November 2024
Zoom Workplace Desktop Application Updates
- Zoom Workplace 6.2.11 released (11/25/2024)
- Zoom Workplace 6.2.10 released (11/18/2024)
- Zoom Workplace 6.2.7 released (11/11/2024)
Meeting / Webinar Feature Updates
Improved visual indicators for lowering hand in meetings and webinars
In a meeting or webinar, the lower hand icon and a floating lower hand button above the toolbar will appear providing a clear visual cue. The floating button remains visible regardless of the Display your reactions above toolbar setting, so users don't miss the lowered hand state.
Meeting Feature Updates
Improved speaker visibility in gallery view with follow drag order and sort by active speaker option
During a meeting, users can keep the most recent active speaker visible in the gallery view. When a participant starts speaking, they will remain in their current position until they finish speaking or are muted, even if they lower their hand.
Webinar Feature Updates
Shared content-only view mode for webinars
Webinar hosts and co-hosts can select a shared content-only view mode that displays only the shared content to attendees, hiding all panelist video tiles. This mode is available even when panelists have their cameras turned on. Hosts and panelists can also select this view for their personal use from the view menu or participant list. Attendees will see this view automatically if the host has set the attendee view to shared content only, or to follow host view with the host in the shared content only view.
This feature provides hosts with more control over the attendee experience, allowing them to prioritize shared content in situations like slide presentations, webpage sharing or video playback.
The following settings must be enabled through Zoom Recording settings:
- Enable Record active speaker with shared screen
- Enable Record gallery view with shared screen
- Enable Record active speaker, gallery view and shared screen separately
- Enable Shared Screen (this is a sub-setting under Record active speaker, gallery view and shared screen separately)
- Disable Record thumbnails when sharing
For more information, please see Adjusting recording video layouts.
Survey & Polls Feature Updates
Integrate surveys and polls in the Zoom desktop app
Users can access and manage surveys and polls directly from the Zoom desktop app. They can create new surveys or polls, manage their personal survey library, access survey or poll results, and preview surveys or polls. This integration provides a seamless experience for users to work with surveys and polls within the Zoom desktop app, eliminating the need to switch between different apps.
Mail & Calendar Feature Updates
Bi-directional calendar sync enabled by default
Once a user integrates their calendar with Zoom, the bi-directional syncing is enabled by default.
With bi-directional syncing, users can ensure their Zoom meetings are correctly synced with their connected third-party calendar by enabling bi-directional sync.
October 2024
Zoom Workplace Desktop Application Updates
- Zoom Workplace 6.2.6 released (10/28/2024)
- Zoom Workplace 6.2.5 released (10/22/2024)
General Feature Updates
Zoom AI Companion 2.0
The AI Companion within the Zoom Workplace desktop app provides users with a personal assistant that helps users get more done. AI Companion 2.0 is available in Zoom Workplace in a convenient side panel to help users stay up-to-date on important conversations, synthesize information to make faster, more informed decisions. If enabled within the account, users can use the AI diamond to open a right-side panel where they can ask questions and receive tailored responses sourced from different data sources and contexts available to the user.
Note: This feature is currently supported in the Zoom Workplace desktop app only.
Meeting / Webinar Feature Updates
Support keyboard shortcuts for in-meeting chat
New keyboard shortcuts will be added to the Zoom Workplace desktop app to improve navigation and chat usage during meetings or webinars. This enhancement aims to help users, particularly those using screen readers, participate more efficiently in chat conversations during meetings and webinars. New keyboard shortcut scope for this release are as follows:
Focus chat input field
- macOS: Shift+Command+E
- Windows: Alt+Shift+E
Start new chat
- macOS: Command+N
- Windows: Ctrl+N
Team Chat Feature Updates
Send message to multiple chats or channels at the same time
Users composing a message in Team Chat can now choose to send it to multiple chosen contacts, groups, and channels simultaneously. The message will appear as natively sent in each conversation. Before sending, users can edit the list of recipients. After sending, users can modify the message content from each sent location. This streamlines sharing information across multiple conversations in Team Chat.
Image annotation for shared images in Zoom Team Chat
Users can annotate any image shared in Zoom Team Chat by clicking on the image and selecting the Annotate option. The image opens in an annotation interface, allowing users to mark up the image using various annotation tools. Users can then save the annotated image back into the chat as a new message. This feature streamlines the workflow by enabling direct annotation within the chat, reducing the need for external tools. Note: This feature is available only on macOS and Windows.
Enhancements to shared space channel management
Users can convert private channels to public channels within a shared space. Private channels are made accessible to all shared space members, with options to add or remove members as needed. Public channels can also be converted to private, limiting access to current members. Additionally, users can change the sync status of public channels, controlling whether membership changes in the shared space are reflected in the channel. This provides greater flexibility in managing channel access and membership within shared spaces.
September 2024
Zoom Workplace Desktop Application Updates
- Zoom Workplace 6.2.3 released (9/30/2024)
- Zoom Workplace 6.2.2 released (9/25/2024)
- Zoom Workplace 6.2.0 released (9/16/2024)
General Features Update
Manage signed-in devices and sessions
From both the Zoom Workplace app and the Web Portal, users can manage devices and sessions where they are logged in, with the ability to log out of individual devices or log out of all devices and sessions. This feature will not be immediately available, as it is dependent on a backend server update currently scheduled for Sept. 23, 2024.
Audio tone support for mute/unmute actions
The Zoom Workplace app offers an option to play audio tones when muting or unmuting the microphone, providing enhanced accessibility for users with visual impairments or other disabilities. This setting is off by default and can be enabled from the Zoom Workplace app under Settings then Audio. When enabled, users will hear a tone, audible only to them, indicating the mute or unmute action.
Meeting / Webinar Feature Updates
Simplified muted audio notification
Users will receive a consistent reminder across Zoom Workplace desktop app when they are speaking while muted during a meeting. The reminder stays visible long enough for users to read and unmute themselves. The reminder message is simplified removing multiple options for unmuting.
Show time of next recurring session in meeting and webinar waiting room
When waiting to join a recurring meeting or webinar series, users are shown the start time and date of the next scheduled session. The waiting room displays Starting at followed by the upcoming session's time and date, replacing the previous Recurring label. If the next session is not on the same day, the day is also displayed.
Webinar Feature Updates
New branding features
Zoom is adding new branding features for Webinars. Hosts and co-hosts gain the ability to change the webinar wallpaper within the Zoom Workplace app, similar to the experience in Zoom Meetings. This update enhances user control and personalization, allowing for a more productive and visually cohesive webinar experience. Additionally, admins can upload and define default wallpapers, providing a unified branding approach across different Zoom services.
Ability to demote alternative host to attendee
Hosts can demote an alternative host to an attendee role. This allows alternative hosts, who were automatically added with scheduling privileges or added manually by the host, to participate as regular attendees when not needed for hosting duties. The demoted user can leave and rejoin the session to regain alternative host privileges.
Slide control practice mode in Backstage for webinar presenters
Presenters can now practice using slide controls within Backstage as they prepare for webinars. This new practice mode simulates the live webinar experience, allowing presenters to navigate through slides and get accustomed to the slide control functionality. Backstage provides a dedicated environment for presenters to rehearse their presentations and become comfortable with the slide controls before the actual webinar.
Improved navigation for panelists moving from Backstage to Webinar
The icon for Enter Webinar or Enter Backstage is more prominent, making it easier for panelists to find and switch between the two spaces.
Mail & Calendar Feature Updates
Visually appealing calendar color palette revamp
The calendar color palette has been revamped with a consistent color mapping and visually pleasing color options. The new palette avoids overly bright colors or high contrast shades that can strain the eyes.
August 2024
Zoom Workplace Desktop Application Updates
- Zoom Workplace 6.1.11 released (8/26/2024)
- Zoom Workplace 6.1.10 released (8/19/2024)
Meeting / Webinar Feature Updates
Meetings and Webinars capacity alert and live streaming guidance for hosts
Hosts who hold a license for the largest meeting or webinar attendee capacity are made aware when a meeting or webinar is reaching capacity so they can take measures and start live streaming to handle the overflow. When meeting or webinar capacity reaches 80%, hosts receive a prompt to start a live stream. At 100% capacity, another prompt appears notifying hosts that the meeting or webinar is full and suggesting they start a live stream to accommodate additional attendees.
These prompts only appear if the host is allowed to start a live stream and had not started one for the ongoing meeting or webinar. This feature ensures all attendees can participate in meetings and webinars, even if the capacity is exceeded.
Meeting Feature Updates
Ability to pre-configure upcoming breakout rooms during active breakout sessions
Hosts can pre-configure the next breakout room setup, including assigning participants to specific rooms, while the current breakout session is active. This feature enables a smoother transition between breakout sessions, as the next configuration is ready to launch immediately after the current session ends. Hosts can efficiently manage and prepare for subsequent breakout discussions, enhancing the overall meeting productivity.
