Microsoft has launched a redesigned Groups software that’s claimed to be extra responsive and user-friendly. On Monday, the corporate introduced that Groups customers can anticipate a revamped app that’s as much as two instances sooner than its present model, with capabilities reminiscent of launching the programme and connecting to video calls taking half the time. The redesigned Groups app additionally claims to have smoother scrolling and doesn’t use placeholder belongings. Within the meantime, Microsoft claims that the brand new Groups makes use of 50 p.c much less reminiscence.
In a weblog submit, Microsoft claims that the redesign takes under consideration all consumer suggestions and the brand new Groups software focuses on “pace, efficiency, flexibility, and intelligence,” boosted by AI-powered experiences reminiscent of Copilot introduced earlier this month. The corporate claims that groups will now ship two instances sooner efficiency, utilizing 50 p.c much less reminiscence.
Becoming a member of conferences is anticipated to be twice as quick, and switching between chats and channels is alleged to be 1.7 instances sooner, claims Microsoft. Moreover, the corporate redesigned the consumer expertise as an entire.
Microsoft additionally claims to have optimised the Groups knowledge, community, chat, and video structure. A considerable quantity of this enchancment can also be as a result of app’s swap from Electron to Microsoft’s Edge WebView 2 rendering engine. Microsoft mentions that it switched from AngularJS to React because the framework for internet growth for Groups and standardised on Microsoft’s Fluent UI UX management system.
The canvas color has been modified from gray to white, and the trademark purple Groups color has been toned down. Microsoft has made emojis extra cohesive throughout Microsoft 365. New Groups backgrounds, group profile image additions, and group theming shall be out there later this yr.
Newly unveiled Microsoft Loop is used within the new Groups app. Customers can now work on a Loop ingredient instantly inside Groups chats with out having to stop the app. The brand new Groups additionally claims to function the muse for next-generation AI experiences, reminiscent of good recap and Copilot for Microsoft Groups, in keeping with the corporate.
Furthermore, the corporate has additionally improved its authentication mannequin, synchronisation, and notification methods in an effort to supply a streamlined and steady expertise for customers with organisations that contain a number of tenants and accounts. As an alternative of logging out and in of various tenants and accounts, customers can now keep signed in to all of them and obtain notifications no matter which one they’re utilizing at a given time.
Throughout its January earnings report, Microsoft said that Groups had 280 million month-to-month energetic customers. The corporate intends to make this newest version of Groups out there to all customers subsequently this yr, however it is going to be instantly accessible to Home windows customers who join the corporate’s Public Preview programme, although an administrator might must allow this for the customers’ organisation first.
Customers are additionally in a position to simply swap between the newer and older variations of Groups if wanted. Microsoft emphasises that customers will continuously be capable of return to the earlier Groups expertise, not less than for now. The corporate additionally confirmed that later this yr, Mac help shall be added.
