Skype is rolling out a major update today, one that aligns the chat service’s focus more closely with social media, going beyond mere peer-to-peer communications.
Chat is still at the core of Skype, to be sure, but now the Microsoft-owned service wants you to share with your network as much as you talk to them.
It also has a fresh new look, one that’s bursting with color, animated squiggles and graphics that pop. You’ll also notice plenty of inspiration taken from popular social networks like Snapchat and Instagram.
Here are seven important things you need to know about the next generation of Skype.
1. This is the biggest change to Skype since video
The catalyst for Skype’s transformation stems from a changed philosophy; Raghav said that while at first it was appropriate to be a peer-to-peer chat service, Skype has since shifted to a “mobile first, cloud first” strategy. Microsoft observers will note this is the tech giant’s motto of recent years.
Social media – and how users interact with the important entities in their lives – is another driving force behind Skype’s new look and features.
2. Say hello to Highlights
The new Skype introduces a brand-new feature called Highlights that lets users share the big moments from their day in one convenient reel.
Comprised of photos and videos captured by you, Highlights is in the same vein as Snapchat Stories and Instagram Stories. It’s a way to share meaningful moments (or, truthfully, probably silly recaps of your day) with whomever you like among your contacts and groups.
Not only can you add emoticons, text and other edits to your Highlights, but your contacts can also react to your post with emoticons or messages.
3. There’s greater personalization
A major change coming with the new Skype is greater personalization. Right off the bat you’re asked to select a theme, and from there you can customize the aesthetics of your personal Skype experience with different hues.
Personalization extends to conversations, too. Skype is all about reactions, specifically with emoji, so you can let the people you’re talking to know exactly how you feel with icons that appear next to a message or within a video call.
4. The camera comes to life (with Snapchat inspiration)
In the new Skype, the camera is fully integrated into the app. It’s now always a right swipe away from within a chat on your phone, letting you snap a photo or video and immediately share it or save for later. You can also select the Capture panel to quickly get into your camera.
Faster access isn’t all Skype’s camera has added, however. There are also new editing features to add text annotations, stickers and filters.
Skype doesn’t go as far as Snapchat with its new photo customizations, but it’s clearly had an eye on what the ephemeral chat service and Facebook Messenger have been up to when it comes to dressing up photos and videos with effects.
5. Find more, do more
As previously mentioned, a new Find panel in Skype wants to be your all-in-one resource for information you can turn around and put into your chats.
Swipe left from inside a chat and you’re taken to the Find section. Here, you can do a Bing web search without leaving the app and browse images, movies and restaurants. Any images, movie details or restaurant blurb you find can be shared in a chat with a quick tap.
Add-ins and bots also live in the Find tab. You can search for a gif in Giphy or a clip on YouTube or a BigOven recipe and easily share it into a chat.
6. It's a bit confusingWhile Skype has been rebuilt from the ground up with a fresh new look and smartly integrated features, it may prove a bit confusing at first. There is a lot going on, and navigating inside the app and using all of its features may not come easy to all.
It didn’t for us, however as with most things, extended use allowed us to tease out features we initially didn't realize were there and grow accustomed to the what’s new.
If you’re not a regular Skype user, you may experience the same learning curve, though even seasoned users will be faced with new icons, tabs and an overall shake-up that takes getting used to.
This is especially stressful on a call when you’re on camera but swiping around the app or trying to take a photo or write a message on the screen. For those who like a simple, streamlined chat service, the new Skype could be feature overload.
Skype may have gone a bit overboard trying not to seem outdated in a world run by Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram by adding so much, though it does attempt to maintain its identity as a chat platform first (the Chat panel is always front and center, for one).
7. The new Skype starts rolling out today
The big question: When can you get it?
The answer is the new Skype is rolling out today, first on mobile and then desktop. There are some caveats, however.
Android users will get the new Skype first, followed by iPhone. The new desktop version will roll out to Windows and Mac in the summer, and full availability will be completed by the fall.
Source:TechRadar
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