14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just announced that a new update for its Skype for Android application is now available for download through Google Play Store.
The Skype team confirms that this update is meant to make the Android application easier and smoother to use. This means that it should bring many improvements and performance enhancements, but some new features had been added too.
“Today we’re delighted to announce Skype 5.5 for Android. In this release, we put extra focus on improvements that will make the app even easier to use, so you can spend more time chatting and sharing with people you care about most,” explains Skype in a blog post.
The first improvement announced by developers is the simplification of flow to sign back in. Thanks to the improvements that Microsoft made to battery use and notifications, users shouldn't be worried the app will drain their battery if they don't sign out from Skype and leave it running in the background.
The good news is the update makes it easier to those who still want to sign out from Skype to sign back into the application. According to developers, Skype now remembers log-in details, so users won't need to fill them in again and again.
Obviously, you can change the setting so the password is required every time you decide to sign in. Simply head over to Setting by clicking the three dot icon and look out for the option under the Privacy tab.
Preview web links feature is rolled out in the next few weeks
Furthermore, developers have finally included preview web links in chat for Android devices as well, after the feature was previous available to Mac and iOS users.
This will allow Android users to receive a rich visual preview of the content when someone sends them a web link in chat, thus making it easier to see what's been shared before clicking on the link.
You can now download Skype for Android 5.5 for free via Google Play Store. The application should be fully compatible with all devices powered by Android 4.0 and up.
