You won't find Skype for iPad available in the App Store until Tuesday, but we got a hands-on look, with plenty of pictures and testing, with the forthcoming app. The new iPad-optimized Skype client will take advantage of the tablet's larger screen real estate, making for crisp and clear video chat over Wi-Fi, and often less crisp chat over 3G.
The chat interface isn't as polished or snazzy as we've seen for other iPad apps, but it's fairly intuitive. Contacts are on the left with your text messages on the right. In our tests, chat over 3G or Wi-Fi worked predictably smoothly. But the real story with the iPad 2's front-facing camera was how well Skype handled video calls over different connection speeds.
Although Skype for iPad will work on both iPad versions, you'll only be able to broadcast video from the iPad 2, since it has a front-facing camera. You can still receive video on an original iPad. Skype for iPad will work on both Wi-Fi and 3G, but it was quick to point out that video quality might take a hit on slower 3G connections, and we were quick to verify that Skype quality is often subpar over 3G.
As with any VoIP service, the image and audio quality often and ultimately comes down to the strength of the signal or bandwidth connection on both ends, plus the quality of the hardware itself (like a Webcam, for instance). That makes hands-on tests like this one inherently subjective and changeable. However, there's much that VoIP service providers can do to help jump technological hurdles, as Skype itself has touted in the past.
Among the new features, Skype for iPad offers a redesigned contact page that displays recent contacts and recent call history on the left, and thumbnails for your contacts on the right. Skype for iPad also supports Skype Out for those who have purchased credit. You tap a button to bring forth the dial pad.
We'll continue to take a closer look at Skype for iPad, but as with most of Skype's mobile apps, the essential features for communication are all here, although you won't find everything that's available on the more memory-intensive desktop versions.
Skype expects Apple to approve Skype for iPad on Tuesday. With the app's ability to call other Skype users on any device or desktop over Wi-Fi, it challenges Apple's FaceTime. Add on Skype's support for 3G connections as well (FaceTime is Wi-Fi-only), and you've got an app that could finally give Apple's FaceTime a run for its money.
Although Skype for iPad will work on both iPad versions, you'll only be able to broadcast video from the iPad 2, since it has a front-facing camera. You can still receive video on an original iPad. Skype for iPad will work on both Wi-Fi and 3G, but it was quick to point out that video quality might take a hit on slower 3G connections, and we were quick to verify that Skype quality is often subpar over 3G.
As with any VoIP service, the image and audio quality often and ultimately comes down to the strength of the signal or bandwidth connection on both ends, plus the quality of the hardware itself (like a Webcam, for instance). That makes hands-on tests like this one inherently subjective and changeable. However, there's much that VoIP service providers can do to help jump technological hurdles, as Skype itself has touted in the past.
Among the new features, Skype for iPad offers a redesigned contact page that displays recent contacts and recent call history on the left, and thumbnails for your contacts on the right. Skype for iPad also supports Skype Out for those who have purchased credit. You tap a button to bring forth the dial pad.
We'll continue to take a closer look at Skype for iPad, but as with most of Skype's mobile apps, the essential features for communication are all here, although you won't find everything that's available on the more memory-intensive desktop versions.
Skype expects Apple to approve Skype for iPad on Tuesday. With the app's ability to call other Skype users on any device or desktop over Wi-Fi, it challenges Apple's FaceTime. Add on Skype's support for 3G connections as well (FaceTime is Wi-Fi-only), and you've got an app that could finally give Apple's FaceTime a run for its money.
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