Skype has just released a new beta version (3.0) for Windows, which adds new and very interesting functionalities to this ground breaking software.
As in the present official version 2.5, Skype Beta 3.0 for Windows lets you check out and join live Skypecasts from the main window, with no need to point to Skype's website. In this beta release the access to Skypecasts has indeed improved and with few clicks you can also create your own Skypecast.
The most outstanding feature is, indeed, the capability to use many extras within Skype, with no need to download them separately. Among the most popular plug-ins there are Pamela Call Recorder and Unyte for application sharing.
Other improved features are SMS and chat history view, along with major customization capabilities. Skype Beta 3.0 new interface is even more user friendly because it lets you have almost all the controls in the same place.
Here are the details:
Live Skypecasts Tab
With the present official version of Skype (2.5) it is already possible to check out which Skypecasts are on air and join them straight from the main window of Skype. This feature works indeed better with Skype Beta 3.0, as you simply need to click on the "Live" tab and pick the ones that interest you most. You can also create your own Skypecast from the "Live" tab. Skypecasts can host up to 100 participants and are free to join and to create (read our review on MasterNewMedia to know more). It is also possible to embed links to Skypecasts from any webpages.
Public chats
Public Chats allow Skype Beta 3.0 users to create and join large text chatrooms that work much like IRC chatrooms. Public Chats moderators can direct conversation topics, kick users, and determine who can participate in chats. Links to Public Chat can be included on web pages, allowing people to jump into conversations via Skype, thus opening the doors to a better interaction with the Web.
Extras for Skype
The new beta release comes with a very powerful feature, which is the one that allows you to use the most popular and Skype-certified plug-ins with no need to download them separately: the are in fact integrated with Skype and very easy to access. Some of these add-ons are already well known and here are few names: Pamela (call recorder for Skype), Unyte (for application sharing), TalkAndWrite (for collaborative editing), Pando (for file sharing). Also included in the list of the extras, there are several games that you can play while chatting on Skype. All the available add-ons are mostly free to use.
Other improvements
- The interface of Skype Beta 3.0 looks very clean with bigger buttons and easily accessible commands.
- The SMS feature is better integrated
- History chat is now visible within any contacts' chat window
- Browser extention allows you to click to call ordinary phone numbers on any website
- It is now possible to share your favorite links in your mood message, as they are clickable.
Download
Skype is freely downloadable for Windows (official release 2.5, beta release 3.0), Mac (official release 2.0 with video call support) and Linux (official release 1.3)
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