If you’ve updated your ‘consumer’ Skype app recently, then you’ve probably got an opinion on the latest refresh, and if the latest reviews are anything to go by – it won’t be a positive one. Today’s users are complaining that the latest redesign is not only an aesthetic nightmare, it’s also less productive than the solutions that came before it.
Many of the key features of the iOS and Android updates have disappeared, and customers seem to hate the fact that Microsoft has gone for a youth-oriented “Instagram-style” service, rather than the business-oriented, sophisticated app we’d grown to know and love.
Functionality and Features Take a Nosedive
Of course, it’s not just the glaring colours and horrific use of emojis that makes the new Microsoft redesign so unappealing. Many users are complaining that the features they relied on have now gone missing, in exchange for an option to change the colour of your chat boxes or choose a new “theme” for the app.
To make way for these, let’s face it – pretty pointless – changes, Skype has removed a range of key elements, such as the ability to clearly see who’s online, and who isn’t. Additionally, the app no longer works with a Bluetooth headset, you can’t send video outside of Skype, and you can’t take a picture with your hardware buttons.
Some users have immediately back-pedalled from the upgrade saying that if Microsoft ever forces an update, they’ll have to delete their account.
A Huge Mistake for Microsoft
It’s easy to see where Microsoft was coming from with the re-design. As collaboration and communication apps become more common, it’s logical that Microsoft would want to upgrade their appearance to something a little more “hip”.
Unfortunately, Skype users liked the app because it offered a sophisticated chat experience – they weren’t looking for a clone of Snapchat. While there’s a Microsoft Skype for Business app available, it’s part of Microsoft Office 365 and will cost extra to download. In other words, everyday consumers might just be stuck with this unwanted update.
Of course, the Skype team think that the latest update is everything it should be and more, stating that they consider the app to be the greatest version they’ve ever built, designed to make communication simpler for everyone.
While there are probably a few people out there who share that (rare) point of view, it seems that complaints and one-star reviews are the norm for the newest Skype.
Skype Interface Reviews
Have you used the Skype UI (user interface)? Share your opinion below. Is it all really as bad as everyone’s making out?
More on the Skype issue:
Is Microsoft Finally Responding to Disastrous Skype Feedback?
