Windows 10: Microsoft's butchery of Skype (and Windows!)

As a former Microsoft employee in the U.S. Developers division of Microsof Press, I spent years defending Microsoft and its products against its detractors. Sadly, this is no longer true. Somewhere along the line, Microsoft forgot that its customer base does not consist only of those who use a tablet/desktop hybrid, and thus an operating system that is geared toward touch control. What happened to the days when a new operating system was based on and improved its predecessor? Business environments have used mainly NT, 2000, and 7 for good reason: they were stable, reliable, and intuitive for a previous Windows user. My company has been forced into upgrading to Windows 10 because the OEMs don't even make 7 available, and it has been a destructive change in terms of productivity. One reason among many is the byzantine personalization features, which really don't personalize at all. I am stuck with a display that barely shows selected text, a version of Outlook that is very difficult to parse visually do to its lack of color differentiation. And please don't tell me to go switch to high contrast. That is not an answer.



Now on to Skype. I have been a Skype user for years, and Microsoft's purchase of Skype has rendered a perfectly executed, easily understood interface close to useless. I finally uninstalled it this morning (after spending an hour trying to figure it how to update a contact's phone number which Skype had synced with an older contact version) and installed a 2017 version (version 7.41.0.101) that I was immediately informed was about to be discontinued. Why? Why can't you just make it available for those who want it? You do not have to continue supporting it, just allow it to be used. I have yet to see a single improvement in Windows, Office, or Skype that had any utility for the typical business user. I depend on my PC for my livelihood, and your updates and constant reinventing of the wheel have effectively subverted my ability to get work done. I never thought the day would come when I would rank Microsoft even lower than Adobe in terms of cost/customer satisfaction, but you have eclipsed even Adobe. As much as I admire and support what Bill and Melinda Gates have achieved philanthropically, I rue the day he left Microsoft.

:)

 

Windows 10 and Skype

Updategate: Microsoft said to be auto-creating Skype accounts in Windows 10
Doesn't even check to see whether you need one

Rumor /Story here
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer...be-auto-creating-skype-accounts-in-windows-10

 

New Skype Version Released

Although, not one of my favourite programs, Skype is considered a high priority software application. The latest 3.5.0.239 release, is now available for download and it fixes some major bugs:

• bugfix: Links with invalid % encodings were executed
• bugfix: Data execution protection may have crashed Skype
• bugfix: Pressing escape did not end call
• Security improvements to ensure it is no longer possible to shut down Skype from a web page

DOWNLOAD

Source: Skype

 

Microsoft to Acquire Skype for Over $8 billion

Microsoft wouldn't invest 8.5 billion in Skype unless they were acquiring the patents that come with the technology.

I don't think you'll see much happen to Skype after the acquisition other than Microsoft integrating the tech into their existing services, and possibly integrating it into Windows itself.