14 DAY TRIAL // Without Windows phones getting too much attention these days, improving apps on Android and iOS is a priority for Microsoft, so it’s no surprise the software giant releases updates at such a fast pace.
Today it’s the turn of Skype to get new improvements, as the VoIP app that’s becoming an instant messaging platform has been updated with full support for the iPhone X. Apple’s new anniversary iPhone features a notch at the top of the screen that requires apps to be updated to be rendered correctly, and Microsoft obviously wants to be one of the first to do this.
But in addition to iPhone X support, Skype 8.12 for iOS also introduces a bunch of visual changes for all the other iPhone users, including a navigation bar at the bottom of the screen. This new bar provides quick access to chats, calls, camera, highlights, and contacts.
This update is similar to the one that Microsoft released for some other apps, such as OneDrive, which also recently received a navigation bar with quick options at the bottom of the screen on Android.
Based on user feedback
Microsoft says these improvements are part of its approach of working with users on improving its apps, using feedback to develop new features or refine the existing ones.
The existing UI of Skype has been received with much criticism by iPhone and Android users, and although things are improving with the latest updates, some are still expecting more from Microsoft.
“The Skype update is slowly getting better. After such an awful update, they’re actually listening to the people telling them they don’t like the way it works. I have several complaints. First, the app is way too slow. It used to be very fast and efficient, and now it hangs everywhere. You send a message, it takes a full second to send. Trying to load a conversation takes forever. There’s a dial pad that doesn’t work correctly, and you can’t remove people from calls without completely removing them from a group,” one of the reviews posted in the App Store reads.
You can download the new Skype version from the App Store here and look in the photo gallery below to check out the revamped UI of the app.
