Microsoft is increasing the number of participants who can be viewed simultaneously on the Teams meetings stage from four to nine. The company made the announcement introducing new features to the service.
How this works is that it will optimize for attendees who have video-enabled. It will then place the remaining audio-only participants below the meeting stage. Microsoft notes, “the layout will adapt, based on the user bandwidth and alter the number of videos shown to provide the best meeting experience“.
In addition to this, the company also announced other features. These include Raise Hands, – a feature that lets meeting participants identify they want to speak -, one on one live recording, Background effects and Background Blur for iOS.
“The new capabilities will further the experience for our customers“,Microsoft says.
The new features are live and being rolled out in stages. Microsoft says it will take a few weeks if you don’t have it yet.
Microsoft Teams has seen a surge in usage since the outbreak of Covid-19 global pandemic. It currently has more than 75 million daily active users. Recording more than 200 million meeting participants in a single day in April.
In healthcare alone, CEO, Satya Nadella shared there were more than 34 million Teams meetings in the past month. In education, more than 183,000 educational institutions now rely on Teams.
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Microsoft announces it will start allowing users without an internet connection and those with low bandwidth connectivity toread chat messages on Microsoft Teams platform. This is to make it easier for users to continue working no matter where they are.
This part of a wider upgrade programme aimed at enhancing the user experience, the company shares. As more and more organisations, employees and students across the globe shift to remote working and learning in an effort to keep themselves and the people around them healthy and safe amidst Covid-19.
“Enabling remote work is more important than ever, and we are committed to building the tools that help organisations, teams, and individuals stay productive and connected even when they need to work apart,” says Jared Spataro, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft 365.
As part of this upgrade programme, Teams is also introducing real-time noise suppression capabilities to minimize
distracting
background noise, allowing participants to hear what is being said. In
large meetings, it is also sometimes difficult for remote participants to chime
in when they have something to say. The newly introduced raise hand feature lets anyone in the meeting send a visual signal that
they have something to say.
“We continue to invest in experiences that will make it easier for teams to communicate and collaborate. The new capabilities we are announcing reflect our commitment to two things: building the very best online meeting experience for our customers; and bringing technological solutions to traditionally underserved professionals, including first line and healthcare workers,” explains Spataro.
Teams will soon enable
users to pop out chats into a separate window to help them streamline their workflow and
move more easily between ongoing conversations.
We are also expanding the Teams devices ecosystem, with new devices certified
for Teams. The Yealink VC210, now generally available, is the first collaboration bar certified for Teams,
and brings together speakers, microphone, camera and the Teams app to deliver a
meeting experience for smaller conference rooms that is simple to install and
easy to manage.
Over
the last three years, thousands of organisations, large and small, have
discovered how Teams can be their hub for teamwork, helping them to stay
connected and engaged. Today, 93 of the Fortune 100 use Teams, and 32
million people around the world make use of the solution daily.
In
the face of COVID-19, there are countless stories from customers who are using online
video conference facilities like Teams to connect and thrive in inspiring ways.
Universities across the world are moving courses online while doctors are using
Teams for videoconferencing with patients, especially those who are most
vulnerable to Coronavirus, as a way to protect both patients and
healthcare providers. Organisations are also using the online platform to conduct
orientation and trainings for new incoming employees.
Also introduced is the new Bookings app in Teams which makes it easy to schedule, manage and conduct virtual appointments for situations like healthcare patient consults, client meetings, or job candidate interviews.
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Microsoft User Group Ghana (MUGGH) invites you to join the Global Microsoft 365 Developer Bootcamp 2019 event in Accra, Ghana. Come and learn about new technologies and products included in Microsoft 365 at the free, one-day, hands-on training event. Scheduled to take place October 26th 2019 at the Microsoft office in Accra.
The event will be led by Microsoft MVPs and community leaders. You’ll learn the latest technologies on Microsoft 365 platform that you can apply to your future projects. These including Microsoft Graph, SharePoint Framework, Microsoft Teams, Office Add-ins and Actionable Messages, etc. Get to meet and network with other IT Professionals.
Visit event page and register (free event but you need to register) to participate in the bootcamp. Don’t forget to share with your community of IT Pros, developers, admins etc.
Update: There are two event days now. So kindly click the event for the day that suits you or that isn’t filled up yet. Thank you.
Microsoft’s Office 365 apps have a new design and boy they look wow. I mean i like them. They look fresh, clean, simple, modern and oh fluent lol. The design overhaul finally catches up with the office 365 apps. Microsoft calls this change “designs that honor heritage and welcome the future”
“Today, we unveiled redesigned Office app icons to honor the heritage of Office and welcome in the future. These app icons provide flexible visuals that reflect product changes and the new ways in which people are working” – Kirk Koenigsbauer, Corporate Vice President for Microsoft 365
Microsoft’s head of design for office 365, Jon friedman said “we’ve evolved our visual identity to reflect the simple, powerful, and intelligent experiences of Office 365”
The last time Microsoft Office apps were update was in 2013. The redesign includes changes to the letter and symbol ratio and has flexible visuals. Microsoft says the changes will be rolling out across platforms in the coming months, starting with mobile and web apps.
“We’ve changed the letter-to-symbol ratio. Traditionally, the letter occupied two-thirds of the icon, and the symbol took up one-third. We’ve changed this ratio to now emphasize the symbol”
To support this changing world of work, Office is transforming into a collaborative suite that lets you work together in real-time from almost any device. We’ve infused our tools with powerful AI: you can get insights from data with less effort, write a paper using your voice, or make your resume using LinkedIn insights. We’ve also added totally new apps to the suite like our AI-powered meetings and chat service, Microsoft Teams. In the end, it’s great design that makes these experiences fluid and seamless.
How do you like the new Microsoft Office 365 icons? Share your thoughts with us.
Microsoft is supporting educators with the power of technology to deliver quality education. Microsoft education partners hold Digital Transformation in Education Workshop in Accra, Ghana
Microsoft held a digital transformation in education workshop in Accra, to introduce its technology tools for education. Organizations and institutions from the government, public and private sectors were introduced to Microsoft’s 365 Education solution. It empowers institutions to unlock creativity and promote teamwork within and outside the classroom. Microsoft 365 Education combines the essentials of the Windows 10 platform, Office 365 for productivity and collaboration and the Enterprise Mobility Suite for security and management. It provides all these within a simplified licensing framework, simple and safe experience in a single and affordable solution.
The informative session put together by Zepto Ghana Limited and Point of View Afrique, Microsoft Education partners for Ghana showed educators of all levels how they can leverage technology in these times of digital transformation. Introducing localized and personalized solutions and devices that will suit their needs.
” Education is changing and with the power of technology
we hope we can empower every one. “
Introducing Educators to Microsoft 365 Education
Keynote speaker: Jaye Richards-Hill Microsoft Worldwide BDM Education EMEA
Keynote speaker of the event Jaye Richards-Hill, Business Development Manager, Education, Microsoft EMEA spoke on the Digital transformation of education. She spoke about Microsoft’s vision in Education and scenarios and solutions for digital transformation.
Jaye said “It is not the technology but what you do with it that is important. Education is changing and with the power of technology we hope we can empower every one. Our CEO Satya Nadella talks often about empowering STEM. Technology is driving the skills acquisition in today’s world. The skill you need today are the types of skills you need to acquire during education. It is important that institutions apply real life methods in their learning and teachings.”
Anthony Mungai Nyutu Devices Lead Education WECA
Senior Solution specialist and Microsoft Devices lead Education, WECA, Anthony Mungai Nyutu spoke about Technology in the classroom and building the education platform for the 21st-century learning. Introducing participants to solutions in Windows 10 and Office 365 that make sharing and learning interactive and fun. Demoing mixed reality in Paint 3D, Office Mix in Power Point, game based learning with Minecraft etc.
” The way you build the future
is through education. “
Helping Educators with devices and solutions
Mr. Mark Pritchard moderating the last give away device contest.
The way you build the future is through education, said Mark Pritchard General Manager Point De Vue Afrique and Zepto Ghana Limited. One of the biggest challenge in Africa is not the connectivity or technology but the money,. He said this when talking about how Point of View and Zepto Ghana are trying to fill in that gap. In partnership with EcoBank, organizations will be able to raise the needed funding to purchase the necessary tools and solutions to bring digital transformation to their schools and students.
Every government, private or public education partner or provider needs different solutions. Zepto Ghana Limited and Point of View Africa as local Microsoft education partners will help you find the right affordable solutions to transform learning and increase creativity.
Other solution partners at the event included Africa Schools Online, Girls Konnekt, Extramarks and ISYX. Check out and join the conversation with #MicrosoftEduGH #DigitalTransformationGH on social platforms.
Microsoft Invites you to Experience Digital Transformation with all that Microsoft 365 Education can offer you
The new education package Microsoft 365 Education, was official launched at Innovation Africa a few months ago in Maputo, Mozambique. The Microsoft 365 Education package is a technology solution built for education. It comes as a bundled package of Office 365, Windows 10, Intune for Education, Minecraft Education Edition and Enterprise Mobility + Security all in a single cloud based package.
“The aim of Microsoft 365 Education is to get schools up and running faster through simplified acquisition and deployment.
This eliminates wasted time and delivers new capabilities to teachers and students to help them learn and work in new ways. We know that schools want simple to purchase, simple to manage, secure and efficient systems. Microsoft 365 Education is designed to deliver on that need.” – Mark East, Microsoft Regional Leader for Education in Europe Middle East and Africa.
In the invitation it says “We are excited to invite you to come and experience all that Microsoft 365 Education can offer”
Microsoft 365 Education is here to provide educators and students with all the tools needed to teach and learn skills needed for 21st century life. Familiar products like Office 365 encourage collaboration, Enterprise Mobility Suite provides security and management, and we’ll be introducing the latest version of Minecraft: Education edition. This fun open-world game is changing and improving the landscape of learning in a way students really enjoy.
If you’ll want to learn more about the new Microsoft Education package, with demos, presentations and testimonials. Get insights and if you’ve got questions on what works and doesn’t, this is the right opportunity to participate in the event hosted by Microsoft Education Partners for Ghana, Zepto Ghana Ltd. and Point de Vue Afrique.
Educators, IT Admins, IT heads of schools, Heads of Institutions, Register to be part of this event on December 7th, in Accra, Ghana.
