I couldn’t feel more festive if you covered me in chocolate, sprinkled me liberally with icing sugar and called me a Yule log!
Test Drive Skype Preview Yourself!
You see, ‘Skype Preview’ for Windows 10 Desktop and Mobile is bringing a veritable smorgasbord of additional features to its software; providing further proof of why it is, and will continue to be, the industry standard for voice communication tools.
Eesh, where do I begin, since there’s just so many gifts to unwrap? Perhaps I’ll start with the integrated translation support for Skype voice calls, which is a giant leap forward from the Skype-to-Skype call service currently available. Skype’s shiny new service will expand to cover both mobile and landline connections and – drum roll, please – you can test drive it now if you are signed up to the Windows Insider Programme and have a Skype subscription.
Sharing Your Skype Contacts over the Festive Season
You’ll just need to select the Skype Translator option next to the Skype dialler’s call button to bring up Translator’s settings. Just choose your languages and place your call – it’s as simple as that! Currently, Skype Translator supports languages such as English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese (Mandarin), Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, and Russian, and more languages will no doubt be introduced as time goes by.
Next are the new sharing features that Skype is introducing, making it possible to include friends and family on Skype by sharing Skype contact details, which is perfect for the festive season and a great tool for bringing your contacts on board and including them in the conversation quickly and easily. Trust me, you’ll never escape playing charades again! I know, I know, who needs Santa when you have Skype?
Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Skype!
And, as if that wasn’t enough, Skype is allowing ‘Preview’ users to capture and share video messages (even when users are offline I hasten to add) something that is a very welcome addition to the communication management toolbox, as is the spanking new ability to mark conversations as read or unread and to forward calls to mobiles or landlines when required.
It’s all a little bit overwhelming, but oh-so exciting. The stockings here are hung, the cards are displayed and I need another glass of mulled wine to absorb it all while I fire up my Insider Program infused Microsoft Surface Pro 4 for a little more festive connectivity and say aloud, “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good Skype!”
Until next time… A final note to end this year’s column has to be one of gratitude to David and the Skype in Media team for giving me this opportunity to share my thoughts, rambling as they may be, on all things Skype-centric with you over the past 17 months. It’s been an exciting journey of discovery into broadcasting technology wizardry, mixed with a little whimsy and a dash of nostalgia here and there.
I can only hope that next year’s column finds itself infused with as much revelation and revelry as that of 2016 and so this is where a sentimental Dr G hangs up his fedora and signs off for Christmas.
Originally published in Skype in Media.
