Review Skype new version and how to record Skype video call
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Now Skype has been very popular, more and more people like to use it as a
phone call software or just IM tools, like Windows Live Messenger or other
IMs. Actually, Skype is very good free software for calling other people on
their computers or phones. The calls have excellent sound quality and are
highly secure with end-to-end encryption. You don't even need to configure
your firewall or router or any other networking gear.Talking, sending instant
messages or even file transfers work between different platforms like a charm.
Though Skype is very powerful, it is still in updating and providing more
features and functions to us. In 2009, Skype released version 4.1, which is
really an important upgrade. Maybe you are still using an old version such as
3.8 or so, that does not matter at all. In this article I would like give a
simple review of the new version 4.1 and even some new features of the 4.2
Beta version, and also introduce a very useful Skype Video Recorder software
which could record the video and audio when you are in a Skype video call.
. Screen Sharing
The 4.1 version incorporates various enchanting features, highly beneficial
for the end users. As you already know Skype is a Voice over IP service,
which provides efficient chatting, and communication techniques. The latest
version of Skype that is 4.1 beta has incorporated the facility of screen
sharing into chatting. Even though such technologies already exist as various
remote access tools like Cross Loop and all, this service is not popular
among the common people. In this context Skype’s new feature is highly
appreciable.
Skype's screen-sharing feature is a clever addition to the VoIP
communications application. In our tests it was engaging, especially when
paired with Skype's voice calling and chatting capabilities. The fair screen
quality and few seconds of lag time won't bother most casual users, but at
this point we wouldn't recommend Skype's new feature for replacing a
dedicated screen-sharing application or service for frequent collaborators.
Skype's screen sharing is view-only; it is not a remote access tool like
CrossLoop, which is geared for providing technical assistance. For
demonstration purposes, however, Skype's screen sharing is just one more way
to connect with faraway contacts.
Screen sharing begins by clicking the "share" drop-down on a contact screen
and choosing "Share your screen". Skype then gives you the choice to record
the full screen or a region. Pressing the button to initiate the screen share
also launches an audio call. You can later resize by clicking and dragging
the thick red borders. During a session, a button toggles you between full
and partial screen modes. Because screen sharing essentially broadcasts a
video recording of your screen to your contact, you can't place a video call
and share the screen at the same time — you'll choose one or the other.
. Other important features
Skype 4.1 beta also reintroduces birthday reminder alerts and
contacts-sharing, which were two features left out of Skype during its
upgrade from version 3.8 to 4.0. Birthday reminders are automatic notices you
receive on a contact's birthday if they've added this information to their
profile. The send-a-contact feature can be found in the Conversation
navigation menu under the "Send" option.
Two other notable re-inclusions are the ability to import contacts from
Gmail, Windows Live Hotmail, AOL and LinkedIn in addition to Skype 4.0's
support for Yahoo and Microsoft Outlook products; and a screen reader
accessibility tool to help visually impaired people use Skype.
The update also brings some bug fixes and audio and video improvements.
. About 4.2 beta
Skype 4.2 Beta was first released in December,2009, which begins to support
“30 frames per second” 720p video calling at a resolution of 1280 x 720
pixels, Skype said on Tuesday. However, the service will require not only new
equipment, but also broadband uplink speeds that are at least double the
average provided to most UK users. To get this video quality, users need an
HD webcam and a PC with a 1.8GHz dual-core processor or better. Skype said
that "uninterrupted high-speed broadband of at least 1Mbps symmetrical
bandwidth" is needed to support HD video calling on PCs and TVs. In addition,
several new models of Skype-certified HD webcams are set to be introduced
this week at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, from companies
such as faceVsion and In Store Solutions. Video encoding and processing for
the HD calls is handled by the new webcams themselves, rather than by the
user's PC, according to Skype.
. How to Record Skype Video Call
As we have mentioned, the video call of Skype has evolved to a new and
higher level. But there is still no recording function. It is really a pity,
because so many users of Skype are eager to be able to record Skype webcam
video and save on the PC. Here I would introduce a Third-Party software tool
which could help you easily to achieve this objective. Camersoft Skype Video
Recorder is professional software for Skype. It could record Skype video
during the call with your friends or family and save as AVI video files on
your PC or laptop. You could free download it or from their official website:
http://www.camersoft.com
This Skype recorder is very easy to use, only a few mouse clicks are needed
to complete Skype recording work. In addition, Camersoft Skype video recorder
is integrated with an advanced Video Converter component, which could be used
to convert video to many formats, not only the Skype recorded AVI, but also
any other video files on your PC or from the internet, including FLV, MP4,
MOV, MP3, WMV, MPG, OGG, etc.. It could also support all popular portable
players and mobile devices like: iPod, iPhone, BlackBerry, Zune, Nokia, Sansa
and so on. It is very useful function and I have used to convert the recorded
files to my iPod and share with my friends and partners, really very
interesting and joyful.
At last, as all the additions make Skype's latest a substantial beta update.
But since it's new, there may be bugs and some stability issues — we
experienced a couple crashes ourselves during testing. Frequent Skype users
will want to experiment with 4.1 or 4.2 beta. You can download the new
edition of Skype 4.1 and a pdf describing it's functionalities from their
homepage.