I'm a journalist. (Kind of.) I have to record calls a lot, to supplement my notes. When I make a call over Skype, I use Ecamm Call Recorder, a simple but full-featured Mac-only Skype extension.

Skype is one of the most popular messaging apps around, but it's never offered the type of end-to-end encryption that's become standard in other services such as WhatsApp and iMessage.

A significant software re-write will be needed to fix a bug with Skype for Windows. Vulnerability in the application's update feature means a malicious actor can gain access to the computer's system account and grant themselves privileges to do whatever they like. The vulnerability is fixable but will require a significant rewrite with an indication that Microsoft will need to issue a new version of Skype rather than a patch.

Skype is one of the few popular messaging and communications services that doesn't yet employ full end-to-end encryption. But that's set to change. Skype Private Conversations is coming following the announcement of an agreement between Microsoft and Open Whisper Systems (makers of the Signal app).

Atlassian has announced Stride - their new collaboration platform. While Hipchat has been around for a while they say Stride will be Atlassian's core communications and collaboration platform. The company says it will offer a zero-click upgrade path - part of what Atlassian's head of communication products Steve Goldsmith calls their guiding principle: "Don't F**k the Customer".

Skype for Business is joining the Microsoft Teams family, as the company marches forth on their quest to crack the enterprise collaboration nut. While Skype may have started life as a way to disrupt the traditional telco business, it's become a key tool for businesses wanting to connect distributed teams.

With an eye towards the developing world where people are more likely to own cheap phones and have spottier wireless data access, the big names in tech are developing simpler versions of their apps. These apps are lightweight, use little data, and don't burn through battery life. Sound good? It does to us too, and here's how to give them a test drive.

If you really can't let go of the office, even for a drive up the road, BMW has partnered with Microsoft to release the most expensive Skype accessory on the market. Selected BMW 5-Series cars with the Bavarian car maker's iDrive system can now use Skype for Business, as well as Office 365, while in transit.

Dear Lifehacker, my girlfriend travels a lot for work which means our interactions - including romantic and sexual - are often limited to Skype. Unfortunately, the video quality is usually quite poor. Is there a way to improve the video without buying a new laptop or expensive webcam?

In honour of Skype's newest update, the video chat and messaging app is dropping support for a variety of platforms.

Skype for Business is getting a few more enterprise features, likely in response to the likes of Amazon and Google who are both ramping up and changing their enterprise comms applications. Among the new Skype for Business features are an app for Mac users and new features including Call Queues and Auto Attendant, as well as a preview of Skype for Business Online Call Analytics

This poor guy made headlines on Friday when his kids interrupted a video interview with the BBC. Remote workers, you can probably relate. Whether it's curious kids, rowdy pets, or just outside street noise, it's hard to stay professional when distractions derail your meeting.

If you've accidentally left Skype open on another computer or device, there's an easy way to sign out from somewhere else. All it takes is a simple command line within the app.

Microsoft in Japan has teamed up with high-end cosmetics brand Shiseido to develop an app that will add a filter that overlays virtual makeup on people's faces when they're on Skype calls, according to reports. The app is targeted at women who are self-conscious about their appearance when they're on video conferences. Here's what we know so far.

Earlier this year, Microsoft toyed with the idea of buying work messenger app Slack for US$8 billion. Now it's working on a Slack competitor based on its very own Skype brand. Here are the details.

Google has released a video chatting app called Duo to rival Apple FaceTime. But unlike the case of Instagram ripping off Snapchat, Duo isn't just a carbon copy of FaceTime. Here's how Google has set Duo apart from Apple's popular iOS video calling feature, for better or for worse.

Microsoft is introducing Skype for Business PSTN Conferencing to its Office 356 cloud productivity suite. The add-on feature allows users to host or create meetings through Office 365 that contain landline phone numbers so people can dial into conference calls. There's potential for businesses big and small to save money and streamline operations as this can reduce their reliance on hosted conference call providers and clunky desk phones. Here are the details.

iOS/Android: Microsoft has certainly invested heavily in making its services more useful lately. In a recent update to Outlook, Microsoft has added the ability to schedule Skype calls that automatically begin at the designated time.

Windows: If you use Skype, you might know that it is unusually difficult to get Skype out of the taskbar. If you want to keep the app active without it taking up all your space, hit this setting.