Skype for iPad update: Auto reconnection of dropped calls, add cash to account and more

By Trevor Mogg February 5, 2013

Skype users who use an iPad for the majority of their calls will want to grab the latest update to the iOS version of the app, which was rolled out on Monday.

New features in version 4.5 include the automatic reconnection of dropped calls when your Wi-Fi or mobile reception is poor and the ability to add funds to your Skype account directly from the app.

In addition, a new sidebar showing your recent conversations can be pulled up with a simple swipe from the left side of the display, and a bug has been fixed to ensure that one-to-one chats are now listed in the correct order.

The reassurance of automatic reconnection should certainly help to reduce incidents of inadvertent swearing outbursts when your call drops in an area with a sub-par signal, while iPad owners who regularly use Skype on their tablet to send SMS texts or make calls to landline numbers and mobiles may be pleased with the addition of the ability to top up accounts within the app instead of having to switch to a web browser. However, this service is currently only available to users in the US, UK, France, Sweden and Estonia.

The full changelog is provided below:

Skype automatically reconnects a dropped call when your wifi or mobile network reception is poor

– Add money to your Skype account directly from the app to send SMS or call mobiles and landlines worldwide. Currently available in United States, United Kingdom, France, Sweden and Estonia.

– A simple swipe from the left of the screen opens your recent conversations in a new sidebar

– General fixes

– One-to-one chats now appear in the correct order

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributing Editor

Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

Mobile

Hurry! This iPad just crashed back to its Black Friday price

The iPad on a tablet displaying web content.

If you've always wanted to buy an iPad but the latest releases are beyond your budget, you may want to consider going for a previous-generation model like the 2021 Apple iPad. The tablet's Wi-Fi, 64GB model, which is already relatively affordable at $330, is currently even cheaper from Best Buy, as an $80 discount pulls its price down to $250. That's what the device was going for during the iPad deals of Black Friday 2023, so if you missed the chance to take advantage of that bargain, proceed with your purchase immediately to make sure this opportunity doesn't slip away.

Why you should buy the 2021 Apple iPad
The ninth-generation Apple iPad, which was released in 2021, will be three years old in several months. However, it's still listed in our roundup of the best iPads as the best iPad on a budget, as it still offers great performance by today's standards with Apple's A13 Bionic chip that also powered the iPhone 11 series. The tablet also features a 10.2-inch Retina display with 2160 x 1620 resolution, for sharp details and vivid colors when you're browsing the internet, watching streaming shows, and playing mobile games.

Mobile

Apple’s new iPad Pro and iPad Air just got delayed

Someone holding an iPad Air against a wooden floor.

It seems like the countdown to the next iPad reveal has been stretched out a bit more, though not by an earth-shattering amount of time. So far, we’ve heard rumors of a late March or early April reveal, but that likely won’t happen, according to a new report from Apple insider Mark Gurman.

In his latest Bloomberg report, Gurman says the next Apple tablets should arrive in early May, and he cited the speeding up of production at Apple’s suppliers. Interestingly, production-related challenges apparently pushed back the launch of the new slates across the Pro and Air lineups.

Mobile

Buying an iPad Mini today? You need to know about this deal

The Apple Pencil attaches to the iPad mini magnetically.

If you've had an eye on iPad deals for the latest model of the Apple iPad Mini for a while now, this may be the offer that you've been waiting for -- a $100 discount from Best Buy on the tablet's Wi-Fi, 64GB model, slashing its price to $400 from $500. It's still pretty popular years after its release, so we don't expect stocks of the device for this sale to last long. If you're thinking about taking advantage of this bargain, you better push through with your purchase as soon as possible to make sure that you don't miss out on the savings.

Why you should buy the Apple iPad Mini 2021
The latest generation of the Apple iPad Mini was released in 2021, but it's still featured in our roundup of the best iPads because it's the model that you should buy if you want a smaller and more compact version of Apple's tablets. Its 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display is smaller than the screens of its peers, but it's still big enough to enjoy watching streaming shows and browsing websites, while allowing you to use the device with one hand. Unlike its predecessor, there's no Home button, so the Touch ID sensor is instead built into the power button at the side of the Apple iPad Mini 2021.