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Microsoft Needs To Fix Skype (theverge.com)

Posted by msmash on from the skype-woes dept.

It's no secret that Microsoft has long stopped caring about Skype for Linux. But the VoIP and instant messaging service isn't exactly working well on other platforms either. Microsoft reporter and critic Tom Warren lists a number of issues he continues to face on Skype. These issues include infrequent restarts, too many update prompts, and just having to deal with the unimpressive user interface that Skype throws at everyone's face. "I'm not sure what Microsoft has done to Skype, but it sucks now," he writes. Warren adds: Recently, friends and family have started experiencing some of the many issues I experience, including calls simply not connecting properly and every device in a home ringing non-stop even when a call is activated. Microsoft had promised to fix notifications blasting out to both your desktop machine and mobile, but I still frequently receive them in real-time on multiple devices. [...] I regularly have to restart the app just to make a call, or have my microphone detected correctly. This isn't a single device with driver issues, it's consistent across machines. I can't even scroll up and down on the contacts section of the Skype app with my trackpad, it just doesn't work. Those are bugs that should be easy to address, but Microsoft has also struggled to get the UI right with Skype.

4 of 224 comments (clear)

  1. Skype for Business by AntronArgaiv · · Score: 4, Informative

    Recently, my copy of Skype for Business has been terminating abruptly. This is on my PC at work, maintained by my company. I can understand Microsoft not maintaining the Linux or "home" version of Skype, but I would expect their business version to be robust and reliable.

    Guess not. I wish I could say I'm surprised by this.

  2. The problem by IWantMoreSpamPlease · · Score: 4, Informative

    As I see it, was that Skype, as created, didn't need any "tweaking" it was basically done. It did what it needed to do, and it did it well. No fuss, no muss, no issues.

    Naturally, MS had to come in and fuck it up.
    I mean, improve upon it.

    Now it barely works and is stuffed full of shit no one wants or needs.
    In other words, standard MS practice.

    --
    So rise up, all ye lost ones, as one, we'll claw the clouds.
  3. Re:Skype for Business by iampiti · · Score: 5, Informative

    Fun fact: Skype for Business' executable file is still named lync.exe

  4. Re:Clarify? DOS competed with Mac, of course by NormalVisual · · Score: 4, Informative

    and for PCs we had GEM long before windows. Not sure about Amiga and Atari ST, if they were not before windows they certainly were very close in time.

    GEM (February), Windows (November), the Amiga (July), and the ST (June) all came out in 1985.

    --
    Please stand clear of the doors, por favor mantenganse alejado de las puertas