Software Update: Skype for Mac OS X 1.4.0.33 beta

A new beta version of Skype has been released for the Mac OS X platform with a version number of 1.4.0.33. With this so-called VoIP program you can talk to other users of this program for free. For a small fee, a subscription called SkypeOut can be taken out, so that calls to fixed and mobile telephone numbers are possible. The list of changes looks like this:

Version 1.4.0.33 beta:

• improvement: added keyboard shortcut to bring chat window forward
• improvement: added remote time zone and buddy count to remote profile panel
• improvement: added remote time zone and buddy count privacy options to profile
• change: Japanese localization (beta)
• bugfix: changed the default size and location of the main window
• bugfix: emoticon popup menu remained open when main menu was clicked
• bugfix: it was not possible to record, listen or delete voicemail welcome message
• bugfix: Skype remained in the background when you made a call or initiated a chat by using the menu bar item
• bugfix: sometimes main window toolbar remained hidden after a successful sign in, even though it should have been visible according to user settings
• bugfix: sometimes mood messages in the contact list and in the tooltip were different
• bug fix: under certain circumstances, the main window appeared just as a white rectangle
• change: easily switch to back to classic sounds in Events preferences
• change: added checkboxes to the Edit Profile window, to show/hide buddy count and timezone
• change: if main window is in the front, entered text will go to address field
• change: updated End User License Agreement (EULA)
• change: added EULAs in French, Japanese, German and Italian

Version 1.4.0.27 beta:

• new feature: support for call forwarding
• new feature: support for mood messages
• new feature: auto-answer calls option
• new feature: automatically pause iTunes during calls
• new feature: remember open chats after quit
• improvement: now easily switch between user names
• improvement: new sounds for event notification (w/ bonus ringtone)
• improvement: font size for individual chats now adjustable
• improvement: remote contact’s timezone is showed in contact list tooltip (if the contact permits it)
• improvement: “Sort Contacts by Status” added to the View menu
• improvement: chats show Skype: URLs as links
• improvement: Events & Services panels now open and close faster
• improvement: new chat / commands, enter /help in chat window to learn more
• improvement: Skype Crash reporter, reports crashes to Skype
• improvement: redesigned Call preferences panel
• improvement: new login screen
• improvement: new alert for custom ringtone while in a call
• improvement: upgraded audio for improved call quality
• change: scrollbar added to the dialpad tab
• change: chat text Send button removed
• change: cmd-= and cmd-_ also increase and decrease chat font size
• change: fade-out animation of the blue login screen (Tiger-only feature)
• change: new icon, buttons and graphics
• change: Skype icon can be replaced with CandyBar
• change: Skype Sound Test (echo123) is now added to the contact list of new Skype users by default
• bugfix: contact groups now expanded from first install
• bugfix: fixed chat handling of email addresses with dot in name
• bug fix: fixed long delay on quit
• bugfix: icon for blocked SkypeOut contacts was incorrect
• bug fix: muting conference calls failed in some cases
• bugfix: Add a Contact menu option didn’t work when a chat window was the front window
• bug fix: online status was not saved
• bugfix: selected contact in the contact list was unselected after the status of a contact had changed
• bugfix: sign in as another user didn’t perform fast switch between two accounts when both accounts had passwords saved
• bug fix: Skype API: GET/SET MUTE didn’t work
• bugfix: Skype Name and display name of a conference call participant were in some rare cases not shown
• bugfix: many fixes related to sign-in process
• bugfix: SkypeIn status was inaccurate in some cases
• bugfix: titlebar name now sync’d better to recent changes in Profile
• bug fix: chat drawer redraw problems addressed
• bug fix: under certain circumstances hang up failed
• bugfix: Skype now runs from Unix volumes too
• bug fix: better support for Firewire devices
• known issue: some problems with Firewire device as input still exist, working to correct