Review | Skype 4.0 BETA

It’s all about free calls, free video calls and free IM… anywhere in the world. It’s Skype.

This is my review, highlighting Skype 4.0 features.

I have been using Skype now for a while and when I heard there was a Skype 4 in development, I did what anyone else would have done… I signed up for the BETA!

There are some quite drastic changes in Skype 4.0, namely in the user interface. Some of these I am keen on and some not so keen but I have been dropping my feedback to the Skype team in hope they take heed.

So without further ado, a Zen Elements review of Skype 4.0 BETA.

Aesthetics:
Skype have kept the 4.0 interface a simple and clean design with some soft gradients added in which I like. Nothing worse than having graphics clutter up an application, especially like this.

Skype have used a two-column structure which works well, keeping conversation and activity separate from the main contacts and information display. The only downside to the two-columns however is the width of the main application, it is quite bloody wide. Heck though, widescreen monitors and larger resolutions hold it none too badly.

One thing I am noticing though is little or no customization options for the interface, which is something I did at times like to play about with. It is not such a biggie anyway and I am assuming that with the new interface, there is just less area for customization.

Function & Features:
The adaptability is given to users to separate individual conversations, or keep everything neatly contained in the one application window. This I believe (perhaps while often working with to many applications already…) is a very positive feature to have in the 4.0 development.

Skype 4.0 also shows next to the users avatar four options for different pieces of information (Avatar, Location, Telephone Numbers and Information). My favorite of these is by far ‘Show Location’ which also displays the time, calculated by your systems clock, of the person you are talking to.

The little slider shown left is a nice little thing that will hide the above information to display a larger chat area. This is useful when trying to find something said half way up through a two hour + conversation. It does remind me somewhat of the iPhones unlock slider though.

Should any implications occur during an IM conversation and a message is not recieved over the Skype network, a little graphic/text based message is displayed in real-time next to each message until it is succesfully sent.

We still have the little writing hand to indicate when the other user is typing something in the conversation however it has been placed at the bottom in a way that it jumps the full conversation above up and down, making it difficult to read.

Lastly, something small that I was happy to see in Skype 4.0. When on a video call, users can now scale both videos in the application so you can see more clearly, what the other person is seeing of you. (Perhaps doing a fluid like dance, @thoughtwrong)

Positives (In my opinion)

• Adaptable GUI (+/- conversation windows)
• Information displayed more inline with conversation
• Resizing on both videos

Negatives (In my opinion)

• Backward Compatibility *
• ‘User Typing’ jumps the conversation up/down
• Main applications width is a little extreme

*I’ve been experiencing some issues where I’m unable to connect call/video(s) from Skype 4.0 (BETA) to previous versions. This may just be happening to me however but please let me know if you’ve been experiencing the same problems and I will update with the news.

Final Bit:

I feel that Skype have again developed a nice little application, implimenting a great user interface that is rich with features, old and new.

I am looking forward to the fully implemented Skype 4.0 being released but if you would like to play around with the BETA until then (maybe help the Skype team out with feedback too) just click here