Skype for iOS adds 3D Touch actions, spooky Halloween emoticons, video filters and more

Skype 6.5 for iOS Halloween video filters iPad screenshot 001

Microsoft today issued a pair of updates to Skype’s messaging, VoIP and video calling apps in the App Store.

While the apps continue to be separate downloads on iOS rather than a universal binary (come on, Microsoft!), Skype for iPhone has gained useful 3D Touch actions available both from the Home screen and within the app itself.

In addition, both editions of Skype have picked up improved conversation and contact management, as well as ghostly Halloween video message filters and emoticons.

Scary video messages

To get started with the new Halloween filters for video messages (short clips you record and send to Skype contacts to be viewed at any time), tap the filter wand at the bottom left of the video message window, choose a filter to see it in action and then hit the record button.

Halloween-themed filters are pretty funny: you can add some ghosts to your message or use the negative filter to set a spooky mood, as shown on the image top of post.

Peeking and Popping

You can also Peek and Pop with 3D Touch on the iPhone 6s.

Pressing the Skype icon on the Home screen gives you instant access to shortcuts to search your Skype contacts, start a call or chat and access the Skype dial pad.

Within the app, use 3D Touch to Peek the latest instant messages, or even live video if you’re on a call. While Peeking, swipe up to reveal more actions. And of course, you can press harder to Pop the conversation into the foreground.

Skype 6.5 for iOS 3D Touch 001

Within chats, you can Peek shared locations, photos, URLs or contacts, then swipe up to reveal more actions or harder press to Pop it into the foreground.

Other tidbits

In other changes, Skype now (finally!) lets you hide and completely delete chats from your Recent conversations by swiping the contact.

Alternatively, tap Edit and select deleting the entire chat history or hiding it from view. You can also delete the entire chat history from within the conversation using chat menu.

In addition, tapping a contact card in a conversation produces a brand new option to share a Skype contact, another long-requested feature.

Skype 6.4 changelog

Here are all the new features, enhancements and refinements available across Skype’s iPhone and iPad editions:

  • Add fun to your video messages by adding video filters. Get spooky with new ghostly Halloween video message filters and emoticons.
  • Improved conversation and contact management:
    • Hide conversations from your Recent list with a swipe.
    • Completely delete a conversation’s history from the chat menu or Recent list.
    • Easily share Skype contacts.
  • General improvements.
  • 3D Touch actions (iPhone 6s only):
    • Reveal quick-start actions directly from the Skype icon on your home screen.
    • Press on a Recent conversation to Peek the latest IMs or a live video call.
    • Force Touch shared locations, photos, contacts and URLs to Peek the content.

Skype supports Apple Watch with a dedicated app to see your notifications and chat on your device with canned responses, dictation and emoticons.

Availability

Skype apps require iOS 7.0 or later and are localized in English, Bokmål, Norwegian, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, Ukrainian and Vietnamese.

Grab Skype for iPhone and Skype for iPad free of charge in the App Store.