Skype 5 for Mac

#1

Post by shawndumas » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 2:27 PM UTC

Re: Skype 5 for Mac

#2

Post by raganwald » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 3:17 PM UTC

Skype has noticed that there is a discrepancy in quality between the two versions, and has decided to make the two versions more similar to each other. Unfortunately, instead of making the Windows version of Skype better, they’ve decided to fix the discrepancy by making the Mac version of Skype more like the Windows version.

This is the number one reason that I prefer Mac-only products to products that are available on both Windows and Mac.

Invariably, the companies decide that since they have 4x the sales on Windows as on Mac, the correct course of action is to build a product that is identical in almost every way with just a very thin GUI "skin" on the outside that is Mac or Windows specific. I don't know if this is because they think that the Windows sales "validate" the UX design or if it's an attempt to save money by having a single code base (or both?), but the results are invariably awful on the Mac.

Windows users are not interchangeable with Mac users. What "works" for someone who was given their PC by the IT department does not work for someone who deliberately chose to buy a product with a tiny market share.

Re: Skype 5 for Mac

#3

Post by simonw » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 3:27 PM UTC

"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!

Re: Skype 5 for Mac

#4

Post by mahrain » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 3:28 PM UTC

I have used the Feedback function to complain, and they fixed the spacing a bit from beta to release.

I can "fix" the windows version by turning off a lot of the "Today screen" and superfluous information bars everywhere. To make it look more like the old Mac version.

Re: Skype 5 for Mac

#5

Post by AndrewWarner » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 3:28 PM UTC

http://www.oldversion.com/Skype.html

Re: Skype 5 for Mac

#6

Post by mrspandex » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 3:30 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!

If the mac version is like Windows, there is a row of icons at the bottom of the call screen. One of them is a chat bubble, which opens a chat with the caller.

EDIT: I should read the article - it has this in there.

Re: Skype 5 for Mac

#7

Post by jonursenbach » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 3:30 PM UTC

AndrewWarner wrote: post #5

http://www.oldversion.com/Skype.html

OldVersion is for Windows software only.

Re: Skype 5 for Mac

#8

Post by andrewcurioso » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 3:31 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 don't have anyone to do a test video call with right now but I'm pretty sure you can drag the divider bar at the bottom of the window up and it will reveal the chat box again.

Can anyone confirm?

P.S. I personally think the new Skype 5 for Mac is a disaster

Re: Skype 5 for Mac

#9

Post by simonw » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 3:32 PM UTC

andrewcurioso wrote: post #8

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 don't have anyone to do a test video call with right now but I'm pretty sure you can drag the divider bar at the bottom of the window up and it will reveal the chat box again. Can anyone confirm? P.S. I personally think the new Skype 5 for Mac is a disaster

Yup, the linked article describes that as well - wasn't much use for me when I was on the call though!

Re: Skype 5 for Mac

#10

Post by bioinformatics » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 3:34 PM UTC

mrspandex wrote: post #6

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!

If the mac version is like Windows, there is a row of icons at the bottom of the call screen. One of them is a chat bubble, which opens a chat with the caller. EDIT: I should read the article - it has this in there.

It's very similar, and having barely used the Windows version (a long time ago) I got burned with the same things: hanging and sending/chatting while on a call.

I guess if everyone is complaining, it ceases to be a problem and becomes a feature :-)