Skype for iPad Hands-On: Big-Screen Video Calls Try to Rival FaceTime

You can add the iPad 2 to the list of gadgets that work with popular video chat software Skype. Armed with the recently announced Skype app for iPad application, the company is now up and running on a bevy of platforms that include Windows PCs, Mac OS computers, Android smart phones, and the iPhone.

The real news is that Skype’s presence on the iPhone, the iPad 2, and Mac computers puts it in direct competition with FaceTime, Apple’s proprietary video-chat solution. Can Apple fans use Skype as a practical alternative to FaceTime?

The answer is yes and no.

Video Quality

During test calls between an iPad 2 and an iPhone 4, we found that Skype for the iPad pulled in mixed video quality. With both products connected to separate 4G Wi-Fi hotspots, video was blotchy and the details of our caller’s face were fuzzy. That’s not a huge surprise. We noticed similar problems during a FaceTime call between the iPhone 4 to iPad 2. The iPhone 4′s camera resolution is fine for connecting face-to-face calls to another iPhone 4, but when that video stream is expanded to fit larger displays, the quality diminishes.

The audio quality during our iPhone 4 to iPad 2 call was clear, but there was a noticeable delay of about 2 seconds. Needless to say, regular-paced conversation was awkward and we needed to insert lengthy pauses between each comment to compensate for the delay. 

Skype for iPad had its problems on a MacBook Pro, too. Video quality was still fuzzy and dark, and the connection often stuttered, sometimes freezing for up to 10 seconds. Still, over the course of a 2-minute call, the video never dropped and there was less delay in audio back-and-forth.

On a call to a Windows 7 PC, visual quality was much stronger in both directions. We noticed clearer details and better lighting in our caller’s face and clothing, and we could even appreciate the intricate architecture of buildings in the background. The above screenshot was taken from our caller’s notebook and showcases video quality streamed from the iPad 2. 

Interface

One area where the Skype for iPad app earns praise is its interface, which closely resembles Skype’s most familiar design and manages to simplify the layouts of  its Android and iPhone forebears. The contact page is divided into two panes: On the right is a thin, sidebar window that shows recent contacts and small thumbnails of  your contacts’ self-portraits, and on the left is 3 x 4 grid of all contacts with larger self-portraits. Selecting a contact pulls up a floating window with options to Video, Call, Chat, or SMS that person. That makes for simple-to-execute calls. 

During calls, the caller’s video takes up the entire screen in portrait mode and most of the screen in landscape mode. In the latter, a Contacts side bar shows up on the left. There are also buttons to end the call, turn off the mic or video camera, switch between back- and-front facing cameras, and pull up a text window for IMs or SMS messages.   

Verdict

Skype for the iPad is a simple-to-use app, but its video quality doesn’t match that of FaceTime. Don’t get us wrong, when the video quality is strong, Skype calls to friends and family on the iPad 2′s larger display are certainly easy on the eyes. Just watch out for sluggish Wi-Fi connections and poor video quality from devices with lower camera resolutions, such as the iPhone 4 and other smartphone cameras.