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Skype 5.3 for Mac Adds HD Video Calling and Full OS X Lion Support

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Skype today announced the release of Skype 5.3 for Mac OS X , a significant update bringing full support for OS X Lion, as well as new support for HD video calling.

Skype 5.3 for Mac OS X is built to work with Apple's newest desktop operating system, Lion, in addition to being compatible with past versions of OS X going all the way back to Leopard.

With Skype 5.3 for Mac OS X, you'll also be able to send and receive HD quality video when talking to your friends and family. You'll need to use the Mac's built-in webcam or choose from a variety of webcams from our Skype Shop, such as the Logitech C910, to make video calls in crystal clear HD quality. To receive clear HD video calls on your Mac, we recommend an upload/download speed of 1.5Mbps.

Just last month, Skype 5.2 for Mac added group screen sharing for customers with premium subscriptions, as well as a revamped call control bar with support for video calls. Skype has also been hard at work on its offerings for Apple's mobile platform, finally releasing Skype for iPad one week ago.

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Top Rated Comments

daneoni Avatar
194 months ago
Has the atrociousness that is the UI revamp been fixed?
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
194 months ago
Cool that they've added HD video calling, but I assume this is the same crappy 5.2 UI that drove everyone away in the first place?

They'll have to do more than add HD to get me to come back.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Spanky Deluxe Avatar
194 months ago
Does it still try to hog all your screen space? If yes then I'll stick with 2.8 thanks.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
194 months ago
I'll never upgrade from Skype 2.8 until it's absolutely broken or they revert to a slim, IM-style home window. There was nothing wrong with the previous design.

And yes, there is more to Skype than video calling. I buy credit and call home to the states from Japan.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
smallnshort247 Avatar
194 months ago
I'd be more impressed if they just designed a better UI.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
194 months ago
How is this better?
Can it really be worse?

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MacRumors content image

Great. The UI defaults to a big, giant, ugly paid call button. So I guess their solution to their childish UI is to hide all the buttons people actually want to use and by default display only the one that will make them money. Not that I would actually use the new version any more than I every rarely used the old one anyway...
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)