‘Four Rooms for Improvement’
Four major changes, in fact, are particularly notable in the new release, Cimmino explained. First is a new Conversations View–easily disabled for those who don’t like it–that lets users track all of their chats in a unified window.
Also debuting in Skype 4.0 for Linux is a new Call View, he pointed out.
Call quality has been improved, Cimmino added, as has video call quality, which has also gained extended support for more cameras.
Among the smaller tweaks and improvements in the new software are improved chat synchronization, new presence and emoticon icons, the ability to store and view phone numbers in a Skype contact’s profile, and more.
A World of Alternatives
There’s no denying Microsoft has been making increasing overtures to users of Linux and open source software lately–witness its recent revised stance on Visual Studio Express 2012, for example.
At this point, however, I’m not sure there are many Linux users who feel the need for Skype anymore, particularly now that Microsoft is in charge and now that we have offerings including Google+ chat and hangouts and Google Talk with video.
There are, of course, numerous more open alternatives as well, as I pointed out last year, including Ekiga and others.
What’s your take on this? If you use Linux, will you give the new Skype a try? Please sound off in the comments.
