Editor’s Observe: Microsoft started delivery its unified Groups expertise starting on August 20, 2024. Whereas Groups will ultimately replace itself to ship the unified expertise, you too can obtain the brand new Groups app straight. The unique story, printed on March 13, continues.
Have you ever been confused by Microsoft Groups, which presents one app for customers and one other for enterprise customers? In that case, these days could also be ending.
Microsoft is testing builds within the Home windows 11 Canary and Dev Channels to streamline Groups into one thing that makes slightly extra sense: a single app. Construct 26080 brings with it a unified Groups expertise, permitting you to easily change between accounts and atmosphere moderately than load separate apps for enterprise customers and customers. You’ll merely change between them by clicking your icon within the higher right-hand nook of the app.
“We acquired constant suggestions from private and work customers: You favor a single Groups app that lets you simply entry and change between private and work accounts,” Microsoft wrote in a weblog put up. “This replace enables you to use one app for every kind of Groups accounts.”
Microsoft’s horrible Groups, for customers
That’s true, and in the event you look again at Groups over the previous few years you’ll perceive why: Microsoft Groups for Dwelling launched in 2020, with shared grocery lists and different options for customers on iOS and Android. Then there was Private Options in Groups, in 2021. For those who haven’t heard of both of those, you’re not alone — that’s in all probability why Microsoft made its choice.
Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft
Then, in fact, there was Groups Chat inside Home windows 11, embodying the hope that associates would use Groups to speak to at least one one other after hours… after speaking to colleagues on Groups in the course of the workday. Neither Groups Chat nor Microsoft’s Folks app for Home windows 10 gained traction. By 2023 Groups Chat was spun off into the Groups Free app… which now’s being assimilated right into a single Groups app.
Sure, customers could select to make use of Groups. However it seems that Microsoft’s efforts to push customers to make use of Groups could also be lastly, fortunately, ending.
New Copilot instructions
Microsoft can be including a lot of instructions to the built-in Home windows model of Copilot, in addition to testing a model of Copilot that may very well be undocked and run as a window. The brand new instructions embrace:
The flexibility to:
- Ask for obtainable wi-fi networks.
- Ask for system or system info.
- Ask for battery info.
- Ask to scrub storage.
- Ask to empty recycle bin.
- Ask to toggle battery saver.
- Ask to indicate startup apps.
- Ask in your IP handle.
- Ask for system, system, or storage info.
Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft can be including further accessibility options, together with the flexibility to:
- Ask to activate narrator.
- Ask to open voice entry.
- Ask to activate magnifier.
- Ask to alter textual content dimension.
- Ask to start out reside captions.
- Ask to activate high-contrast.
- Ask to start out voice typing.
For reference, these instructions already work:
- Ask to toggle darkish/gentle theme.
- Ask to toggle Bluetooth.
- Ask to toggle don’t disturb.
- Ask so as to add a tool.
- Ask to take a screenshot.
- Ask to forged your display to a different monitor.
- Ask to alter your background picture.
- Ask to set quantity, change quantity, or mute/unmute quantity.
- Ask to launch an software.
- State that sure elements of your PC aren’t working: Audio, Home windows Replace, Digicam, Bluetooth, Printer, Community, others.
- Ask to snap a window.
- Ask to start out a spotlight session.
Energy Automate by way of Copilot
Microsoft can be testing one probably very attention-grabbing functionality: a Energy Automate plugin for Copilot. Energy Automate is actually IFTTT for Home windows — the flexibility to create “macros” of automated duties. However the app remains to be slightly complicated, and requires twiddling with an unfamiliar interface. Copilot may automate the method, and we’re to see what it will possibly do. Examples embrace:
- Write an e mail to my staff wishing everybody a contented weekend.
- Record the highest 5 highest mountains on this planet in an Excel file.
- Rename all PDF information in a folder so as to add the phrase closing on the finish.
- Transfer all phrase paperwork to a different folder.
- I would like to separate a PDF by the primary web page. Are you able to assist?
You’ll have to obtain a plugin from the Microsoft Retailer.
