Heads up, Skype users. The Microsoft-owned chat service on Thursday introduced version 7.0 for Mac and a new preview version for Windows.
Both versions have been redesigned to "make it easier to chat and share," Skype's Tom Huang wrote in a blog post Thursday. You'll now see thumbnail photos of your contacts along with a more eye-pleasing, bubble-style chat design, as well as consistent icons for chat, video calls, and audio calls.
"If you're already using Skype on mobile, you'll recognize some of these changes," Huang wrote. "We've made the Skype experience consistent whether you are using your mobile device or your desktop PC."
One of the biggest changes is a new side-by-side design that lets you chat and call simultaneously (see photo above). This means you can now share messages, photos, or files with the other person without leaving your call.
"People love multi-tasking," Huang wrote. "Many of you already exchange IMs while on a live call today. With the new side-by-side design, you can effortlessly multi-task on a voice or video call." On Mac, this feature only takes one click .
Meanwhile, Huang said the Skype team has also spent a lot of time over the past year tweaking the chat feature. Photos will now show up inline, for easy and instant viewing. On Windows, there's more space between your contacts, chats, and message previews so you can more easily follow a conversation.
File-sharing is also more convenient. Now, when you share an Office document or PDF, you'll see a little file icon just in case you need to go back through your chat history later and find that file again.
Finally, Skype promised that the previously announced free group call feature should now work better on Mac and Windows.
Head over to the Skype website to download Skype for Mac 7.0 and the new preview for Windows desktop. For more, check out our slideshow above of 17 Skype Tips to Help You Master Web Calling, Video Chat.