Microsoft Teams will soon automatically record meetings for you

Microsoft

In case you didn't know, it currently isn't possible to automatically record meetings on Microsoft Teams. But it looks like Microsoft is finally ready to change that. The Teams Engineering team confirmed to a user on the Microsoft Teams forum that they are working on this feature. Funny enough, the request was made even before the pandemic hit, back in September 2018). Three years later, someone from Microsoft's team finally decided to confirm that the feature is coming. 

According to 9to5Mac, this feature will be available for macOS and Windows. And it will always show at the top of the meeting that it is being recorded for safety reasons.

Microsoft Teams is down for many users

Microsoft Teams users are experiencing a global outage which is blocking connectivity and access. The affected users are mostly reported in Europe and Asia, although the issue might be more widespread.

“We’ve confirmed that this issue affects users globally,” says Microsoft’s 365 status account on Twitter. “We’re reviewing monitoring telemetry and recent changes to isolate the source of the issue.” Microsoft's representatives said. This is the second widespread outage to the company's meeting and collaborations solution this month. Microsoft Teams also struggled with connectivity issues last month, but this was credited to an authentication change. 

Microsoft's other cloud servies like Azure, Office 365, and Xbox Live seem to be working. 

Source: The Verge

Skype gets Microsoft Teams' Together Mode

Microsoft Skype is getting Together Mode from Teams. The fun video calling feature uses AI to take your face and shoulders and place them together with other people in your call in a virtual space. It requires at least five people with webcams to put everyone in a virtual environment that makes it look like you're beside each other. You don't even have to use the Skype app to utilize Together Mode. It works with the web version of Skype and without the need to create an account. Together Mode was introduced back in July to cater to pandemic-era meetings. The NBA even used the feature to bring basketball bans courtside in a virtual experience of its live games. 

Aside from this surprising new addition, Skype is also getting the Large Grid Mode, where you can see everyone's live stream simultaneously. Skype also offers more background options and allows you to add people to ongoing calls with their phone numbers.

Source: The Verge

Microsoft Teams allows users upload their background images on video calls

Image courtesy of Microsoft

As it tries to catch up with rival Zoom, Microsoft is bringing new features to its Teams app. The latest addition allows you to upload your image of choice as your background or select from one of the latest collections of background that's now available online. Microsoft previews some of these backgrounds over at this blog post. The company previously introduced blurring effects and some preset images for the background, but this new addition expands your options. Microsoft cautions that blurring effect or a custom image might not stop others from seeing sensitive information. The tech giant says they use a "highly trained" model to separate the user from the background. And that background effects are only available for scheduled meetings.

On top of introducing this feature, Microsoft now allows free users to schedule meetings and send out invites instead of resorting to the Meet Now option. Free users can also add live captions to their calls. And in honour of Pride Month, there will be Pride-themed images in its collection of custom Teams backgrounds coming on June 16.