Additional Teams Features Targeting Remote, On-Site Workers

As more and more meetings take place in Teams, Microsoft is working hard to improve the visual and user experience for customers. At Ignite, Microsoft unveiled a robust roadmap of custom features like layouts and conference modes to help users customize their own meeting environments. Meeting recaps, arriving later this year, provide a host of options for recording, transcribing, and sharing files presented in the meeting. Search, webinar, and “well-being” features are also on the roadmap.

Full writeup on these changes here.

Where are my Stream files?

Big changes are coming to Microsoft Stream. The Redmond giant is making Stream the default video platform for all Microsoft 365 apps. As Mary Jo Foley notes in her ZDNet roundup, “”Stream currently powers videos uploaded to Stream, but not he rest of Microsoft 365, such as SharePoint, Teams, and Office. Streams is basically a siloed product/service.” The new version will store all Stream files on SharePoint and OneDrive, which leads to a host of governance and security features, too.

No detailed timing on when these efforts will begin, though a host of features are planned through the end of this year and H1 2021.

Full writeup on these changes here. 

On-Prem Office Goes Subscription

For the dwindling number of Office users who still prefer server products, be aware licensing changes are afoot for 2021 versions. Not all details are hashed out yet  -stay tuned for more updates on pricing in the coming months.

Full writeup on these changes here.

Double the Fun: Two Ignites in 2021

That’s right – the IT pro conference is going to be divided into two parts in 2021. No dates have been set for the next event, which looks to be happening in the Spring. Note this second Ignite event will not replace the annual Microsoft Build event and 2021 events are still largely up in the air as we continue to navigate social distancing policies amidst the pandemic.

Full writeup here.