Hello,
I'm sure I'm being repetitive with everything I'm going to say, but the more people say it, the more chance of it being changed. Right? Maybe? Possibly?

First: I was completely shocked by the interface when Skype opened. It looked bloated, and its attachment to the main Skype screen was bothersome. I understand the separate window feature, but that still leaves the main window as a huge chunk of mass floating in the midst of my small screen.
Second: You went from cute to command line. I loved the old message style, with the blue and gray highlights. The separate window does bring a nice minimalistic look, but I think the style could be curvier. You could also lose the giant green call button, or at least make it opaque.
Third: The taskbar icon no longer flashes when I receive a message, but instead shows an ugly and unnoticeable [1]. I would like the flashing option back.
Fourth: A suggestion! I noticed that on Macs, whenever the contact is typing a bubble appears in the corner notifying me. The same for when I actually receive the message. I think this is a wonderfully cute and informative feature, and was sad that the new skype 3.8 update didn't include it. Windows would do well with this option.
Fifth: Closing the conversation took longer than I would have liked. Switching from Contacts to Conversation was a hassle.
Sixth: Another suggestion! Customization. Most other communication applications have in some way the ability to let users customize the skin. Skype 3.8 looked pretty fresh, but boredom ensues over time, and the background option was cute but boring (and 4.0 just looks clunky.)
Seventh: I'm not sure who, but there was a suggestion in the forum that mentioned the Photoshop interface. This would certainly do better than the ominous mass. A slick, floating window interface with options to attach and detach the windows to each other and the desktop would make things flexible and even minimalistic. Opacity options would also make things convenient.
Eighth: My boyfriend and I always type messages to each other when the other is offline, but we don't get them until THEY sign in! I think there should be a separate offline messaging system, such as that found in Yahoo! messenger.
Ninth: I'd like to option to remove or add buttons in the main windows, such as "Shop" "Directory" and "Call phones."
Tenth: I'd like the ability to use GIFS as avatars.
Eleventh: I can never play games or use whiteboards with Mac users, and this saddens me.
Twelfth: I'm always sending print screens to people. Perhaps you can integrate an option to make this easier?

If I notice any bugs, or any more things that could make Skype better than before (and definitely now), I'll be sure to make more posts. Thank You programmers for trying to make Skype a better application though. And for having someone say things like "we're listening" on these forums. It's somewhat reassuring.

edit: as soon as I closed skype to minimize it, a strange, smaller screen appeared. It's not responding, doesn't show anything, and I cant make it go away without closing skype. It's rather annoying.

This post has been edited by lilydragon393: Thu Jul 17 2008, 03:26

I had to immediately downgrade to 3.8 when I saw skype was full screen.

I have a tiny 12 inch laptop screen I would rather skype be even smaller than the 3.8 version. Even when I attach it to my 20 inch display, the more minimalistic the better.

And this has already been reiterated but - customization is KEY.

I hate it I must admit.

But you know, user customization should be top of the list. Make it any size you like! But in the end let the user decide how they want it to look.

Skype 4.0 GUI... What the hell?! I've already ditched Bloat(win)amp since they changed the UI to a fullscreen hell (sure it's possible to revert to window mode but hey, they screwed it up anyway). So, am I supposed to ditch Skype? Is that it? But why? Oh, right! Because of the bloatscreen UI! It's not just about masses os wasted space, or oversized fonts, useless features. No, no. It simply makes me sick. All of it. There's no a good place to start whining. It simply sucks.

Are you packing and leaving the IM business? I can't imagine any other explanation. Me wants Good-old compact Skype to STAY.

This post has been edited by vpc: Wed Jul 23 2008, 01:15

gone back to 3.8... 4.0 is complicated, too big, loss of simplicity. didnt like it at all.

First: I was completely shocked by the interface when Skype opened. It looked bloated, and its attachment to the main Skype screen was bothersome. I understand the separate window feature, but that still leaves the main window as a huge chunk of mass floating in the midst of my small screen.
Third: The taskbar icon no longer flashes when I receive a message, but instead shows an ugly and unnoticeable [1]. I would like the flashing option back.
Fifth: Closing the conversation took longer than I would have liked. Switching from Contacts to Conversation was a hassle.
Seventh: I'm not sure who, but there was a suggestion in the forum that mentioned the Photoshop interface. This would certainly do better than the ominous mass. A slick, floating window interface with options to attach and detach the windows to each other and the desktop would make things flexible and even minimalistic. Opacity options would also make things convenient.
Eighth: My boyfriend and I always type messages to each other when the other is offline, but we don't get them until THEY sign in! I think there should be a separate offline messaging system, such as that found in Yahoo! messenger.

you took my words. hope 4x will not be permanent otherwise i would never update skype anymore.

Yeps, just wanted to add my name to the long list of people who think the new look is cr*p. Way too big - bloatware.

Skype devs should focus on

1. Call quality
2. Building a 'tight' app with the most compact layout practical

I will stay on 3.x and hope that final release has that awful GUI changed.

Oh... my... god...

I am soooo relieved that I am not the only one whom things Skype4 is just fugly, bulky, and all round time to uninstall and find something else other than Skype to use type feeling.

I mean seriously? I agree with the users here, what the heck is skype thinking?

I do not mean to bag the developers personally, I'm sure they spent a lot of time in creating and coding this new version but still, as a User, I have to say, the next version of skype, skype 4, is enough to make me start looking around for alternative chat programs again.

I downloaded Skype4 today. Normally update and check out the new versions since until now, they've always been a good progression from previous versions.

So I downloaded Skype 4 and then installed, upgraded, to find a huge window in my face.

Then to find the chat windows are docked INSIDE the contact list. I mean, WTF?

Let me say this very slowly for the Developers of Skype.

A. Contact. List. Is. Simply. A. Contact. List.

It's meant to be for.

Dun dun dun.

CONTACTS.


That's it. Period. Nothing more.

We don't want anything more there. Contacts only. A small, streamline, THIN vertical bar with all our contacts on that we can dock to the right side of our screen and have it up all the time, out of our way.

BUT

If you make a FAT UGLY HUGE WINDOW... we can't dock it. We can't hide it. It becomes pointless to have as a Contact List.


Big Contact List = Bad.

Bad Developers.

The Calculator began huge and got smaller.
Microchips got smaller.
Skype shouldn't get bigger.

Bigger is not cool.

~

Ok had to go on about that for a bit to hopefully get my point across and if you Devs read the other users comments, you'll hopefully see that I'm not the only one.

~

The next thing that sucked big time was the new Communication Windows.

I mean, WTF?

Let's put a small button that opens up a fat chunky window of all the users in the chat window... o.O Are you serious? Are you on drugs?

Put it back the way it was in Skype 3.

A simple window.

Chat above.
Typing space below.
Participants of chat to the right side.

Simple.
Clean.
EASY on the eyes.

And what the heck is up with the new look within the Chat window itself? OMG... This simply is not skype. Are there new developers on this program or something? - Fire them now please.

~

Back to the Contact List...

Contact list should only be for contacts.. not what chat rooms we have too. Unless in a separate area.

Take a page from Trillian on your design please. www.trillianastra.com

Please for the love of your Skype Users, SCRAP Skype 4 and re-design it.

Streamline.
Thin.
Easy to use.
Even allow us to customise it so that if we the user don't like what you might think is good, we can click an option to change it.

~

Final thoughts:

What I did after experiencing Skype 4 and puking.

Firstly I uninstalled it.
I then re-installed v3.

More importantly though, I looked around for Skype Alternatives and programs that can utilise the Skype API so that I see Their Pretty Windows instead of Skugly windows.

Yeah, Skugly, new word. Skype + Ugly. Works well. Should take off and be a new word in the community now >.>

~

Bottom Line from this user:

If you do go Final with what you have in Skype 4.
And I update and see that crap skugly version on my pc again.
Skype is gone. Forever.

There are plenty of other messengers that my friends use. I'll find something else.

I'd rather not, but there is no way in the world I'm going to have that skulgy looking thing on my pc.

I apologise if any Devs have taken offence to my post here. Just had to actually say something.

[edit]
Just had to add that Skype 4 was enough to make me sign in to make this post.

Just re-reading what other users are saying and wow... It's more of the same.

You know the most amazing thing of all though?

I mean, I expect that the Devs may have stuffed up one part of skype, like maybe the contact list, or maybe one part of the communication window.

But to stuff up EVERY aspect of skype in all forms, is truly, amazing. For that, I have to give you guys Kudos. I don't think anyone but Microsoft could have done a bigger stuff up. /bow

[Edited again]
Decided to do a mock up of what I'd like a Skype Contact List to be like. Just in case the Developers actually do care about what their users would like.



Each section can clicked to hide or show via the small arrow on the top right corner of the section.

The only change I'd make for the Chat Windows is to ADD the local times of the users. Dunno about anyone else, but I chat to people around the world and get tired of flipping back to the contact list to check what time it is over in their neck of the woods when we have a Chat Window up and all the users are listed there... but without their local times. o.O weird. So I'd add their times to it... of course, that is, if they stick with the Skype 3 look.

Anyway, that's my suggestions to the Devs.

Peace Out.

This post has been edited by Maziel: Tue Jul 29 2008, 09:33

Skype 4.0 is the perfect match for my Windows Vista...neither one makes any sense nor works properly.

Let's face it... it's about time Skype got with the program and became skinable.

Had it's own XML file language and pictures and buttons that the community could modify and move around and thus create their own skins for Skype.

Customization is what Skype is lacking.

You guys have like a gazillion users, and I'll bet more than half of them have some form of artistic talent or coding knowledge. Imagine the SKype Skins that your users could create for you, elevating Skype4 to a whole knew level and market.

I myself am a Skinner. I'm sure there are many others out there. I've skinned for such programs as Trillian, Windows Blinds, just to name a couple.

Imagine the Launch of Skype4:
Here is our default unskinned streamlined THIN new GUI for skype.
But wait, we can also choose from a multitude of inbuilt layouts with out the need for any skins at all.
But wait, there's more, we've introduced a new skinning structure to our program that allows for you the user to learn it and reskin Skype to any way shape or form you want. Don't want a button here? Great, move it to where ever your skin design makes it work.

Imagine the possibilities of keeping both the standard user who want's no skin happy by having a default gui and several other default gui layouts that match their own Windows theme they've downloaded. As well as the ability to give the more creative person a way to flex their creative muscles and redesign Skype via skinning / coding ability and in turn, give that back to the skype community.

Now that would be a definate awesome SKype4 release. And moving forward.

But as it is, Skype has moved backwards. Beyond ugly. Beyond the ability to do anything about it.

If you don't want to introduce skinning to skype, if you don't want to allow your community to be able to give skype more, fine. Stick with non skinnable Skype but focus on customisation. Ability to change the look. So work hard on a mulitude of GUI designs that we the community can change at the click of a button. Hide this, show that, move participants to the left, right, top. Allow us to choose. But we rely on you giving us that ability instead of presenting us with a skugly huge crappy thing sitting on our desktop. ;_;

..
Customization is what Skype is lacking.
..

I've been saying that for years, but Skype still don't understand the importance of it.

I don't think it's a question of Skype not understanding they understand very well but they will just NOT change, must be built into them from the old communist days.

I don't think it's a question of Skype not understanding they understand very well but they will just NOT change, must be built into them from the old communist days.

This way, skype can have control. Force adverts on you if they want. Force, ''call cheaply to mobile phones and landlines'' adverts to you. Force upgrades to skugly big skype windows upon next release. All comes down to control. Them having it.

Must be the old communist days like you said.

Hi, i have tested the beta and the fullscreen interface is completely useless.
The current regular version can be enlarged in fullsize and the fullscreen video call feature in HQ is still here. I do not understand this choice but for me is fine, I use skype in fullsize.

I have noticed an improvement in the audio communication but the video is not so perfect. Good idea to put the videocall button, this is a must.

another good idea would be interchangeable skins.

the most important function in 4.0 is to enlarge full-screen incoming calls automatically when we are called or when we do a video call, i like this function and is important ot me, but this feature does not work correctly, works only for outgoing calls, please correct this important function in 4.0

Very unimpressed that today's new release of the BETA has not done anything to address this, uninstalled once again...

Sigh, have we even heard from the developers on this, are they even listening??

Hi there! I never posted in this forum before but I think I have a reason to post now: the User Interface!

Some years ago I was using ICQ and I really liked the UI a lot. You could make it big, or (my preference) very small. After I have tried Google Talk and again I loved the small slim and clean interface. I guess I just like small.

When I started using Skype some years ago I was impressed by the quality of voice calls but not impressed by the UI: It was too big, ponderous and there was nothing you could do about it to make it at least a little bit smaller.

I was convinced that Skype would develop a small, slim UI for sure in future but the opposite is happening.. First of all a full screen window OMG!!!

Afterwards a UI that is half the size of my screen! And there is no setting to get rid of it!

Maybe for my mum -who lives on the other side of the word and who doesnt understand computers- this big window and big buttons are okay. At least she doesnt have to get her glasses first, but for me this really is waaaayy too big!

So come on Skype developers:

Implement a 'beginner' and a 'advanced user' setting so I can decide myself how my Skype UI looks. 50% of the size of eg Skype 3.* is big enough for me.

Have a nice day!

The developers are probably tuning this out by now, but if not, here's another vote for ditching the 4.0 fullscreen and especially the inability to minimize or discard all the columns.

Most of my gripes have already been expressed above. The current UI changes are disastrous for me - I have already missed important business calls and chats due to the changes in notification (no flashing on the program bar) and the size is unwieldy when I'm using my machine to do, you know, work.

Developers, please don't be defensive about all this negative feedback; but it's clear you need to pretty drastically rethink the Beta UI.

Negative feedback....its pretty clear nobody likes the Beta....I downloaded it....intalled.....laughed....tried to use my Skypephone.....which didn't work....and immediately uninstalled it.

On all of my computers.

Nuff said. Back to the drawing boards boys!!

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your posts in here.

We are working on bringing to you more compact user interface what you have been asking.

The current beta 1 hotfixes have been a minor hotfixes for addressing some of the issues in client, but we have not changed any features or implemented anything new.

Please read also http://share.skype.com/sites/en/2008/07/sk..._1_hotfix.html.

as has been mentioned earlier the only reason i can see that skype have tried to implement this new full screen look is so they have more screen to ram advertising down our throats........when i saw that a new v4 beta had been released i was excited that maybe some of the annoying glitches had been fixed, like the fact its the only IM that i use that doesnt tell you people are no longer online when they log off - until you send them a message, only to be told they are no longer online

come on skype make the program work before you go breaking the UI - IM clients have evolved to look the way they do today for a reason - the design works and works well, they need to be small and unobtrusive because of the nature of the program and the way its used, we dont need a square wheel!