Skype for Windows has just been refreshed to version 5.8, which includes some tasty new features such as Full HD video calling and deeper integration with social networking site Facebook.
The main addition in this upgrade is Full HD (that’s 1080p) video calling. Calls were previously limited to a lower standard of 720p, even though there are plenty of Full HD webcams on the market. Skype has acknowledged this and bumped up the video quality, so you’ll now be able to see your loved ones in crystal-clear HD quality, provided you have a Full HD webcam of course.
Integration with Facebook is also taking a step forward, as users will now be able to make video calls to Facebook friends who don’t have the Skype desktop application installed on their machines. Previously both users needed to have Skype for either Windows or Mac installed in order for this to work. The Facebook tab within Skype has now been dropped; instead your Facebook News Feed will now appear in your Skype home screen. You’ll also be able to hide Facebook Chat contacts who are offline.
The usual user interface, speed and stability improvements and bug fixes are obviously included, along with a few minor features. For instance, there’s now a simple pus-to-talk button within a chat window which allows you to manually select when you want to talk, rather than having a constant feed from your microphone.
Finally, Microsoft’s Bing search engine has been integrated into Skype to bring you a web search facility using a toolbar. Ideal for the lazy people out there, this will save you the few clicks required to open your web browser to perform a search.
If fancy trying out the latest version of Skype and it’s nifty new features, you can download it from here.
Let us know your thoughts on our comments below or via our @Gadget_Helpline Twitter page or Official Facebook group.