Microsoft made quite a curious decision to ship its Windows 10 Anniversary Update last year with an unfinished Skype app. Built on the company"s Universal Windows Platform (UWP), the Skype Preview app has remained the default communications experience for the Anniversary Update - including all new Windows 10 PCs that have come with that version of the OS pre-installed.
But now, eight months after that OS update was released, the Skype UWP app is finally dropping its "Preview" tag, just as the company is finalizing its upcoming Windows 10 Creators Update. With the latest 11.13.115.0 update to the app, it has been renamed simply as "Skype", and has also picked up a few additional improvements. The release notes state:
- We"ve simplified the way your contacts on Skype connect with the People app on your device.
- Messaging - searchable chats, keyboard shortcuts at your fingertips and send SMS with a little Skype Credit.
- Group video calling - the new redesigned view brings everyone even closer together.
The update also enables users to switch microphones, cameras or even devices (!) during a call, as well as including the usual unspecified bug fixes and improvements. According to MSPoweruser, the update is currently only available on the Windows Insider Release Preview ring.
The Skype UWP app has had some pretty mixed reviews since its release. Its overall rating on the Windows Store is 3.4 out of 5, with over 30% of its 117,000 ratings getting just one or two stars. Even many of the recent reviews with more positive ratings (three to five stars) describe persistent issues, such as dropped calls or audio problems, along with complaints about missing features compared with the desktop Skype app.
Source: Windows Blog Italia via MicrosoftInsider.es