Skype for Android 2.0 Now Available; Brings Video Calling to Select Devices, “Refined” UI
Waking up to an update is always good. Waking up to a significant update to Skype is even better. Our friends at Skype are finally delivering on their promise and have released a new version of their Android application to allow video calling. I immediately installed the application, of course, but was disappointed to find that only a few devices were supported:
– Some handsets may not be supported
– You need Android v2.2 to run Skype on a Samsung Galaxy S
– Two way video calling is supported on the following handsets: Google Nexus S, HTC Desire S, Sony Ericsson Xperia neo, Sony Ericsson Xperia pro.
That’s a very small list. Considering Skype’s competitors can roll out support for nearly all devices with front-facing cameras, it seems kind of elementary to allow such a short list of devices to partake in video calling. Hell, even Verizon hasn’t gotten video calling with this update and they promised it to Thunderbolt users when they initially announced the device. In any case, they’ll be offering support for new devices in the near future, according to their Android listing.
Another big change is the new UI that brings it more in line with how their desktop and iOS clients look. Unfortunately, this new user interface is extremely bloated and hard to navigate. Even on my fastest devices, scrolling through my conversation list and conversations themselves is such a pain. It does look very, very good, though. If you even want this update, you can find it in the Android market for free.