Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • Mobile

    Microsoft Acquisition to Bring ‘Living Photos’ to Skype

    Written by

    Pedro Hernandez
    Published November 7, 2017
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      Skype may soon feature eye-grabbing “living photos,” courtesy of a deal between Microsoft and San Francisco startup Swing Technologies.

      Microsoft has acquired the talent and technologies behind the SWNG mobile app (formerly Polaroid Swing) for iOS, albeit not Swing Technologies itself. The deal’s financial terms were not disclosed.

      Similar to Apple’s Live Photos feature in the stock Photos App for iOS, Swing’s app allows users to create and share photo-based moments that display a snippet of video when pressed. For some added artistic flair, SWNG supports filters and slow-motion effects.

      In a Nov. 6 announcement, Swing Technologies said its employees will join the Skype group at Microsoft and that its image-enhancing technologies will appear in the software’s messaging and calling features.

      “The Swing team’s deep expertise in imaging technology will help us deliver great new features and capabilities for Skype. They have an impressive track record of delivering great user experiences and brand design around the technology they develop,” said Amritansh Raghav, corporate vice president of Skype at Microsoft. “I welcome the new team members and am excited about how Swing will deliver innovation to our customers.”

      Swing Technologies co-founder Tommy Stadlen remarked that it is “an exciting time” to join a company whose fortunes have risen dramatically under the leadership of its current CEO, Satya Nadella. “We believe in the power of brands and technology, so the Skype mission and values resonate strongly with us,” he said.

      The deal comes a week after Microsoft issued a big update for the desktop flavor of Skype.

      On Oct. 30, the company began rolling out an update to the client software for users on Windows 10 (November 2016 Update or earlier) Windows 8, Windows 7, Linux or Mac with Skype’s automatic updating feature enabled. Users who don’t want to wait can download the software at Skype.com.

      The new version further diminishes the gap between the newer, cloud-enabled versions of the Skype mobile apps and their desktop counterparts. One perk of offloading much of Skype’s processing workloads to the cloud is improved battery life on laptop PCs, according to the company.

      A revamped interface sports custom theme options, similar to those that allow iOS and Android users to personalize the Skype experience. Skype’s text-based chat window also gains some added functionality. Users can organize, or “pin,” their contacts into groups and sort their connections by status, unread messages and more. New standard, compact and collapsed views give users more control over their on-screen real estate.

      Microsoft has also enabled add-in support for Skype Insiders, users who have access to upcoming releases of the software in exchange for their feedback.

      Like browser and application plug-ins, Skype add-ins help users automate tasks or incorporate third-party services into their chats and calls. In August, Microsoft and PayPal announced peer-to-peer payment support on the Skype app for iOS and Android in the form of a Send Money add-in.

      Pedro Hernandez
      Pedro Hernandez
      Pedro Hernandez is a writer for eWEEK and the IT Business Edge Network, the network for technology professionals. Previously, he served as a managing editor for the Internet.com network of IT-related websites and as the Green IT curator for GigaOM Pro.

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×