Ep 133: Teams Chat & Channels UI; Meet App (Apr 2025)

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• Generated by AI. Be sure to check for accuracy.

  Meeting notes:

  • New Chat and Channels UI: Ricardo discussed the new chat and channels UI in Microsoft Teams, which is now rolling out as the default interface. They expressed their enthusiasm for the new UI, highlighting its positive impact on productivity and ease of use. Ricardo also mentioned the mixed reactions from others but emphasized the benefits of the new interface.

    • UI Rollout: Ricardo confirmed that the new chat and channels UI is now rolling out as the default interface for Microsoft Teams. This change is no longer optional and will become the standard for all users.

    • Productivity Boost: Ricardo emphasized that the new UI has significantly boosted their productivity. They find the new interface aligns well with their workflow, making it easier to manage tasks and communications.

    • Mixed Reactions: While Ricardo is enthusiastic about the new UI, they acknowledged that reactions have been mixed. Some users find the change uncomfortable due to their familiarity with the old interface, but Ricardo believes the new UI is a positive step forward.

    • Personal Experience: Ricardo shared their personal experience, stating that the new UI has been phenomenal for them. They highlighted the ease of use and the significant improvement in managing chats and channels.

  • Mobile Experience: Ricardo highlighted the improved mobile experience with the new chat and channels UI. They mentioned the filter button in the upper left corner that allows users to see all chats and channels as recent, making it easier to stay updated while on the go. Ricardo also expressed their hope for this feature to be added to the desktop version.

    • Filter Button: Ricardo explained the new filter button in the upper left corner of the mobile app, which allows users to see all chats and channels as recent. This feature helps users stay updated on the latest messages and activities.

    • On-the-Go Updates: Ricardo highlighted the convenience of the new mobile UI for staying updated while on the go. They mentioned using the mobile app in various situations, such as traveling or checking notifications in the car.

    • Desktop Feature Request: Ricardo expressed their hope that the filter button feature will be added to the desktop version of Teams. They believe this would enhance the desktop experience by providing a running list of the latest messages, similar to the mobile app.

  • Managing Teams and Channels: Ricardo shared their experience of managing multiple teams and channels using the new UI. They explained how they categorize important channels and teams, allowing them to focus on relevant updates and ignore the noise. Ricardo emphasized the productivity boost this new organization method has provided.

    • Channel Categorization: Ricardo described how they categorize important channels and teams into sections. This organization method helps them focus on relevant updates and ignore less important notifications.

    • Productivity Improvement: Ricardo emphasized that the new organization method has significantly improved their productivity. By categorizing channels, they can quickly identify and address important updates without being overwhelmed by noise.

    • Handling Noise: Ricardo mentioned that they have become accustomed to seeing bold notifications for less important teams and channels. This change in mindset allows them to focus on actionable items while ignoring non-essential updates.

    • Custom Groupings: Ricardo explained that they group teams and channels based on their roles and accounts. This customization helps them manage multiple teams effectively and ensures they can quickly respond to important updates.

  • Notification Settings: Ricardo discussed the new notification settings in Teams, including the ability to change the location of notifications on the screen. They shared their preference for placing notifications in the top left corner to avoid overlap with other app notifications. Ricardo also mentioned the option to mute all notifications during vacations or busy periods.

    • Notification Location: Ricardo explained the new feature that allows users to change the location of notifications on the screen. They prefer placing notifications in the top left corner to avoid overlap with other app notifications.

    • Vacation Mute: Ricardo mentioned the option to mute all notifications during vacations or busy periods. They shared their practice of muting notifications to avoid distractions while on vacation.

    • Notification Overlap: Ricardo highlighted the issue of notification overlap with other apps. The ability to change the notification location helps mitigate this problem, ensuring that Teams notifications are visible and do not interfere with other app notifications.

    • Custom Sounds: Ricardo discussed using custom notification sounds for different team members. This feature helps them prioritize responses to important messages, especially from key contacts like their spouse.

  • Meet App Tips: Ricardo provided tips on using the Meet app in Teams, such as peeking at attendees before joining a meeting and using the chat to see who is present. They highlighted the usefulness of this feature for avoiding being the first person in a meeting and for managing double bookings.

    • Peeking at Attendees: Ricardo explained how users can peek at attendees before joining a meeting using the Meet app. This feature helps avoid being the first person in a meeting and ensures the organizer is present before joining.

    • Managing Double Bookings: Ricardo highlighted the usefulness of the Meet app for managing double bookings. By checking the chat and attendee list, users can decide which meeting to prioritize and join based on the participants and ongoing discussions.

    • Meeting Chats: Ricardo mentioned using the chat feature in the Meet app to see who is present in a meeting. This helps users stay informed about the participants and any ongoing conversations before joining the meeting.

  • Upcoming Sessions and Blog Updates: Ricardo announced that the next meeting will likely be in mid-May and mentioned their ongoing efforts to update the Q4 Teams landing page with summaries and notes from previous sessions. They emphasized the value of the search functionality on the site for finding specific topics discussed in past meetings.

    • Next Meeting: Ricardo announced that the next meeting is likely to be scheduled for mid-May. They will update the website with the exact date once confirmed.

    • Blog Updates: Ricardo mentioned their ongoing efforts to update the Q4 Teams landing page with summaries and notes from previous sessions. This update aims to make the site more valuable for users searching for specific topics discussed in past meetings.

  Follow-up tasks:

  • Mobile Interface: Try the new chat and channels UI on the Teams mobile app and provide feedback. (the team)

  • Blog Updates: Migrate previous session information to the new blog and ensure the search functionality is working correctly. (Ricardo)

  • Next Meeting Date: Update the website with the new meeting date for mid-May. (Ricardo)