Skip to Content

Submit your nominations for the Luxist Awards' Best in Decor
AOL Tech

skype-4.0 posts

Filed under: Internet, Windows, Freeware, VoIP

Skype 4.0 for Windows graduates from beta

Windowsby Brad Linder Feb 3rd 2009

Skype 4.0
Skype 4.0 for Windows has been available as a public beta for over half a year. But now the Skype team has pulled the trigger and replaced Skype 3.8 with the new version of the chat, video chat, and VoIP client.

The most noticable change in Skype 4.0 is the fact that the desktop client takes up a lot more space. The call window and the contact list are built into a single screen, while earlier versions of Skype had two separate windows, much like your typical instant messaging client. This change didn't sit too well with early beta testers and Skype 4.0 now gives you the option of viewing the "default" window mode or a "compact" mode which looks more like earlier versions of Skype.

Skype 4.0 also includes higher quality video calling for users with 400 Kb/S or higher connections and high quality video cameras. The new client also features improvements in the audio quality due to a new bandwidth manager.

Tags: skype, skype-4.0, skype-4.0-for-windows

Filed under: Internet, VoIP, Beta

Skype 4.0 beta take 2: Full screen mode now optional

by Brad Linder Oct 1st 2008

Skype 4.0 beta 2
Skype has released a second beta version of Skype 4.0 for Windows. When Skype released version 4.0 beta 1 back in June, the software was widely panned for its new user interface. Sure, the audio and video quality were excellent. But Skype's insistence on using a full-screen interface by default left many users scratching their heads.

After all, Skype is a chat and telephony program, and if you're a multitasker, you might want to have several windows open simultaneously. Skype 4.0 beta 1 made it difficult to do that. While you could reduce the size of the default view, it still takes up a lot of screen real estate.

Skype 4.0 beta 2 addresses this by offering a new Compact View option. In this view, Skype 4.0 looks a lot like Skype 3, with a contact list in one window and your chat, audio, or voice wndow showing up in a second screen.

The new beta also reintroduces contact groups, allowing you to arrange your contacts by category. And it does a better job of notifying you when you've missed a call or message. Notifications are now hard to miss because Skype will show alerts in the Windows taskbar, system tray, and in the program itself.

CNet reports that Skype plans to release at least one more beta version of Skype 4.0 before the final release. That version will include call history, public chats, birthday notifications, and a few other features.

[via Laptop Magazine]

Tags: skype, skype-4.0, skype-4.0-beta, skype-4.0-beta-2

Filed under: Weekend Review

Download Squad Week in Review

by Brad Linder Jun 21st 2008

DLS logoThe big story this week was undoubtedly the launch of Firefox 3. And we covered the heck out of it. But while Mozilla's little browser was busy grabbing headlines, there was plenty of other news. Here are a few of our favorite (mostly) non-Firefox related stories:
  • What to expect from Mozilla's mobile Firefox web browser
    OK, we promise, this is the last Firefox-related link of the roundup. But we got a chance to talk with Mozilla VP for Mobile Jay Sullivan this week and he gave us the a rundown of what we can expect from the upcoming mobile version of Firefox. For example, Mozilla is targeting Linux and Windows Mobile phones at first, but could develop a Symbian version soon as well.
  • HELP! Windows cannot open this file
    Ever download a file from the internet only to discover that you have no idea what program you need to use to open it? We've got you covered with a roundup of software you can install on a Windows system to ensure that you can open pretty much any file you're likely to find.
  • OpenSUSE 11.0 proves chameleons can take on herons any day
    Ubuntu gets a lot of attention for being a user-friendly Linux distribution for newbies, but the latest version of OpenSUSE is poised to give Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron a run for its money. It's fast, supports GNOME or KDE4, as well as the light weight Xfce interface, and comes with all the applications you'd expect from a modern Linux distro, including the latest stable version of OpenOffice.org.
  • Giveaway: OpenSUSE 11 box set with all the trimmings
    Oh yeah, and we've got a special boxed edition of OpenSUSE 11 to give away. Follow the link for all the details and contest rules. The contest runs through Tuesday June 26th.
  • Digg this Kevin Rose - Reddit goes completely open source
    Always wanted to develop your own Digg-killer? Now you can, using the source code for one of the most popular social news/bookmarking sites around. Reddit opened up its source code this week which lets anyone develop their own Reddit clones or applications designed to interface with the original web service.
  • Qtrax launches free, legal, and limited P2P music app
    Remember when you could easily find and download any song on the internet just by firing up Napster or your favorite P2P music client? Yeah, we know there are still programs and P2P networks out there holding the free music torch. But you always run the risk of getting a nasty letter from the RIAA when you use those clients. That's not the case when you use Qtrax, a new P2P client that launched this week. What sets Qtrax apart from the competition is that the service only features 100% legal and free music. The service is supported by advertising and would be totally awesome if it weren't for two restrictions. First the software uses Windows Media DRM. Second, the music selection is still pretty pitiful.
  • Skype 4.0 beta puts video front and center, takes over your screen
    Skype has released a new beta of its popular VoIP client for Windows. And for the first time, video seems like a primary feature and not an afterthought. The video window is larger and more prominent. But overall the client takes up far more screen real estate and starts in full screen mode by default. While you can certainly resize the window, it doesn't fit in the sidebar as easily as earlier versions, which makes it a bit more awkward to use if you're just looking to use the text chat or audio call features.

Tags: fennec, firefox, firefox-3, firefox-mobile, linux, opensuse, qtrax, reddit, skype, skype-4.0

  • Tweet this!
  • Comments (2)

Filed under: Internet, Video, VoIP, P2P, Beta

Skype 4.0 beta puts video front and center, takes over your screen

by Brad Linder Jun 17th 2008

Skype 4.0
Skype 4.0 beta for Windows is due out tomorrow. And this beta will represent a major shift for the VoIP client. While nearly a third of Skype calls are video, each version of Skype up until now has been designed with audio in mind. The client is small and easily resizeable and feels like an application for making phone calls. TechCrunch reports that Skype 4.0 beta will be a full screen application designed with video in mind.

The new version takes advantage of the larger window by spreading out the buttons a bit and adding support for new video features like picture in picture. There's also more room on the screen for text chat or for sharing files while conducting voice or video calls.

Skype 4.0 beta also features improved hardware deection and tools for testing your connection. But honestly, we're not convinced that this whole full-screen design is the way to go. There's no doubt that the updated Skype client looks like it will make video calls far more pleasant. But more than 70% of the calls placed on the Skype network are still audio-only. And we're guessing that a lot of the people placing those calls like to have a bit of space on their desktops to multitask while making phone calls.

Of course, if you're just using Skype for voice communication, you can always minimize the application while you're talking, web browsing, and playing World of WarCraft. Or whatever it is you do when you're on the phone.

Tags: skype, skype-4.0, skype-4.0-beta, video, video-chat

Featured Time Waster

Graveyard Shift - zombie-busting Time Waster

With Halloween fast approaching, it's a great time to get in some practice defending your territory against zombies. In Graveyard Shift, you take aim at zombies and other creepy-crawlies, blasting them into splatters of cartoony green guts. It's a casual first-person shooter, and it's very easy to get the hang of - use the mouse to aim, click to fire. Graveyard Shift has at least 15 levels, and it might even have some secret stages I haven't unlocked yet. They key to getting good at Graveyard Shift is learning to use ...

View more Time Wasters

Featured Galleries

Defective by Design, London: Protest Pictures
Microsoft Security Essentials
Chromium Pre-Alpha on CrunchBang Linux
Safari 4 Beta
10 Firefox themes that don't suck
IE8 RC1
Download Squad at the Crunchies After-Party
Download Squad at the Crunchies
WordPress 2.7
Cooking Mama: Mama Kills Animals
Windows 7 Hands On
Comodo Internet Security
Android First-look: Amazon.com MP3 Store
Android First-look: Twitroid
Google Reader Android
Android Hands-On
Twine 1.0
Photoshop Express Beta
Mozilla Birthday Cake
Palm stuff
Adobe Lightroom 1.1

 


Follow us on Twitter!

Flickr Pool

www.flickr.com

Most Commented On (7 days)

Recent Comments

More Tech Coverage

AOL Radio