Live Messenger/Skype ... we're going backwards

[Glassed Silver]

i think the whole having to pay to share desktops changed shortly before MS bought skype though

i know it's been like that for quite awhile now

Well, I was still able to share screens without paying in April of 2012... :s

any of you guys having issues with skype where the messages get delayed? like i'd be talking to my friend and i wouldn't get her message for minutes, sometimes hours later. it's really annoying.

That happens a lot.

Skype is totally unreliable for text messaging, all it's got is syncing messages between devices and computers.

That's the only thing that's cool in my eyes. Apart from that I actually hate messaging in Skype.

It's even more annoying considering that messages get pushed to your device even though you're actively chatting on your computer so it goes "bing!!" and "brrr" all the time... Oh the joy...

It's even more annoying when your own messages get pushed in that way to your phone. And the push notification will say it's from the other person you're chatting with.

Open the app and you see the convo totally intact.

I'm telling you, Skype is so awful for text based conversations it's not even funny.

And it lacks so many features I cannot start to comprehend why Microsoft is rushing the merging so much... Oh yeah, they don't care about users who need fine control anymore on a broad scale...

bleh...

Glassed Silver:mac

[Arpit]

Well, I was still able to share screens without paying in April of 2012... :s

That happens a lot.

Skype is totally unreliable for text messaging, all it's got is syncing messages between devices and computers.

That's the only thing that's cool in my eyes. Apart from that I actually hate messaging in Skype.

It's even more annoying considering that messages get pushed to your device even though you're actively chatting on your computer so it goes "bing!!" and "brrr" all the time... Oh the joy...

It's even more annoying when your own messages get pushed in that way to your phone. And the push notification will say it's from the other person you're chatting with.

Open the app and you see the convo totally intact.

I'm telling you, Skype is so awful for text based conversations it's not even funny.

And it lacks so many features I cannot start to comprehend why Microsoft is rushing the merging so much... Oh yeah, they don't care about users who need fine control anymore on a broad scale...

bleh...

Glassed Silver:mac

and breathe....

[Glassed Silver]

and breathe....

:laugh:

Sorry, I just get annoyed by bad software.

Glassed Silver:mac

[Raa]

I agree, heck i'm still on WLM 2009... Going to be a lot of unhappy people in March :(

[ashpowell]

You can have 1 window for all conversations, and you can hide the display picture.

Although saying that, I did used to prefer WLM, but my work colleagues all used skype so I had to switch.

[Glassed Silver]

IMHO all messaging protocols should be done away with and replaced with Jabber.

That way we could have independence from IM companies, move freely, keep all contacts intact, etc etc...

Much like emailing you know...

I think the status quo in IMing is horrible.

Glassed Silver:mac

[Brandon H Supervisor]

IMHO all messaging protocols should be done away with and replaced with Jabber.

That way we could have independence from IM companies, move freely, keep all contacts intact, etc etc...

Much like emailing you know...

I think the status quo in IMing is horrible.

Glassed Silver:mac

quite

way too many protocols that are incompatible with each other

[+InsaneNutter MVC]

I agree, heck i'm still on WLM 2009... Going to be a lot of unhappy people in March :(

WLM 2009 is the perfect client when patched with A-patch, nice contact list, nice chat Window.

Skype is a GUI disaster, i have never liked it and its pretty sad ill probably end up having to if i wish to keep using chatting to people on MSN. The Windows version is full of adverts too... i count 3x in the main window of it at the moment. Yet on OSX i get no adverts what so ever.

What also annoys me is why does Skype forget you when you sign out? i'm always having to re sign in on Windows, it appears to do the same too on Android.

Luckily Skype is supported in Trillian on Windows so i can still enjoy a nice simple contact list and chat Window, shame its not on Android and OSX too.

[Hardcore Til I Die]

People still use WLM?

[dauma]

You can have 1 window for all conversations, and you can hide the display picture.

Although saying that, I did used to prefer WLM, but my work colleagues all used skype so I had to switch.

True. And it still supports group chats and free screen sharing.

Since 90% of all the Skype traffic goes through WLM services - it's a huge progress made to the Skype as a client. And you can get messages that someone sent when you were offline. It's a progress to Skype too. I would like to see voice chat better, as it always was better in WLM for me.

[spaceelf]

Skype is totally unreliable for text messaging, all it's got is syncing messages between devices and computers.

That's the only thing that's cool in my eyes. Apart from that I actually hate messaging in Skype.

Trillian does that now for all protocols. Sadly no WP client I'm aware of, but it works well.

[ANON86364]

I've tried to embrace Skype. It is great as a VoIP service. I pay monthly for a phone number and was expecting to be able to use the mobile and desktop apps to seamlessly answer calls no matter where I am - in the field or at home. In theory, this is great and the desktop app works for what I need, but the mobile app is atrocious. I have to hit the answer button multiple times to answer a call and sometimes it doesn't pick it up. Sometimes if I'm at home and both are logged in, my desktop will ring but my phone is silent. It really makes me wonder if I miss any calls. At least there is a forwarding option. The Modern UI app is just ridiculous too. A huge amount of screen estate gone to waste. They just desperately need quality control both back and front ends.

IM clients in general I don't really use. I thought I'd just chime in on Skype.

[oliver182]

which doesn't support tabbed conversations and doesn't allow you to remove profile pictures from the chat screen.

What are you talking about? Skype supports both.

[ensiform]

I'll keep using pidgin to chat on the MSNP until they shut the whole protocol down. The official client has sucked for years now with all the bloated ads and social addons and default bad privacy settings.

[Axel]

What are you talking about? Skype supports both.

Skype doesn't do tabbed chat...

[nekrosoft13]

skype does suck, it does feel like a move backwards

and MS killing off the live branding is pathetic as well :(

Windows live mail, photo gallery, were excellent free apps that came from MS, and what do we get now? pathetic metro mail and even more pathetic metro pictures.

[Luc2k]

Been using Trillian for a couple of years now, which is funny because when I first encountered it (v3), I absolutely hated it. The final version doesn't support Skype video chat, but I suppose it's on its way now that SkypeKit allows it. This is the only reason I still install Skype on people's PCs. As for WLM, I don't have that much experience, I can count the instances I have needed it on my fingers.

There's some nice stuff coming along like in-game chat (quite buggy atm) and hopefully support for Skype video chat and WP8 aren't too far behind.

P.S. Trillian (free) has the least intrusive ads I've encountered in any ad-supported program.

[spaceelf]

The Modern UI app is just ridiculous too. A huge amount of screen estate gone to waste. They just desperately need quality control both back and front ends.

To me the problem with the modern UI app is just that you can't use it in the background. For video maybe its cool but for voice I wouldn't touch it.

[Kudo]

Skype doesn't do tabbed chat...

Yes, it does. The tabs are not on the top, but on the left hand side in form of the conversation list.

[articuno1au]

tl;dr

Needs more Trillian.

I use Trillian for WLM and Skype. It's beyond useful >.< You can also make calls out of it, tabbed chat (or not). Worth a try :)

[articuno1au]

You think Skype is a step backwards O.o

Have you worked with the WLM protocol.

It's a triple cunted hooker (and not in the good way).

Skype is an enormous step forward in pretty much every regard. Just needs some work done on the client.

[dvb2000]

Losing features is a feature, haven't you realized by now?

features?, features? - you have to pay for them from the "Windows 8 SHOP" now!.

They have gone down the apple route. Release first generation with minimal features, update every year with a new "feature" and make the customer buy it again, and again and again.

[i11usive]

Yes, it does. The tabs are not on the top, but on the left hand side in form of the conversation list.

I'm using version 6.0.73.126 - can't see what you're on about. New windows are opened for each new conversation...

Correction - I see it now .. was using Skype in "Compact View" .. in "Default View" you can keep conversations in the same window.

[HawkMan]

skype does suck, it does feel like a move backwards

and MS killing off the live branding is pathetic as well :(

Windows live mail, photo gallery, were excellent free apps that came from MS, and what do we get now? pathetic metro mail and even more pathetic metro pictures.

No, we get Windows Mail and Windows Photo Gallery, and Windows Movie Maker

[BajiRav]

I prefer the Metro app over the desktop client. It's not as buggy, and it's relatively straight forward.

The metro app has been highly buggy and unreliable for me on three different systems.

For example take something basic, when I answer a call when the app is either in the background or not running, then it just opens the contact but the call is not connected (and dropped at the caller's end).

The metro app uses giant tiles for contacts in favorites and it's annoying having to scroll for just my favorites. They should reduce the size to reasonable level. The profile pics over those tiles are usually blurry and I don't see a point of staring at huge tiles whereas I could be staring at more tiles.

MS has already solved that problem, you just sign into skype with your microsoft account and it combines your accounts

It doesn't. I have two entries for same contacts in Skype and from WLM. I haven't found a way to merge them yet.

Ok, I haven't shared a screen since they bought it...still sucks

I think that went pay even before MS bought them...

Skype doesn't do tabbed chat...

it kind of does...