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Microsoft Is Disabling Older Versions of Skype For Mac and Windows On March 1 (venturebeat.com)
If you're using an older, outdated version of Skype, you may want to consider updating soon. Microsoft said today that starting on March 1 people will no longer be able to sign in to version 7.16 of Skype for Window desktop and older versions, and version 7.18 of Skype for Mac and older versions thereof. VentureBeat reports: "If you're one of those users, all you'll need to do is download the new update," the Skype team said in a blog post. This isn't the first time Skype is retiring old software. But that doesn't mean the upcoming move won't rankle some people. Version 7.18 of Skype for Mac and version 7.16 of Skype for Windows both came out less than a year and a half ago -- in December 2015. So it's not as if this is very old software. Still, Microsoft has been doing a lot to improve Skype in the past year. It's been migrating the app to its Azure public cloud infrastructure, and adding chatbots. Current versions of Skype -- like version 7.44 for Mac -- come with amenities like better previews of websites and better support for emoticons and other content in the input box for chats. "We've poured our energy and passion into creating something truly special, and this is just the beginning," Skype said.
I've noticed recent Skype versions come with ads and with a request to look at all your computer's contacts. That's reason enough to stop older versions from working, as far as they are concerned.
Is it just me, or is everything turning to shit?
It seems like every service, site, and program I use is steadily being degraded, feature-ized and/or monetized until it's a steaming pile of shit.
FFS, just leave stuff alone for a change. Stop "improving" everything until it no longer works. I'm so sick of this shit.
Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
I still have an old version "just in case" I need to reach some old acquaintances. Last time I opened it up was about a year ago.
With this new "development" I guess it's time to move on and say bye bye skype, stupid chimps at microsoft have finally gotten to you.
RIP skype.
I'm still on 6.x. If they disable that, that is the end of my adventure with Skype. A chat window must be small, no sidebars, no conversation bubbles, no huge profile pics, because I keep it open on the desktop the whole time.