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Skype 5 for Mac Exits Beta, Group Video Calling Now Premium Feature

Skype 5: Not Ready for Prime time

The app promptly crashes on launch - not sure why. Overall I think Skype is a GREAT service with many excellent features - but this version is not ready - not sure how it got this far in the development cycle what with such a large negative response coming from every direction.

If I were the Skype mgmt, I would say, "We hear you!" - yankn the thing back - and come out with something that is less of a series of answers to unasked questions.
 
bedifferent said:
iChat communicates with a plethora of accounts, such as AIM, Gmail/GoogleTalk, etc. I've used iChat to video conference non-OS X users for years through their AIM or Gmail accounts.
Click to expand...

You're a lucky guy then. Most of my friends use Yahoo, MSN, or Skype for text & video chat. My wife is the only person I know who uses AIM, and no one I know uses Google Talk.
 
Skype 5 is total crap!

It is awful is too many ways to count... I struggled with the Beta for a few days and then reverted to the previous version.

My problems were not Beta-related either... I think they are going in a totally wrong direction with their already bloated and confusing app.

And not they want to charge for video group calling? Sure if they fell like it... I won't use it for that so I don't care.
 
Skype for MAC

I was interested in installing the new Skype for Mac. So I downloaded it and installed it. Always crashed before it would completely open. Deleted and downloaded and installed it again. Same result.

I have OSX 10.6.6. What's the problem guys.
 
The current release isn't that bad compared to the beta, but still far from perfect.

In any case, will be installing this into my personal Application folder to trial for the next few days to see if I can live with 5.0; or go back to 2.8.
 
The UI is slightly better than the Beta.

But why on earth does so little take up so much space? Why do we have to have the Recent section? Why do I have to see all those enormous contact entries? This thing is horrible.
 
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What version 0f 2.8 are you staying with?

I think I will stay with version 2.8.0.863 which I have installed but I see there is a newer version 2.8.0.866 I wonder if there is any point in updating to this version?
 
As a Windows user, I'm gonna speculate that Skype will eventually force you to upgrade to v5 regardless of whether your want it or not. That was my unpleasant experience; it started installing the new version and wouldn't let me quit. Trying to downgrade Skype required more work than what i was willing to do (involved replacing a certain setup file in a directory to kill it from upgrading).
 
video conference feature a paid premium, Thats bull *****. people say Mac is better well to me looks like its not that much if you have to pay for the same feature from the same company that's free on windows.
 
That new UI is ridiculous. It makes we wonder, if Skype wants us to get used to the big screen estate it occupies, just to fill it up with ads and other cr@p later like in the windows version.

And that contact list.. LOL. So much useless white in between the contacts - must be the Moby Dick version :rolleyes:
 
I used the beta and quickly deleted it and went back to the old version. It's very strange and depressing that their programmers think the new version is good software.
 
I've been using Skye for years when I have to go abroad, and it's slowly but steadily getting more and more expensive, my last trip away I couldn't believe how much calls are now. Now group video monthly sub?? they have totally lost the plot, time for a new rival I think to re-capture this market.

Any better alternatives to Skype? I have enough of them now.
 
Unbelievable.

I agree that it's insulting and straight-out arrogant of Skype to ask users for feedback, completely ignore it and then say they took the suggestions on-board.

The UI is horrible. Some of the worst design I've seen in a long time.

Get it together Skype.
 
The new UI is egregious ... The fact that it has only changed this much after all the negative feedback about it shows just how little the Skype team understand how people use their program.

Viva le 2.8!
 
This is uglier than the itunes 10 logo. :p Or have you guys already forgotten about that one? At least the skype logo looks neato.


I'm kidding.


I downloaded the beta and it was huge! And that's even with my 2 monitors! I quickly redownloaded Skype 2.8 and i'm probably not updating again until it gets as small (or smaller) than 2.8. And WTF? Premium package? I guess I'll be using iChat for conference calls now. I'd rather they put Ads somewhere than have us pay for conference calls.
 
Amazing that they had the chance to get it right in beta, everyone complained about the UI, then they obnoxiously change it about 1% (and make a video saying they listened?) and call it a final release. I have no problem with paying for a feature I am going to use but this UI is so bad that it makes this version unusable so I won't be subscribing and nor will other members of my organization. They had it right before with he previous versions, everyone like little tiny 'app' type contact lists packed with as much info as possible (because people MULTITASK) so ditching that and forcing users to have skype as their main window is just plain foolish, look at the response Skype.
 
One thing that annoys me, (it might be illegal) is the "Unlimited calling".

Its not unlimited. The fair use policy may be reasonable, but "unlimited" is unlimited!
 
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