Microsoft just announced a number of changes the company is rolling out to restore Skype’s simplicity and familiarity. When the company introduced the modern Skype, it introduced radical changes that turned the app into an actual, modern app. But of course, that didn’t really work too well with some of Skype’s classic users.

Although Microsoft has made numerous changes to the modern Skype to work better for all users, there were still a bunch of things in the app that no one really needed. And one of that was Highlights — it was a complete clone of Snapchat where you could post pictures/videos that last for a limited time. Unlike other Snapchat clones like Instagram Stories, no one actually used Skype Highlights. I believe I was the only one to ever post on Skype Highlights, and that too was just a troll. But if you happen to be a Skype Highlights user, you will apparently be able to download all the Highlights you have posted on Skype, for backup purposes.

Killing Skype Highlights is a big, but expected move from Redmond. By removing Skype Highlights, Microsoft is making Skype on mobile much simpler. The navigation has been drastically improved, now only consisting of Chats, Calls, and Contacts — the three core parts of Skype. Along with Highlights, Microsoft’s also removed the Capture button which opened the Skype camera — another useless feature that was already accessible from within chats.

On the desktop, Microsoft has made changes to make Chats, Calls, and Contacts increasingly prominent, making it easy for “long-term Skype users to understand.” These changes are being introduced just after Microsoft announced it will kill the classic Skype, and then ended up backtracking, following complaints from classic Skype users. The company now says it is tweaking the colours and the UI of the modern Skype to improve readability and contrast.

All these new changes are available with Skype 8.29 across all platforms.

Microsoft is yet to announce when exactly it will formerly kill Skype Classic, but these changes suggest the move isn’t far away. Either way, the modern Skype should be much more bearable than ever before, so at least now you’ll have to deal with fewer problems if you are a classic Skype user.

Tagged with Skype, Skype Highlights, Snapchat