Skype has just released Skype 2.8 Beta for Mac offering two new features that aren’t currently available on Skype for Windows which includes Skype Access - a pay by the minute WiFi access via Boingo hotspots using Skype Credit, and Screen Sharing which which allows you to share your screen also with Skype for Windows and Skype for Linux users, who won’t be able to share their screens yet. While the metered wifi access sounds great it may not catch on at the price of $0.19/minuteor $11.40/hour. I think what's more compelling is the screen sharing application which evolves Skype beyond video chat client to more of an online collaboration tool.See Dan York's detailed post on the new features as well his video demonstration below.
Other new features
- Improved chat management: you can sort chats in the drawer and set priorities to chats
- Quick Add: it’s now much easier to add people to chats
- Mood message chat: see mood message updates from your friends as chat messages similar to a mood messages like Twitter, chat prioritization and a number of other options
- Large profile pictures: just like Skype 4.0 Beta 2 for Windows, you can now use images of up to 256 x 256 pixels
- Hidden avatars in incoming contact requests: a small minority of Skype users have profile pictures which others may find unpleasant, and so they’re now hidden by default in contact requests
- Add notes to contacts: you can add notes to a contact in their profile window – handy for keeping track of who’s who.
Download the new Beta now – and read the Skype blog for more details.
