Features

With Skype you can not only have voice chats on your computer – just like telephone, only for free – but also make real phone calls at much lower rates, using the SkypeOut service and paying with Skype credit. Besides voice chats, Skype also includes standard IM functionalities (written conversations, emoticons, user avatars and so on) and also lets you have group video conferences and share screens.

Usability

These video calls are precisely the main focus on Skype's latest version. The program's interface has been completely redesigned with video conferences on mind. This means it's been made wider so that video fits in perfectly with your written chat, your contact list and a toolbar to manage conversation.

The new interface is transformed when you make a call, getting rid of all the clutter, so you just see the video images, and controls. Group video is still being tested in this version, and it's pretty cool.

The other major development is Facebook integration. This is a pretty big thing, as not only does it give you your news feed in the app - anyone can do that - but adds call and sms buttons to any of your friends who share their contact numbers.

If you’ve paid for Skype minutes, you can call your Facebook friends, and if they’re also signed in to Skype you can call them for free. One of the best new features is the automatic call recovery - drop a call and it’s put in pause. Restarting it is now really easy.

Quality

The sound quality during our testing was perfect: loud and clear. Video sometimes appeared a bit pixelated, but nothing we couldn't really deal with. There was also one nice detail, and that's the ability to see your own video image built-in on your contact's video, and the option to take a snapshot of your own image.

Conclusion

Skype 6 features a complete interface overhaul that now focuses more on video chats, and also adds some handy improvements to the way you communicate online.

What's new

Log in with your Microsoft account
Select and pin your favorite contacts
Facebook and Skype contacts combined into one Contacts list
Easier to understand premium subscription notices
Possibility to control Skype video rendering technology for backward compatibility for people who have trouble with video calls

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Just bear in mind - as it is a beta, it's not final and could still be a little buggy. If you'd like to stick with the stable version, check out the standard Skype review instead!

Facebook integration has been improved in this version. Previously, you would have to create a Skype account and then log in with your Facebook account but now you can log in only using your Facebook account, which makes getting started with Skype much quicker.

Besides checking what your friends are up to on the Facebook Wall – which you could already do in the previous version – this new Skype lets you interact with their posts by liking or commenting on them, and more importantly, use Facebook chat right from Skype. In this way you can chat with your Facebook friends from a much more comfortable interface.

Skype Beta also offers a few details about your Facebook contacts, though if you want to check their complete profile you’ll need to open that up in the web browser. Also, if your friends have included their phone number in their Facebook profile, you’ll be able to call them via SkypeOut right away.

Besisdes Facebook integration, the new Skype Beta includes improved call controls, which are now larger, more elegant and easier to use, and the ability to share the screen in computers with more than one monitor. On the downside, this beta is quite heavy on system resources, and very unstable as well – we had lots of problems while making video calls during our tests.

In this newest version of Skype, users can log in with their Microsoft IDs and will be able to send messages to friends using Windows Messenger, Xbox, Hotmail or the new Outlook.com.

The new beta of Skype offers better call controls and an almost perfect integration with Facebook –but it’s still pretty unstable.

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Skype for Business has the same features as the general public release, with the exception of a few details. In fact, the average user is unlikely to notice anything difference - only the Skype administrator will really see how it differs.

Skype for Business is easy to install, as it comes in an MSI file which is perfect for an extended number of computers. Above all, it offers more flexibility network administrators. From the Skype Manager homepage, you'll be able to log into your company account and manage the service from there. Employees using the service are known as Members, and they'll be able to join your network with new or existing Skype accounts.

Some of these features, for example, include allocation of credit, so your employees can call non-Skype numbers, or the disabling of calls to personal numbers. You can pay by a variety of methods, and can enable or disable auto-recharge. Once you've purchased credit, you can set about assigning features to different members. These features include call forwarding, subscriptions, voicemail and online numbers.

When it comes to the everyday basics of using Skype, you'll find that Skype for Business has all of the same features as the standard version. To find out more about them, read our Skype review!

Skype for Business is convincing. Average users get the service they are used to, while Skype administrators get flexible, professional control over use.

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Skype Voice Recorder is easy to use, it has tcertain hotkey( Default hotkey is Ctrl + Alt + R) and security password protection, recorded sounds has high quality.

windows users who want to record skype voice chat or other voice conversations contents.

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The Best user Friendly Program! NO LOGS KEPT, just download and chose the servers you want to connect! The other Vpn programs require your personal information to work, like Email, Name etc. ,instead Vpn One Click doesn't require Anything! Its strongest points are its semplicity and the privacy that give to the customers!

Vpn One Click is designed for those who want maintain their PRIVACY SAFE, and for those who travel a lot or live abroad where many websites are censored. Even for allowing those people who live abroad to watch their preferite National TV like Netflix

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Features

Lync has more features than you can shake a stick at. Microsoft has had years of experience creating a well-rounded chat client. Lync includes not only instant messaging but video conferencing and powerful collaboration tools.

Instant messaging works just as you'd expect. The current status of your contacts is displayed clearly next to their names. These statuses are integrated into Outlook as well so you know when someone is available to chat with.

Coferencing is one of the useful feathures of Lync. You can share audio, video, screens, as well as white boards and polls. New for this version of Lync is HD video. Microsoft is using H.264 SVC to make sure that video is broadcasted clearly in 1080p.

Usability

Voice and video calls have been overhauled to be stable and usable, even under poor network conditions. Microsoft has worked hard to overhaul the architecture of Lync to make as many features available as possible in the event of a network slow down or failure.

The interface has been completely redesigned to look more like Windows 8's Modern UI applications. Everything is flat, white, and blue. This makes for a somewhat monotonous look but you quickly addapt to it.

Lync is easy to use and all of its features are presented clearly. It doesn't take look to figure out how to do something, even if you've never used previous versions of Lync before. Hovering over a contact will reveal all of the ways you can communicate with him or her.

Lync takes a page out of Google's book by giving a great screen sharing experience where each of the of the video chat is displayed above the shared presentation. This makes it easy to gaguge the reaction of the virtual crowd.

Ecosystem and polish

It's all about the ecosystem these days and Microsoft is tackling that challenge with a complete ecosystem for Lync. There is even a Windows Phone 8 application that is excellent. There are plans for an Android and iOS version as well.

Microsoft knows that not all users will have Lync installed on each computer so they've put in extra work to create a web app for Lync. Any modern browser will allow users to log into their Lync. The web app includes the ability to have HD video conferences, VoIP, instant messanging and desktop sharing.

Last by not least, Microsoft has been vocal about integrating Lync with Skype. This means Lync users will have access to all of their Skype contacts.

Conclusion

While Microsoft is pushing consumers to use Skype, it is pushing corporate users to use Lync. That shouldn't be a problem though as Lync is one of the most well thought out chat clients out there today. There are a ton of excellent features and the interface is well done. It integrates flawlessly with other Microsoft products and the Lync ecosystem is satisfying to use.

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If you're a frequent Skype user, you already know what a fantastic program Skype is. Along with instant messaging, Skype offers free video and audio calls to other PC users and low cost calls to mobile phones and landlines.

Messenger Plus! for Skype aims to improve your Skype experience through an easy to install and use sidebar on Skype's interface. Inconspicuous but easy to access on the left side of Skype's interface, Messenger Plus! for Skype is full of useful features such as a recorder for voice and video chats, animated icons and message history saving logs.

After installing Messenger Plus! for Skype, you'll need to authorize the add-on via the Skype notification that will appear the next time you log into your Skype account. Once done, the Messenger Plus! for Skype will appear on the left side of your Skype interface.

To record a call or a video, press the record button bar on the Messenger Plus! for Skype sidebar. You can stop recording at any time and open the folder with the recordings to access them. Everything is recorded with respectably high quality.

Messenger Plus! for Skype also includes animated emoticons, some of which are quite amusing. You can superimpose them on your video chat without any noticeable effect on the quality or speed of the call. Note that the person with whom you're speaking will only be able to see these animations if they also have Messenger Plus! for Skype installed though.

Without a doubt, Messenger Plus! for Skype is a fantastic add-on that'll enhance your Skype experience considerably.

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Messenger Plus! is a plugin for Windows Live Messenger that adds more features to the instant messenger like skins, tabbed conversations, custom sounds and more.

Messenger Plus! is the most popular MSN plug-in, collecting together all the extras users could ask for into one program. It's certainly an excellent pack of tools which heavy Messenger users consider as essential and which certainly improves your IM experience. Over all these years it has been able to adapt to every new Messenger version, including the name change and the new interface design. In fact, Messenger Plus! is now seamlessly integrated into Windows Live Messenger 2011: the only way you can tell it's there is by the tiny button on the top right corner of the main interface.

The Messenger Plus! tools can be divided into several groups, depending on the aim they're made for: you get tools to improve your chats, format text, change Messenger's appearance with skins, customize fonts and manage chat logs, among others. Messenger Plus! also lets you password protect your Messenger and includes support for scripting, so that you can add your own features to the plug-in.

The list of improvements Messenger Plus! brings to Windows Live Messenger doesn't end here. Tabbed chat windows, custom status messages, quick texts for frequently used expressions are just some of the new features you’ll be able to enjoy with Messenger Plus!. It can take a while to tweak all these settings, but fortunately a useful after-install wizard makes the basic initial configuration a lot easier.

All in all, Messenger Plus! is probably the only plug-in you'll ever need, especially if you like customizing every single detail of your Messenger.

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Pass Keylogger® is very easy to use, simply launch the application and click on "START". You just enter the number of minutes that the software has to work and press "GO!". Working in the background, Pass Keylogger® will record every keystroke a user makes in every application and save it to a text file. In stealth mode, the program is totally invisible to other people who are not aware that their computer activity is monitored. It records the text of all softwares Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Google Chrome, Microsoft Office, Open Office, Facebook, MSN Messenger, Windows Live Messenger, Skype, Yahoo! Messenger, AIM / AOL, ICQ , and lots of others...

This software is for student, or teacher so they know what happen on the computer.

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Released unofficially on its own website, AIM Preview is not yet replacing the old AIM everyone knows and enjoys using. Instead, it seems to be marketed as an entirely new and improved messaging client, with a built-in video chat feature.

AIM Preview's interface is relatively simple to navigate. There are a few changes, however. First, Lifestream, which encompasses the basic status updates your friends saw on their buddy lists on the old AIM, has been replaced. AIM Preview comes with actual status updates now, like what you'd be accustomed to on Facebook.

In fact, Facebook has now become integrated with AIM. You can log in to AIM Preview with your Facebook account, for one. You can also chat with Facebook buddies on AIM Preview, as wells as buddies on Google Talk. While this isn't technically a new feature to AIM itself, it's a lot easier to figure out how to use with AIM Preview.

In addition, you can access chat histories from virtually any device you have AIM Preview installed on as the histories are now remotely stored. While this allows for synchronization, it also might bring up some security issues. There's a news feed that links to AOL-owned Huffington Post articles as well.

The biggest difference is the new availability to video chat either one-on-one or in groups, which is very similar, if not identical, to what Skype offers now. If not for the ability to connect to your buddies via Facebook and Google Talk though, the feature might seem a little useless, considering AIM doesn't generally boast as many users as other IM clients.

AIM Preview adds some new features and functionality, although it still doesn't really compete with video chat frontrunner Skype.

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Of course, video and audio chatting are now possible in Facebook thanks to Skype integration and Facebook Video Chat simply offers an alternative way of doing it. It simply adds 4 extra icons to your Facebook chat dialog window - a webcam, a microphone, a games icon and a smiley.

The installation of Facebook Video Chat is a bit suspicious however. It tries to install the Babylon toolbar, make Babylon your default webpage and make Babylon your default search engine. However, even if you deselect the check boxes, it still places a Babylon installer on your desktop although doesn't appear to install any of the components.

When you've finished installation, your browser will open automatically with a message of congratulations telling you to log-into Facebook. If you're using Firefox, Facebook Video Chat also requires installing an add-on which it does automatically although this requires re-starting your browser afterwards.

To start a video chat using Facebook Video Chat, just open a conversation window with a contact and click on the webcam icon. A message will be sent to the recipient asking them to initiate a webchat. Obviously, this requires them to have a webcam installed or a speaker installed if you want to start an audio conversation.

The games icon prompts you to start a number of basic board games when clicked on such as chess, darts or snooker. Finally, the smiley icon simply sends a smiley to the recipient - not exactly sophisticated.

Facebook Video Chat isn't really necessary now that Skype is integrated with Facebook but if you're really having troubles with Facebook's integrated video and audio chat, it may be worth a try.

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Skype Chat History
Skype Accounts
IM Conversation Logs

Unleash the knowledge trapped in Skype!

Search all your Skype Chat History with powerful search filtering options
Export Skype history into plain text format
Backup Skype accounts and Skype conversation history
Transfer Skype accounts or Restore Skype accounts or conversation history to other computers
Manage multiple Skype accounts and Skype chat history across multiple computers

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If you've ever been in a position where you've needed to log onto MSN Messenger on different computers then you'll know that you get blocked from doing so.

MSN Messenger Polygamy allows you use multiple copies of MSN Messenger at the same time, so you can log on as many times as you want from multiple computers. MSN Messenger Polygamy supports all versions of MSN Messenger including 7.x, 8.x, 9.x and 14.x - this, of course, means Windows Live Messenger too.

MSN Messenger Polygamy isn't actually an IM client but simply a patch that works with your version of MSN Messenger. You can activate and deactivate the patch in a click, although you can only do this before you log on. If you don't have a supported version of MSN Messenger installed, MSN Messenger Polygamy will automatically take you to the developer's site to download one.

MSN Messenger Polygamy is a simple patch that allows you to log into multiple versions of Messenger on different computers.

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Facebook skin for Messenger 8.5 will let you change your Windows Live Messenger interface into the familiar blue and white colors of Facebook.

If you use Windows Live Messenger a lot, it's easy to get tired of seeing the same colors over and over again for hours on end. Facebook skin for Messenger 8.5 gives you the opportunity to turn your drab instant messaging client into something much cooler.

Facebook skin for Messenger 8.5 has fantastic details that make your chat client look just as though you're browsing through Facebook. Your online status looks just like a Facebook status bar, sitting right next to your profile picture, which is actually your chat avatar. Online buddies still show up with the familiar green MSN icon next to them, which somewhat breaks the effect. Otherwise, the details are superb, and continue from your buddy list into the actual chat box when you're talking to someone.

Unfortunately, Facebook skin for Messenger 8.5 is only compatible with Windows Live Messenger 8.5, substantially limiting your ability to actually enjoy this fantastic little skin.

Facebook skin for Messenger 8.5 is a realistic looking skin for Windows Live Messenger that'll make you feel as though you're logged into your Facebook account instead of the chat client.

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Hotmail Messenger Fix is a small handy utility that lets you turn Messenger’s auto-launch feature off and prevent it from running every time you log in to Hotmail.

The auto-launch feature makes the popular IM client load automatically every time you log in to your Hotmail account, even if you’re not signed in to Messenger. This feature may come handy for some, but most of the time it’s quite annoying: you have to wait until Messenger loads up before you can do anything else with your computer.

With Hotmail Messenger Fix the problem is over: simply click the button on the app’s interface to turn the feature on or off. Hotmail Messenger Fix doesn’t interfere with Messenger’s standard functionality and you can still manually log in and out whenever you want.

With Hotmail Messenger Fix you can prevent Messenger from launching every time you log in to your Hotmail account.

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Supports the widest range of storage media and can backup to CD-R/-RW, DVD, Blu-ray, HD DVD, USB, Flash, FireWire, FTP, SFTP, LAN network, Hard Drive and Online.

In addition to the core functionality, Handy Backup can be supplemented with advanced plug-ins which include: capability to back up to SFTP servers, hot backup and recovery of Microsoft Exchange Server data, MS SQL Server database backup, IBM`s DB2 data server backup, Oracle database backup, as well as backing up ODBC-compatible databases (such as MySQL) and Lotus Notes/Domino data.

A special Disk Image function allows creating complete hard disk image backup - backup of an entire PC data through creation of a drive image (snapshot).

The program has multiple backup options including on-the-fly ZIP64 compression, 128-bit blowfish encryption, running other programs before and after task execution, back up with timestamps, and other.

Comprehensible Wizard-based interface and integration with Windows Explorer provide easy step-by-step adjustment of backup tasks. Handy Backup is very flexible in scheduling and administering: it can run as Windows service, supports command line interface, e-mail notification and logging.

All users are entitled to free unlimited support via e-mail, phone or Skype. The software is proven to have superior performance and proudly carries the Compatible with Windows 7 Certified for Windows Vista and Works with Windows Server 2008 logos which verify that it satisfies all requirements of availability, reliability, security, and supportability.

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