Skype is making some major changes. The preview gave a glimpse at the changes that are coming in 2012, including a focus on speed and reliability, design improvements, and other enhancements. One thing that is changing is the design of video calls, which Skype calls the "call stage". There are new layouts and themes in the works. While you are on a call you will be able see your face on the main view. However, you can hide your feed to avoid seeing your own face.
To avoid people being reduced to a minimal view, video feeds will be rearranged into a grid. All participants, even those not sharing video, will be visible. The top bar will also show larger video feeds.
Skype
There are many viewing options available for the call stage: speaker view, grid view and a large gallery. You can also use Together Mode to make it appear like everyone is in the same place. You can choose to exclude people sharing video in the grid, or turn off the entire video stream. Audio-only participants can choose to use the app's background images as a replacement for grey nothingness while on a call.
The new features include gradients for buttons and users without avatars. Skype says that the beauty of the left panel screams "art, balance, and lightness" giving it its best Apple impression.
Skype
Skype has also redesigned Meet Now, which allows users to join calls without installing or signing up. New invitation links will be available. Invitees will now see your name and avatar. It claims that it will soon be compatible with all browsers.
Skype is also working to improve performance. Skype claims that it has improved performance in key scenarios by nearly a third of the desktop app and over 2,000% on Android. New features include custom notification sounds and an updated reaction window, which allows you to respond faster by searching or using pin reactions.
You can also use Office Lens to share photos, scanned documents and videos via the Skype mobile app. TwinCam, a new feature that allows you to add a video feed from another device to your call, is called TwinCam. This could come in handy if your pet is being displayed, or if you wish to let students see your textbook as well as your face. To get started, simply scan the QR code using your iOS or Android phone.
