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Hey everyone — it’s John from On The Pulse.
How are you all doing this week?
In this edition of On The Pulse, we’re discussing the new “Recall” feature for Windows with Copilot+ PCs. We’re also looking at some new updates for Microsoft Teams.
This week’s topics include:
✅ New Windows “Recall” Feature.
✅ Town Hall updates.
✅ Viva Connections updates.
✅ 3 FREE Noise Cancellation apps.
Let’s Go!👇
Also — I’d love to hear what you think of On The Pulse. Whether you love it or hate it, or there’s something new you’d like to see included, hit “reply” and share your thoughts!
✉️ TOP STORIES (WITH OUR INSIGHTS)
🤖 Microsoft Announces New “Recall” feature for Copilot+ PCs
Microsoft has introduced an exciting new feature called Recall, designed to enhance the user experience on Copilot+ PCs by taking screenshots of the desktop so users can scroll back in time.
Full Story and Our Insights:
Currently in its preview phase, Recall allows users to find content they have viewed on their devices by taking and storing encrypted snapshots of their active screen. This innovative tool promises to revolutionize how users interact with and retrieve their data.
For devices not powered by a Snapdragon® X Series processor, installing a Windows update will be necessary to run Recall.
Key Features of Recall
Optimized Language Support:
Currently optimized for English, Chinese (simplified), French, German, Japanese, and Spanish, with plans to expand to additional languages.Extensive Language Coverage:
Ability to perform text-to-text searches in more than 160 languages.Encrypted Snapshots:
Takes images of the active screen every few seconds, encrypts them, and saves them on the local hard drive.Interactive Content Retrieval:
Allows users to open snapshots in their original applications and will soon be able to open the actual source documents, websites, or emails.
How Does Recall Work?
Recall leverages the advanced processing capabilities of Copilot+ PCs to capture encrypted snapshots of the active screen. These snapshots are stored locally and can be accessed through a search function or a timeline bar, enabling users to scroll through and find the desired content.
Storage Requirements
Minimum Hard Drive Space:
256 GB, with 50 GB available.Default Allocation:
25 GB on a 256 GB device, which stores approximately 3 months of snapshots.Adjustable Storage:
Users can increase the storage allocation in PC Settings. Old snapshots are deleted as new ones are added once the allocated space is full.
Privacy and Security
Microsoft has prioritized privacy in Recall's design, ensuring that users have control over their data. Key privacy features include:
Snapshot Control:
Users can choose which snapshots Recall collects and stores, filtering out specific apps or websites.Pause and Delete Options:
Snapshots can be paused, cleared, or deleted on demand.Sensitive Content Exclusion:
Recall does not capture snapshots of InPrivate browsing sessions in Microsoft Edge or DRM-protected content.Encryption:
Snapshots are encrypted and, if using Windows 11 Pro or an enterprise SKU, protected with BitLocker.User-Specific Access:
Snapshots are tied to individual user profiles and are not accessible to other users or applications.
Data Protection
Despite some media claims of privacy concerns, Recall ensures that snapshots are stored securely on the local hard drive of Copilot+ PCs. They are encrypted and accessible only by the user profile that created them, preventing unauthorized access and maintaining user privacy.
Important Considerations
No Content Moderation:
Recall does not filter out sensitive information such as passwords or financial data, so users should exercise caution.Profile-Specific:
Only the profile used to sign in can access the stored snapshots, ensuring privacy and security for multi-user devices.
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🔄 Updates for Microsoft Teams’ Town Hall This Year
Microsoft Teams will update the Town Hall this coming year to improve engagement and production quality. Most notably, there will be a new “Producer” role to enable the smooth production of events.
Full Story and Our Insights:
Since the launch of Town Hall in September 2023, this digital streaming event solution has introduced several innovative features, including the ability to host multiple presenters, send attendee emails, and access real-time event analytics.
But in the coming year, Microsoft intends to roll out some new Town Hall features, which are definitely worth knowing about.
Upcoming Enhancements for Town Hall
Town Hall is set to receive numerous updates in the coming year to further enhance user engagement and event management. Some of the anticipated features include:
Engagement Capabilities
Enhanced Q&A Functions:
Voting, filters, sorting, and archiving questions.Export Options:
Ability to export questions to CSV or download a detailed Q&A report.
Device Capabilities
MTR-W Support:
Enhanced support for Microsoft Teams Rooms on Windows (MTR-W) for both presenters and attendees.CVI and VDI Support:
Integration with Cloud Video Interop (CVI) and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI).
Advanced Production Experiences
Producer Role:
New roles to manage and produce events more effectively.Content Queuing:
Queue shared content for smoother presentations.Preview Scenes:
Preview scenes before they go live to ensure seamless transitions.
Continuation of Teams Live Events
Contrary to prior announcements, Microsoft Teams has decided not to retire Teams Live Events in September 2024.
Users can continue to schedule events beyond this date, ensuring a flexible and smooth transition to Town Hall when ready.
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📊 Viva Connections Announces New Spotlight Features
New features in Viva Connections allow operators to pin content, manage pinned content, use multiple SharePoint sites as news sources, and introduces audience targeting.
Full Story and Our Insights:
Microsoft Viva Connections has announced new features today for its spotlight component, providing operators with enhanced control and customization over the content displayed.
Enhanced Pinning Capabilities
Operators can now:
Pin Important Content:
Easily pin up to 11 items to the spotlight.Edit and Reorder Pinned Items:
Modify the order and content of pinned items as needed.Indefinite Spotlight Display:
Pinned items will remain in the spotlight indefinitely, with the flexibility to update or remove them at any time.
Advanced Spotlight Settings
The new spotlight settings allow for greater customization and dynamic content display:
Multiple SharePoint Sites as News Sources:
Add multiple SharePoint sites directly from Viva Connections, ensuring a diverse range of content following the pinned items.Audience Targeting:
Content display respects audience targeting, meaning that different users might see different content based on their roles, interests, or other criteria.Boosted Rankings:
Boosted rankings ensure that high-priority content appears more prominently.
The new spotlight features are currently being rolled out to Targeted Release customers and will be available to all users by June 2024.
🕟 3 FREE NOISE CANCELLING SOLUTIONS FOR MICROSOFT TEAMS MEETINGS
CrystalSound is a noise cancelling application available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. With the free option, you get:
90 minutes of free daily noise cancellation
Bi-directional noise cancellation
My Voice Only
Microphone volume booster
Acoustic echo suppression
Audio file enhancement
Upgrade to Premium for unlimited noise cancellation.
Krisp is a noise cancelling application available for Windows and Mac. With the free option, you get:
60 minutes of free daily noise cancellation
Unlimited meeting transcriptions
AI meeting notes & summary (2 per day)
Background noise & voice cancellation
Acoustic & room echo cancellation
Upgrade to Premium for unlimited noise cancellation.
ClaerityAI is a noise cancelling application available for Windows and Mac. Although ClaerityAI doesn’t offer a free forever option, you do get a generous 30 day free trial:
Free for 30 days
Recognizes human voices in over 7000 languages
Adapts to different environments, including office, coffee shop, or noisy surroundings
State-of-the-art machine learning algorithm
Identifies primary speaker and filters other noises intelligently
Audio processing done locally for data confidentiality
✅ WRAPPING UP!
That’s all for this edition of On The Pulse.
Thanks for reading and see you soon! 👋