6 new features in Microsoft Teams for Spring 2024
Summary
TLDRDiscover the latest updates in Microsoft Teams, featuring the return of custom images for posts and announcements, a revamped post UI, message forwarding capabilities, enhanced audio and video controls in meetings, improved annotation tools, and the ability to set your status directly from the taskbar. These new features aim to streamline communication and enhance user experience, particularly benefiting educators and those in team collaborations.
Takeaways
- π¨ Custom images are now available again for posts in Microsoft Teams, providing a more personalized experience, especially popular among educators.
- π An updated post UI simplifies the user interface, reducing options to only essentials like emojis and GIFs, and moving additional features behind a '+' button for a cleaner look.
- π¬ The ability to forward messages in chat has been introduced, allowing users to easily share important information with others outside the current chat group.
- π₯ Enhanced audio and video controls in Teams meetings make it simpler for users to manage their settings, with options like spatial audio, noise suppression, and camera switching.
- ποΈ Improved annotation tools in meetings include the addition of a laser pointer and more pen options, facilitating better interaction and collaboration during presentations.
- π The option to set your team status directly from the taskbar allows for quick status updates without needing to open the full Teams application.
- π Microsoft Teams is continuously updating with new features to improve user experience and collaboration, emphasizing the importance of staying up-to-date with the latest releases.
- π The integration of AI-powered image creation for Teams Premium and Co-Pilot users demonstrates Microsoft's commitment to leveraging technology for enhanced user capabilities.
- π The return of custom images and the introduction of forwarding messages show Microsoft Teams' dedication to user feedback and the evolution of the platform based on community needs.
- π’ Subscribing to Microsoft Teams-related channels can keep users informed about the latest tips, tricks, and updates, ensuring they get the most out of the platform.
Q & A
What are the six new features introduced in Microsoft Teams?
-The six new features are the return of custom images for posts, improvements to announcements, message forwarding, meeting enhancements, audio and video controls, and annotation improvements in meetings.
How have custom images been reintroduced in Microsoft Teams?
-Custom images have returned for posts in Microsoft Teams, allowing users to upload a custom image for their announcements, a feature especially popular with educators.
What is the new interface for starting a post in Teams?
-The new interface for starting a post in Teams has been simplified, with fewer options at the bottom and a plus button to access additional features like attaching files and setting high priority.
What is the new feature for forwarding messages in Teams?
-Users can now forward messages to others directly from the chat by using the three-dot menu and entering a name, email, or group.
How have audio and video controls been improved in Teams meetings?
-Audio and video controls now include dropdown arrows that provide easy access to settings like speaker, microphone, spatial audio, noise suppression, and camera switching.
What new annotation tool has been added in Teams meetings?
-A laser pointer has been added as a new annotation tool, allowing users to highlight and trace around different elements during a meeting.
How can users set their team status directly from the taskbar?
-Users can right-click on the Teams icon in the taskbar and select their desired status, such as 'Do Not Disturb,' from the available options.
What is the benefit of using the new simplified post UI in Teams?
-The new simplified post UI reduces overwhelming options and buttons, allowing users to quickly and easily create posts without being overwhelmed by choices.
How do the improved annotation features enhance collaboration in Teams meetings?
-The improved annotation features, including the new laser pointer and different pen options, enhance collaboration by providing more interactive and visual ways to communicate and highlight information during meetings.
What is the significance of the message forwarding feature for team communication in Microsoft Teams?
-The message forwarding feature streamlines communication within teams by enabling quick and direct sharing of important messages with specific individuals or groups, improving information flow and efficiency.
Outlines
π¨ Custom Images and Post UI Updates in Microsoft Teams
This paragraph highlights the return of custom images for posts in Microsoft Teams, a feature that was temporarily unavailable during the transition to the new Teams platform. The speaker demonstrates how to convert a regular post into an announcement by uploading a custom image, a feature particularly appreciated by educators. It is mentioned that users with Teams Premium or Co-Pilot have access to Microsoft Designer, which provides AI-powered image creation. The basic image upload process is shown, and the paragraph also touches on the new options available with the designer feature. Following this, an update to the post user interface (UI) in Teams is discussed, emphasizing the simplified layout with fewer options at the bottom of the screen, focusing on emojis, gifts, and loop components, while other functionalities are accessible through the 'plus' icon. This design aims to reduce user overwhelm and simplify the posting experience.
π¬ Message Forwarding and Audio/Video Controls Enhancements
The second paragraph discusses the new feature of message forwarding in Microsoft Teams. The speaker shows how to forward a message from one chat to another by using the three-dot menu and selecting the 'forward' option. This action creates a new chat with the forwarded message, highlighted to indicate its origin. Additionally, improvements to audio and video controls in Teams meetings are presented. The speaker explains that the camera and microphone icons now have dropdown menus, allowing users to easily access and modify settings such as speaker, microphone, spatial audio, noise suppression, and more. The camera dropdown offers options to switch cameras, adjust brightness, and select backgrounds. These enhancements are designed to improve the user experience during virtual meetings.
ποΈ Enhanced Annotation Tools and Team Status Management
In this paragraph, the focus is on the enhancements made to annotation tools within Microsoft Teams meetings. The speaker shares their screen and accesses the annotation toolbar by clicking 'annotate', which appears after sharing. New to the toolbar is the laser pointer feature, which has been highly requested by users. The speaker demonstrates using the laser pointer and different pen options, including a highlighter, to interact with the shared content. Additionally, the speaker discusses the ability to set one's team status directly from the taskbar, allowing users to quickly switch their status to 'do not disturb' or other options without interrupting their workflow. This feature is particularly useful during important tasks, such as planning a TPS report strategy, as shown in the example.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Microsoft Teams
π‘Custom Images
π‘Announcements
π‘Teams Premium
π‘Post UI
π‘Forward Messages
π‘Audio and Video Controls
π‘Annotation
π‘Taskbar Status
π‘Co-pilot
Highlights
Microsoft Teams has introduced six new features to enhance user experience and functionality.
Custom images are now available again for posts in Microsoft Teams, a feature that was temporarily unavailable during the transition to the new Teams.
The ability to turn a post into an announcement with a custom image is particularly popular among educators.
Microsoft Teams Premium and Co-Pilot users have access to full Microsoft Designer for AI-powered image creation.
The user interface for starting a post in Teams has been simplified, reducing clutter and making it more user-friendly.
Forwarding messages in chat is a new feature that allows users to easily share information with others outside the current chat group.
Audio and video controls in Teams meetings have been improved with the addition of dropdown menus for quick access to settings.
Users can now switch cameras, adjust brightness, and select backgrounds directly from the video settings in Teams meetings.
Annotation tools in Teams meetings have been improved with the addition of a laser pointer and other options.
The new feature to set your status directly from the taskbar allows users to quickly adjust their availability without interrupting their workflow.
The updated Teams platform includes a variety of new features aimed at improving communication and collaboration.
The introduction of the custom image feature enhances the visual appeal and personalization options for posts and announcements.
The streamlined post UI reduces user confusion and allows for a more straightforward interaction with the platform.
The message forwarding feature facilitates efficient information sharing and communication within and across different groups.
Enhanced audio and video controls during meetings provide users with greater flexibility and control over their presentation quality.
Improved annotation tools, including the new laser pointer, increase engagement and interactivity during presentations.
The ability to quickly change status directly from the taskbar reflects a focus on user productivity and minimizing disruptions.
Transcripts
I'll be showing six new features in
Microsoft teams this includes the return
of custom images and announcements
forwarding messages meeting improvements
and a whole lot more so let's get
started the first new feature is that
custom images have returned for posts in
the new Microsoft teams this disappeared
for a little while during the switch
over to the new teams and now it is
rolled back out globally so I've got a
post right here and I'm going to click
this button and make it into an
announcement now I could type an
announcement but instead I'd like to
upload a Custom Image and this has been
especially popular with Educators I'll
go right here and click this button just
to note this is a designer icon I've got
teams premium or if you have co-pilot
you'll get the full Microsoft designer
and AI powered image creation but I'm
just going to show the basic one right
here I'm going to click add image and
then I'm going to select an image just
like you could before and hit okay and
that's what my image is going to look
like so I'll select this and hit done
and there is my custom Banner now for
those of you that have designers which
is coming with co-pilot or teams premium
I can go into here and type something
else a celebration and I can pull up
some different options right here and
hit done so that is a little more
advanced option but the core of
uploading custom images has returned to
the new teams the second new feature is
a little bit of an update to the post UI
in teams post so I will click Start a
post right here and you'll see it's been
vastly simplified along the bottom
there's no longer like eight different
options we keep it really simple you've
got your nice emoji and Gifts options
right here that have always been there
you've got the loop component if you
want to start one of those and then
everything else is behind the plus so if
you hit plus you'll have things like
attaching a file set it to high priority
all your different apps and you can
search across the top right here so it's
just a nice simplification so you're not
overwhelmed with too many buttons and
choices inside of your post the third
new feature is the ability to forward
messages I'll go into the chat right
here and I'm in my TPS report besties
group chat now there's a nice TPS report
picture here and I want to forward this
message to someone else if I hover I'll
get that three dot menu and I can choose
forward this pops up a dialogue and it
shows that message from the chat now I
can enter a name an email or a group so
I'm going to enter Alex Wilbur and I'm
going to forward this message directly
to Alex so let's hit
forward okay that is sent to Alex now
you'll note I've got a little chat over
here with Alex and it just turned bold
so let's go into the chat with Alex and
there we go there is the forwarded
message and there's a little forward
icon next to it and you can see that
Mike thalson forwarded this message the
fourth new feature is Improvement to
audio and video controls in teams
meeting so I'm going to join this
meeting up at the top you're going to
see these little icons camera and mic
and they've been there before but now
they're little drop down arrows to make
it really easy to change settings so for
microphone when I click the arrow see
all these options options speaker
microphone spatial audio noise
suppression and more audio settings
close this same with camera if I drop
this arrow down you're going to see a
preview hey there's me with a spaceship
in the background I can switch my
cameras my backgrounds are right here
adjusting brightness and if I want to go
to more video in settings I just go here
and I can see all those same settings so
it's really handy just very easy to
click and see all the different options
that you have right there the fifth new
feature is improvements to annotation in
a teams meeting what I'll do is click
the share button here and I'm going to
share my entire screen immediately The
annotation toolbar pops up automatically
it's right there and I'm going to click
on the little pen that says annotate now
I'm in annotation mode it's going to
share for everyone and there's the
little whiteboard set of options now
we've added laser pointer right here
that's been a top request and I'm going
here I'm using the laser pointer to
trace around different things and that's
temporary it'll go away someone's
reacting with their heart I can also
choose different pens maybe I'm going to
choose a highlighter Right Here and Now
what I'm going to do is go and highlight
something on the screen so I'll go here
and we'll do a little highlight oh look
someone else Faith right there looks
like she just drew something right
around and faith has a little arrow
pointing to her Circle the sixth new
feature is the ability to set your team
status directly from the right click on
the taskbar I'm in one note here I'm
heads down on planning my TPS report
strategy in the team offsite and I want
to be able to change my status from
available to do not disturb at the
bottom you're going to see teams has a
nice little green checkbox I'm GNA
rightclick and I have all my different
options here I'm going to set this to do
not disturb because it is an important
TPS report offsite strategy and you can
see all the other options are here as
well even reset status if you want to
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