Tag: Skype
More than half of over-65s now shop online, figures show
More than half of British adults aged 65 and over now shop online, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The data showed 82% of all British adults bought goods or services online this year, an increase of 5% on 2018. The figures, detailing household and individual internet use in Great…
Microsoft contractors ‘can listen to Skype calls via translation function’
Microsoft contractors are able to listen to some conversations that go through Skype’s translation function, a report has claimed. While the tech giant states in its policies that it may analyse audio recordings to improve translations, it does not make clear that humans may be listening in, according to Motherboard. Microsoft says it gets permission…
Skype adds background blurring so you don’t have to tidy your room!
Skype users are now able to blur out their backgrounds with a new feature rolling out on the Microsoft-owned app this week. The feature uses artificial intelligence to keep the focus on people in video calls, detecting harder to identify elements such as hair, hands and arms to provider a slicker looking appearance on video.…
Over 20 million Brits will use video-chat services to speak to relatives this Xmas
OVER 20 million Britons will use video-chat services like Skype to speak to friends and relatives this Christmas, with the vast majority saying these are people they would otherwise have no face-to-face contact with at all. An new poll for the Internet Association reveals that 40 per cent of British adults say they will use…
You can now ask Alexa to make Skype calls on Amazon Echo devices
Skype on Amazon Echo Show (Microsoft/PA) Amazon Echo devices can now be used to make calls between Skype users for the first time, as Amazon and Microsoft’s increased collaboration continues to bear fruit. Alexa-enabled devices can be linked up to a Skype account, meaning anyone can say, “Alexa, call Jeff on…
Is it time to switch to VOIP?
When it comes to office communications, one thing has remained central to running a successful business for the last 80 years or so, and that is the need for a telephone line. It is testament to the usefulness of the telephone that we still rely so heavily on it to this day. When starting a…
Skype getting a makeover for Windows 10
Skype, which is owned by Microsoft, has announced that it will be tightly integrated into Microsoft's new Messaging client in Windows 10 - so when you upgrade it is going to look a bit different to how it does now. In fact, some would say it might look eerily similar to Apple's own iMessage app…
Could Skype be about to blow our minds with its translator?
Microsoft, which owns Skype, has just released the following advert offering a glimpse of the future: The clip shows two school kids talking to each other by Skype. So far, so ordinary - but one is speaking English, and the other Spanish... and they can understand and speak in real time, thanks to Skype's new…
Microsoft is taking Skype directly into web browsers
Microsoft has today announced Skype for Web Beta - a version of the voice and video chatting app that will work in your web browser. Announcing it on the Skype blog, the app is only available to a select few at the moment, though will be rolling out to everyone soon. The web app does…
Microsoft launches Skype Qik video messenger
Remember Qik? The video streaming app has been reborn as a messaging service in the mould of WhatsApp. The difference? This time you have to communicate using video. According to UberGizmo Skype Qik can record up to 42 seconds per message, and doesn't need to process before sending. Apparently if the recipient doesn't have the…