Skype version 3.0 arrives on Android devices: Microsoft login, refreshed tablet UI (hands-on)

Skype version 3.0 arrives on Android devices: Microsoft login, refreshed tablet UI (hands-on)

Arriving just after its debut on Windows Phone 8, Skype's updated its Android app, with a focus on improving the tablet experience. Surely thanks to improved Google tablet sales, Skype references that it's optimized the new UI for the Galaxy Tab 2, the Nexus 7 and ASUS' Transformer Prime, among a few others. Menus and navigation are both repurposed to make use of the extra space, and while the navigation home screen still exists on the phone version (which hasn't changed, design-wise), you'll be staring at your contact list most of the time when using it on a tablet. In fact a persistent tab on the left side of the screen will take you to recent calls and the base contact list, while settings, search and the phone dialer all reside in the top right corner.

Video calls are generally better with bigger slabs, offering more screen real estate to beam your friends, family and co-workers to. However, tablets aren't well known for their camera skills, and our camera output was obviously far sharper on the Note II than on the Nexus 7. Supplanting Messenger as Microsoft's chat app of choice, you'll also be able to login with (and combine) your Microsoft account and this was relatively painless on both the phone and tablet. Skype has also updated the app with its latest SILK audio codecs, attuned specifically for human speech and -- more importantly -- varying internet speeds. After some initial 'robot voice' while connecting, we soon had no issues with several international video calls through WiFi. Hardware demands for Skype's latest encompass the minimum of Android 2.1 OS and an 800MHz processor or faster and if you pass those requirements, the source below is ready to offer you the download.

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Source: Skype (Google Play)

Skype adds photo sharing to iPad and iPhone app, soups up performance for both

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Sure there are already a slew of photo sharing options for mobile apps, but those who do most of their chatting in Skype will surely welcome the addition of the feature for iOS devices. Thanks to a new update, folks utilizing the VoIP service on their iPhone and iPad will be able to send photos of any size on their mobile devices. The update also brings some boosts to overall performance, according to Skype, including faster load times and less power hogging. The update is available for devices running iOS 4.3 or later, including the 3G, 3GS, 4 and 4S over on the iPhone side of things. More info can be found in the source link below.

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Skype adds photo sharing to iPad and iPhone app, soups up performance for both originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 10:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skype iOS apps hit v4.0: improved stability, minor UI tweaks in tow

Skype iOS apps hit v4.0: improved stability, minor UI tweaks in tow

Everyone's favorite VoIP service, Skype, has rolled out a fresh update to its iPhone / iPod Touch and iPad clients. First off, the Microsoft-owned outfit added a revamped login screen to both iOS applications, and now offers the ability to move your vid preview around the screen -- much like FaceTime does. To go along with the new pair of features, Skype's changelog also notes the app will now automatically restart after a sudden crash, while other undisclosed enhancements were made to improve the overall UI, stability and accessibility. Of note, Skype v4 requires folks to be running iOS 4.3 or later. So, those of you keeping that Cupertino OS current can hit either of the iTunes links below to get the goods, or grab it from the App Store on your device.

Skype iOS apps hit v4.0: improved stability, minor UI tweaks in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skype for Windows Phone working on Nokia Lumia 610, scoffs at memory restrictions

Skype for Windows Phone working on Nokia Lumia 610, scoffs at memory requirements

Remember the unfortunate news that Skype's new Windows Phone app wasn't compatible with low-memory devices? Well, the app is now working fine with the incoming Nokia Lumia 610. After "some challenges early on", Nokia tells us that the app is primed for use when the entry-level Windows Phone eventually hits Asian store at the end of April. Now one problem remains; which color?

Skype for Windows Phone working on Nokia Lumia 610, scoffs at memory restrictions originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 05:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skype app won’t work on low-end Windows Phone devices

Skype app won't work on low-end Windows Phone devices

Buried within Skype's announcement that its app has finally graduated from beta on Windows Phone, the mention of a 512MB minimum memory requirement reveals that the Internet phone service won't -- currently -- work with the likes of Nokia's Lumia 610 and the ZTE Tania. Skype has logged this under "current issues", which we hope means the company is working tirelessly to squeeze the app into cheaper Windows Phone hardware. Other features still being worked on include Bluetooth compatibility and Skype SMS messaging support. C'mon, they're part of the family now -- can't they all just get along?

Skype app won't work on low-end Windows Phone devices originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 07:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skype for Windows Phone sheds beta title, graduates to v1.0

Skype for Windows Phone sheds beta title, graduates to v1.0

Skype's fledgling Windows Phone app broke out of beta today, adding contact searching and landline calling to it's VOIP repertoire. The update comes just shy of two months of the Beta's introduction in February, and boasts a handful of minor improvements that should keep your calls connected. You'll still be making those calls yourself, however, as the full version doesn't yet have support for receiving calls in the background -- if the app isn't running, your phone isn't ringing. Hit the source link below to update.

Skype for Windows Phone sheds beta title, graduates to v1.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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