Microsoft’s Skype has released an update to their app for Apple iPhone and iPad that now supports HD quality video calls. Unfortunately, the video improvement can only be seen on the iPad 4 and iPhone 5 models. In case you forgot, Apple’s fourth generation iPad added an HD camera to the front of the tablet, allowing 720p HD video over FaceTime. Apple’s iPhone 5 also released with a front HD camera that supports 720p video at 30fps.
The Skype update also includes improvements to call stability, and a redesigned country code picker on the dial pad making it easier to connect with other Skype users internationally.
Just a video tip, you’ll want to stay within close range of your WiFi router if you want the HD video quality to be at its best. When connecting over 3G networks, you’re pretty much at the mercy of the cell towers.
The Version 4.10 app (released Aug. 12, 2013) requires iOS 5.0 and is downloadable free-of-charge from the Apple iTunes store. The iPhone version is a 29.6 MB file, while the iPad version is slightly larger at 31.1 MB.
Both the iPhone and iPad apps include English, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish among the 16 languages supported.
Skype for Android devices, last updated August 7, 2013, does not yet support HD quality.
