The Blog known as Skype-watch.com, Skype-gadgets.com.

Skype beta 4: confusing "email address added to profile

Skype 4 beta: a confusing "email address added to profile" notice ...

Skype 4.0 Beta 2 with built-in support for multiple Skype accounts.

Somebody noticed that a) Skype 4.0 Beta 2 runs pretty stable on Windows Vista 64 and b) has built-in support for managing multiple Skype accounts! With the help of this feature, you could for example set up a private account and a business account and use both of them at the same time, using the same Windows user account. The setup is straightforward and explained on here : Simultaneously using multiple accounts with Skype 4.0

Most horrendous, crappiest UI-s that are in all other aspects unusable tend to follow this active/disabled textbox convention. Until Skype 4.

I could not agree more when reading this on Jaanus Kase his blog on the topic of thee message entry box, the main control for carrying out text conversations, looking like it is disabled? : "As far as I know, it is a Windows convention (and also a Mac, Web and generally every other UI I have seen) that active text boxes have a white background, and disabled textboxes have a gray background. And yes, you can violate all conventions if you have a good enough reason that justifies the cost. But even the most horrendous, crappiest UI-s that are in all other aspects unusable tend to follow this active/disabled textbox convention. Until Skype 4."  source : Skype 4 beta: the (non-)disabled message entry box mystery.

Skype developers have attempted to address that with a compact choice, along with changing the way contacts are grouped, and making notifications stand out more

After waiting all summer, Skype users finally have a new version of the Internet telephony software—Skype 4.0 beta 2. Based on feedback from 50,000 testers of Skype 4.0 beta 1, the company has made interface changes and fixed some bugs. When Beta 1 launched, a good portion of users cried foul at its much larger main program window. This time around, Skype developers have attempted to address that with a compact choice, along with changing the way contacts are grouped, and making notifications stand out more. Read the Skype 4.0 Beta 2 for Windows full review

Skype beta 2. Version 4.0.0.168.

 

Minor update. Download page. Version 4.0.0.168. File size 24 MB. Beta release. Release date: October 15, 2008. File name: SkypeSetup-Beta.exe. Update to Extras Manager, 22 bugfixes as report by http://www.skypecheerleaders.com/ - wrong, I mean www.skypejournal.com on Skype 4.0 Beta 2 for Windows build 168

I am currently using the older less overloaded 3.8.0.180 - WITHOUT the Skype extra plugin manager and the other plugins that creep into Firefox.exe or Iexplore.exe.

 

Skype 4.0. beta 2, a sequel to the horror story (a la frankenstein) of Skype 4.0. beta 1 ? Directed by Skype and Produced by Ebay. Ratings will follow. Online Video PR provided by Skype Windows Product Development.

Remember those great horror movies from the 1980-ties that produced sequential series ? Sometimes if the first version was not so successful (check the 15 Worst Horror Sequels of All Time). the second was created anyways, since there is always a (marginal) audience that will come and take a look...

It comes down to teams that tried harder believing the second version still would catch on. In most cases of such movies, if the second version was even worse than the first flopped version, then the third version would not even be released. Let's hope Skype understand this... Maybe they are stuck at version 4. Don't know yet. They are still mumbling in their video "making the Skype beta 2 even better than version 1... While it was agreed that version 1 of the version 4 was a big mistake. I must congratulate the current Skype for Windows Product Manager Mike Bartlett  on how for smoothly present mistake made as "not so good presented features"... Good public relations again. Instead of simply saying "hey the skype beta 4,v1 was not good, here we have something better..." We'll see, we'll see. Currently I can only find Version 4.0.0.161 File size 24 MB. Beta release. Release date: August 14, 2008. File name: SkypeSetup-Beta.exe

 

Here is the Skype beta 1 accouncement by Skype (smooth software PR) :

And here is the Skype beta 2 accouncement by Skype (smoother software PR) :

Skype 4.0 Beta 2 for Windows
by SkypeConversations

More to be said when the new version Skype beta 4 take 2 is released for download.

Skype 4.0. / beta 2 : changelog and download it soon, when Estonia releases it...

WindowsSkype/ReleaseNotes - Skype Developer Zone

Nothing visible yet on http://share.skype.com/sites/garage/skype_for_windows_beta/
They are all still talking about the 4.0.0.161 version. Does not seem to be the latest version.

Release notes are also still at 4.0.0.161 https://developer.skype.com/WindowsSkype/ReleaseNotes

It's annoying to see something announced and then it's not really there...

download Skype 4.0 for Windows Beta 2 here but not yet it seems... 11.50 am in Malaysia now...wednesday 1 october 2008.

Video by Skype staff on Skype 4.0. beta 2 : good public relations.

Listen and see what they have to say :

Skype 4.0 Beta 2 for Windows
by SkypeConversations

Skype Beta 4 release difficult to use, due to weaknesses in presentation, navigation, structure and functionality

"A usability study by Cimex has revealed Skype’s new Beta release may prove difficult to use, due to weaknesses in presentation, navigation, structure and functionality. The aim of this study was to capture the users’ expectations, needs and preferences, all of which we believe can be used as a base to create a more engaging, efficient and effective Skype application."  source.

Download the Usability Study of Skype 4.0

Skype 4.0.150 beta update remains the most despised new user interface? Nothing has changed.

No comments, really, boring stuff. I refuse to give any more attention to it, than is already described here. I think like this the "forward" going path of the Skype development (at least this part) is nothing but the expression of a development team on the loose, due to lack of direction, which is mostly due to lack of proper leadership. And if that is not the case, well then read what the skype cheerleaders have to say (lately nothing more than talking about casing for Blackberry's and waiting at stores in Canada to buy an Iphone... - it's called personal blogging...) and basically the impression has already been given...

A bad case of featuritis on the loose. Maybe they should simplys skip the skype 4.0. beta project and go to beta 5.0. I would certainly recommend the development to give up on creating such bloated interfaces... Congratulations to the geniusses who came up with that dead duck... Why not just write a public statement and say "we made a mistake, we don't know how it happened, the UI of the skype beta 4.0. sucks, but we'll make a better different version." Are there then no voices inside the skype team that dear to speak up and change course ? Or has the company culture changed in all corporate bullocks instead of choosing the right path ?

Maybe I should close this blog alltogether, nobody is making any interesting skype samples anyways, and I got fed up waiting for the 3skypephone that never came.

Maybe I should just go out there and buy and Apple Iphone.

See also ; Skype 4.0 Beta 1 for Windows - Skype Blogs

Mike Bartlett on Skype 4.0 Beta 1 for Windows functionality.

Skype 4.0 Beta 1 for Windows18 Jun 2008 by Mike Bartlett 
" Over the years, we've added a lot of richness and functionality to Skype. It's no longer just a little piece of software for making free calls. Our video calling experience, now enjoyed on over a quarter of all Skype to Skype calls."

My take : remove the featuritis. Featuritis refers to keeping adding features that don't make sense.

Somebody rushing to the toilet to throw up after installing Skype 4.0.

Jamie Watson surely uses interesting visual comparisons to express his disgust with the Skype 4.0. interface.. So basically everytime I read something "negative" about Skype and I see the name ZDNET next to I think it is coming from Jamie Watson... But not this one :

Monday 23 June 2008, 1:54 PM

Skype 4.0 Ugh!!!! what have they done to what was a good looking program

Posted by a1gjv

I have just downloaded the new Skype 4.0 Beta to see what it looked like. The next thing I did after that was rush to the toilet to throw up because what hit me in the face when it started was an absolute monster of a program.