Attaching a photo, sending your location, or recording a video message all require an intermediate step that uses a simple pop-over panel instead of a separate full-screen window crowded with all kinds of information. Rather than relying on completely separate screens like Messages, Skype makes heavy use of pop-overs, which results in a user experience that’s much easier to digest.Īs you would expect, Skype really shines when you’re interacting with other users, and it’s interesting to see the kind of usability decisions that the designers have made, particularly compared to Apple’s built-in Messages app.įor example, you can start an audio or video call with a single tap of your finger, without having to first transition to a different screen like you do in Messages. For example, when the keyboard appears or becomes hidden, Skype uses a simple cross-fade transition to reposition the chat panel instead of the resizing animation used by many other apps it’s a tiny detail, but it makes things much less disorienting. Look and feel aside, user interaction is buttery-smooth and responsive, with quick, purposeful transitions between the different screens and states, and many small touches that make for a great experience. Still, Skype, which was bought out first by eBay, then by a consortium of private investors, and finally by current owner Microsoft, is still around, and its brand new version 6.0 for iOS devices has just hit the virtual shelves of Apple’s app marketplace. That was then, of course, and much has changed since: widespread deregulation in the telecom industry has lowered prices dramatically, and a slew of other players have joined the telecommunication software industry. At a time when long-distance telephone service was still an expensive proposition, this powerful app made it possible for an entire generation of early Internet users to chat and talk with people from the other side of the world for free, regardless of the speed or type of connection they had. It wasn’t too long ago that the technology behindĪpp Store link) seemed like a short step removed from black magic. For example, the chat bubbles have almost-square corners that make is easier to view images shared through the app. Skype has a clean interface that places extreme attention to detail.

Skype for iphone 6 interface