Skype for Mac has been updated to version 5.1.0.914 adding support for external iSight cameras connected by Firewire, the ability to focus on specific speakers in conference calls, quick dialing, contact groupings on the right and call quality ratings. However, it's disappointing that more important issues haven't been addressed yet. In particular:

• The new wider interface hasn't been slimmed down despite widespread complaints from Mac users

The new larger interface introduced in version 5 has probably caused the most controversy. Its arguable that Skype has now become one of those rare applications where the Windows interface is actually more user friendly than the Mac version. In fact, some users have reverted back to the slimmer version 2.8 for Mac (there was no version 3 or 4 for Mac by the way). To their credit, the developers have minimized it a little bit in recent updates but its still got a long way to go before Skype feels like the slimline application it once was. If the developers really can't slim down the interface any further, maybe they could just include a version 2.8 skin that users can revert to if they choose.

Update: It seems that since this post was written and to at least improve the chat interface, Skype have launched a new "design your own chat template" competition for Mac Skype users. Prizes include an iPad 2 and a MacBook Air.

• Group video calling is still a premium feature

The removal of group video calling from the free version of Skype was one of the biggest disappointments in Skype 5. When applications such as iChat allow this for free, there seems little justification for Skype making this a premium feature. Even more annoyingly, during the beta testing period, group video calling was a free feature. Now that Skype for Mac has "gone Gold", it costs $4.99 per day or $8.99 per month just to have group video chats.

• Some features are still only available in the Windows version such as Facebook integration

Of course its nothing new that Macs are often treated as an afterthought by developers as Jon has argued but would it really be that hard to add Facebook integration or a snapshot feature to the Mac version of an application as popular as Skype?

Skype is one of the truly great web innovations but it now has serious competition on the Mac now in the form of Facetime. It would be a shame to see it go downhill just because the developers have decided to bloat and reduce the functionality of a perfectly good app.