For years, Skype has been the go-to app for online video calls. But today, the options are many. And during the COVID-19 crisis, during which we saw an explosion of remote working, people turned more to apps like Zoom to work remotely. Instead of putting on this good old Skype, Microsoft has, for its part, put forward its Microsoft Teams application.
Today, Skype is therefore in the background. But while Google has abandoned its Duo and Hangout apps to focus on Google Meet (its Zoom competitor), Microsoft refuses to let Skype disappear. Indeed, the Redmond firm continues to update and offer new features for the app. And recently, it also presented a redesign of the mobile version.
“From the loading experience when you open Skype to the first steps that get you started in the app, we’ve updated the entire product experience with new artwork, animated emoticons, new performance and reliability + bug fixes »Microsoft explains, about this great Skype update. “We’re even bringing back some clouds from the good old days!” The new experience should be very familiar and at the same time fresh and modern.
An aesthetic update and great novelties
First, Microsoft has updated Skype so that the mobile app has a more modern look. This concerns the colors of the application, in particular thanks to the arrival of new themes that the user can choose. And the colors chosen will be more visible, so the app looks more alive, overall. The firm has also thought about accessibility, in the choice of colors for some of these themes.
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As for the calls, Microsoft has also updated the interface of these, taking inspiration from the interface already available on the web and desktop versions. Skype today allowing to make calls with 100 participants, the idea is also to allow people to control these calls thanks to a more ergonomic design. In addition to the interface changes, Microsoft also mentions technical improvements to make calls more stable.
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News and translation on Skype
One of Skype’s biggest new features is the new “Today” tab. Microsoft wants that in addition to calls, the application is also used to inform itself. Today, the user will find topical content, including articles, from trusted sources. No subscription is required, and the articles will be available directly on the application. In addition, the content displayed on this feed can be personalized.
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Another great novelty: a new translation system. In essence, this new system can translate Skype calls into audio. And according to Microsoft, these real-time audio translations will make the caller feel like it’s your voice.
Otherwise, like other messaging services, Skype now has a QR code-based system that allows you to quickly share your profile.
