![]() Advertisement There are already a few articles on MakeUseOf about the features available on Skype for Mac, such as its group video client, Skype, in terms of software design, continues to baffle me. It's beautifully designed, and most of the time it's also charmingly easy to use, but once in a blue moon you discover these little quirks., and even. With Acronis True Image you can protect your Mac's data should anything unfortunate happen. With a full system backup in place, you can keep all your data safe even if your computer is lost, stolen or damaged. You can backup locally or remotely to the cloud, and then access your data anytime. Although navigating around Acronis True Image for Mac is an easy and intuitive task, there are a number of small hiccups that need to be ironed out with this application. Not least of which is the application's failed ability to work with all file systems. You can only work with certain ones, e.g. ![]() Go into Skype Preferences. (If you're on a Mac, you can access this menu by clicking Skype -> Preferences in the upper left side menu. Now, click on Audio/Video. Talk and say hi to yourself! However, we’ve never really talked about the app itself. Overall, Skype for Mac is an app that performs in a solid manner, and I have a feeling that I will end up using it time and time again. Realistically, you probably know what Skype is after hearing about it from a variety of other outlets. However, if you aren’t actually using it, you should probably see what it has to offer. Basic Video Calling The basic function of Skype is simple: to provide free video calling for app users across different platforms. After creating an account and downloading the app, you will be whisked away to (something like) the wonderful world of Back to the Future Part II, where you can virtually talk to anyone in your living room. I tested Skype out using the app for my iPhone 5 and my Macbook Pro, and I found that it worked quite well between the two. Despite the occasional jump in streaming (likely due to my connection), it sounded and looked quite clear on both ends. Furthermore, trying the service prior to my first call was easy thanks to the app’s automated test function. Calls to your computer are interruptive but in the polite “sir, there’s someone who would like to speak to you” kind of manner. Contact Integration Your Mac may already have the Contacts app filled to the brim with people you’ve met everywhere. Fortunately, Skype will automatically import their information to your address book. Furthermore, you can import all of your Facebook friends into Skype, so if your iPhone’s contact list is empty but your Facebook stalker list is full, this is a welcomed feature. By allowing it, you must give it permission to post on your behalf and access your newsfeed. If you are paranoid, just set your posts from Skype to be viewed only by you, and no one will ever see it. Also, by doing this your newsfeed will be viewable in the app itself. As a note, the ability to add Facebook friends is a latecomer to the Mac platform. On the surface, Skype looks like an application for text, audio, and video chats, a great way to stay in touch with a friends. Only that it's more than that. Skype is a Voice over. Had it for ages, so bear in mind that new features arriving on Windows may arrive a bit later for Mac. Do More With Credits Credits have always seemed like a joke for apps like this. Who really pays for the extra stuff? Well, besides the monthly calling plans for international communication, credits can be purchased by the minute for brief calls overseas. Furthermore, Skype Credits can be purchased for minute usage with certain Skype Wifi areas (over a million are out there). Is it enough to win me over? But it’s nice to know that it’s there. Other paid plans include the Premium option which allows for unlimited calling and group video calls. EasyWMA has a very simple user interface, full drag and drop support, and can even do batch Processing to convert your whole library of wma songs in one click. EasyWMA allows you to convert wma, wmv/flv audio, real media, asf, flac and ogg vorbis files to aiff, mp3, m4a or wav so that you can Play your favorite songs in iTunes or any other player on your Mac. EasyWMA can be helpful if you need to play wma files on your iPod, or if you need to convert files created by your Olympus voice recorder. Easywma audio converter for mac. Phone Calls Skype for Mac also allows for calls to landlines and mobile phones. I tested the feature out by calling my girlfriend’s phone, and there were no delays or mishaps whatsoever. Audio was crystal clear, and I’m now considering using this as a method of phone contact with her while working. As I mentioned before, her number was automatically integrated into my address book. You can also set up a voice messaging system with Skype’s phone calls to help you when you are away. Skype Credit is required for this, but it would appear you get the first few minutes free. Sensible Interface & Incredible Sounds Since Skype was acquired by Microsoft, its website gives off a very Windows 8 kind of feel. You’ll see what I mean in the image below, but it seems as though its Mac app doesn’t match the same branding. I’m not sure if they plan to update it or not. Nevertheless, the Mac app is clean, functional, and comprehensible. Everything you need from Contacts to Credit can be found on the left-hand side, and your contacts are laid out in a nice, grid-like format. Before I go any further, I want you to know that I realize this is supposed to be a professionally-written review designed to tell you how Skype for Mac works. I also know that you, as a dedicated reader and responsible consumer, trust MakeUseOf to help you with your app-downloading decisions. With that in mind, I would like to just comment on one aspect of Skype that may seem unusual to fanboy over: its sound design. Overall, it’s just very cool, and despite my editor’s disdain for this blatantly over-used word, I really can’t accurately describe in any other form. The sounds are composed a of a strange hybrid of organic and mechanical tones.
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March 2019
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