with someone. Even Clicking on their profile to bring up their info causes this to happen. My computer is BRAND NEW. This shouldn't happen with a simple communications program. Please bring the previous version back.
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"I am not HAPPY"
Version: Skype 5.5.59.124
Pros
After using skype for many years without any problems, my pc crashed, and I have had to downlaod all the items that I lost. Skpe was one of them, but it will not download. I get a message after it down laods and gets to the last stage that says "We have problems connecting to the download server" it says click the downlaod button below but the same thing happens. so I am not a happy bunny, it looks as if I am going to have to start using Yahoo messenger again.
Cons
Solve my problem and perhaps I will be happy again
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"Could not get it to work."
Version: Skype 5.5.59.124
Pros
I could find nothing to like about this.
Cons
The program installed, but I could not connect with relatives.
Summary
I installed Skype because I have relatives out of town who use it regularly and we hoped to connect over Christmas. I installed the program and we were able to "dial" each other, but every time we tried to complete the connection, the program would freeze and give me an error. After researching similar problems on the Internet, I tried uninstalling/reinstalling it, I tried deleting the file "share.xml," and I even tried a beta version (5.7). None of these things worked for me.
From what I found, this is not a new or unusual problem. Apparently, people have had similar problems for the last few months, at least since version 5.3. After wasting a couple of hours on this, we gave up and will look for a different program to use. By the way, my OS is Windows 7 64-bit, which is the same OS that my relative uses with no problem. -
"Does not work on Windows, Skype are amateurs"
Version: Skype 5.5.59.124
Pros
Is a nice program when it works, previous versions of Skype have worked, but now they have decided not to support Windows Vista 64 bit! Shame on Skype! Very cheap and unprofessional of them! This is a common Operating System!
Cons
Skype have decided not to support Windows Vista 64 bit! and presumably other operating systems too! Shame on Skype! Very cheap and unprofessional of them! This is a common Operating System!
Summary
Lazy developers, no support online! A company of this size should do better!
Try: Google Voice, Vbuzzer, VoxOx, Viber, Grasshopper, 8 x 8 Virtual Office Pro Solo, Tinychat
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