Scan & Fix 50 registry issues FREECNET Editors' review
If you're looking to make free voice or video calls worldwide, Skype is a great start. Its clean and user-friendly interface makes interaction effortless, so you are ready to go as soon as you launch the app.
During our testing, we were impressed by the video and voice quality of Skype, which uses VoIP (Voice over IP) technology to enable communication worldwide without paying a cent. One of its best features is the chat and mood messages: if you are in the middle of something, you can inform your contacts about it or just type a text message instead of having a voice call. This is a nice feature on its own, but it's also handy if you don't have a microphone.
But this isn't the only feature you'll love: we also enjoyed Skype's ability to handle conference calling, group video calling, and screen sharing. In other words, if you have a reliable Internet connection, Skype can easily replace your phone and lower your communication bills.
To make calls, all you have to do is create a contact list of friends, family, and colleagues, but they must also have Skype, as only Skype-to-Skype calls are free. However, a great addition to the app is its ability to call landlines or mobile phones, but you'll need to purchase Skype credits to take advantage of this feature.
Its chatlike user interface makes Skype very easy to use, yet the key to optimum performance is a reliable Internet connection. As soon as you launch the app and start using it, you will surely place Skype among your favorite apps, just like we did after our test. Skype's useful features and intuitive user interface make the app appropriate for users of all levels.
Publisher's Description
From Skype:
Skype is a little piece of software that lets you make free calls to anyone else on Skype, anywhere in the world. And even though the calls are free, they are really excellent quality. If you and your friends, family or business contacts are using webcams, you can also make free video calls. You can even call landlines and mobile phones at really cheap per minute rates.
What's new in this version:
- User Interface refresh
- 10-way group video calling
- New contact and chat content search
- Offline instant messaging support
- Improved experience during network-compromised calls
- Automatically recover dropped calls.
- Join an ongoing conference call
- During a call, access call controls when in another application
- View online contact using the contact monitor
- Add additional phone numbers to your contacts See all new features
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All versions:
3.1 starsout of 320 votes
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Current version:
2.5 starsout of 28 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"the old version is better"
Version: Skype 5.0.0.6378
Pros
I can't think of any.
Cons
Video constantly freezes, never had that problem with the old version. Impossible to find chat window when I'm on video. Not user friendly at all.
Summary
Skype needs to work out the bugs. There are so many flaws with this, I cannot believe they put it out there. I'm switching back to the older version. I honestly don't like anything about the new version.
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"This is a Windows version, NOT a Mac one !!! CAREFUL !"
Version: Skype 5.0.0.6378
Pros
I do not have any problems with Skype for MAC 2.8.0.851.
Cons
Problems are happening with the latest version for WINDOWS.
Summary
Since the latest Windows version is having so many problems, I have not downloaded the newest Mac version 2.8.0.866 just in case.
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"Disappointing UI"
Version: Skype 5.0.0.6378
Pros
Video conferencing, which I rarely use, though.
Cons
The new UI.
Summary
The new UI is simple disappointing. It took me many minutes to realize how to send a text message while on voice chatting. It's also pretty horrible to see calls history instead of the contacts themselves on the left of the UI. It's just confusing. In my opinion, Skype had an epic fail trying to consolidate the whole interface in one window. The previous version of Skype for mac was much better than even Windows version, but this one... it's barely usable.
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"Interface sucks"
Version: Skype 5.0.0.6378
Pros
Call quality is good, screen sharing options are very useful.
Cons
3 separate windows for this app ?
Summary
The interface is giving hard time, there is a window to list my contacts and another for for chatting ??? and again another one for file transfer ?? I dont why they did it, windows version is far more better.
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"A huge step backward for Skype"
Version: Skype 5.0.0.6378
Pros
The 5.0 Beta was supposed to make the Mac version of the Skype interface "more Window-like." More Window-like? If I wanted a PC interface, I would have bought an Acer, not a Macbook Pro! Stick with Version 2.8. It's sweet.
Cons
Bulky, non-Mac-like, a travesty of GUI design theory and practice.
Summary
Skype's great, the new interface is not. It's not even good.
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"The new UI is awful."
Version: Skype 5.0.0.6378
Pros
It's still Skype.
Cons
UI won't let you text and use audio or video chat. UI is HUGE and really, really, ugly. UI is intrusive with lots of popping and windoids to let you know someone is typing. And you can't modify any of it.
Summary
Don't upgrade. Keep 2.8 as long as you can.
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"Is the Cnet reviewer braindead?"
Version: Skype 5.0.0.6378
Pros
Group video calling.
Cons
Group video calling is a pay feature on top of regular Skype subs.
The awful one-window UI.
Giant fonts.
Massive amounts of whitespace.
No 'classic' spacesaving UI.
Non-standard controls and UI.Summary
V2.8 for Mac's UI was decent and allowed me to make calls while still having 2/3's of my screen free to continue working in other apps. v5's UI is like an iPad app (it's very un-Mac-like), only most iPad apps have far better design. It's as if the designers spend their entire life in Skype and think that's normal. Sorry - it's NOT.
It is pleasing to see the Cnet reviewer taking on board feedback regarding the dismal UI in v5 :-) Thumbs up to him for listening to us readers.
The awful one-window UI tries to pack everything into one window, but only results it you being unable to see much of anything.
Non-standard controls and UI (e.g. text input field looks like a solid grey part of the window, and when resizing the window the cursor is changed into the COLUMN resize cursor) are a design disaster.
Finally - what on Earth is wrong with Cnet's reviewer?!? Have they ANY clue about good UI design? Have they EVER used a Mac?
Updated on Dec 15, 2010 -
"Refresh? Not the word for this user-interface disaster."
Version: Skype 5.0.0.6378
Pros
It functions well.
Cons
The most counterintuitive interface ever.
Summary
I'm going back to an older version, so I can find my way around this application.
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"A cultural disappointment!"
Version: Skype 5.0.0.6378
Pros
It remembers us how good the wimdoz users are! They forgive anything, they are misused like slaves and accept it, WE NOT! But sometime we forgot how lucky we are; this version of Skype has the 'pros'to remember us our luck!
Cons
In 250 characters? Ok: UNUSABLE!
Summary
Anybody can make mistake, but PUBLISHING THEM is sign of lac of respect of the customer, lac of quality control, absence of listening on our feedbacks.
Anybody has the right to not be a genius, nobody the right to impose his emptiness. -
"Had to go back to older version"
Version: Skype 5.0.0.6378
Pros
Can't see any improvements
Cons
UI is a space hog, unable to get multiple party Skype to work, no meaningful available tech support, no information on future pricing for multi-user videoconferencing feature
Summary
Serious rework needed--especially on interface!
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