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New Skype for Pocket PC Released - New Features |
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Skype 2.1 for Pocket PC has been released today and includes many new features with more on the way.
The PocketPC PDA's running either Windows Mobile 5 or Windows Mobile 2003 software can support the new "Skype for Mobile" software, and the same device requirements apply in general - the device should have a CPU running at least 400MHz for most reliable operation.
As usual with Skype software releases there are many forward steps but also some steps backwards, some features available in the previous version 2.0 which has been around since January have been lost while many others have been gained.
Both versions are downloadable on the Skype.com website, while the new 2.1 version is in public Beta for feedback and wider testing in the PocketPC (PPC) PDA user community.
As always, you can call phones if you have "SkypeOut" credit topped up, and you can do so directly from your Pocket "Contacts" by tapping and holding a number and selecting "Call with Skype". You can as always speak free of charge to other Skype users, whether on PC, Mac or PPC. You can send and receive chat messages.
So what's new in "Skype for Mobile" 2.1?
The most important upgrade would be that now you can take part in "Multi-Chat" sessions, meaning you can have text conferences with multiple users as has been available on Skype for Windows PC for a long time now, and you can also as ever participate in conference calls whilst now you can see all those in the call with you on the call tab display.
The user interface has been completely reworked, there is a new start tab (somewhat erroneously named "Status" tab as we shall see), that gives an oversight of your current SkypeOut balance and SkypeIn numbers, if you subscribe to those services, as well as allowing you to quickly display your "mood message" and change your online status. The number of Skype users currently online around the world and the number of unread messages or voicemails is also conveniently displayed on this tab.
Other new features include the ability to change call forwarding (albeit for now just to one number unlike three in parallel as in the PC version) and whether or not to forward missed or rejected calls to Voice Mail. Privacy options are also available, although there appear to be some bugs in that incoming SkypeIn calls that do not display numbers are rejected.
The history tab has also been completely reworked, and quick filtering works which is very nice and handy for tapping a few letters to find all calls or messages to or from a particular contact.
With all these nice and welcome new features, what has now been lost, what "backward steps" that so often plague new releases of software?
The most noticeable and annoying would be the inability to set your status quickly from one always-visible spot: previously on the lower task bar. Now, you will have to click through to the "status" tab, and then once more click to change your status, the change appearing a little sluggish in addition to this somewhat inconvient procedure.
You can change your status from within chats, but this is in a somewhat illogical location, on the chat title bar where space is already at a premium and where you would think this indicates the status perhaps of your chat partner.
Other annoyances or missing features that were available in the past, include that there is now no nifty incoming chat notification if you are not running the Skype program in the foreground, for example if you are on your Today or Home screen, you will just see a flag. Before, you would see the start of the message and hear a boing sound (optional, but currently not working) and be able to ignore, or chat with that person after seeing at a glance what the message is about.
Also, you will no longer receive incoming call notification with the "Ignore" option - very useful if you don't want to signal your caller that you are rejecting them or sending them immediately to voicemail, but still want to mute the sound of the ringing while you carry on your work or play.
There are still a few usability issues that we consider illogical in addition to the above mentioned absence of changing your status from the always-visible task bar. Quite why this is, when other icons like call and chat are there and there is still plenty of space, is a mystery. Usability issues include that it is still not possible to be able to use the main feauters of mobile Skype with one hand (whereas with a few small changes it would be!) and that you cannot enter into a single chat with someone from within a multi-chat.
Are there any bugs or known issues and is it worth upgrading? And what other features are in demand and may appear in subsequent releases?
Well, as always, you are advised to do a full back up of your PocketPC device on a regular basis, and more frequently of your contacts, mail and tasks. Because there are always possible (though rare) situations where your PPC may just freeze up and where the usual "soft reset" may not do the trick, forcing you to do a hard reset.
But we heartily recommend upgrading to the Beta 2.1 version for all those who are prepared to make a full backup first, to try it out and see for yourself. Many of the above mentioned new features may be those you would not want to live without after having tried them. Provided you can live with some of the above mentioned "backward steps" of course.
And as to new features in the future, this will surely depend on your feedback. The Skype Windows Mobile teams are very receptive to ideas and feature requests, so do send them in. For sure many would like to see SMS included as this is available on Windows PC Skype, or the ability to send and receive files or video. Some would also likely suggest features that would not be possible due to CPU power restrictions, for example setting up voice conferences, unless some clever way around could be found that used a target participant as the host.
One we would like to see, is the ability to mark chats as "unread" again, as these often serve as useful "task" or "to do" lists or messages that need action or answering, especially to those on the move or who use their PDA in conjunction with work. Oh, and of course, for those features hitherto available to be brough back!
So where can I found out more or download this cool program for free?
You can download either the 2.0 version or the new 2.1 Beta version or find out more information by clicking here: www.skype.com/download/skype/mobile/
Submitted Date: Aug 18, 2006
Source: Mathaba.Net
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