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Mar 19

New Skype Windows Phone 8 App Update Brings HD Video Support

Skype has released a new Windows Phone 8 app update today. The new Skype for Windows Phone 8 version 2.4 brings HD video calling support for high end devices. These devices include the likes of Nokia Lumia 920, HTC 8X and the Samsung Ativ S. The HD video calling feature works on hardware acceleration on high end Windows Phone 8 devices, so low and mid range devices will be limited to VGA video. The high definition video relies on an Internet connection, this app will automatically select compatible video quality based on the strength of the internet connection. Microsoft claims that this new update improves video call quality on all devices, HD or not.

Apart from 720p HD video calling, the new Skype Windows Phone 8 app brings a couple of new updates as well. Skype contacts will now be included in the Windows Phone People Hub, thus eliminating the need to launch Skype app, as calls can be initiated straight from the People Hub. Users can now easily switch through multiple accounts as account switching has now been integrated in to the main menu of the app. The new app fixes bugs and reliability issues. The new Skype Windows Phone 8 app is now available as a free download from the Windows Phone Store.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Sideloaded Instagram On BlackBerry Z10? Don’t Sign Out!, NVIDIA Open To Licensing Its Technology To “Vertically Integrated” Companies,

Oct 29

Microsoft announces Skype app for Windows Phone 8 with new UI, deep People Hub integration (video)

Posted in: Today's Chili

Last week, if you recall, Microsoft announced Skype for Windows 8, a touch-friendly app that appeared in the Windows Store the same day Win 8 went on sale. Now, with Windows Phone 8 getting its big reveal, the company is following up with a WP8 version, which Microsoft says is coming soon. Like the new Windows 8 app, it runs in the background, delivering push notifications even when you’re looking at something else. In particular, now that Windows Phone allows for three different tile sizes, you can view the Skype tile in small, medium or large formats, with the largest displaying your latest message. (All tile sizes show an unread message count.)

There are other similarities to the Win 8 app, too, despite the fact that these phones have smaller screens. There’s a favorites list, for one, along with a shortcut that makes it easy to toggle between open IM conversations. As on Windows 8, the app is deeply integrated with the People Hub, so that Skype handles appear on contact cards and incoming Skype calls look the same as any other. On the messaging side, there’s an impressively large collection of emoticons (TMI-face, anybody?). It’s also possible to start group chats, as well as change the conversation topic. So far, it’s unclear when, exactly, the app will be available for download, but in the meantime we’ve got a short video demo waiting for you after the break.

Gallery: Skype for Windows Phone 8 screenshots