The new year brings a new version of the internet telephony software Skype to the users of Macs. The version has brand new features, only available so far for Mac. As soon as I did hear from this, I had to download the new version, which is now available as Public Beta.
The new features are actually two, but I could have tested only one for now. To name it, the first innovation is called "Skype Access" and enables the users of Skype to access WiFi spots around the world. So far this should be over 100'000. I do not have to say, that you can pay the access via your Skype Credit.
The second innovation, now exclusive for Mac users, is the new built in Screen Sharing, which is actually only a desktop presentation. Anyway a great thing for us, since we to use until now plugins for screen sharing, such as the Yugma Team Collaboration.
As you can see in the above screenshot have you got now a new button in your toolbar (in Chat and Call windows), which is called "Share". By clicking on this, you have under Share Screen two options:
- Share Full Screen
- Share Selection
This then initiates a video phone call and the callee sees your screen in his video window. The good news for Windows user therefore is, that thanks this implementation all platforms (potentially) can receive the screen of the caller.
I have tested the screen sharing/presentation with two different friends and think that the image is pretty well, the larger texts are readable and you can have a rough overview of what is going on at the caller's desktop. The load imposed on the CPU of the caller is not that big and with about 40 to 50 KB/s did I have a good transmission.
What is not that optimal is the fact, that one has at least 3 windows open during a Skype session and I had to get rid of the windows first, that the callee could see my desktop. But the Mac users have multiple desktops and so I could switch to another (free) virtual desktop.
All in all is this invention great and brings Skype a step closer to an unified communication software.
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