Dear Techies,
This week, we're thrilled to announce the next evolution of our newsletter! Introducing On the Pulse – your go-to source for all things productivity and efficiency across the Microsoft ecosystem!
What's in store for you?
🔍 Greater Focus: Dive deep into productivity techniques and efficiency hacks tailored specifically for users of business software such as Microsoft's suite.
💡 Actionable Insights: Say goodbye to generic advice! On the Pulse will deliver practical tips that you can implement right away to streamline your workflows and boost productivity.
📚 Training Resources: Access comprehensive training materials designed to help you master the tools and features of the Microsoft suite, empowering you to work smarter, not harder.
🌟 Exclusive Content: Be the first to receive insider tips and exclusive content curated to keep you ahead of the curve.
Stay tuned for our inaugural issue of On the Pulse – coming soon to an inbox near you!
Are you excited for the newsletter rebrand?
Now, the news!👇
📊 Your opinion matters!
Which sections were helpful or interesting? Let us know by participating in the poll at the end!
✉️ THIS WEEK’S TOP STORIES
⚠️ Microsoft to End Support for Office 2016 & 2019 in October 2025
On October 14th 2025, Microsoft will end support for Office 2016 & 2019 and their applications, including productivity servers, namely Exchange Server 2016/2019 and Skype for Business Server 2016/2019.
This means Microsoft will no longer provide security updates, bug fixes, or technical support, which could leave you and your business vulnerable to security threats.
What should I do?
To keep you and your business safe, Microsoft advises users and businesses to migrate to Microsoft 365.
Microsoft 365 Business Plans
Microsoft 365 Personal Plans
For more information on Microsoft 365 and how to migrate from Office 2016/2019, please refer to the official Microsoft documentation.
AI won’t take your job, but a person using AI might. That’s why 500,000+ professionals read The Rundown – the free newsletter that keeps you updated on the latest AI news and teaches you how to apply it in just 5 minutes a day.
🛠️ Updates to Microsoft Teams Rolling Out in April
Meeting Recap and Artifacts: After a meeting concludes, participants will find a comprehensive set of meeting artifacts automatically shared in the meeting chat. This includes a recap page, transcript, recording, collaborative notes, shared files, Whiteboard link, and meeting details. Users with access to intelligent recap will also receive highlights like speaker count, name mentions, and suggested tasks.
Multi-instance App Customization: IT admins now have the ability to customize Teams apps to match their company's brand and enhance usability. By managing multiple customized app instances, businesses can improve branding, awareness, and user engagement, while meeting diverse business needs more effectively.
Task-Based App Suggestions: App suggestions in Teams will now be organized by the tasks they support rather than traditional categories like productivity or project management. This new categorization reduces the time users spend learning about apps, helping them work more efficiently. Task-based app suggestions will be available in Tabs, Messaging Extension, and Bots in-context Stores.
Admin Control for Drag-Drop File Uploads: Admins can now control the default content app for local files uploaded via drag-drop in chat and channels. OneDrive/SharePoint are the existing default locations for such uploads.
Shared Call History for Delegates: Call delegators and delegates will now have access to shared call history records for the shared line, enhancing the call delegation experience.
In-App Teams Devices Store: The Teams app now features a device store where customers can easily discover and purchase certified Teams devices for personal or shared use, such as headsets, web cameras, desk phones, Teams Rooms, and more. This new experience allows businesses in the US and Canada to complete purchases within the Teams app.
Meeting Options Categorization: Meeting Options now feature grouping to improve organizers' and co-organizers' understanding and selection ease.
📊 Microsoft invests $1.5 billion in UAE AI firm G42
Microsoft is investing $1.5 billion in G42, an AI firm in the UAE, to bolster its position in the technology sector amid rising competition.
Brad Smith, Microsoft's President, will join G42's board of directors as part of the deal, which expands their existing partnership.
G42 will leverage Microsoft Azure for its AI applications and services, including the deployment of Microsoft's cloud offerings. This investment comes with assurances to adhere to international laws and regulations, particularly concerning security and responsible AI development.
The deal has drawn attention due to G42's ties with China, prompting scrutiny from the US government. Despite allegations, G42 denies engaging with Chinese companies in the tech sector.
The partnership between Microsoft and G42 is expected to advance the UAE's efforts to become a prominent technology hub, with plans to establish a $1 billion fund to support AI development in the region.
💡 THIS WEEK’S TOP TIP
Focusworks AI is a third-party application for Microsoft Teams that allows you to create images and interact with Chat GPT. You can also upload text documents and ask the chatbot questions regarding the contents.
For a monthly subscription of $6.00 per user/month, this application can be seen as a cheaper alternative to Microsoft Copilot, which costs $30 per user/month, with an annual payment of $360.00.
While Copilot has a far greater applicability across the Microsoft Suite,
Focusworks AI remains an essential tool for users who rely heavily on Microsoft Teams.
To add Focusworks AI to your Teams environment:
Click the (…) three dots in the left menu
Search for “focusworks”
Click “Add” next to the Focusworks app
Please view the video below for more information on installing focusworks and uploading documents for analysis using ChatGPT.
🌟 THIS WEEK’S TECH DEALS
21% OFF
HP Flagship Laptop
Intel Quad-Core Pentium N200
16GB RAM
384GB Storage
1 Year Microsoft 365
Windows 11
$299.99 (usually $379.99)
37% OFF
Jabra Evolve2
This noise-cancelling headset from Jabra is Microsoft Teams certified and provides professional call quality.
$125.99 (usually $199.99)
40% OFF
360 Rotating Laptop Stand Riser for Desk
This is an ergonomic foldable computer stand with adjustable height angles. The stand fits all laptops up to 16 inches.
$29.97 (usually $49.98)
🪲 THIS WEEK’S BOTHERSOME BUGS
Microsoft Whiteboard users have reported this week that they’ve been unable to copy and paste images into a whiteboard.
This loss of functionality is due to an update that prevents direct pasting for users with a free Microsoft account. Business users are unaffected by this change.
A workaround to this problem is to drag and drop images from another window.
✅ WRAPPING UP!
Which sections were helpful or interesting?
That’s all for this newsletter.
Thanks for reading and see you soon! 👋