Xero CEO slams Skype Mac 5.0 beta

Last week Skype sent out word that it had released its 5.0 beta for Mac, saying it brought with it a revamped look and feel as well as simplifying navigation and offering a more native Mac experience.

Rod Drury, CEO of online accounting firm Xero, had a different opinion: "Skype for Mac beta is the worst redesign I can think of. Stuns me how such an important update for a huge market is a design disaster," he Tweeted.

One feature of the new beta was that the Mac address book had been integrated. "Both Skype and FaceTime for Mac betas connect to Apple AddressBook, but only local one, not Exchange addresses. Who tests this stuff?" Drury later Tweeted.

One commenter on our original story was equally unimpressed, "Takes up far too much screen, isn't clear about who's online without running a separate window which isn't interactive, mood messages are more apparent and just as annoying as when this feature was first added, history doesn't need to be so in your face. Drag to trash! Back to 2.8.

We know a beta's supposed to have a few technical issues but it seems like the new Skype beta is a step in the wrong direction.

A quick browse of the official Skype blog also shows plenty of unrest over the update.

Update: Skype has responded to our story, promising Mac improvements but won't say when they're due.