Blog 15 Year Anniversary

Wow.  This is actually kinda of exciting, I am now celebrating 15 years running this blog.  Like this blog, my career has take several twists and turns, yet I have been able to keep this blog going.  When I first started this blog, I was a developer and I was very focused deep diving very technical aspects of what I was working on.  These days, I am much more focused on running a team of principal product managers and focusing on managing their careers.  Yet one constant has been here; Microsoft.  I am so thankful for everything I have been able to achieve and I still look forward to the future.  Even though the types of blogs I am authoring are very different from the ones I wrote 15 years ago, I really believe this Blog has helped me with my career.  

Exchange Online Client Access Rules (CAR) Planned Depreciation

Today I saw that Exchange Online Client Access Rules (CAR) plan to be deprecated in about 12 months.  Customers are encouraged to start leveraging AAD Continuous Access Evaluation (CAE) in its place.  I have seen customers extensively leverage CAR policies as way to control access to email.  Please see article for additional information.

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/exchange-team-blog/deprecation-of-client-access-rules-in-exchange-online/ba-p/3638563 

Viva Engage is now Generally Available

The new Viva Engage is now generally available (GA).  Viva Engage is Microsoft’s work social computing solution delivered within Microsoft 365.  No additional licensing is required to utilize the service.   Users who are currently using Yammer Communities will transition over to Viva Engage.

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/yammer-blog/viva-engage-is-here/ba-p/3606594

Microsoft Teams Collaborative Annotations

Microsoft Teams Collaborative Annotations is now generally available.  It is powered through Microsoft Whiteboard and it gives meeting participants the ability to draw and type on top of any content being shared in a Teams meeting.  Super helpful feature.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/use-annotation-while-sharing-your-screen-in-teams-876ba527-7112-437e-b410-5aec7363c473

Microsoft Teams "Chat with self"

You may not want to admit it, but sometimes you talk to yourself.  The Microsoft Teams “Chat with self” feature is now generally available.  I definitely have used this to make little notes to myself or draft chat messages…

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-teams-blog/microsoft-inspire-2022-innovations-coming-to-teams/ba-p/3559351

Microsoft Teams Video Clip Chat Public Preview

Video Clip messaging to Microsoft Teams as Public Preview in Aug 2022.  Instead of typing a message to someone, just leave them a quick video message right into their chat window.

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-teams-blog/microsoft-inspire-2022-innovations-coming-to-teams/ba-p/3559351

Microsoft Teams Webinars Public Preview

Microsoft Teams is revamping and streamlining our solution for users to create and manage webinars with Public Preview coming in Aug 2022.  Several really new features that help you manage the entire life-cycle for webinar management leveraging features like organizers, co-organizers, presenter bios, brand management, registration management, attendance questions, attendee status, expanded reporting and new structured Q&A features.

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-teams-blog/enhancing-webinar-experiences-with-microsoft-teams/ba-p/3573223