Skype for iPhone 3.0.1 security vulnerabilities will be fixed soon, says Skype. Tom Keating, Jim Courtney and Dan York write up the #XSS (cross-site scripting) exploit that could let a javascript copy your Skype contacts. first reported by Superever. The video. This follows another XSS vulnerability in Skype for Windows, now resolved.
Skype for Windows 5.5 update (5.5.0.117) adds support for Microsoft Windows 8. via Raul Liive. Skype for Windows 5.5.0.119 fixed a few bugs and updated the Click-to-Call feature for new browsers. Get it.
Or jump right to Skype for Windows 5.6 (5.6.0.105) to get a few improvements for new users, for screen sharing, and some UI tweaks, and now “in call advertising.” New, improved distractionware inside.
Skype for iPhone update (3.5.84) includes a new anti-shake technology for the back phone. Nice! The update fixes bugs. Safer! Both apps get Bluetooth support. Convenienter!
Skype for iPad and Skype for iPhone users see ads. “Advertising will be shown to users that do not have Skype Credit, a calling subscription or premium subscription.” #SkypeProtectionMoney. Christian Zibreg writes “As most people don’t use Skype Credit, we imagine rubbing their nose into the upgrade offering will be annoying, to say the least. Instead of up-selling us to a paid service, can we please get an elegant interface instead?” Tim Barribeau thinks “while there are some very useful new features in this version, there’s one big, stinking bad one: ads. … Advertising? Oh hell no.” Tom Keating isn’t worried about mobile ads.
Skype for Mac 5.4 Beta (version 5.4.0.1217) includes Facebook features. More feature parity with Skype for Windows means Mac users now see advertising. via Krishna Panicker. Get it.
Does advertising break Skype’s brand promises? SkypeSedator by eitarosan “automatically closes the Skype Home Popup Window and keeps itself in the Skype Process to continually check and close the popup, whenever it appears” in Skype for Windows. via Stadt-Bremerhaven. 
Another stab at it is KillSkypeHome by Andrew Worcester. “This script is designed to start with windows, kill the Skype Home window when it finds it, then closes itself so it no longer uses any system resources. For those of you who don’t leave skype running all the time, I’ve added “Persistent mode” which keeps KSH running and watching for Skype Home to pop up.” Instructions for KillSkypeHome. Try at your own risk.
Irish Skypers will get targeted home page take overs (HPTOs), thanks to digital advertising agency AD2ONE.
Skype partner OnStar changed their ToS so they may sell your personal data. Would you still use a (still prototypical) Skype for OnStar if GM was selling your geodata?
Skype published new user activity stats from June 2011. 65 million people sign in to Skype daily. 700 million minutes daily in Skype-to-Skype calls. 30 million minutes of SkypeOut calls daily. 300 million minutes of Skype video calls daily. Ratios (rounded): 42% of Skype-to-Skype calls include video. 4.1% Freemium rate (minutes paid vs. minutes free). This is a snapshot. What are the year-to-year trends?
I celebrated Skype’s 8th birthday with some memories and predictions.
The deal with Canada’s TELUS to preload Skype on mobiles now encourages users to try Skype mobile apps, reports Jim Courtney. Thin clients not included.
Skype’s Qik will come with Japan’s NTT DOCOMO Android tablets. 10.3 million people use Qik.
Europe could have a decision about about Microsoft buying Skype by 7 October 2011. via Jim Courtney.
Microsoft’s instant messaging share could be 70% after buying Skype. Is this is a good reason for EU antitrust regulators to oppose the deal?
Skype’s real value is in the proven identity of its real users says Matt Asay.
DigiNotar hackers also breached Skype SSL certificates. No harm done at Skype, they say.
Skype’s Skype in the Classroom site won a Core77 Design Award. Deserved it! Congrats also to London designers Made By Many.
Skype Support Network (formerly Skype’s forums) added @skypesupport for Twitter users, for problems solved in 140 characters or less. Nicely active and responsive.
Users
Bill McKibben says work from home: Skype is greener than jet fuel. Airlines hope you disagree. 
Control a Skype robot with your brain.
David Gewirtz is building a home studio for Skype audio and video calls. via DIY-IT blog.
Marine watches his son born on Skype.
Man asks young teens for sex over Skype, goes to jail.
Woman steals laptop, accidentally skypes, and goes to jail.
Personal trainers make you do pushups over Skype. No jail.
Microsoft Phone’s “Metro” look is showing up in Windows 8. What would a Skype skinned for Metro look like?
Granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth prefers Skype and phone talks to facebook. via Emil Protalinkski.
Time zone challenges when Skyping for a casting interview between Australia and New York, Abbie Cornish and Madonna.
Fake General Patraeus uses Skype video to scam lonely hearts and patriotic souls. via Daily Mail.
Phil Wolff consults with Hookflash, a software company building realtime communication products for effective people. Skype evanwolf, tweet @evanwolf or call +1-510-444-8234 to talk with Phil. Skype Journal is independent of Skype.
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