Important points
-
Updates for Microsoft 365 include improvements to the presenter window, channel video clip sharing, and faster sign-in functionality.
-
Microsoft Teams will soon be adding great collaboration features like presenter window and channel video clip sharing.
-
Microsoft Outlook will offer new event creation capabilities for hybrid work settings in an upcoming update.
Unlike with Windows 11, Microsoft regularly posts weekly updates about features in development for Microsoft 365. Last week was no exception, as the Redmond-based technology company detailed new features coming to various Microsoft 365 services, including Microsoft Teams and Outlook. Microsoft 365 has a subscription model, but once you launch, you’ll be able to use some of these features on your laptop or desktop without purchasing a plan.
2 Microsoft Teams: New features to improve collaboration
Improved presenter window
One of the improvements in Teams is the ability for meeting presenters to track up to four meeting participants while viewing a preview of the content shared during a meeting screen sharing session (Feature ID: 383653).
This is available for both audio and video conferencing. However, keep in mind that while many people can attend a meeting, the presenter will see the activity of up to four participants who are actively speaking or raising their hands.
Hosts will receive updates about participant activity through notifications that appear in the center of the screen. Notifications help presenters stay alert to active participants.
Microsoft plans to begin rolling out this feature for Mac and Windows devices in April.
Video clips from Teams channels
Also coming in April is the ability to record yourself using a webcam, screen, or audio capture device and share the recording as a post or reply on a channel (Feature ID: 383740). Currently, Teams users can record video clips and share them through direct chat messages.
Teams channels are a space where everyone can communicate, collaborate, and share files, so anyone can see video clips shared in a channel. Therefore, users can be more productive by sharing clips directly to a channel instead of uploading them in a one-on-one conversation.
Microsoft Teams has a built-in recording feature that allows users to record themselves or their screen and share it with others via Direct Message without leaving the application. And starting this April, you’ll be able to do it all in your Teams channel.
This feature is available on all Teams clients including Android, iOS, desktop, and Mac. Notably, the Microsoft Teams Android client currently does not support native recording functionality, but it is expected to be available in March.
Sign in faster
Last week’s update to the Microsoft 365 roadmap page (Feature ID: 383134) includes mention of a faster sign-in feature that eliminates the need to enter the domain name in Teams on shared or managed devices . This will be available starting next month.
The best productivity apps for Windows
Boost your efficiency on Windows with these top productivity apps
1 Microsoft Outlook: Improved support for hybrid working
Creating events is very easy in Microsoft Outlook, but last week’s update to the Roadmap page (Feature ID: 322590) made it seem like the email client was missing one useful feature. Give meeting organizers the option to ask invitees to join the event in person or virtually.
Future features in Outlook will benefit organizations with hybrid work cultures. With a mix of remote and in-office work, attendees are often confused about whether to attend a meeting online or in person. That’s no longer the case, and organizers will have more control over how they want attendees to engage.
Microsoft plans to roll out this new event feature to the new Outlook for Windows and the web in March.
Improve your meetings with Copilot for Teams and Outlook
We’re adding a variety of new features to Microsoft Copilot across Microsoft 365 apps. All of these are designed to make your life better.
Release schedule is still tentative
As mentioned on the roadmap page, these upcoming features will be available to users within the next two to three months. However, the exact schedule is still preliminary, so don’t be surprised if any of the proposed features are postponed or delayed. In any case, Microsoft will be updating its Microsoft 365 roadmap soon, and we’ll tell you about them in a separate roundup.
