Microsoft PowerPoint: QuickStarter feature retires starting October 2024

The PowerPoint QuickStarter feature will be retired between October 8 and December 31, 2024, for Office versions 2409 for Windows and 2410 for Mac, with no action required from admins. Organizations using it should inform users and update documentation.

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30-Day Reminder: Upcoming end of servicing date for some editions of Windows 11, versions 21H2 and 22H2

On October 8, 2024, Windows 11, version 21H2 (Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise editions) and Windows 11, version 22H2 (Home and Pro editions) will reach end of servicing. The upcoming October 2024 security update, to be released on October 8, 2024, will be the last update available for these editions. After this date, devices running these editions will no longer receive monthly security and preview updates containing protections from the latest security threats.

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Microsoft Teams displays impacted by retirement of CNS Service API support: Upgrade Required

Teams displays must be updated to version 1449/1.0.95.2024062804 before September 30, 2024, due to the retirement of legacy services infrastructure for chat messaging. Users should utilize manual or automatic updates via the Teams admin center to avoid disruptions. Automatic updates will occur outside normal business hours.

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Microsoft Teams: Image viewing improvements in chat

Microsoft Teams is improving image viewing in chat, allowing users to view and cycle through multiple images. This update will roll out from mid-September to mid-October 2024 and will be available by default. Organizations may update their training and documentation accordingly.

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Microsoft Teams: IntelliFrame video feed on Teams mobile

Cloud IntelliFrame, the video framing feature that enhances the visibility of people in the room for online meeting attendees, is now available for Teams mobile users when they join a meeting that has participants in a Teams Rooms on Windows.

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Microsoft Viva: Copilot Dashboard – Non-Copilot cohort and exclusion list using AAD Groups (Entra ID)

For the Copilot dashboard, the non-Copilot user cohort list and exclusion list can be managed by Global Administrators using AAD (Azure Active Directory) Groups.

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Reject multiple From addresses (P2 From headers) without a Sender header

Starting October 15th, Exchange Online will reject emails with multiple From addresses without a Sender header, to comply with RFC 5322. Organizations should ensure a single address in the Sender header to avoid non-delivery reports (NDRs) with error code 550 5.1.20. Feedback on this change is welcomed.

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Microsoft Viva: Dynamic internal benchmarks for Advanced Insights

Collaboration norms vary by roles and geographies, and comparing behavioral metrics across groups can draw misleading conclusions if those groups are comprised of different roles. Dynamic internal benchmarks allow the analyst to understand the expected behaviors of a group based on similar employees within the company.

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Microsoft Viva: Introduction to metrics and benchmarks in Advanced Insights

This report template for analysts in Advanced Insights provides an introduction to some of the most frequently used Viva Insights metrics, grounding both new and veteran analysts in their definitions, applications, and how their group’s results compare to typical ranges using both internal and external benchmarks.

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Planner: Baseline with Task level variance

Capture a Baseline of your plan and view plan and task-level variances to know if the plan is on track or delayed.

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I've been working with Microsoft Technologies over the last ten years, mainly focused on creating collaboration and productivity solutions that drive the adoption of Microsoft Modern Workplace.