Skype continues to fuel its Linux app through some updates which finally mark the app’s transition to beta. The company has introduced a bevy of new features that promise to make the app all the more interesting.
The Microsoft owned VoIP app has been available for Linux for years, though its users complained that it lacks many features and therefore trails behind it Windows and Mac counterparts. In response to this, last July Skype came out with a brand new WebRTC alpha version for Linux-which still lacked many features but was still an improvement.
However, the company kept adding new updates in the following months. Last October, it added the video calling feature, and today, it is adding a bunch of new updates which you will surely make you relate to its peers on other platforms.
Now making calls is also possible using the app. Yes, in case you have sufficient Skype credit, the Linux beta version 5.0 allows you to make phone calls on mobile numbers and landlines. Also, the ability which allowed you to have one-to-one video call conversation only to other Linux Alpha users has been enhanced now. The app now allows you to make such video calls to Skype users on Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac. However, group video calls have not been included in the update.
Few other updates included in the beta version include a new ability of viewing screens that have been shared from Mac and Windows desktop app, along with better bug handling capability and enhanced usability.
Few weeks ago, Microsoft also announced that i was about to roll out new beta updates for Skype’s Android and iOS versions targeted particularly for enhancing your Skyping experiences. The updates included integrated camera, find panel, in-call reactions, and messaging reactions.
The “integrated camera” gave you the power of swiping more quickly for capturing stuffs as well as adding emoticons, stickers, and annotations in the live chat. With the “find” panel you may share links, locations, news, videos, restaurants, movie tickets and many more things without switching the app. The next update allows you to share emoticons, texts and even photos as “reactions” in a live chat.
Integration of all these features into the Linux app may still take some time, however, the catalog of features which is presented for Linux is still noteworthy in its own accord and makes the app pretty useful. Meanwhile, Linux users know exactly what they have to look forward to.
