Skype for Mac OSX available!

[Guntis]

Hi all,
Finally long-awaited Mac version of Skype is available on Skype website for free download. It's still in Beta, but it really works!
Initially I had problems with my password (it could not remember my 12-alphanumeric log-in password after computer restart, and I had to change my password to something shorter), but now it works, and the sound quality is very good.
Get it here:
http://www.skype.com/download_osx.html

 

[Chaszmyr]

I'd never heard of Skype before today but it sounds pretty cool. From the makers of Kazaa though? I know they say it's ad free, but is it entirely spyware and adware free? Last thing we need is that crap on OSX.

 

[Guntis]

I haven't noticed anything of that. Looks like it's really free of all that stuff. Skype actually is half-commercial -- you can call any other Skype user for free, or use text chat, but you can also call to the ordinary phone line, and that will cost you little. So it's free as long as you are using online communications in both directions.

 

[ocellnuri]

I tried this out last night... meant to make a post, but forgot.

The sound quality was fantastic between two Powerbooks over WirelessB. There were a couple hiccups, but that's expected. It sounded fine even without headphones, just using the built in speakers/mics. Once I added headphones though, it was even better.

 

[ExoticFish]

so now how exactly does this differ from just talking to my friends using iChat? I can understand VoIP for regular phones but on a computer why not just use iChat? at least then i can use my iSight as well.

 

[howard]

so now how exactly does this differ from just talking to my friends using iChat? I can understand VoIP for regular phones but on a computer why not just use iChat? at least then i can use my iSight as well.

thats my question

 

[Sneeper]

so now how exactly does this differ from just talking to my friends using iChat? I can understand VoIP for regular phones but on a computer why not just use iChat? at least then i can use my iSight as well.

iChat rocks.

But alas, not everyone has a Mac. And Skype is very popular with PC users.. in fact, I think it's the most popular VOIP program for the PC right now.. So if you wanna talk with your skype-using PC friends, then having a copy of Skype wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

[kgarner]

iChat rocks.

But alas, not everyone has a Mac. And Skype is very popular with PC users.. in fact, I think it's the most popular VOIP program for the PC right now.. So if you wanna talk with your skype-using PC friends, then having a copy of Skype wouldn't be a bad idea.

Agree that if you are talking to Skype users, get Skype. But can't iChat talk to AIM 5.5 (?) users on the PC (Audio/Video)? If so, I think there are more users of that than there are of Skype.

PS Just tried out the AV features on iChat recently and was completly blown away. Very high quality sound and very good video (Macs weren't fast enough for highest quality video). And no hiccups.

 

[ocellnuri]

The sound quality on Skype seems a lot better to me than AIM's voice. But I haven't done any real scientific tests.

Skype is great for my Windows machine though. I've gone two years without installing AOL software on it, and I don't plan to start now.

 

[ExoticFish]

Agree that if you are talking to Skype users, get Skype. But can't iChat talk to AIM 5.5 (?) users on the PC (Audio/Video)? If so, I think there are more users of that than there are of Skype.

PS Just tried out the AV features on iChat recently and was completly blown away. Very high quality sound and very good video (Macs weren't fast enough for highest quality video). And no hiccups.

the newest version of AIM for Windows can talk to iChat from what i remember.

 

[Rod Rod]

the newest version of AIM for Windows can talk to iChat from what i remember.

There have been a few threads on this.

So far, nobody has confirmed that iChat voice-chatting works with the latest AIM for Windows. It's "supposed" to work but so far it doesn't.

 

[Timelessblur]

There have been a few threads on this.

So far, nobody has confirmed that iChat voice-chatting works with the latest AIM for Windows. It's "supposed" to work but so far it doesn't.

It does work. I was talking to my friend who is on iChat with the vidoe chat thing. I am on verson 5.5.3595 of windows AIM (which is not hte latest verson of aim which is at 5.9 right now) it work really nicely

 

[Rod Rod]

It does work. I was talking to my friend who is on iChat with the vidoe chat thing. I am on verson 5.5.3595 of windows AIM (which is not hte latest verson of aim which is at 5.9 right now) it work really nicely

Thanks for confirming. Have you been able to do voice-only both ways?

 

[Sneeper]

It does work. I was talking to my friend who is on iChat with the vidoe chat thing. I am on verson 5.5.3595 of windows AIM (which is not hte latest verson of aim which is at 5.9 right now) it work really nicely

NIcely?! I used to be a PC user and used Windows AIM to chat with iChat users.. It was awful. You could not resize the video window, so you were stick with this tiny window if your desktop was high resolution (like mine was).. And of course, you were stuck with the official Windows client, which is rife with banners and other annoyances.

But I believe with Skype you can actually call people without Skype.. like their real phone. I think you have to pay for that.. unsure, I'm not a Skype user .

 

[t300]

I am using it on OS X and on PPC and it is working great...This is great stuff. Wave of the future? I think so!

 

[C-Mezak]

so now how exactly does this differ from just talking to my friends using iChat? I can understand VoIP for regular phones but on a computer why not just use iChat? at least then i can use my iSight as well.

I'm a student behind a university firewall. All sorts of internet uses are blocked including https and most instand messaging, but Skype actually works!! I would use ichat if I could, but Skype does nicely.

Additonally, Skype's rates for making calls through the normal telephone systes are pretty low compared to what I would otherwise be paying to call my home in CA from my dorm room in Scotland.

I'm still working on getting iChat to work, though!

charlie