Microsoft has released a new and faster Teams app, which is available for all Windows and macOS users. The app is inspired by the Fluent design language of Windows 11. Users can access the new app by enabling a button in the top left corner of the classic Teams app. There is no need to download a new app, as everyone will get this new experience in the next few months.
The app uses Edge WebView 2, which offers faster performance and reduced memory usage up to 50% compared to the classic version of Teams. Mac users also get these improvements, with Microsoft saying that the Mac app is now faster to switch between chats and channels and more optimized for multi-monitor usage.
Some other features in the app include Fluent design effects. You will see a lighter glass look in the sidebar, title bar, and your message list. The app even now can switch dark and light themes based on your settings and has a new option to mark all items as read in your feed and new theme options for chats.
Even keyboard shortcuts are enhanced to make navigation easier, and you can finally use multiple accounts with one Teams app. Of course, we should not forget Copilot in Teams either, if your organization allows access to it. You can use Copilot to catch up on what you might have missed with your conversations, review the main points in meetings, assign actionable items, and make decisions without having to go through your message list. Basically, it is a virtual assistant for Teams, helping to make your life much easier.
Microsoft has added as many as 45 features and improvements to Teams in June 2023, including spatial audio and new chat density. Support for spatial audio in meetings is a major feature this time, supported through wired stereo headsets and built-in stereo speakers. Spatial audio can be enabled outside of meetings, before joining a meeting, or during a meeting.
Together Mode also gets some enhancements, such as name labels for various icons, the ability to see reactions and raised hands directly in the view, and an option to remove your own video from the gallery. In addition, you can customize the text in meetings to change the font size, color, size and position of the closed caption window, and the ability to see recent text.
A handy feature in chat and collaboration is the option to mark all messages in your activity feed as read, ideally saving a lot of time cumulatively. In addition, you can also configure a compact chat list that only shows the names of people you collaborate with, rather than their accompanying chat previews.
