RIP SKYPE: Skype calls to feature ads big enough to interrupt any conversation - Polidicks

fuck this

Microsoft are fucking running themselves into the ground.. Metro generally being shit, then removing the fucking start button.. Now interrupting people with bullshit ads in the middle of conversations on Skype? It's generally shitty-move after shitty-move for them.. Microsoft have made fucktons of cash from their shitty OS's for decades and their sole aim in acquiring Skype was clearly to make fucktons more cash as this idiotic move shows. They could have done one 'decent act' in keeping Skype exactly as it was and making money from the call-to-landline feature.. yet instead they decide to immediately made the best features subscriber-only even though they were features commonly available elsewhere (group video chat, etc). And meanwhile, Apple continue to better their ties with the likes of Epic Games (Unreal Engine) and other software developers, and at the same time making absurdly good screens and lowering their prices.

i've already been getting ads identical to this for about 3 months, is this article late or is it something different?

Seriously who thinks up these ridiculous ideas? I don't think I've ever talked to someone about a product that I've seen advertised, apart from games. And if I wanted to talk about a game, I wouldn't be finding out about it for the first time in an advert... This seems like it might have a bigger impact on women, with all their make-up and what not [editline]14th June 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=SCopE5000;36324154]Microsoft are fucking running themselves into the ground.. Metro generally being shit, then removing the fucking start button.. Now interrupting people with bullshit ads in the middle of conversations on Skype? It's generally shitty-move after shitty-move for them.. Microsoft have made fucktons of cash from their shitty OS's for decades and their sole aim in acquiring Skype was clearly to make fucktons more cash as this idiotic move shows. They could have done one 'decent act' in keeping Skype exactly as it was and making money from the call-to-landline feature.. yet instead they decide to immediately made the best features subscriber-only even though they were features commonly available elsewhere (group video chat, etc). And meanwhile, Apple continue to better their ties with the likes of Epic Games (Unreal Engine) and other software developers, and at the same time making absurdly good screens and lowering their prices.[/QUOTE] I don't like where it is going, either. But I currently still like them more than Apple. Maybe one day I'll have to move to Linux :v:

[IMG]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/img/fn4fb69fed.jpg[/IMG] [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Image macro" - Swebonny))[/highlight]

Reading comprehension and general reasonability is painfully low it seems. [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/BKvUW.png[/IMG] What's wrong with that, when I use Skype I don't stare at the Skype window, I do other things.

[QUOTE=Trumple;36324259]Seriously who thinks up these ridiculous ideas? I don't think I've ever talked to someone about a product that I've seen advertised, apart from games. And if I wanted to talk about a game, I wouldn't be finding out about it for the first time in an advert... [/QUOTE] So you acknowledge that seeing an ad for a game you're interested in might strike up a talking point? Then it's done exactly what it's supposed to do. So while you like games, other people might like movies, or food, or visiting another country... and seeing an ad for something they're interested in might strike up a conversation about it... and GG Microsoft. I doubt most people stare at the avatar space anyway during an audio call, and rather minimise it and do their work, facebook or whatever they were doing beforehand. This new ad platform will impact no one as is, other than maybe a few extra KB ontop of your normal Skype session. [QUOTE=Trumple;36324259]This seems like it might have a bigger impact on women, with all their make-up and what not[/quote] lol what?

[QUOTE=Clementine;36320769]That isn't a big deal at all, and if it makes Skype better, that's all that matters.[/QUOTE] Yeah but when you put it on the smallest resolution width wise, the ad will cover up the image.

[QUOTE=Swebonny;36324314]What's wrong with that, when I use Skype I don't stare at the Skype window, I do other things.[/QUOTE] Nothing.. people just love a good bitch. [editline]14th June 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=MitchvW;36324320]Yeah but when you put it on the smallest resolution width wise, the ad will cover up the image.[/QUOTE] Do you know this, or are you just assuming? Even so, it probably wouldn't leave the blue frame, so Skype would still be functioning. Or it would just scale along with the window resolution.

[QUOTE=DogGunn;36324316]So you acknowledge that seeing an ad for a game you're interested in might strike up a talking point? Then it's done exactly what it's supposed to do. So while you like games, other people might like movies, or food, or visiting another country... and seeing an ad for something they're interested in might strike up a conversation about it... and GG Microsoft. I doubt most people stare at the avatar space anyway during an audio call, and rather minimise it and do their work, facebook or whatever they were doing beforehand. This new ad platform will impact no one as is, other than maybe a few extra KB ontop of your normal Skype session. [/quote] I can see your point but Microsoft are acting as though we're going to enjoy looking at adverts But as you said, minimize the conversation and it's gone [quote] lol what?[/QUOTE] I don't know if you've ever listened to women talking about X product for de-wrinkling anti-sagging moisturising super exfoliating mega formula with added bamboo extract designed to replenish micro-fondles in your skin which are sadly lost to harsh conditions of the day-to-day lives of urban dwellers Yeah it's really dull and goes on for hours, my point is the types of adverts we'll see (if they didn't have the age/gender selection) would be just those, simply because of the sheer volume of products :v:

[QUOTE=rilez;36320410]I wouldn't say R.I.P just yet. Yes, these will be really annoying, but they're not audio enabled. If these were audio ads that actually interrupted your call to play, then yes, Skype would be dead. But they're not.[/QUOTE] Gut instinct tells me Microsoft isn't that stupid. Maybe. They could face an [I][B]enormous [/B][/I]lawsuit if their system interrupted an emergency call with a Viagra advertisement.

[QUOTE=Trumple;36324554]I can see your point but Microsoft are acting as though we're going to enjoy looking at adverts[/QUOTE] I don't think the excitement is meant to be directed to us, the users, but rather the advertising partners they look to have sign up with them. [quote]We're excited to introduce Conversations Ads as an opportunity for marketers to reach our hundreds of millions of connected users in a place where they can have meaningful conversations about brands in a highly engaging environment. [/quote] [B]Source:[/B] [URL="http://blogs.skype.com/en/2012/06/skype_advertising_update.html"][I]http://blogs.skype.com/en/2012/06/skype_advertising_update.html[/I][/URL]

The article title is extremely misleading. It's disappointing to see Ars do that. It's just a dinky little image ad on the Skype call window. Who looks at the Skype call window anyway? I don't stare at the avatar of the person I'm talking to. I minimize the whole thing and forget about it. Because of that, I don't even know if advertisers will even buy ads on Skype because nobody will look at them. [editline]14th June 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=IMA SHAARK;36321241]Skype is already bullshit. When I click the goddamn "close" button, it means close, not fucking minimize. I always have to kill it with task manager because it just wants to sit there running all day and doesn't let me kill it otherwise.[/QUOTE] Lots of apps do this. Not just Skype. Steam does the same thing. Closing the main window doesn't close the whole application. [editline]14th June 2012[/editline] I use Linux anyway, and ads will only be enabled on Windows. I guess using the old and forgotten Linux client has it's perks (if these ads were actually annoying which they aren't).

Heh, I bet it gets hacked some time and the ads are replaced with Goatse or some shit :v:

[QUOTE=DogGunn;36324330]Nothing.. people just love a good bitch. [editline]14th June 2012[/editline] Do you know this, or are you just assuming? Even so, it probably wouldn't leave the blue frame, so Skype would still be functioning. Or it would just scale along with the window resolution.[/QUOTE] It does cover up the picture of the person you're talking about, the ads have been there for 3 weeks now.

[QUOTE=MitchvW;36325272]It does cover up the picture of the person you're talking about, the ads have been there for 3 weeks now.[/QUOTE] Sounds more like a bug - scaling failure possibly? I doubt they'd replace the avatar with an ad.

[QUOTE=usa;36321085]I have a subscription so I guess i'm not affected because i'm a rich cunt.[/QUOTE] Lol

1. start audio call 2. minimize skype you can all stop crying now

Heh, I had this weird Ad since weeks and all my friends have got it too. It was kind of annoying at first but I got used to it, I mean, most people don't pay for Skype anyway, so why shouldn't they try to get a bit of money from it?

oh my god an ingenious tool I have been using for free for years will now feature ads to turn profit instead of losses god damn what selfish cunts I have to log into the internet and proclaim how I will never ever use this service again even though I am still going to use it in the future please rate me and follow me on faceb ook tia xD [editline]14th June 2012[/editline] RIP Skype!!!!!!!111

What is with all of these horrible business practices corporations are coming up with lately? its like Steve Brule became the CEO of every major company in America [b]for your health[/b]

[QUOTE=Madman_Andre;36324628]Gut instinct tells me Microsoft isn't that stupid. Maybe. They could face an [I][B]enormous [/B][/I]lawsuit if their system interrupted an emergency call with a Viagra advertisement.[/QUOTE] [IMG]http://filesmelt.com/dl/jjjm.jpg[/IMG] Seen those ads for a weeks already, i don't care about them as i don't stare at skype when i'm having a conversation :downs:

when I'm having voice conversations i don't bother having skype. I mean what's the point

Isn't skype pretty much hosted by the person who started the call, so why don't they just fucking make it fully peer-to-peer(for skype-to-skype calls)? Oh wait, then they wouldn't have an excuse to charge loads of money.

As far as I know Skype is already peer-to-peer based

Why do people even update skype? They just make it worse with every update.They either remove something or add unwanted crap like these ads.

This is just amazingly useless, I bet no one even looks at the Skype Window during Audio Calls.

[QUOTE=SCopE5000;36324154]Microsoft are fucking running themselves into the ground.. Metro generally being shit, then removing the fucking start button.. Now interrupting people with bullshit ads in the middle of conversations on Skype? It's generally shitty-move after shitty-move for them.. Microsoft have made fucktons of cash from their shitty OS's for decades and their sole aim in acquiring Skype was clearly to make fucktons more cash as this idiotic move shows. They could have done one 'decent act' in keeping Skype exactly as it was and making money from the call-to-landline feature.. yet instead they decide to immediately made the best features subscriber-only even though they were features commonly available elsewhere (group video chat, etc). And meanwhile, Apple continue to better their ties with the likes of Epic Games (Unreal Engine) and other software developers, and at the same time making absurdly good screens and lowering their prices.[/QUOTE] wow you have literally no idea what you're even talking about did you like even read any of the article at all period... this is simply to pay for free calls, and it affects literally nothing. do you even know anything about metro? [editline]15th June 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Intoxicated Spy;36328377]Isn't skype pretty much hosted by the person who started the call, so why don't they just fucking make it fully peer-to-peer(for skype-to-skype calls)? Oh wait, then they wouldn't have an excuse to charge loads of money.[/QUOTE] stop [editline]15th June 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=DentalDoctor;36325679]What is with all of these horrible business practices corporations are coming up with lately? its like Steve Brule became the CEO of every major company in America [b]for your health[/b][/QUOTE] Steve Brule for president 2012

Well, here's hoping it doesn't mess with podcasts and the like. If it helps keep it free, then one could consider it a tolerable irritant, even though others would truly hate it.

[QUOTE=IMA SHAARK;36321241]Skype is already bullshit. When I click the goddamn "close" button, it means close, not fucking minimize. I always have to kill it with task manager because it just wants to sit there running all day and doesn't let me kill it otherwise.[/QUOTE] I know mate, Steam gives me the same bullshit. I close all the little windows and it doesn't bloody quit the program. (hurrrrrrr) [QUOTE=Panda X;36321435]Regardless of whether or not it stays in the taskbar or not doesn't mean there should be 2 minimize buttons. It's redundant and completely inconsistent with any other program ever. The only one I can think that comes close is WLM but it checks to see whether or not it's already minimized that way if you click close in the context menu in the taskbar or in the preview it closes. All of Skype's close buttons are just redundant minimize buttons. It's bad UX.[/QUOTE] Again, Steam does precisely this. It'll stay in the system tray when all the Steam windows are closed. I thought people were used to this by now? It's not like "closing" to the system tray is even an uncommon thing nowadays.