Tips and Tricks for Using Skype

Our company has moved to Skype as its standard for instant messaging mainly because we like the chat room feature and it includes the added benefit of making calls (we just added a new office). I particularly like the logging features that allow you to retain past conversations which is handy for going back and grabbing phone numbers and URLs that are often passed back and forth among co-workers.

Here are some of the tips and tricks I have picked up in the first couple of weeks using Skype on a daily basis. Some came from my co-workers some are on my list of to try later.

Use Skype With a Headset While Sending Music to Your Speakers

If you want to make calls on Skype but don’t want your conversation blasting out of your PC speakers, there is a simple way to set it up.

For Windows Users

1. Connect your USB headset a USB port on your PC.
2. Connect your PC speakers as you normally would.
3. Open the Skype.
4. Go to the Tools menu, then choose Options
5. Select your USB headset as the device for audio in and out.
6. Close this menu.
7. Open your Windows Control Panel
8. Open the Sounds and Audio Devices option
9. Select your sound card (not the USB headset) as the sound playback default device.

For Mac Users

1. Connect your USB headset to a USB port on your PC.
2. Connect your PC speakers to your sound card as you normally would.
3. Open the Skype.
4. Go to the Skype>Preferences menu, then choose Audio
5. Select your USB headset as the device for audio in and out.
6. Close this menu.

Make Text Chat your default over Voice

If your first preference is to chat via text with your friends rather than voice over IP you can change your preferences to make that the default option when you double click. In Mac OS this is under the General tab.

Record Skype Calls (Windows Users)

I use a Mac or Linux so I am out of luck on this one but Pamela Systems makes a Skype recorder for Windows. Mac users can use Audio Hijack Pro or WireTap. Linux users can use Gnome’s Sound Recorder or you can manually start Audacity on any platform.

Skype Plug-In for Pidgin and Adium

If you still are using other chat software you might not want to have Skype and Pidgin or Adium for Mac OS users running on your desktop. Eion Robb has a plug-in to bridge Skype to your messenger platform.

Use Skype On Your iPhone

I am looking to try this one next. I suspect once the iPhone SDK is released that their will be a native Skype client.

…there is a workaround that will enable you to use Skype on the Apple iPhone. Technically, the Skype client still is NOT running on the iPhone, but instead uses a workatround to enable many of the Skype features on the iPhone.

Essentially, the workaround is to install SoonR Talk, a AJAX-enabled application. SoonR’s AJAX-enabled interface is available now for any mobile phone that can run the Opera Mobile browser version 8.6 and above, as well as Safari, which includes the Apple iPhone. I should mention that unlike WAP-based Skype solutions which require a manual click to refresh your page in order to receive new chat responses, SoonR Talk’s AJAX interface will auto refresh when you have an incoming chat. It will also automatically update presence information for your buddies.

From Tom Keating

Other Plugins

Skype also maintains a directory of plugins that might be useful for your individual needs.

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Technorati Tags: Bridge, iPhone, Music, Skype, Tips, Tricks

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