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


Recommended Posts

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

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....

  • Like 1

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

  • Like 1

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.

  • Like 1

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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...

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Microsoft Edge 149.0.4022.80 by Razvan Serea Microsoft Edge is a super fast and secure web browser from Microsoft. It works on almost any device, including PCs, iPhones and Androids. It keeps you safe online, protects your privacy, and lets you browse the web quickly. You can even use it on all your devices and keep your browsing history and favorites synced up. Built on the same technology as Chrome, Microsoft Edge has additional built-in features like Startup boost and Sleeping tabs, which boost your browsing experience with world class performance and speed that are optimized to work best with Windows. Microsoft Edge security and privacy features such as Microsoft Defender SmartScreen, Password Monitor, InPrivate search, and Kids Mode help keep you and your loved ones protected and secure online. Microsoft Edge has features to keep both you and your family protected. Enable content filters and access activity reports with your Microsoft Family Safety account and experience a kid-friendly web with Kids Mode. The new Microsoft Edge is now compatible with your favorite extensions, so it’s easy to personalize your browsing experience. Microsoft Edge 149.0.4022.80 changelog: Fixes Fixed an issue that prevented QR code generation from working. Feature updates Intune MAM Protected Downloads. The protected downloads feature for Intune MAM will now save downloaded files to the Documents > Microsoft Edge > Downloads folder in OneDrive. Extensions monitoring in the Edge management service. The Microsoft Edge management service now allows admins to gain visibility into extensions installed across their managed users. From the extensions monitoring page, admins can see which extensions have been installed as well as manage user requests for blocked extensions. For more information, see Microsoft Edge Extensions Monitoring. Validate Edge builds early with enterprise preview. Enterprise preview provides a simpler way for admins to flight pre-release Edge builds to their users. To reduce friction and bolster usage, users will receive pre-release builds directly inside of their Stable Edge application. Admins can allow users to easily opt-out of the preview experience, using built-in rollback to switch between their pre-release and stable channels with ease. Microsoft 365 admin center users can configure the feature, view their flighting population, and receive personalized recommendations all in one place. For more information, see Get started with Enterprise Preview in Microsoft Edge. Download: Microsoft Edge (64-bit) | 193.0 MB (Freeware) Download: Microsoft Edge (32-bit) | 170.0 MB Download: Microsoft Edge (ARM64) | 188.0 MB View: Microsoft Edge Website | Release History Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
    • The machines are starting to fight back any way they can.
    • No news articles about the Arch Linux repo being majorly infected with malware?!?
    • Waymo recalls self-driving software after cars enter closed freeway work zones by Paul Hill Waymo, the self-driving car maker owned by Alphabet – the parent company of Google –, has recalled some of its fifth-generation Automated Driving Systems (ADS). It did so after some of its cars drove through closed construction zones. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the affected vehicles were capable of driving through a closed freeway construction zone and continuing to drive at speed. The listing on the NHTSA website says that Waymo is currently developing a solution to fix this issue, but in the meantime, freeway driving is being restricted. Waymo will update its ADS software so that vehicles can detect when they can avoid entering construction zones. According to the Safety Recall Report, on April 20, 2026, Waymo’s Field Safety Committee began meetings reviewing an event from April 11, 2026, and five events from April 19, 2026, where Waymo’s autonomous vehicles didn’t recognize and drove past ramp closure signs into the pre-planned freeway construction zones. This took place in Phoenix, Arizona. Separately, on May 18, 2026, seven Waymo vehicles entered freeway lanes with active construction in the San Francisco Bay Area by driving between cones that were placed to show the lane was closed. On the back of both of these events, Waymo restricted freeway driving until it could address the issue. In June, Waymo’s Safety Board reviewed the issue and additional information related to ADS performances around construction zones; then, as a result, it decided to conduct a recall. This development is not good for Waymo as it adds to a growing list of technical hiccups its cars have experienced. Ultimately, it will lead to more scrutiny from lawmakers around the world who will be more cautious about letting autonomous vehicles on their roads without tighter regulation. For readers in areas where Waymo operates, does this news make you more wary about stepping into one of these vehicles?
    • I'm still on Windows 10 22H2 because I didn't want to deal with all the issues in Windows 11, so I waited almost a week before installing the latest Patch Tuesday update (KB5094127), I went ahead and did it, and it was a huge mistake—ever since then, my File Explorer has seen a performance drop of about 30% when transferring large files... Once again, Microsoft has outdone itself! This update cannot be uninstalled, either through the Control Panel (via Settings) or by accessing Advanced Startup Options. The only possible alternative would be to use system restore points, but I’d have to reinstall all app and driver updates (and there’s no guarantee it would work). Or there’s the “nuclear option” of a in-place repair without losing files or apps, but even then, all my customizations would be lost! Microsoft just can’t help but mess everything up! Way to go, Microsoft! But I still don’t want your c****y Windows 11!
  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      Eurosoft10 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Month Later
      Eurosoft10 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • One Year In
      Skeet Campbell earned a badge
      One Year In
    • One Month Later
      Sharbel earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • First Post
      BizSAR earned a badge
      First Post
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      599
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      190
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      79
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      77
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      70
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!