We’re always happy to hear about a new release of Skype, still the world’s most popular way to send and recieve voice calls and text and picture messages. Microsoft has just released the new version 6.5 for both Windows desktop (Windows 7 and older) as well as Apple’s Mac OS X.
The update brings improved video messaging to both platforms (this feature is still in preview). Windows users will notice improved stability and functionality as well as improved notifications that take a page from the version of the app available for Windows 8. Macs, meanwhile, received simplified video messaging with the removal of the title and description areas as well as background optimizations.
Sending and receiving friend requests on Skype for Windows desktop has also gotten a lot easier, with the notifications front and center in your IM window. Meanwhile, Macs received the ability to copy and paste a number directly into the dial pad. Additional bug fixes for each OS are listed below.
Windows desktop:
- File transfer: Cancel all doesn’t cancel file transfers, upon cancel of file transfer the transfer shows as successfully completed, and when one participant accepted file transfer the sender could not cancel the transfer.
- Network issues: Upon connection lost, no notification in call toolbar that the call was lost.
- Keyboard navigation: Add phone number not accessible with keyboard.
- Stability: Skype hangs when selecting offline contact and clicking on call phone, Skype crashes for some users upon exiting, and Skype crashes for some users when tried to send a file.
OS X:
- Contact: Scroll bar did not display when sending multiple contacts, could drag & drop contacts who are already existing participants in the conversation, call toolbar + button contextual menu items were live after sending contact request, and call duration history was incorrectly displayed.
- Conversation: Chat input field switched to SMS mode when adding PSTN numbers to new conversation, and ‘Check Spelling While Typing’ setting was not saved.
- Generic: Detached conversation window did not open automatically after restarting Skype.
- File Transfer: Received file saved in Download folder when custom download folder was not discovered, and file transfer control buttons not presented after reconnection.
- Preferences: Skype froze when a user switched the ringing output to all devices from USB headset.
As for when the video messaging preview feature would be finalized, Microsoft has not discussed this yet, and it’s likely to extend beyond Build, where the company will unveil its newest version of Windows — Windows 8.1 — as well as (hopefully) an upcoming Windows Phone release.