What you need to know

• There's a big new feature for Skype on iOS.
• Users can now blur their background on both iPhone and iPad.
• The feature has been available on desktop for a while.

A new Skype update for iPadOS and iOS will let iPhone and iPad users blur their background on calls.

As reported by Pocket-lint:

You'll need the latest version of Skype on iOS, version 8.62 to get the new feature. The new setting can be accessed in the (...) settings menu in the bottom right-hand corner of a video call. The feature is titled 'Enable Background Blur.' As the Pocket-lint notes, the icon will also show up alongside the microphone and camera toggle buttons in the meeting preview screen.

The feature has been enabled on desktop Skype for a while. Whilst you won't get the soft, crisp bokeh of a DSLR or even your iPhone's rear camera, the new setting will make your Skype video just a little bit neater.

Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of protection to your accounts by requiring you to enter the second piece of secure info (other than your password) to sign in. You can put 2FA on a lot of things — and you should put it on everything possible — and it's super helpful in preventing people from accessing your accounts maliciously.

Skype accounts support two-factor authentication via a phone number or authenticator app. Here's how you can set up 2FA on your Skype account.

• How to enable two-factor authentication for Skype via text message
• How to enable two-factor authentication for Skype via authentication app

  How to enable two-factor authentication for Skype via text message

In case you didn't know, Skype is owned by Microsoft so your Skype account is a Microsoft account. Tp set up two-factor authentication on SKype, you need to set it up on your Microsoft account. Here's how you can do it via text!

1. Open your Microsoft account online.
2. Click Sign-in and enter your credentials if prompted.
3. Click the Security tab.

4. Click the Turn on option for Two-factor authentication at the top of the page.
5. Click Set up two-step verification.

6. Click Next.
7. Click *A phone number** from the dropdown menu.

8. Enter your phone number.
9. Click Next.

10. Enter the code you received via text message.
11. Click Next.

Now anytime you sign in to your Skype account, you'll need to enter the confirmation code that will be texted to you.

How to enable two-factor authentication for Skype via authentication app

Every authentication app is a tad different, but setting up 2FA with an app is a similar process for regardless of which one your pick. For this example, I used the Google Authenticator app for iPhone.

1. Open your Microsoft account online.
2. Click Sign-in and enter your credentials if prompted.
3. Click the Security tab.

4. Click the Turn on option for Two-factor authentication at the top of the page.
5. Click Set up two-step verification.

6. Click Next.
7. Choose An app form the dropdown menu.

8. Click Set up a different authenticator app.
9. Follow the prompts on the screen
10. Click Next when completed.

That's it! now you'll need to enter the confirmation code from your authenticator app every time you want to sign in to Skype.

Any Questions?

Let us know in the comments down below!

Updated July 2020: Updated to show new steps for setting up 2FA for Skype.

What you need to know

• Microsoft has added custom background support to its Mac app.
• The feature allows users to set a custom image as a background during video calls.
• The company had already brought the feature to its Teams service earlier this month.

As many people find themselves working from home during the coronavirus pandemic, Zoom calls immediately became a staple of our new work-from-home world. One of the most popular features of Zoom, for those who want to get a little creative, has been the ability to set custom virtual backgrounds.

Now, it appears that Skype is bringing that same feature to its Mac app. Reported by Thurrott, Microsoft is bringing the feature to Skype after announcing support for it for Microsoft Teams earlier this month. According to the report, the feature is rolling out to users this week.

The basic idea of custom backgrounds in Skype sounds exactly the same as Zoom. When enabled, it will allow you to set custom images as a background during your video calls.

Thurrott says that, since Skype already supported the ability to artificially blur your background during calls, it probably did not take much to add support for images.

One thing to note is that it appears that the feature is limited to images only. Zoom, in comparison, also lets you upload videos to use as a background.

You can learn how to set up custom backgrounds on Skype through its support website.

Skype is a popular telecommunications app from MIcrosoft that offers video chat and voice calls across multiple devices, including Mac, iOS, and iPadOS, among many others. Skype for Business is a similar product, but one for the enterprise, and you may be using it more because you're working from home these days. But no matter the reason, the time may come when you need to delete the Skype for Business app from your devices.

Here's how to do a regular and clean Skype for Business uninstall on macOS.

Uninstalling Skype for Business on Mac

To remove Skype for Business on Mac:

1. Click Skype for Business from the Skype for Business toolbar.
2. Choose Sign Out.

3. Close the Skype for Business on Mac sign in page.
4. Right-click on the Skype for Business icon on the Mac dock.
5. Choose Quit to quit the app.

6. Open Finder on your Mac.
7. Click Go from the toolbar.
8. Choose Applications.
9. Drag the Skype for Business app into the Trash.

Your IT manager might recommend extra steps for removing Skype for Business. These steps should only be followed if you're well versed in Terminal, or a member of your support team has given you the go-ahead. If you're home-based and are using a personal Mac, I suggest not following these additional steps.

To do a clean uninstall of Skype for Business on your Mac:

1. Open Finder on your Mac.
2. Click Go from the toolbar.
3. Choose Utilities.
4. Select Terminal.

5. Run the following commands in a Terminal:

Note: Use the most current commands as listed on the Microsoft support website.

Next:

1. Open Finder on your Mac.
2. Click Go from the toolbar.
3. Choose Utilities.
4. Select Keychain Access.
5. In your logon keychains, delete Skype for Business.

You've deleted the Skype for Business app on your Mac.

Questions?

Do you have any questions or concerns about deleting or using Skype on your Mac or other devices? Let us know below.

Microsoft's Skype has long been around to provide one-on-one remote audio and video calling. It's also useful to make group calls among business colleagues, friends, and family.

First introduced in 2003, Skype is a telecommunications app that specializes in providing video chat, voice calls, and instant messaging services across multiple platforms. The service is available on desktop, mobile, and other devices. With Skype, you can transmit text, video, audio, and images. Here's how to use Skype to make group calls.

• Skype: Everything you need to know!

Using Skype group calling on your computer

To use the group calling feature on Skype online, you can perform the following steps on Mac, Windows, Linux, and the web:

1. Choose the + New Chat button on the left side of the screen
2. Select New Group Group from the list of contacts.
3. Enter a required name for your group or select a previous group.
4. Click the right arrow at the bottom right of the box.

5. Start adding contacts to your group. You can choose from the suggested list or use Search to find more.
6. Click Done to start chatting. From there, you (and the other members of the group) can send each other texts, audio, and video.

Using Skype group calling through the app

From group calling through the Skype app:

1. Tap the writing icon at the top right.
2. Choose New Group Chat.

3. Enter a required name for your group.
4. Tap the right arrow at the bottom right of the box.
5. Start adding contacts to your group. You can choose from the suggested list or use Search to find more.
6. Click Done to start chatting. From there, you (and the other members of the group) can send each other texts, audio, and video.

   Any questions?

   Let us know below if you have any questions about making group calls or Skype in general.

Chances are you've heard of Skype. What is now Microsoft's video and instant messaging app has been around for over 16 years at this point, and was once the best way to video chat with anyone, and often seen as one of the best ways to connect with new people around the world.

While many other competitors have sprung up, such as Apple's FaceTime or Google's Duo, Skype remains the go-to for video chat for many individuals and businesses.

Here's what it's all about.

What is Skype?

Skype is a video, audio, and text communication app available across multiple platforms. Free to download and use, for the most part, Skype is an excellent tool for keeping in touch with friends or working remotely with colleagues.

While it started life as an independent company over 16 years ago, today, Skype is owned and developed by Microsoft for both consumer and professional use cases.

The marquee features of Skype, video and audio calls and instant messaging, are all free to use when you download the app. There are paid elements to Skype, such as calling and texting mobile numbers around the world.

What can I do on Skype?

Skype offers several capabilities to customers. Most famously, Skype allows you to make video calls and send instant messages to other Skype users. Skype allows you to video call multiple users at the same time, and record your video calls if needed.

An excellent tool for businesses, Skype allows you to share your screen during a video call. This way, you can do things like show off pictures, go through documents, and more without having to send links or have anyone install other software.

For anyone that needs subtitles, Skype now supports live subtitles for increased accessibility. Just turn on live subtitles, and Skype will drop them onto the video conversation itself so you can keep looking at who you're speaking with instead of at a chat window.

All of these features are available for free, but there are other things you can do if you're willing to pay.

Can I make regular phone calls using Skype?

You can use Skype to call standard mobile and landline phones around the world, for a price. Call from your desktop, smartphone, or any other device on which you can use Skype, and receive calls from your own personal Skype phone number.

To do this, you'll either need to sign up for a subscription or buy enough Skype Credit if your calls are going to be more infrequent.

What is Skype Credit?

Skype Credit is a virtual currency you buy to make calls to landlines and cellphones if you don't want to pay a subscription fee. Available in either $5, $10, or $25 options, you spend Skype Credit whenever you make a call, either to in your home country or internationally.

Rates applied in all countries generally apply in the cents-per-minute range, though some calls can cost as much as $1.74 per minute.

Skype Credit might be the best option for some customers, especially if you only plan to use the phone calling feature on an irregular basis. Additionally, while a subscription offers you a flat monthly rate to make your calls, what that rate will be can get complicated depending on where you want to call.

How much does a subscription cost for making phone calls on Skype?

This is a somewhat complicated answer. Skype offers multiple subscription options depending on where you want to call, letting you save some money if you only want to call a limited area. Additionally, while plans to call one international location tend to cost $6.99 per month (though some cost much more), the number of minutes that you get for that month can vary. Paying that price, for instance, to call Japan gets you 300 minutes, while for China, you get 1,000.

If you're planning to call the United States, you can pay just $2.99 per month to call anywhere in the U.S., including the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico. But, that $2.99 doesn't necessarily cover everything, as after 2,000 minutes, you'll pay an additional rate of 15¢ per minute.

The North American plan lets you call the U.S., Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Canada, and Mexico for $6.99 per month. Of course, you'll get hit with a 35¢ per-minute fee after 2,000 minutes.

If you want to be able to call anywhere in the world, sign up for the $13.99 a month World subscription. You can call 63 countries and territories around the globe with this plan, though you'll have to stick to calling landlines in most of them. You can call landlines and mobile phones in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam, Canada, China, Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, and Thailand.

Does Skype offer end-to-end encryption?

Skype does offer end-to-end encryption, but it isn't standard with all conversations, and it's only for instant messages, not for video or audio calls.

You can elect to start a private conversation with anyone on either desktop or mobile. These chats are end-to-end encrypted for maximum security. Note that you'll need to start a new conversation with someone to encrypt it, rather than encrypting your current conversation.

What devices can I use with Skype?

Skype is available on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Amazon Echo devices, and Xbox.

Where can I get Skype?

For Skype on Windows and macOS, you can grab it directly from the Skype Website.

Get Skype

For iOS and Android users, you'll find it on the App Store on iPhone and iPad and the Google Play Store for Android.

• See on the App Store
• See on the Google Play Store

What you need to know

• Skype has a new icon on iOS devices.
• The new icon features Fluent Design elements.
• The icon was first rolled out to insiders in May 2019.

Skype has a new icon on iPhones and iPads (via OnMSFT). The new icon follows the Fluent Design language that Microsoft is rolling out to all of its apps across several platforms. The new iOS Skype icon was first available to beta testers in May.

Microsoft has refreshed several icons recently, including OneNote, Your Phone, and the Office suite.

The new Skype icon is less of a drastic change than some of the other icon redesigns. It flips the white and blue elements of the design and adds some shadow effects.

Skype is adding call recording to its macOS and iOS apps, and that could be a very, very good thing.

From Skype:

It's worth pointing out Skype is a Microsoft company that supporting these features now on Mac and iOS but not until later on Windows 10. The world, it keeps changing...

This is nice for people on Mac who don't want to pay for a separate recording app. It's potentially transformative for people on iOS who, up until now, had no easy way to record a Skype conversation for things like podcasting.

It may not be ideal. "Cloud-based recording" sounds like it won't give you your local audio or separate tracks per caller. Just a mix of all parties on one track. But, it's potentially better than nothing.

A lot will also depend on quality and reliability. Both at launch and as the company iterates on it going forward.

As someone who sometimes has to podcast from the road, and has often wished I could just do it from my iPad, even my iPhone, this could be a first step in that direction.

Fingers crossed.

Video chatting with friends and co-workers has practically become a way of life in our modern world. I use Skype and FaceTime pretty much daily in my home and work life, and because of that, I've spent a good deal of time trying to perfect my video quality.

Whether you wear pajama bottoms or a dress shirt for a video chat, you shouldn't have to settle for sub-par results: Here are my favorite tips for making your webcam video look better than the rest.

• Film from above, not below
• Light it up
• Create a good backdrop
• Add effects and white balance with iGlasses

Film from above, not below

Whether you're using an iMac, MacBook Pro, third-party webcam, or iPhone, the worst you can do is have your camera below your face, pointed up — human faces do not look great chin-first. In an ideal world, you want your camera positioned slightly above eye-level, looking down at you. Make sure not to position it too high, however: You don't want to look like you're craning to stare into the camera when talking to someone.

Light it up

While the "calling you from a dark cave" look is great if you're trying to cultivate an air of mystery, it's not the best way to chat with your co-workers. If you want to communicate effectively, you want some light on your face. The best way I've found is with ambient lighting behind your computer or webcam — adjustable Hue lights that bounce their light off the wall like a Hue Go, or Nanoleaf Aurora.

If you need to bathe an entire office in light, consider getting a few portable LED lights and tripods: iMore editor-at-large Rene Ritchie uses these to light up his personal studio at home for video shows like MacBreak Weekly.

A word of advice: You never want to point lights directly at your face unless they're from a distance and allowed to diffuse somewhat, and you'll want to make sure you're evenly lighting yourself on both sides, lest you get the opposite of dark cave calling — "I'm in an interrogation room, send help."

Create a good backdrop

If you're routinely chatting from a specific space in your home — especially if these video chats are for work — it may behoove you to declutter your surroundings.

A few things to avoid in the background of video chats:

• Windows and lit lights: Both will create giant highlight spots that can either provide a wacky backlight or just pull focus from your face. To fix, cover your windows with drapes and turn your lights off
• Crazy patterns: They'll pull focus
• Reflective glass in picture frames: I've broken this rule myself, but be careful of putting posters or pictures on a wall that can reflect your studio lights, or use anti-reflective acrylic.
• Garbage and other mess: Especially if you're calling someone for work, make your studio space look professional and ditch the mess

Your tips and suggestions?

Do you have any tips and suggestions for great webcam video? Let me know below.

Originally published February 17, 2017.

In a blog post, Skype announced that its completely redesigned desktop client is finally out of preview and launching today. The company already revamped its iOS app earlier this year, and the new Skype for desktop is very aesthetically similar. It also shares the iOS app's focus on social networking and content sharing.

Skype for desktop has retained all of the features users enjoy, but according to the Skype press team the following improvements and features have also been added based on customer feedback:

• Customizable themes: On the new Skype for desktop, you'll be able to choose a color and theme for your interface that reflects your mood, personality, or time of day.
• Chat list: If you like to keep everything categorized and tidy like me, you're in luck: you can now organize your Skype contact list by time, unread, or status. You can also pin your favorite people or groups so they'll always be easily accessible when you need to stay in touch with them. To make things nicer for yourself visually, you can change your chat list view from standard to compact, or collapse it completely to focus more on your content.
• Cloud-based: Skype is now cloud-based, which means that sharing files, photos, and videos is pretty painless. You can send up to 300 MB of content over Skype by simply dragging and dropping the file into your chat. Skype also uses less battery power now that it's in the cloud.
• Cross-device functionality: Skype now works across multiple devices including your smartphone, your desktop computer, your Xbox, your smart speakers, and more. Because of this, your messages and content will be available anywhere you have Skype installed.
• Notification panel: In the new Skype for desktop you can now click on the little bell icon in the top righthand corner of your chat list to access your notification panel. From this central place, you'll see reactions to your messages, @mentions in group conversations, or if someone has quoted you. After doing that, you can jump to any conversation you've been notified about by clicking on it in the panel.
• Chat media gallery: Similar to how you can browse media that you've sent to a contact in iMessage, you can now access any photo or video you've sent or received in a chat. All you have to do is click Gallery to see media, links, and files—you can even sort them by type.
• Reactions: Easily express how you're feeling by reacting to messages in conversations or during video calls. Simply click the reaction icon so everyone knows how you're feeling (think sending people smiley faces and hearts during live streaming videos on other social media sites).
• @mentions: You can now tag people in group chats. Just type the @ symbol followed by their name, and you'll be able to send them a notification so that they can easily respond to the message.
• Status updates: With the new Skype for desktop, you can let your contacts know when you are and aren't available to chat by changing your presence, or set a mood message to share what's going on (i.e. busy listening to my favorite podcast right now, sorry!).
• Bots: Just like on Skype for iOS, bots like Scoop and Hipmunk will now be on Skype's desktop client to help you make plans and stay informed. You can do everything from finding pricing and seating options with the StubHub bot to planning a weekend getaway with the Expedia bot.

If you don't already have Skype for desktop, you can download it here. If you prefer using your smartphone for all of your social needs, you can grab the Skype app for free on the App Store.

• Skype - Free - Download now

Thoughts? Questions?

How are you feeling about Skype's new look? Give us a shout in the comments!

Microsoft has launched the first public preview version of its Mac Skype for Business client. There will be two more preview stages before it is released to the general public in the third quarter of 2016.

Microsoft says this first public preview will allow users to join in full-screen video meetings, along with in-meeting chat and a way to see meetings scheduled for today and tomorrow, based on their Outlook calendar. Invites to the Skype for Business Mac preview will be sent to IT admins first, and will expand to all Mac users in the coming weeks.

Instant messaging, presence and contacts will be added to the Mac Skype for Business client in the second preview build scheduled for release later this summer, while telephony and related features will be added in the third preview version before it is officially released.

Sign up for the Skype for Business Mac preview{.cta .large}

Microsoft has added support for bots to the Mac version of Skype, allowing those users of the VoIP service to chat with AI messaging bots. Microsoft previously launched Skype bots for the iPhone and iPad versions.

Mac users can start chatting with bots by clicking on the "Contacts" selection from the menu and then select "Add Bot…." to search for or view a list of available Bots. Microsoft added that it has been introducing new Skype bots to chat with since the initial announcement, such as:

• Murphy, a Bot to find and create images for when questions can't be answered by words alone
• Summarize, a Bot designed to give an overview of a web page if you don't have time to read the whole thing

Microsoft also announced that Skype bots are now available on the web version.

Skype for iPhone has a new update to download. The latest version adds the ability to save received videos to your phone, and includes special heart emoji just in time for Valentine's day.

Here's the full skinny on what's new in Skype version 6.10 for the iPhone:

• Easily open Microsoft Office documents, presentations and spreadsheets that have been shared in Skype.
• Roses are red, Violets are blue, we've got brand new Valentines hearts … just for you.
• Save a video you've received or video message you've recorded straight to your Photos.
• General improvements.

• Free - Download now

Microsoft has a new update for its popular Outlook email client for iPhone and iPad users this week. It includes a new way to launch a Skype call from inside a calendar event.

Here's what Microsoft has to say about the new 2.1.3 update:

In addition, the Outlook app now has a 3-day view option for the calendar feature that can be accessed by tapping on the view icon in the top-right corner.

• Free - Download now

Microsoft has added support for iOS sharing extensions for its Skype VoIP apps for the iPhone and iPad. The update enables adding Skype as an option in the Share menu across iOS for content like photos and links easier. The new 6.8 version of Skype is now rolling out on the App Store.

Microsoft says:

• Free for iPhone - Download now
• Free for iPad - Download now

Source: Microsoft

Microsoft is rolling out a new Skype update for the iPhone and iPad that adds a way to put in cool filters for video messages. It also adds support for 3D Touch for the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

Here's how the video message filters will work:

iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus users can also take advantage of new 3D Touch features in Skype:

• Force Touch the Skype icon on your home screen for quick access to our most used features – search your Skype contacts, start a call or chat, and access the Skype dial pad. Clicking any of these options takes you to that task in Skype instantly.
• Once you're in the app, you can Force Touch a Recent conversation to Peek the latest instant messages or live video if you're on a call. Swiping up reveals more actions and a harder press will Pop the conversation into the foreground.
• If you're in a conversation and someone shares their location, a photo, URL or contact, you can Force Touch Peek it, then swipe up to reveal more actions or harder press to Pop it into the foreground.

Finally, the 6.5 update for Skype adds these useful features:

• Hide and delete chats from your Recent conversations by swiping the contact or tapping Edit, then choosing if you want to delete the entire chat history or simply hide it from your Recent list. You can also delete the entire chat history from within the conversation using chat menu.
• Share a Skype contact by tapping the contact card icon in a conversation to open your contact list. Then simply select the contact you want to share, tap the tick icon and you're done.

The new updates should be available today from the iOS App Store

• Free (iPhone) - Download now
• Free (iPad) - Download now

Source: Microsoft

Microsoft is giving its iPhone and iPad business users full access to its Skype for Business app. After launching in a preview form earlier this year, the app is now available publicly for both devices from the App Store.

Here are some of its main features:

• Initiate a group IM or video conversation and invite additional participants
• Join, rejoin and initiate a Skype for Business Meeting to communicate and collaborate on amazing ideas
• Simultaneously view shared content and speaker's video during a conference
• Control the meeting (mute or remove attendees) and know more about participants' modalities
• Look at your upcoming meetings and join via one click
• Find your recent conversations and pick them up from where you left off
• Search your contacts by name, email, or phone number
• Enhanced security via Active Directory Authentication Library

Skype for Business is replacing the older Lync 2013 app. iPhone users with Lync 2013 will be automatically upgraded to the new Skype for Business app, but iPad users with Lync 2013 will have to manually download Skype for Business from the App Store.

• Free - Download now

Source: Microsoft

Microsoft has updated Skype on both the iPhone and iPad, adding a number of enhancements for iOS 9. Notably, both apps support quick replies from notifications, as well as Spotlight search, from which you can also start conversations with your Skype contacts.

Here's what you'll find in Skype for iPhone 6.3:

• Full iOS9 compatibility.
• Reply to Skype notifications without needing to open Skype.
• Start chats with Skype contacts directly from Spotlight search.

These changes are also present in Skype for iPad 6.3, though that app has two additional updates as well. First is support for Split View and Slide Over multitasking. Second, Microsoft has made improvements for the app's low call volume issue.

You can grab both apps for free from the App Store right now.

• Free (iPhone) - Download Now
• Free - Download Now

Microsoft has just released the latest version of its Skype messaging app for the Mac. As you might expect, the new 7.13 adds support for the recently-launched OS X El Capitan and it also supports the Split View multitasking mode in that OS as well.

In addition, Microsoft says:

Be aware that Skype 7.13 for the Mac requires OS X 10.9 or later.

• Free - Download now

There's a new way to chat with your friends on Skype via text messages. Microsoft is launching a new feature called "Mojis". Much like how emojis allow text chat to be more colorful with special symbols, the new Mojis let users add short pre-generated clips from movies and TV shows in text messages.

Microsoft says:

Some of the first entertainment franchises that will be included in the new Skype Mojis lineup include The Muppets, Despicable Me, Bridesmaids, Pitch Perfect, Jurassic Park and more. The new feature will roll out over the coming days.

• Free for iPhone - Download now
• Free for iPad - Download now

Source: Skype

Microsoft has announced the preview for its upcoming Skype for Business offering on iPhone. Skype for Business will come as an update to the existing Lync 2013 app when it arrives later this year.

Central to Skype for Business on mobile devices is the new dashboard. This is where you'll find your recent calls and upcoming meetings, as well as a contact search bar.

From Microsoft:

• Contact search bar—Search your Global Address List by first name, last name, email alias or even a phone number! On iOS, your phone contacts are also included in the search.
• Upcoming appointments—Here you can see your current and next meetings in your calendar. You can either click through to read more about the meeting or click the Quick Join icon to join the meeting right away.
• Recent conversations—Makes it easy to refer back to your most recent chats, phone calls and meetings.

The In-Call and In-Meeting features have also been rethought. There are now larger buttons, making it easier to manage your calls. There's now full screen video, and its now easier to navigate between video and messaging with a simple tap.

IT administrators looking to have their company participate in the Skype for Business preview can nominate four iOS users on the Skype for Business preview site. Applications should be in by Friday, August 14.

Source: Microsoft

Google hadn't disclosed this information until a recent Reddit AMA (ask me anything) and a Vice follow-up that resulted. It's not clear whether Google has been asked to provide access to Hangouts, but the potential is there.

Vice:

If the statement was reported accurately, it's an interesting differentiator between Google and Apple's services.

FaceTime, Apple's video and audio calling service, is end to end encrypted. The content of your call is private and secure, and — for all intents and purposes — available only to you and the person with whom you're talking. Technically, Apple could do the equivalent of a person-in-the-middle attack to get at the data, but the consequences would be so severe that it makes such a thing extremely unlikely. Apple has also been vocal about privacy and security, making it a CEO-driven priority, and positioned it as a competitive advantage and customer-facing feature.

With Hangouts — and Microsoft's Skype, too — that end-to-end encryption doesn't exist, and Google doesn't seem to have any of those technical safeguards. Neither Google nor Microsoft has been as vocal about privacy for those services, either. Apparently for good reason.

Because of end-to-end encryption and Apple's stance on privacy, FaceTime was accepted as HIPPA compliant for BabyTalk, which provides remote therapy to infants with cochlear implants.

Some people — perhaps even many people — may not care about end-to-end encryption for their internet calls, or might need to use Skype or Hangouts for things like group calls or screen sharing or other features not yet supported by FaceTime.

If you own an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you're lucky in that you have access to every service: Hangouts, Skype, and FaceTime. So you can use whichever one bests suits your needs at any given time. That includes FaceTime when you want an end-to-end encrypted call.

And that Apple cares about end-to-end encryption is important. It means they've determined it's in their best interest to align their products and policies in a way that's in our best interests.

With today's update, Skype users will be able to carry their conversations over to the Apple Watch by responding with speech to text, emoticons, or canned responses. Here's the full breakdown of what's new in Skype for iPhone version 5.12.2:

• Reply to messages on your Apple Watch using voice to text, emoticons or quick prepared responses.
• Start chats with your favourite contacts on your Apple Watch so you can do more on the go
• General Improvements

Obviously the messaging experience with Skype on your Apple Watch isn't going to be as robust as the full app, but this looks like a pretty good way for users to keep up with less involved conversations nonetheless.

• Free - Download Now

More: Check out iMore's Apple Watch app roundup

If you've toyed around with Skype Qik, Microsoft's video messaging app that it launched on iOS last October, you'll be happy to know that the app got an update today that makes sharing those videos a bit easier. As of version 1.4, you can share videos to other apps or social networks directly from Qik without having to save them to the camera roll.

If you're already used to sharing stuff across apps on iOS, then doing so from Qik should be familiar. From the Qik team:

The update is available on App Store now, and you can grab it from the link below.

• Free - Download

Source: Microsoft

Microsoft has unveiled Skype for Web, a browser-based version of the VOIP service. Currently in beta, Skype for Web functions just like its native desktop counterpart, with voice and video calling and text messaging. The beta is available for Internet Explorer, Chrome, and Firefox on Windows, and Safari 6.0 or later on OS X.

In order to use the Skype for Web beta, you will need to download a plug-in before your first call, although Microsoft is working on removing this requirement at some point in the future. Being a beta, there are some issues present in this initial form. Known issues include increased battery consumption on OS X, as well as increased time to connect when placing an outgoing video call.

Invites for the beta will roll out over the next few months. Some new and existing Skype users are already receiving theirs. To check your invite status, simply sign in with your Skype account on the Skype website.

Source: Skype

People in India will soon not be able to use Microsoft's Skype service to make calls to local mobile phones and landlines. The company has quietly revealed, via an updated support website page, that all those kinds of calls will end on November 10 in that country.

People in India will still be able to use Skype to make calls to other Skype users and to make international mobile and landline calls. Also, people outside of India will still be able to use their Skype app to call mobile and landline numbers in that country after November 10.

Microsoft has not offered an explanation for this change. However, voice calls on mobile phones in India are incredibly cheap already, with some carriers offering $5 a month or even lower rates for such services.

If you live in India, how do you feel about this upcoming change to Skype services in your country?

Source: Skype Support via The Next Web

Skype for iPhone just got an update to version 5.5 that has enabled interactive notifications in iOS 8. The update allows users to take advantage of the enhanced notification actions, including declining calls, composing responses, and more — all right from the notification.

Since Skype supports video, voice, and text messaging and notifications come in lock screen and banner form and can be viewed after the fact through Notification Center, here's a run-down of what's new for Skype for iPhone notifications:

Audio and Video Calls

From the lock screen and the notification center:

• For incoming voice calls – swipe left on the notification to answer or decline.
• For incoming video calls – swipe left on the notification to answer with voice or video.
• For missed voice and video calls – swipe left on the notification to call back or send a message.

From a banner notification:

• For incoming voice calls – pull down on the notification to answer or decline.
• For incoming video calls – pull down on the notification to answer with voice or video.
• For missed calls – pull down on the notification to call back or send a message.

Messages

• From the lock screen and the notification center:
• For new messages – swipe left on the notification to reply.
• From the lock screen:
• For new messages – pull down on the notification to reply.

Nothing much else about Skype for iPhone has changed, but this update will make it even easier and faster to use. Let us know what you think!

• Free — Download Now

Microsoft is now allowing Skype Windows and Mac desktop users to enable group screen sharing for free for the first time, rather than needing a paid Skype premium subscription.

Just in case you are not familiar with group screen sharing, Microsoft has a handy video that shows how it works. Basically, it allows users to share images on their desktop with two or more people in a group Skype call. Allowing this feature to be free from now on will certainly be a huge help for people who use Skype a lot for group calls.

What do you think of Microsoft allowing group screen sharing to be access for free for Windows and Mac users?

Source: Skype blog

Every day dozens and dozens of new and updated apps and games hit the iOS and Mac App Stores. It's impossible to keep up with them all, but it's not impossible to pick out the very best. Here they are! Today we've got a writing app with some really cool features, updates to Skype, Spotify and more!

New and updated iOS apps

• Ginger Page 2.0: Writing app sports built-in proofreader, rephrasing, translations in 40 languages, contextual synonyms and definitions, text to speech, and more. Now works natively on iPad. Free - Download now
• Thoughts 2 2.1.2: A note taking application that implements a "text grabber" to move the cursor, especially designed for typing out text on iPhone-sized screens. Fixes a "severe bug" that's been around since iOS 7.0.0. Free - Download now
• Skype 5.2: The popular voice, message and video service. Adds view contact profile, voice message support to send and receive, add participants to existing chats, remove contacts without having to block them and more. Free - Download now
• Facebook 12.0: The popular social media service that likes to do bizarre behavior experiments on its users. Improvements for reliability and speed. Free - Download now
• Spotify Music 1.4.0: Streaming music, with ads or without if you subscribe using in-app purchases. You can now view and control your Play Queue, confirm if you add the same song to a playlist twice, sort and filter in Your Music. Free - Download now
• Target 6.6: Shop and save at the popular department store. Bug fixes and user improvements. Free - Download now
• Olloclip 2.2: Photography software made for users of Olloclip's add-on iOS camera lenses. iPad support, photo stabilizer mode, new shortcut menu system, new tab-based menus, picture-in-picture for Macro mode and much more. Free - Download now

More apps and updates?

If you try any of the apps or updates, let me know how they work for you. If you got any new or updated apps today that you loved, but don't see here, let us know about them!

Every day dozens and dozens of new and updated apps and games hit the iOS and Mac App Stores. It's impossible to keep up with them all, but it's not impossible to pick out the very best. Here they are! Today we've got messaging apps, a web browser, Netflix and more!

New and updated iOS apps

• LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: Universe In Peril: An original story crossing the entire Marvel universe! Control Iron Man, Spider-Man, The Hulk, Captain America, Wolverine and others as you try to stop Loki and other Marvel villains from assembling a superweapon. $4.99 - Download now
• Hatch 1.4: Hatch is a modern re-invention of the Tamagachi-style digital pets of yore. You hatch an egg, you care for your creature, and with the latest update, you can get enchanted toys, new decorations, and more! $0.99 - Download now
• Skype 5.1: The popular voice, video and text chat app gets the ability to remove conversations from recent, edit messages lets you add favorites from the favorites hub screen, and sports VoiceOver improvements for visually impaired users as well. Other general improvements too. Free - Download now
• BBM 2.2.1.24: Bug fixes and performance improvements to the BlackBerry Messenger software. Free - Download now
• Facebook Messenger 6.1: Facebook's instant messaging app. Calls are now more reliable, active people show up faster. Free - Download now
• Chrome 35.0.1916.41: Google's web browser, made for mobile. Compatibility with new iOS versions and stability fixes. Free - Download now
• Netflix 6.0: The popular streaming video service gets faster startup for video playback, UI refresh and bug fixes (along with a new icon). Free - Download now
• TextExpander 2.6: The touch version of the popular text shortcut app. Adds support for Fleksy, the alternate keyboard app. $4.99 - Download now
• Unread 1.3.1: RSS newsreader for iOS. Fixes several bugs, including one that caused shake-to-clear items to bream after viewing a web site. $4.99 - Download now

New and updated Mac apps

• Adobe Lightroom 5.5: Digital photo cataloging and editing software aimed at pro and prosumer photographers. Part of Adobe Creative Cloud. Support for syncing star ratings and custom sort order to Lightroom mobile, fixes for bugs and additional camera support. From $9.99 a month - Download now

More apps and updates?

If you try any of the apps or updates, let me know how they work for you. If you got any new or updated apps today that you loved, but don't see here, let us know about them!

At the Code Conference in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA tonight, head of Microsoft's Skype and Lync Gurdeep Singh Pall showed off a peek at what he and his team have been working on — real-time speech translation for Skype calls.

The demo showed Pall's English being translated — both the speech and in captions — to German, as his German colleague's voice was translated to English. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said that the feature would be available (in beta) later this year. The company plans to have the feature on "as many devices and apps as possible."

Source: Tech Crunch

Every day dozens and dozens of new and updated apps and games hit the iOS and Mac App Stores. It's impossible to keep up with them all, but it's not impossible to pick out the very best. Here they are! Today we've got a slew of updates large and small, including stuff from Skype, Amazon.com, games, and more!

New and updated iOS apps

• IMDB 4.2: Everyone's favorite movie and TV information app now has U.S. TV listings, Amazon Prime availability, a new showtimes page, and more. Free - Download now
• Skype 4.17.3: The latest version of Microsoft's popular voice, video and chat client for iOS sports "general fixes." Free - Download now
• TextExpander 2.5.1: TextExpander lets you type short abbreviations that expand into long snippets. The new release sports a slew of bug fixes and and enhancements. $4.99 - Download now
• Kindle 4.2: Amazon's latest e-book reader app for iOS lets you access the book's table of contents from within the left panel navigation menu, and sports a new X-Ray Smart Look Up feature. Free - Download now
• Squarespace Metrics for iPad 1.1.0: If you use Squarespace for your web site, you may be interested in this app, recently updated with native iPad support. You can keep an eye on your Squarespace web site's metrics. Requires Squarespace 6 account. Free - Download now
• Plague Inc. 1.8: This game has you spreading worldwide plagues. The new version introduces "Mega-Brutal" difficulty, has new cheat modes, new events and achievements, performance improvements and more. $0.99 - Download now
• Duet 1.2.0: The mesmerizing game in which you control two rotating spheres through mazes has been updated with new extreme challenges, tweaked final Acceptance stages and more. $2.99 - Download now
• Medium 1.0.425: Find and read content published via Medium.com easier with this app. The new release has minor bug fixes and stability improvements. Free - Download now
• Spotify 1.1.0: The app for the popular streaming music service adds Your Music and Repeat One features, and fixes rough track skipping and some crashes, as well as adds the ability to delete radio stations. Free - Download now
• Audiobooks from Audible 2.0.12: The app to help organize and listen to Audible audiobooks gets bug fixes and performance improvements. Free - Download now

New and updated Mac apps

• Mac Game Store 2.5.14: The companion app to manage downloads from the popular Mac game download service has been updated with bug fixes. Free - Download now

More apps and updates?

If you try any of the apps or updates, let me know how they work for you. If you got any new or updated apps today that you loved, but don't see here, let us know about them!

Escalation. Costner brings a knife, Connery brings a gun. Wayne dresses in a bat suit, a smiling psycho gets green hair and a purple suit. And I write an article about my iPad Home screen, so Peter goes and posts about his Mac dock. Well, two can play the escalation game. So, here's what's on my Retina MacBook Pro dock right now!

• Wallpaper: I'm Captain Default, live with it.
• Mac App Store: It's where I get and re-download most of my Mac apps.
• iTunes: I use iCloud for sync so the only reason I keep iTunes around — aside from the occasional DFU restore — is to convert our podcast files to MP3 and add metadata before I upload. There are other tools that can do both, but iTunes is easy.
• iBooks: I don't really read on my Mac but I like having all of Apple's stores all lumped together.
• Mail: I have both my personal iCloud and work Gmail going into Apple's default mail client. I like unified inboxes.
• Safari: I use Safari for 80% of my web browsing. I do keep Chrome installed for occasional Flash files and Google services, but I vastly prefer the look and experience of Safari, and the ties to iOS Safari as well.
• System Preferences: I could probably remove System Preferences from my Dock but I sort of like the comfort of it being there, omnipresent.
• iPhoto: Thanks to Photo Stream all the screenshots and photos I take from my iPhone and iPad show up in iPhoto for easy dragging to Photoshop, almost instantaneously. - Free with new Macs - Download now
• Aperture: I mostly use Aperture to do a few quick adjustments before right-clicking and "editing in Photoshop". That's why I use it over Lightroom. The lack of updates and features have minimal impact and I don't need the workflow Lightroom provides. - $79,99 - Download now
• Photoshop: I've been using it for decades. It's muscle memory at this point. Almost all imaging I do is done in Photoshop. (And I kinda like the new Creative Cloud subscription model...) - $(variable) - Download now
• Napkin: How we do all the how-to diagrams we do on iMore. There's nothing faster or easier. Most of the staff here use it now. - $39.99 - Download now
• Tweetbot: There are several great Twitter apps for Mac but Tweetbot fits the way my brain works. - $19.99 - Download now
• iMessage: Most of my friends and family have Macs and use iPhones and iPads so we all stay connected via iMessage. Yeah, there are rare glitches, but 95% of the time it works fast and flawlessly, and it has apps on mobile and desktop.
• Skype: The Mobile Nations office phone. When I'm working, I'm on Skype. And angry about it!. - Free - Download now
• TextExpander: Most of what I write online is in Markdown and TextExpander makes entering frequent passages, links, data, and boiler plate so fast, so easy, that I don't know how anyone can work without it. - $34.95 - Download now
• Feeder: I produce 5 or so podcasts a week here at iMore and every one of their RSS feeds is burned using Feeder. - $39.99 - Download now
• BBEdit: If it's plain text, chances are I wrote it in BBEdit. For what I do, it's like bringing a nuke to a fist fight, but I like the idea that I'll likely never out grow what I'm typing it. - $49.99 - Download now
• Coda 2: I don't manually edit web sites as often as I used to — we have far smarter people for that on our tech team! — but whenever I have to tweak a header or CSS file or do anything else on any server, I do it with Panic's Coda 2. - $74.99 - Download now

There are a couple other apps I use all the time but aren't in my menu bar, like Final Cut Pro and Garage Band, because I'd forget to quit them when I was done if I got overly used to seeing them there, and they hit the resources hard enough I don't want to forget to quit them. There's also a bunch of stuff, Like Dropbox, 1Password, and Fantastical, that I use all the time but that sit in the menu bar rather than the Dock. Let me know if you're curious about them and I'll do a follow up about what's in my menu bar. Also, fair's fair — now that I've shown you mine, tell me yours! What's in your Mac Dock right now?

Stop me if you've been driven mad by this before — you launch Skype on an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or some other device you haven't launched it on in a while, and for the next few minutes, if not hours, you're pummeled by notifications going off for messages you've long since seen and conversations you've long since forgotten. Today I opened Skype on my MacBook Air for the first time in 3 or 4 days, and the beeps and bounces went on for over an hour, and now, almost 8 hours later, another batch just popped up. It's even worse on iOS. I haven't launched Skype on my iPhone for long enough that I'm afraid to ever launch it again. That's not only shameful for a company as big as Microsoft and a product as important as Skype, it's inexcusable. And it's only one of many problems...

We use Skype as our primary communications system here at Mobile Nations — no, we can't switch to Hangouts because it's not cross-platform — and that means we have a lot of people we contact frequently, and a lot of semi-permanent group calls and messages we send. Favorite them just perfectly on one machine and know what you get? Absolutely nothing on any other machine. Message sync might be broken, but at least it exists. Not so Favorites sync.

It's not just sync that's silly about Skype either, it's basic interface. I co-host a podcast called Iterate. On the show we interview some of the best app designers in the business, and you know what? Almost none of them can find the do-not-disturb toggle on the Skype interface when we ask them to turn it on. These people create interface for a living, and many have used Skype for years, and that basic bit of functionality is rendered opaque even to them. (It's so frustrating we've actually made a mini-game out of it — stump the designer!)

That's after we have to explain to most guests that Skype has its own audio input selector in Preferences, distinct from the OS-level one in System preferences, and they have to select their mic in both for it not to pick up their built-in instead and ruin the show with fan noise. While I'm sure there are use-cases for alternate audio settings, they're not mainstream ones.

Then there's the problem with different devices showing different availability states. And what's worse — wait for it! — availability sync is broken as well. If you do somehow manage to find the do-no-disturb selector and enable it, another device can wake up, connect, and revert it to "online" mode, so notification noises you wanted to avoid end up ruining your recording anyway.

Same for contact requests and even calls coming in — they show up on one device but not the one you're actually using at the time.

Every day, every show, it's inevitable that someone will wonder out loud how Skype can still have so many issues. We still use it because, annoying as it is, other solutions are just-as if not more annoying. But that doesn't make it okay.

When I started searching for ways to work around some of the problems, I found this, from July of 2013, on the Skype Community:

It's great that they're working on it, but if it took Skype until July of 2013 simply to realize we now live in a multi-device world, that's decidedly not great. That it's now February 2014 and that too-long-in-coming revelation still hasn't led to any tangible improvements is terrible.

When an app enabled more pain than productivity, when you start to question if it's really worth using it at all anymore, that's a problem. And right now, that's Skype's problem.

Is it just me? Is it a podcaster thing? Is it my desire to impose my expectations upon others? Or am I right — is Skype simply failing to adapt to the multi-device age, and failing to provide the level of service modern users deserve?

We've already decided on our best apps of 2013 but we still want you to know our most personal ones — the apps we have given primetime spots on our Home screens. Rene's already shared his iPad Air setup so now I'm going to share what's on my iPhone 5s, at least for right now. See, the first page of my Home screen rarely ever stays the same for more than a few weeks. I switch apps based on what I need and like at the time. There are a few staples, however, that might get shuffled but never get bumped. Here they are!

• Wallpaper: I've always been a fan of plain gradient wallpapers mainly because they don't compete for attention with app icons. I can easily pick things out without straining my eyes. When the iPad Air came out, I loved the wallpaper on it so much I searched for an iPhone version and saved one off Google images. It's been alternated between other gradients ever since.
• Stock apps: Six of the spots on my Home screen that never change are occupied by the native Camera, Photos, Clock, App Store, Passbook, and Music apps. Typically they always remain in the same place too. I always know exactly where they are and they've become pretty much muscle memory.
• Fantastical 2: Ever since the first version of Fantastical came out I've never even thought about returning to the default Calendar app. It's just too good. And now that the new version integrates reminders, it's another spot I've been able to open up on my Home screen since I don't have to have the native iOS Reminders app taking up space.
• Beats Music: Beats Music has replaced the spot Rdio previously occupied on my Home screen, at least for now. I stream a lot of music during the day and even though I like iTunes Radio, I've always depended on a premium streaming service when it comes to downloading music for offline listening. I'm far too finicky with music to buy everything I like. Subscriptions suit my personality far better since I tire of things quickly.
• iMore: I am pretty sure this one speaks for itself. If you don't have it already, stop what you're doing, download it, and then continue as you were.
• Reeder 2: I've turned to Reeder for a long time when it comes to RSS feeds. Perhaps it's out of habit, I'm not sure. When Reeder 2 came out it was a no brainer for me and I haven't been disappointed. It sorts my feeds how I want and sends them to all the services I care about. It isn't too over the top which is what I love about it.
• Podcasts: I've made a New Years resolution to actually attempt to keep up with the podcasts I enjoy. I've been bad at this in the past and I'd like to change it. But I'm not a hardcore podcast listener so Apple's Podcasts app more than suits my current needs.
• Remote: There are very few things in life I despise more than the tiny silver remote that comes with every Apple TV. It buries itself in any couch crease or bed sheet it can find, and I've given up looking for it. If you own an Apple TV, the remote app is a must have on every iOS device you own.
• Tweetbot 3: I have a nasty habit of switching between Twitter clients frequently. I always come back to Tweetbot. Its feature set is pretty much unmatched, at least for what I use it for. It's also the most reliable in my experience.
• Facebook: As much as I'd love to hate Facebook, I still find myself checking my news feed whenever I'm bored. Possibly out of habit. I already know none of it is relevant and all of it is pretty much crap ads nowadays. Perhaps just moving it altogether would be a good idea...
• Facebook Messenger: Hate if you want, but the voice calling and messaging capabilities of Facebook Messenger are hard to put down. When traveling internationally it's saved me a few times especially when calling someone who didn't have FaceTime. For that it earns a spot on my Home screen. And it lets me not really open Facebook if I don't have to.
• Instagram: As much as I hate to admit it, I take far too many photos of my dogs and my dinner. Where else would I slap a fancy filter on them and upload them for all of your viewing pleasure?
• BillGuard: It's the best damned credit card monitoring service on the planet. Not only does it monitor for fraud, but hidden fees, deals, and savings. All for a one time in-app purchase of $9.99. If you own a credit card or checking account it's a no brainer.
• MyFitnessPal: We all know how it is. The holidays are over and it's time to get back in shape. MyFitnessPal is a great way to do so, no subscription service necessary.
• Faves folder, page 1: I have the usual suspects such as Dropbox and Settings. From there I've got Chase which I use to manage my personal accounts, deposit checks, and QuickPay money. Foursquare and GetGlue are my favorite check-in apps and I use them both fairly regularly, when I remember that is. Trello is what we use here at iMore to manage and plan content so that's a must. The next two are iMore related too and they are Flint which lets me sign into our Campfire chat system while on the go. Chartbeat then lets me monitor iMore's traffic and see what you, our readers, are currently reading. Creepy right?
• Faves folder, page 2:The last page in my Faves folder contains some basics such as the AirPort Utility to manage my home network and my Pebble app. Other than that I've got more iMore stuff such as Skype and Evernote. I use the first to communicate with my colleagues and the latter as a way to take notes or jot down thoughts throughout the day. Any RSS stories I want to remember to read later get sent to my Pocket app. As for weather, I'm currently using BeWeather due to the beautiful design and in-depth information. mydlink Lite lets me monitor our home cameras and last but not least, TeeVee 2 keeps me up to date on all my favorite shows including reminding me an hour before a new episode is going to air.

And that brings me to the end of the first page of my iPhone Home screen. The next several pages are filled with folders of even more apps. Important ones but ones that aren't used nearly as much as the ones mentioned above. So what's on your Home screen? Do you share any of the same first page habits I do? Be sure to let me know in the comments and then jump in our forums and show us what's on your Home screen!

My life is a series of dissonant beeps and buzzes. My friends and family contact me via Apple's iMessage or old-school SMS, which are at least both built into the same Messages app on iOS, and the former of which at least has a desktop app on OS X. We use Microsoft's Skype as our office phone system at Mobile Nations, so I that's firing away pretty much 24/7 as well (ironically, almost never because of our friends at Windows Phone Central). My colleagues over at CrackBerry use BlackBerry Messenger, so I get those too now. And, of course, the folks at Android Central use Google Hangouts, as do some of my legacy GTalk friends, so I get those in the Hangouts app, and erratically via Jabber in OS X Messages. (I get the occasional AIM there as well. Old school style.)

Twitter Direct Messages come in throughout the day as well. As do occasional App.net messages. Once in a while a Facebook message will join them.

Then there's the wide world of communications and chat apps which seldom if ever cross my radar. The KakaoTalk and Lines that are so popular in Asia, the WhatsApp and Pinger and WeChat as well. Hell, even the Snapchat. (This must be what my parents felt like after finding out what music I was listening to when I was a kid.)

Unlike email, there's no universal protocol that "just works-ish" in every client. Almost every messaging service is garden walled up unto itself. Even if I knew what Line was, I doubt I could just log in with my iMessage ID and suddenly have all my contacts and messages just show up in their interface. Or my Skype chats show up in BBM. Or whatever.

And that sucks, literally, because it means I have to either leave a multitude of battery-draining apps open and the notifications that go with them, or risk finding important messages too late to really do anything about them. It's fragmented. And, frankly, it's maddening.

So that brings me to this poll. How are you handling your communications? Your instant messages? Your chats? Are you using a multitude of services like me? Or have you gotten every that matters to you all in one place, and that's it? Vote up top and then give me the details below. How are you managing your messaging?

The new iPad is really an amazing communication tool. In addition to all the regulars; email, iMessage and FaceTime, the iPad also works with Skype. In fact, most of the great features we love about Skype on our Windows or Mac PCs work great on the iPad.

How to download Skype to Your iPad

The first step to using Skype on your new iPad is to download the free Skype app from the App Store by going here:

You need to have a Skype account created to use the iPad app, so use either your Mac or PC or use Safari on your iPad and go here to create your Skype account.

After you create your account, you’re ready to log in to Skype on your iPad. To do so, follow these steps:

1. If you are not already in Skype, touch the Skype icon from your Home screen.
2. Type your Skype Name and Password.
3. Touch the Sign In button below the Password field.

You should not have to enter this log in information again; it is saved in Skype. The next time you touch Skype, it will automatically log you in.

Once you have logged into the Skype app, you will want to start communicating with people. To do so, you will have to find them and add then to your Skype contacts list:

1. If you are not already in Skype, Touch the Skype icon from your Home screen and log in, if asked.
2. Touch the Lists key along the left hand margin.
3. Touch one of the Contacts lists displayed, then touch the the “+” icon  at the top
4. Next, touch the Search Skype Directory and type someone’s name, email address or Skype Name. Touch Search to locate that person.
5. Once you see the person you want to add, touch his/her name.
6. Check the picture to make sure you have the right individual
7. Touch Add Contact at the top.
8. Adjust the invitation message appropriately.
9. Touch the Send button to send this person an invitation to become one of your Skype contacts.
10. Repeat the procedure to add more contacts.
11. When you are done, touch the Back key at the top or the Skype Directory key if you are not already in your Skype group.
12. Touch the appropriate Contacts group from the Lists screen to see all the newly added contacts.
13. Newly invited contacts will show up as Pending until they accept the invitation, then you will see them as a regular contact.

How to make Skype calls on your iPad

So far you have created your account and added your contacts. Now you are ready to finally make that first call with Skype on your iPad:

1. If you are not already in Skype, Touch the Skype icon from your Home screen and log in, if asked.
2. Touch the Lists button.
3. Touch a Contact Group to see your contacts.
4. Touch the contact name you wish to call
5. Touch the Video Call or Voice Call button. Sometimes, you don’t want to “show yourself” so a voice only call can be helpful.
6. You may see a Mobile or other phone button. Making any other kind of call requires that you pay for it with Skype Credits.

Switching Cameras with Skype

You can show the individual with whom you are talking on Skype your surroundings by “switching” to the back camera of the iPad.

Simply touch the Camera key along the bottom row of icons and choose whether you wish to display the Front Camera, Back Camera or No Camera on the screen.

If you choose No Camera, Skype will still work, but you will just have a voice call without any video image.

Touch the small picture of yourself (your contact image) in the top left hand corner to access the My Info section of Skype.

From this section you can:

1. Change your Status
2. View your profile
3. Set your Call Forwarding options.

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h2>How to use Skype call history on your iPad

Recent calls or chats are usually listed with the contacts icons along the left-hand margin of the Skype screen.

Below those icons is the History icon. Touch this to see your recent Skype history. Skype keeps a history of your Skype IM discussions and call logs which is very useful in order to retrieve potentially important information.

How to buy Skype credits or a monthly subscription

Skype-to-Skype calls are free. However, if you want to call people on their landlines or mobile phones from Skype, then you will need to purchase Skype Credits or purchase a monthly subscription plan. This can be done on the Skype web site from the Safari app or from your Mac or PC.

How to IM with Skype chat

In addition to making phone calls, you can also chat via text with other Skype users from your iPad. Starting a chat is very similar to starting a call; follow these steps to do so:

1. If you are not already in Skype, touch the Skype icon from your Home screen and log in if asked.
2. Touch the Lists icon along the left-hand margin.
3. Touch All Contacts, iPad Contacts, Online Contacts, Skype Contacts or any other list to see your grouped contacts.
4. Touch the name of the contact with whom you want to IM.
5. Touch the IM button.
6. Type your chat text and press the Send button. Your IM will appear at the top of the screen.

Skype for iPad supports:

• Instant messaging
• Skype-to-Skype calling
• Calling phones and mobiles
• Receiving Skype calls and calls to Online Numbers
• Sharing screens
• Participating in conference calls
• Skype SMS
• Call forwarding
• Contact list filtering via groups
• Voicemail
• Bluetooth devices

Group video chat and sending files are not supported on Skype for iPad.

Are you using Skype of your iPad? How is it working for you? Let us know in this forum thread.

Have you ever been out and about with your iPhone or iPad and wished you knew how to just press a button and get a video view of your home? Sure there are home security solutions that can do this -- for a lot of money. But how about on the cheap? Well, if you have an iPhone or iPad 3G and Skype, you can. We'll show you how after the break!

[Thanks to Mickey Papillon for this ninja-level tip!]

Okay, if you want to set up Skype to be your cheap home security, on-demand video peeping solution, you'll have to get a few things set up.

This is an advanced level tip so we're going to assume you know what Skype is, have an account, and are familiar with using it. If not, let us know in the comments and we'll break out some basic tutorials to get you started.

1. Login to Skype.com and set up a second Skype account
2. Don't give anyone this second account ID or allow them to contact it unless you don't mind them peeping into your house either!
3. Setup the second Skype account on your home Mac or Windows PC in the room you want to be able to look into
4. Set Skype on that PC to automatically answer video calls
5. Open up the Skype app on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad (logged in on your regular/primary Skype account).
6. Use your primary Skype account on your iOS device to call your second Skype account at home, which will now automatically answer.
7. Watch the video and make sure everything is safe at home.

That's it. Again, the steps above require a knowledge of how to setup and use Skype so if you need help, let us know. Otherwise, if you try it out, how does it work for you?

Tips of the day will range from beginner-level 101 to advanced-level ninjary. If you already know this tip, keep the link handy as a quick way to help a friend. If you have a tip of your own you’d like to suggest, add them to the comments or send them in to dailytips@tipb.com. (If it’s especially awesome and previously unknown to us, we’ll even give ya a reward…)

Qik VideoCamera [$1.99 - iTunes link] has gotten an update and to celebrate they're giving away four (4) FREE copies to TiPb readers!

For a quick look at the Qik VideoCamera update -- and the give-away -- follow along after the break!

If you haven't yet, check out my first Qik VideoCamera review because we're only going to focus on the updates here. Finished? Good!

Qik VideoCamera can now be used on 2G, 3G and 3GS. Plus this amazing video application has gotten even more useful -- and fun. Qik VideoCamera added new on-screen functions, so it is much easier to choose your effects and enlarge, brighten or increase audio of your videos. This mean you can alter things in real time, with the camera rolling.

You can also now post your videos to facebook, SMS videos to your friends and they've added 5 more effects

(I feel it is more of a fun house mirror.)

(My favorite -- there is fog on screen and your touch wipes it away!)

And now the give away! If you want a FREE copy, just head on over to Twitter and tweet us this shoutout:

One entry per tweep. The contest starts now and ends Wednesday, February 10th at 12pm PT. And remember, promo codes require a US iTunes App Store account (Apple's rule, not ours!) Good luck!

Qik Video Camera for the iPhone, from Qik [$0.99 - iTunes Link] finally brings 15 frames per second video recording to the iPhone 3G. It also supports zoom, has some fun filters, and adds an easy system for sending your videos via e mail.

For the complete rundown, and pictures of Qik VideoCamera's effects, stay with us after the break.

As mentioned above, Qik VideoCamera lets the iPhone 3G shoot video at 15 frames per second (FPS) but that's only when using the default size. It's basically a trade off. Qik gives you the option of having low video resolution (200x152) and high FPS or high video resolution (400x304) and lower FPS. I usually go for the low video resolution and higher FPS because if the frames are too few the video is too choppy to appreciate.

Qik video has some really fun special effect filters to play with. Like with video quality, however, when you start using a special effect filter the frame rate slows down. Here are some examples of how they look.

Black and White.

Black white and red, which makes any red object show in color and everything else in black and white. While interesting, aside from the novelty I don't see many real life applications.

As requested here is some video taken using the black, white and red effect with a resolution of 200x152.

Color game, which inverses blue and red (I call it the Avatar effect!)

There are two mirror effects, both vertical and horizontal. These are good for making object suddenly disappear. It can be a lot of fun for the little ones to play with, if you would trust your little one with an iPhone.

Zoom is another nice feature, though I have found that for shooting anything very close it can cause blurring.

One of the other useful additions to this application is the audio and light enhancing controls. Since the iPhone has no external lighting source (plz 4.0!) the addition of brightness control can make those precious moments easier to see in low light settings. The audio boost helps increase the audio track but I usually don't realize that something is going to be too soft until the event has already occurred.

Qik VideoCamera also allows you to email your videos easily, by choosing which video to email and typing in the email address. The program is also linked to your contacts so you dont have to worry if you have forgotten the address.

All in all, Qik VideoCamera is a very nice app and has a lot of useful and fun effects for saving your life's special moments. It's not the same resolution or frame rate as the iPhone 3GS' built-in video recorder, but for iPhone 3G users who didn't get that feature, it's currently the next best thing.

Here is some video without any effects, taken with a resolution of 400x304.

'Tis the season for last minute, high-profile, pre-holiday App Store approvals it seems, as the long-awaited Qik, now dubbed Qik Live [Free - iTunes link] has finally hit the iPhone!

I've been lucky enough to have an ad-hoc version for a while now, and it's always worked very, very well, so here's to Apple and AT&T loosening the 3G chains and letting iPhone users do what Nokia N95 users have been doing for years now -- broadcast live from their iPhones!

If you try it out, say to live stream the grandkids opening their new iPod touch presents, let us know how it works for you!