News and Announcements

Webex Site Upgrade to Version 42.3 - March. 8th, 2022

Posted: 2022-02-28 10:47:50   Expiration: 2022-04-07 10:47:50

Disclaimer: This news item was originally posted on 2022-02-28 10:47:50. Its content may no longer be timely or accurate.

Check out the latest features coming in the March update that include Speaker labeling and CC feed update, People Focus, increase frame rate content sharing and more!

Highlighted features for this update

  • Speaker labeling and closed captions feed update

    Speaker labels are added in the closed captioning box to further enhance live transcript readability. The closed captions feed behavior is also updated. More lines and up to two final utterances can be shown at once, depending on font size. Previous lines stay on screen, until new spoken lines push the script up.

  • Introducing people focus (Beta)

    In this update we're excited to introduce a new way to view Grid View, that maximizes screen space by using Artificial Intelligence to dynamically crop videos to focus on the individual, rather than their surroundings.

    You’ll get a better face-to-face experience and feel more connected, regardless of how they’re positioned in front of their camera. People focus can be turned on from the Layout menu when in Grid View and can be turned off at any time. Give it a try!

  • Q&A, chat, and polling report for webinars

    Hosts can download the in-webinar activity report for Q&A, chat, and polling for completed webinars. If Q&A or polling is done using Slido, hosts can find that information in Slido's report. This option is only available for recorded webinars. Webinars in webcast view also supports Q&A, chat, and polling.

  • Increased High Frame Rate Content Sharing Resolution to 1080p (from 720p)

    Webex Meetings app for Mac and Windows now supports up to full HD (1080p), when sharing high frame rate content. This means a higher resolution when using Automatically Optimize and moving between static content and content with a lot of motion.

    This feature is available on an independent release cycle. Check status.webex.com/maintenance to see when it’s available on your site.

  • Webinars to support breakout sessions

    When the host schedules a webinar, they can preassign panelists to different breakout sessions. Attendees can't be preassigned but they can join breakout sessions by clicking the join link. Hosts can create up to 100 breakout sessions. Each breakout session can host up to 1000 attendees.

  • Slido

    There are several Slido enhancements coming this month including a new look for Slido, visible survey results in participant mode, question topics, and poll templates library.

Pre-meeting experience

  • Webex Scheduler add-in schedule-on-behalf enhancements

    The Webex Scheduler now uses built-in Microsoft Outlook delegate settings. Users no longer need to specify the schedule on behalf privileges from the Webex site.

In-meeting experience

  • New name label style for meetings and devices

    We've made some small, but effective changes to the style of the name labels in the video windows. So that they don't cover up as much, particularly in smaller window sizes.

  • Simultaneous interpretation volume balance adjustment

    The volume balance in the simultaneous interpretation feature now shows interpreter on the right side instead of the left. To hear the interpreter at a higher volume, users can slide the balance to the right.

  • Health status indicator update for Mac and Windows

    In this update, we’ve enhanced the in-meeting Health Checker. There is now a colored status icon that appears in the top right of the application showing your current Health Status. Moving your mouse over the status indicator shows the current status and provide a button for View Health Checker.

    Optimize your meetings, webinars, and events for all voices

    In meetings, webinars, and events, you can filter out all background noises and enhance the voices of all users picked up by the microphone. The voice of the users that are farther away from the microphone are amplified to sound like they are much closer. This is done to create a better and more engaging experience during your meetings and events.

    This feature is only available when you use Use computer audio only.

    You can optimize your audio to prioritize speech before or after you join a meeting or webinar, by doing the following:

    • Click Audio options  , click the drop-down arrow under Webex smart audio, and select Optimize for all voices.

    • Click Audio options , click Audio settings, and select Optimize for all voices.

    Once you've selected a Webex smart audio option, the option you selected is set as the default option for your future meetings and events on your site.

    This feature is available on an independent release cycle. Check status.webex.com/maintenance to see when it’s available on your site.

    Make Share button clickable when anyone can share is disabled

    Previously, the Share button was disabled for participants when anyone can share is disabled, confusing the user. Now it's clickable and shows a message saying that the user can't share if they click the button.

    Slido in Webex has a new look

    The Slido redesign supports new features, making continuous improvements, and creating a technology that caters to all your needs. With this update, you can experience the same product interface across all our integrations and solutions.

    Limitations:

    • Quiz isn’t supported

    • Images can’t be uploaded to a poll question.

    • You can’t create more rooms for interaction.

    Survey results visible in the Slido participant mode

    Similar to individual polls, participants can see survey results directly in their participant panel after they vote.

    Question topics

    This feature has a gradual rollout schedule, so only a part of the newly created Slido events is available. Question topics are automatically generated in the Slido audience Q&A so that users can better navigate through the submitted questions.

    Poll templates library

    This feature has a gradual rollout schedule. The library is a collection of poll templates, giving you inspiration or concrete examples, you can use during meetings. In addition, we’ve made it easier for you to reuse previously created polls as templates. You can access this template library from your account at slido.com under Add poll from templates.

    New polling experience in Slido administrator sidebar

    This feature is being released as a toggle, the old sidebar is still default, but users can decide to toggle the new one on. It’s a fresh, simpler, and redesigned Slido administrator experience.

    Limitations:

    The quiz feature is currently supported only in the old version but coming soon to the new one too.

    Enhanced participant privacy settings

    At the organizational level, Slido owners can choose the level of privacy for their participants. As a Slido owner, you can keep participants anonymous or named, by default, or just for specific activities such as polls and Q&A.

Post-meeting experience

  • Q&A, chat, and polling report for webinars

Hosts can download the in-webinar activity report for Q&A, chat, and polling for completed webinars. If Q&A or polling is done using Slido, hosts can find that information in Slido's report. This option is only available for recorded webinars. Webinars in webcast view also supports Q&A, chat, and polling.

-- Cisco Webex: Shawn Thiele