Major audio enhancements promised with Skype 3.8 for Windows

By Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Wednesday, 30 April 2008 10:26

Opinion and Analysis

Skype says that users of its new version 3.8 should get a much better audio and Internet telephony experience, something that’s certainly welcome. If true, it’s fantastic, and I’ll be downloading the latest version to find out!

Skype has announced on its blog that version 3.8 has left the beta stage and has gone live, ready for immediate download or upgrading.

In beta since April 2, the beta stage only lasted 28 days, which Skype says was enough time to sand off the usual “beta imperfections” the new “audio-focused” version – but there some video improvements, too.

So, what do the major improvements to the “audio engine” mean for users?

Skype says that “this translates to significantly reduced background noise, less delay, fewer call drops, and fewer cut-outs”.

Also welcome is a rather cool change for those who use Skype regularly: “if you change your headset, headphones or microphone, there’s no need to mess around with sound settings. 3.8 takes care of it behind the scenes”. Finally!

Another change Skype has implemented is to change a user’s profile image in incoming authorisation requests.

Why would Skype do this? Because “some people have been using offensive images”, so Skype decided to put them “behind a veil” - you can still see the hidden avatar if you click on it.

A number of “video-related” bugs have also been fixed, along with Skype’s own UPnP implementation and “other tweaks”.

Skype recommends every Windows user upgrades immediately, “even if you’re happy with an older version of Skype”, and lament the lack of Internet transmissible smells, in which case they’d imbue Skype with “that new-car smell…”!

Which makes me happy they haven't invented a Web-o-smell system that has become successful just yet! :-)