The latest feature update in Teams is bringing a central notifications hub to keep things more organized. And a whole host of other useful features. Keep reading to learn more! Ever feel overwhelmed by the maze of chats, channels, and notifications in Microsoft Teams? Well, here’s the good news: Microsoft’s rolling out an update to help streamline things.
The update will create a simpler workspace that’s easier to navigate – grouping everything in one location under the Chat menu. Think of it as a central hub where all your key conversations and notifications live. The update also includes a new “@mentions” view that gathers all your direct messages and important mentions in one place. This will make it easier to catch up on messages you’re tagged in, helping you to make sure important notifications don’t slip through the cracks. Teams will also be getting improved filters and controls. This will let you do things like filter out less urgent notifications, as well as create custom sections to keep your chats, channels, and meetings organized by project or topic. Another great feature being introduced is a new “favorites” section, allowing you to pin your top chats and channels for quick access. Also, threaded conversations are expected to arrive some time in mid-2025. This will mean that replies get grouped together in the same thread, making it easier to follow discussions without losing track of previous messages. All these improvements are coming to PC, Android, and iOS – so your team will be able to stay on top of things no matter what device they use to access Teams. If you’re not already using Teams to keep communication flowing in your business, now’s a great time to start! And if you need any help with the transition, get in touch. After all, we've got IT covered! Having trouble finding the "sign out" button in Windows 11? You’re not the only one! Thankfully, Microsoft has listened. Microsoft recently made changes to the Windows Start menu – and it caused a bit of an uproar.
Here’s what happened: Microsoft tried to streamline the Start menu by grouping related settings together. But they tucked the sign out option behind a three-dot menu, creating confusion for people trying to log out of their accounts. Thankfully, Microsoft has listened to feedback and is now testing an update to put the sign out button back to where it was before. This is good news for teams that have multiple profiles set up on one computer, making it easier to switch between accounts again. These changes are part of a broader update to Windows 11 that’s currently being tested. The update will also bring in new features like media controls on the lock screen for when you’re playing music or videos, as well as the ability to share files directly from your search results. These updates are great examples of small changes that can have a really positive impact on how your team works. Is it time for you to move your business to Windows 11? We can help get you started! Get in touch today. Trying to find your way through the Settings menu in Microsoft Edge might leave you overwhelmed but a new update is about to make it easier. Microsoft's browser takes back the Edge with streamlined settings If you’ve ever tried to tweak a setting in Microsoft Edge and found yourself lost in all the options, this one’s for you.
Microsoft is cleaning up the Settings page, so you’ll no longer need to dig around in endless menus to find the setting you need. So what’s changing? You’ll see a new quick access panel under the main Settings menu, giving you shortcuts to the features you’re likely to use the most. Settings will also be split into smaller submenus, like “System and Performance” and “Appearance”, making it easier to find exactly what you want. Better yet? The submenus will have their own quick access shortcuts too. The improvements will give Google Chrome (which has been praised for its well-organized settings) a run for its money. So if your team doesn’t already use Edge as their default browser, it’s a great time to give it another try. Microsoft is currently testing the update, and it should start rolling out soon. Once it does, you can expect much smoother navigation. If you need help making the most of the new features in your business, we can help! Get in touch. Think the Windows 11 Photo app has little use in your business? Visual Search with Bing is about to change that, with some very useful new functionality… You might think of the Windows Photos app as a basic tool for viewing and managing images. But with an upcoming update to Windows 11, there’s a new feature that could be very useful for your business: Visual Search with Bing.
With the update, you’ll be able to do a reverse image search straight from the app, showing you similar images and related information. How can this benefit your business? Let’s say you’re looking at a photo and you want to know more about a product, place or person in the image. Reverse image search is a faster way to get the information you need. It’s a great tool for eCommerce store owners – you can use it to find out who else is selling a product, compare pricing, or track down new suppliers. Marketing teams can also use it to easily find similar visuals to use in campaigns, or to make sure images aren’t being used elsewhere. It also helps you check the origin of an image to make sure you have permission to use it. If your business is in real estate or research, you can save time by using reverse image search to quickly identify the locations or objects you see in photos. Microsoft has also made it easier to flick through your photos and edit images by improving navigation and introducing a quick access editing tool right in the app. Another big bonus: You’ll now be able to sync Photos with iCloud – great for teams that use Apple devices alongside their Windows PCs. These features should be rolling out soon in a future Windows 11 update. If you haven’t already upgraded your business to Windows 11, it’s time to start thinking about it. We can help make it easy - get in touch. Here's the scenario: You’ve hit send on an important email - then you notice a typo. Who else has done this way too many times? 🙋 So what can you do about it? The answer is surprisingly simple: activate this snazzy Windows 11 feature in Settings! A Free Tool for More Polished Communication![]() Whether you’re drafting emails, writing reports, or creating presentations, spelling mistakes and typos can easily be missed. This means you run the risk of looking unprofessional, especially when communicating with clients or business partners. Here’s the good news: Windows 11 comes with built-in spell check and autocorrect tools that can put an end to embarrassing spelling mistakes. These tools are easy to set up. And once that’s done, you won’t need any extra software to make sure your text always looks clear and professional. Want to know how to use them? First, open Windows Settings. Then select Time & Language and click on the Typing page. From there, you can turn on options like ‘Autocorrect misspelled words’ and ‘Highlight misspelled words’. These features will work across most apps, fixing errors and flagging possible spelling mistakes. You can even get word predictions as you type by enabling text suggestions. Does your business run in multiple languages? Be sure to switch on the ‘Multilingual text suggestions’ feature. This will bring up word suggestions in whatever language you are using. While the spelling tools built into Windows 11 will work across most apps once enabled, some apps (like Notepad and Outlook) need a little extra set up. For example, in Notepad, you’ll need to click the gear icon for settings to switch on the spell check feature. Your team probably spends a lot of time in Outlook sending emails, so it’s well worth switching on grammar tools here. Go to Editor Settings under the Options tab. From there, you can turn on features like autocorrect, text predictions, and even tone adjustment. And if your team uses Microsoft Edge for browsing, you can set up spell check and grammar tools there as well. Just head to Settings, click on Languages, and turn on the grammar and spell check options. By setting up spell check and autocorrect in Windows 11, you’re not just avoiding small mistakes - you’re helping your business run more smoothly. If you need a hand with this or want more advice on how to save time in your business, we can help! Reach out today to find a good time for one of our team members to help! |
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