Skype 5 for Mac • Hacker News Board

Re: Skype 5 for Mac

#31

Post by emehrkay » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 4:37 PM UTC

poutine wrote: post #15

I refuse to upgrade to Skype 5 after trying it once and accidentally upgrading a second time when the app tried to auto upgrade itself. The horrid UI combined with Skype's stated desire to bring ads to the client makes me search for an alternative which sadly there isn't. In a business setting I would say that 90% of the time Skype is used as an IM client because of its working persistant groups and functional file t…

What's missing from skype that isnt provided by AIM or GTalk? Is it the ability to make phone calls?

Re: Skype 5 for Mac

#32

Post by zzleeper » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 4:37 PM UTC

simonw wrote: post #3

"Something I’ve noticed even casual Skype users do is to send URLs by text chat during a videochat. Well… How do you do that in Skype 5?" That burned me in a Skype call yesterday (first time using it since the new version upgrade). I had to send the link by email instead. I also couldn't figure out how to hang up a call, so I had to quit the app!

I had trouble with that on the windows version, and also had to explain to a few people how to see the links I've sent to them (smart people btw)

Re: Skype 5 for Mac

#33

Post by dholowiski » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 4:38 PM UTC

Just to add, for a good percentage of mac skype users, video doesn't work in 5. It doesn't work for me on either of my macs and I had to downgrade.

Re: Skype 5 for Mac

#34

Post by yarone » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 4:39 PM UTC

Saw a tweet recently that summed it up nicely: "@anildash: Seems like Skype and iTunes are battling it out for the RealPlayer Memorial Award for Most Annoying Desktop Client App."

If you remember RealPlayer, know Skype for Windows, know iTunes for Windows, you'll know exactly what I mean.

Re: Skype 5 for Mac

#35

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 4:39 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Skype 5 for Mac

#36

Post by kemayo » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 4:42 PM UTC

Skype 5 is what really got my company looking for a different chat solution. The protocol and features are still generally wonderful, but the client is just horrible now.

Re: Skype 5 for Mac

#37

Post by jwatzman » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 4:46 PM UTC

emehrkay wrote: post #31

poutine wrote: post #15

I refuse to upgrade to Skype 5 after trying it once and accidentally upgrading a second time when the app tried to auto upgrade itself. The horrid UI combined with Skype's stated desire to bring ads to the client makes me search for an alternative which sadly there isn't. In a business setting I would say that 90% of the time Skype is used as an IM client because of its working persistant groups and functional file t…

What's missing from skype that isnt provided by AIM or GTalk? Is it the ability to make phone calls?

I have been unable to find an alternative that allows me, a Mac user, to do a video chat with my girlfriend, a Windows user, with no fuss when both of us are behind separate NATs.

Re: Skype 5 for Mac

#38

Post by jwatzman » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 4:49 PM UTC

Does anyone have a recommendation for a cross-platform (Mac/Windows at least) video chat program usable by casual users and which works fine through a NAT? Skype is quickly becoming annoyingly unusable for the reasons the article discusses (and more).

Re: Skype 5 for Mac

#39

Post by dguaraglia » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 4:52 PM UTC

Great, now they just need to update the Linux client to 2.2 and we are all settled!

Seriously though, Skype has shown they don't give a crap about their Linux users.

Re: Skype 5 for Mac

#40

Post by GeneralMaximus » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 4:52 PM UTC

emehrkay wrote: post #31

poutine wrote: post #15

I refuse to upgrade to Skype 5 after trying it once and accidentally upgrading a second time when the app tried to auto upgrade itself. The horrid UI combined with Skype's stated desire to bring ads to the client makes me search for an alternative which sadly there isn't. In a business setting I would say that 90% of the time Skype is used as an IM client because of its working persistant groups and functional file t…

What's missing from skype that isnt provided by AIM or GTalk? Is it the ability to make phone calls?

- Group chats. - Group calls, group video calls. - Only works on Windows. All other platforms require a weird plugin thing that's shit.