AppleInsider Staff
The avalanche of app updates bringing compatibility with Apple's latest mobile operating system continued with offerings from two of the world's largest companies on Monday, as Microsoft brought interactive notifications to Skype for iPhone and Google added app extension support to Chrome.
Skype for iPhone
Skype for iPhone makes extensive use of iOS 8's new interactive notifications, allowing users to interact with the communications service at every turn. Users can answer or decline voice and video calls directly from the local screen and Notification Center, for instance.
Banner notifications can be pulled down to respond to both multimedia calls and text messages. Microsoft also promises "general improvements" in the latest release.
Skype for iPhone version 5.5 is available now as a free, 46.7-megabyte download from the App Store.
Chrome
Perhaps the most popular alternative browser on iOS, Google's Chrome now supports third-party app extensions to share and post content. Users can send webpages directly to read-later service Pocket, for instance, or post it to LinkedIn.
Not supported, however, are manipulation extensions like that for popular password manager 1password. Google also adds general compatibility and "stability improvements and bug fixes."
Chrome version 37.0.2062.60 is available now as a free, 30.3-megabyte download from the App Store.
Malcolm Owen
Oliver Haslam
Andrew O'Hara
Wesley Hilliard
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
28 Comments
Inb4 "Microsoft and Google are the devil! I will never download their malware!"
Except they are.
I stopped using Skype when they abandoned the peering model and started routing all traffic through Microsoft servers.
Skype for iPhone user interface is probably the worst I have ever seen. It should be used as an example of what NOT to do when designing an app.
Awhile back I stopped using Chrome - Reader view alone is worth the switch. Also dumped Google Maps. Next on my list is Gmail, although that change will be difficult as I've had Gmail for years and years.