Hello? Hello! Skype, popular VOIP provider, has a troubled past with user interface and experience on the Mac. It’s been pretty bumpy. This week, they’re hoping to move in the right direction by releasing a beta of version 5.5.
Here’s what Krishna Panicker, the Product Manager for the Mac version of Skype had to say about the beta:
This update includes improved Call UI, the ability to accept incoming calls with or without video and improvements in call quality and stabilization. The improved discoverability of Skype’s Call allows Mac users to easily mute their microphone, send video, share their screen, send files and even add more people during a call.
Stability and UI refinements are great — no argument there — but we’re not exactly seeing big changes yet. When Skype 5 came out for the Mac, it received a lot of criticism about the quality of the design and perceived bugginess. About a year later, we’re still dealing with a lot of those same issues. A lot of things have happened to the company since then, and now maybe we’ll see the corrections we’ve been wanting.
What do you think? Is Skype in trouble under Microsoft, or is it finally getting some fresh air? Sound off in the comment section, and let’s talk about the future of Skype.
Source: Skype Blog
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The Skype for Mc v5.x GUI fails on so many levels it's difficult to know where to start. So they haven't...
Even the control bar on their new Call UI looks clunky and awkward. FFS, it's really not that dificult. Have a look at how Apple have done it in Quicktime, and copy that!
If they're going to stick with the God-awful giant window approach, at least have a look at the new AIM for Mac Beta, take some design cues from sparrow, mix it up with some Lion pixie-dust, and give us something that doesn't suck.
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Likev5 UI=FAIL
v5.5 UI=still FAIL
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LikeYAY new call UI! /sarcasm
What about the rest? The contact list, the entire thing?
The redesign did nothing but increase the visual footprint of the app, which made me less likely to leave it on my desktop.
No list view, only tiles, not for me.
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