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Microsoft says humans will still transcribe Cortana and Skype audio
Just like seemingly every other major tech company with a voice assistant or voice chat service, it emerged that Microsoft contractors were listening to Skype and Cortana recordings. Apple, Google and Facebook have temporarily halted similar efforts, and Amazon lets users opt out of having Alexa conversations reviewed by humans. But Microsoft will continue the practice for the time being despite possible privacy concerns.
Microsoft contractors listen to some Skype calls and Cortana commands
Microsoft is the latest company charged with listening to its users calls and voice commands. A report by Vice found that contractors are listening to bits of conversations collected through Skype's translation service. Some contractors are also listening to voice commands spoken to Cortana.
Skype brings screen sharing to Android and iOS devices
Skype has officially launched screen sharing for Android and iOS devices less than a couple of months after the feature rolled out for beta testers. Screen sharing can be a valuable tool for video calls, whether for personal or work purposes -- say, to show a colleague the graphs you've been working on or to show a friend how to find a particular setting in their phone. It's high time the feature made its way to mobile, seeing as smartphones are everywhere now.
Skype adds screen sharing to its iOS and Android apps
Having spruced up its web service, Skype is turning its attention to mobile. Its latest beta feature adds screen sharing to its iOS and Android apps. It may not seem as significant as Skype's other recent iterations, including group calls for 50 people (up from 25) and background blur in video calls, but it gives workers and friends another reason to stay locked in the app.
Skype doubles group call limit to 50 people
Skype has expanded the capacity of group calls to 50 people and has added a notification feature for such calls. It started testing both features last month, and they'll be live for everyone starting today. The larger conference call option is a smart, if somewhat inevitable move, given that some other video calling services can host bigger groups than Skype's previous limit of 25.
Microsoft is testing Skype group calls for up to 50 people
Skype conference calls could be about to get a whole lot busier. Microsoft is planning to bump up the maximum number of group call participants from 25 to 50 (18 more than can fit into a Group FaceTime call). The audio and video buttons will be enabled for larger groups, so people can more easily mute their microphones or turn on/off their webcam.
Skype lets you make HD video calls on the web
Just days since rival Google Duo came to the web, Skype is overhauling its own browser-based service. The new Skype for Web boasts HD video for both private and group calls, call recording, and a notifications panel that keeps tabs on reactions to your messages, @mentions in group chats, or if someone quoted you.
Skype's background blurring feature will hide a multitude of sins
If you've ever used Skype while working from home, chances are you've been wearing pyjama bottoms (or even less) on your lower half, while the clean shirt on your top half has done a passable job of indicating professionalism. No shame there, we've all done it. But no matter how put together you appear, video calling will still rat you out when it comes to your background environment. Laundry left hanging around, questionable wall art, the words 'I hate this project' scrawled on the whiteboard behind you -- all in plain, damning sight of your Skype partner. Until now, that is, as Skype has developed the feature none of us ever knew we needed until it was too late: background blurring.
Microsoft's redesigned Office icons reflect its move to the cloud
Microsoft's Office icons on Windows and the web have been conservative, to put it mildly. They've been functional things you click while you scramble to finish a business spreadsheet or school report. The company would like you to sit up and take notice this time around, though. It just unveiled redesigned Office icons that will reach apps and the web in the "coming months," and they're decidedly more interesting. To Microsoft, they're a reflection of how much Office has changed in the five years since the icons last received a makeover.
Alexa can now make Skype calls
Starting this week, you'll be able to make Skype calls on your Alexa devices. Basically the entire line of Echo devices will have the ability to make voice calls via Microsoft's VoIP platform. The Echo Show and its tablet-style screen will also be able to make and receive video calls.
Senators want answers from mobile carriers on video app throttling
If you have ever had a suspicion that your carrier might be slowing down your internet speeds while streaming videos, you aren't alone. Three US Senators -- Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) -- are pressing the four major carriers about alleged throttling practices documented on the Wehe testing platform.
VW and Microsoft team up on cloud services for connected cars
VW's strategy for smarter cars extends beyond creating a single OS for its cars. It wants unified internet services, too. To that end, it's teaming up with Microsoft to build the Volkswagen Automotive Cloud and provide internet features that are consistent across models -- including when you're outside your car. While the two companies haven't delved into the exact features (it's still early going), they envision a scenario where you could resume listening to music when you enter your car, or hop on a conference call while you're commuting to the office. You could also expect tight connections to VW's We services, like car sharing.
Microsoft will end support for classic Skype in November
Microsoft's reprieve for classic Skype users didn't last long. In an update to its earlier blog post, the Skype team revealed that it will end Skype 7 support for desktop users on November 1st, and mobile users on November 15th. These older versions might keep working "for a little while," but the developers suggest that you upgrade to Skype 8 to avoid any disruptions.
Skype chats are coming to Alexa devices
Aside from all of the Alexa-connected hardware, there's one more big development coming for Amazon's technology: integration with Skype. Microsoft and Amazon said that voice and video calls via the service will come to Alexa devices (including Microsoft's Xbox One) with calls that you can start and control just by voice. Last year the two companies announced plans to make Alexa and Cortana work together and it's taken a while to arrive, but now it's here. Amazon's push to make people buy more things via its assistant could provide a boost to Microsoft's aspirations of product integration in a way that didn't happen after the launch of the Xbox One and Kinect, which already featured voice control for Skype before Cortana and Alexa were on the scene.
Amazon's new Echo Show packs a larger display and improved audio
Amazon's seemingly non-stop device announcements now include a revamp of its first smart display. The internet giant has unveiled a second-generation Echo Show that ditches the (frankly boring) look of the original in favor of a minimalist design with a much larger 10-inch display. And there's a good reason for that display -- the Echo Show offers web browsers (both Amazon's own Silk and Firefox) to help you watch YouTube and access other services that aren't built-in. It's also helpful for newly-added Skype video chat support, Vevo music videos and even live TV through new Hulu and NBC integrations as well as a just-introduced Fire TV Recast DVR peripheral.
Skype's podcast-friendly call recording is now available
The Skype team is acting on its promise to make life easier for podcasters and other content creators. Call recording is now available in the latest version of Skype except for Windows 10, which will see an upgrade in the "coming weeks." The clips you record will live in the cloud for 30 days -- you can forward them to others or save them for posterity.
Skype drops Snapchat-like feature since people weren't using it
Microsoft's about-face on Skype now extends to one of its not-so-subtle attempts to ride the social media bandwagon. As part of a broader app update, Microsoft has revealed that it's axing its Snapchat-like Highlights feature for mobile users in a bid to focus on core features like calls and chats. Simply put, people weren't using it -- the Stories-style posts "didn't resonate with a majority of users," the Skype team said. You'll have until September 30th to download your own Highlights if you want to preserve them for posterity.
Skype launches end-to-end encryption for calls and texts
After months of work, Skype's Private Conversations are now a practical reality. Users on Android, iOS and desktop platforms can now switch on end-to-end encryption for both calls and text chats. If your intended recipient accepts your invitation, the technology will better shield your conversations from eavesdroppers hoping to intercept chat traffic or snoop on your device. It'll even hide content in notifications and the chat list to prevent someone from casually glancing at your sensitive discussions.
Skype previews texting feature for PCs
Skype has given Insiders on Android a sneak peek of an upcoming feature called "SMS Connect." Windows Blog Italia has spotted an option in the latest version of Skype Preview's settings that would allow you to send and receive texts using Skype on Mac or Windows PC. Say, a friend texts you on your Android phone -- you can reply to that message straight from the Skype app on your computer. You can only see the feature right now if you're an Insider with Skype Preview on Android, but it looks like you still can't switch it on. Rest assured that the feature is real even if you can't see it: Skype Insider's Twitter account has confirmed that it's something the team is working on.
Skype chats are the latest place to listen to Spotify
Now that Spotify is on Apple's iMessage and Facebook's Messenger, the company will soon empower you to share and preview songs inside another messaging service, Skype. If you're a US-based Skype Insider with a mobile app version of 8.26 or higher, you'll be seeing a new Skype Spotify add-in soon; global Insiders will get the add-in later. Skype Insiders get early access to new features before they roll out to the rest of us.
