Skype is receiving a holiday update, moving to a new version, and introducing useful video calling features like Together Mode and Large Grid Mode.
The updates come just in time for the holiday period, which for many will feature more video calling and social distancing than usual.
What's in the Skype 8.67 Update?
Skype's latest version introduces a few new features and arrives with the standard array of bug fixes and stability improvements.
Together Mode allows you to put all of your callers into a single themed room. There is a similar feature already available in Microsoft Teams, but Together Mode now makes the jump into Skype.
Everyone is by now accustomed to seeing friends, family, and colleagues in the familiar video call grid view. Together Mode is a basic update, but at least attempts to change things up enough so that the thought of yet another video call isn't dread-inducing.
Together Mode uses AI technology to segment your face and shoulders, pasting you cleanly into a new environment. Given the time of the year, many of the room themes focus on the holiday period.
Along with Together Mode, Skype users can toggle Large Grid Mode, allowing you to fit more people onto your screen than ever before. Again, other video calling tools have a similar option, so it is nice to see Microsoft updating and accommodating large groups before the holiday period.
You'll also find some new holiday focused background effects, some of which take inspiration from old versions of MS Paint. Microsoft opted for a similar style for this year's ugly sweater, too.
Skype for Android also receives a few updates.
You can now add someone into your ongoing Skype call from your contacts, or even using their phone number if they have Skype installed. The updated Skype for Android also adds support for Chat Bubbles, Priority Conversations, and a Conversation Space.
Skype for Android on Amazon Kindle Fire devices can rejoice, too. The Amazon Kindle Fire is receiving a completely new version of Skype, introducing all of these updates and more.
Kindle Fire users were previously stuck on a much older version of Skype, lacking many of the feature updates rolled out throughout the past year.
What Did Microsoft Fix in Skype 8.67?
It wouldn't be an update without some bug fixes, right?
A Microsoft Answers post confirmed that:
- Skype will no longer prevent Macs from automatic sleep
- Videos will no longer pause on the first frame and permanently freeze
- Videos will no longer break and freeze when typing a message
- Resolved a JavaScript error when using Skype on a Windows server
The Skype 8.67 update is live now across every platform. Download the update and restart Skype to install the update and begin using the new features.