Week 45 | Weekly digest: Microsoft service updates | #Microsoft365

Message center announcements, October 26-November 1, 2020 HCS COMPANY MICROSOFT SERVICES B.V. Major updates Theme and Fluent icon updates in Teams on the web MC225329 | October 30 - Updated October 30, 2020: We have updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your patience. We are updating the default and dark theme colors in Teams on the web and will also update Fluent icons to align other Microsoft 365 applications.Key points Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 68721 Timing: Public Preview: late November (previously mid-November) Standard release: mid-January (previously early December) Government cloud: mid-February (previously mid-January) Roll-out: tenant level Action:... View more (Updated) The Planner app in Teams will be renamed with an updated experience powered by Planner and To Do MC211421 | October 30 - Updated October 30, 2020: Changing the app name in Teams from “Planner” to “Tasks by Planner and To Do” has been delayed until later this calendar year. We will make an additional update to this Message Center post when we kick off the name change. Once we've made the name change, users will see a banner announcing the change. In the future, we will shorten the app name to “Tasks”. These name changes will not impact the naming for Planner or To Do experiences outside of Teams. The Teams mobile... View more (Updated) Follow up to MC221113: Office 365 ATP External email forwarding controls and policy change MC221119 | October 30 - Updated October 30, 2020: We have updated this message to extend it's visibility. There are no changes to the message below. As a follow up to MC221113 (August 28th), on September 1st, 2020 the Auto-Forwarding Policy will be enforced for tenants who have configured their policy to "On" or "Off", this includes tenants that had users external forwarding prior to September 1st 2020. Your tenant has been identified as having existing users using external forwarding prior to September 1st 2020, and... View more (Updated) Microsoft Productivity Score soon to be generally available Act by: December 3 MC225209 | October 30 - Updated October 30, 2020: The deployment of the new control that allows you to disable the people experiences in Productivity Score was delayed and is rolling out now. Thank you for your patience. Microsoft Productivity Score, a new analytics solution that helps you understand how work gets done in your organization, is transitioning from preview to general availability.Key points Microsoft 365Roadmap ID 66866 Timing: admin control available starting October 30, 2020 Roll-out: tenant level... View more (Updated) Outlook for Windows Introduces Roaming Signatures MC215017 | October 29 - Updated October 29, 2020: To ensure the best possible experience for our users, we are delaying some of our deployments to reduce the amount of change flowing into the services. Please see the updated roll-out timeline below. Outlook for Windows is introducing e-mail signatures that will be stored in the cloud rather than being stored locally on the user’s Windows device.This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 60371 View more Reminder: Retiring SharePoint 2010 Workflows MC225133 | October 29 - This is a reminder that the SharePoint 2010 Workflow retirement will be occurring next week. As communicated in MC217999 (July '20) and MC222628 (Sept. '20), with the continued investment in Power Automate as the universal solution to workflows, Microsoft is retiring SharePoint 2010 workflows.Note: for Microsoft 365 environments where Power Automate is not yet available we will provide additional guidance, in the future, via Message center.Key points:Major: RetirementStarting August 1st, 2020,... View more Open in Desktop App moving to Mode menu in Office for the web (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel) MC225213 | October 27 - The Open in Desktop App command is moving to the Mode menu (Editing, Reviewing, Viewing) in Office for the Web. A teaching callout will help people learn the new location of the Open in Desktop command.Key pointsTiming:Word and Excel: in Targeted release; Standard release rollout from late November to the end of December 2020PowerPoint: we will provide timeline details via Message center when they are available Roll-out: tenant level Control type: user control Action: review and assess View more Modern capability to add custom content types in SharePoint MC224244 | October 27 - Updated October 27, 2020: We have updated this post with a link to Additional Information. We will be gradually enabling a modern capability to easily add custom content types to SharePoint lists & libraries that allow multiple content types.Key Points:Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID:67164Timing:Targeted release: gradual rollout from mid-October to late November.Standard release: starting in December and expect to complete at the end of JanuaryRoll out: tenant levelAction: review and assess View more (Updated) Follow up to MC221119: Office 365 ATP External email forwarding controls and policy change Act by: November 2 MC223421 | October 27 - Updated October 27, 2020: We have updated the rollout timeline below. Note: This is a reminder that beginning November 9th, 2020 the “Automatic” setting of the Auto Forward Policy will default to “off”, i.e. external forwarding will not be allowed by default. Not updating your policy configuration would negatively impact a user’s ability to forward mail. If you have already configured your Auto Forward Policy to “On” or “Off” no action is required. As a follow up to MC221119 (August '20), your... View more (Updated) Forms is getting a new start page MC223901 | October 27 - Updated October 27, 2020: We have updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your patience. We are replacing the existing Forms portal page at forms.office.com with a new Forms start page at Office.com (Office.com > Forms).Key points Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 67143 Timing: Targeted release nowTiming: Standard release early December (previously November), complete late December (previously November) Roll-out: tenant level Control type: user control Action: review and assess View more Additional updates Update: Shared Library creation experience in OneDrive for work or school MC225611 | October 31 - We’re simplifying how users create new Shared Libraries in OneDrive on the web. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 67163. When this will happen Targeted release – early November through mid-November Standard release – late November through mid-December View more News feeds added to Edge new tag page for enterprise MC225606 | October 30 - We are introducing a new layout for the Enterprise new tab page in Microsoft Edge version 87.0. Users signed in with their work or school account will see familiar Office productivity content from Office 365 and also have easy access to work-relevant company and industry news. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 68691. View more Automatically delete (or restore) a custom form when its associated list is deleted (or restored) MC225605 | October 30 - We are simplifying custom form management with this update. When a list is deleted or restored, the custom form associated with that list will be automatically deleted or restored. View more Service Health email notifications for specific incidents and advisories MC225596 | October 30 - The service health dashboard in Microsoft 365 admin centerwill soon support the ability to opt in to email notifications for a specificincident or advisory. This feature will allow you to input up to two email addresses to receive status updates for a specific issue including notification when the issue is resolved.This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 68717 View more Announcing Teams public preview for end users MC225595 | October 30 - We are launching a public preview program that allows Microsoft Teams administrators to enable early access to unreleased features in Microsoft Teams for users in their tenant. View more (Updated) Move files and easily keep sharing MC220127 | October 30 - Updated October 30, 2020: We have updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your patience. When your end users move a file from OneDrive to a SharePoint site collection, or from a SharePoint site collection to a OneDrive, or from a SharePoint site collection to another SharePoint site collection, they will have the option to easily continue sharing the file with their collaborators at the new destination.This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 65907.When this will... View more (Updated) Add shortcuts to shared folders in your OneDrive in Public Preview MC217339 | October 30 - Updated October 30, 2020: We have updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your patience. Your users will soon be able to add shortcuts to shared folders in OneDrive and SharePoint shared libraries, and access those shortcuts from their OneDrive.This change is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap IDs 56384 View more (Updated) Organizational branding of Teams custom apps store MC222261 | October 30 - Updated October 30, 2020: We have updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your patience. You will soon be able customize the Teams Apps store with your organizational branding for line of business applications in your custom apps store.This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 67111. View more Reminder: Microsoft Teams web app to no longer support IE 11 after November 30, 2020 Act by: November 30 MC225570 | October 30 - As communicated in MC220490 (August ’20), Microsoft 365 apps and services will be focusing their efforts on modern browser support over the coming year. As a result, the Microsoft Teams web app will no longer support Internet Explorer 11 (IE 11) after November 30, 2020. After November 30, 2020, users will be unable to access the Teams web app from IE 11 and be notified to use the desktop app or access the web app from Microsoft Edge.Please note that the IE 11 changes are specific to the Teams... View more Teams support for 3x3 recordings MC225568 | October 30 - View up to nine meeting participants during a Teams meeting recoding, in the 3x3 gallery view. This is an update from the 2x2 recording support, today.This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 68935 View more Upcoming changes to topics and hashtags in Yammer MC225505 | October 29 - We’re creating sharper distinction between topics and hashtags in Yammer. We’re further differentiating these features so that topics power curation, management, and categorizing of knowledge while hashtags will continue to be used to support campaigns and user expression.This means the following changes in the coming weeks:Topics will look visually distinct from hashtags—making them easier to scan for in a feed, and consistent with how topics look in Microsoft 365. Hashtags will continue to... View more Introducing new scenes to Together Mode MC225405 | October 29 - Introducing new scenes in Together ModeThis message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 68749 View more Updating the end user terms of use for Outlook mobile MC225404 | October 29 - We are updating the terms of use for Outlook for iOS and Android and notifying users. View more (Updated) Microsoft Graph connectors for Microsoft Search are now available in Targeted Release MC217074 | October 29 - Updated October 29, 2020: The roll-out to Targeted Release has completed. We will be sending out a new Message center post with details on GA, in the near future. We're pleased to announce that Microsoft Graph connectors for Microsoft Search is moving out of public preview.This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID65331.When this will happen We will roll this out to Targeted Release tenants in late June 2020.We are evaluating our timeline for General Availability based on feedback... View more (Updated) Improvements to Teams Meeting Notes MC224050 | October 29 - Updated October 29, 2020: We have updated the rollout timeline below. We are rolling out a few key improvements to the Meeting Notes feature. There is no longer a 20 person limit for meeting notes, and you will never lose access to notes if you had access to begin with. By default notes will support meetings with up to 100 participants, and if a participant is nudged in to the meeting or joins as the 101st participant, they can request access to notes in a single click from the creator of the... View more Skype for Business admin center retirement Act by: December 1 MC225373 | October 29 - We will be retiring the Skype for Business admin center starting on December 1st, 2020.Instead, we recommend the utilization of Teams admin center, which is where we will continue to invest our development resources.Key Points:Major: RetirementTiming: December 01, 2020Action: Transition to the Teams admin centerHow this will affect your organization:Administrators will no longer be able to access the Skype for Business admin center when this change is implemented. Links to the Skype for... View more Updates available for Microsoft 365 Apps for Current Channel MC225317 | October 28 - We've released updates to the following update channel for Microsoft 365 Apps: Current Channel When this will happen: We'll be gradually rolling out this update of Microsoft 365 Apps to users on that update channel starting October 27th, 2020 (PST). View more Dynamics 365 – Service Update 252 for EUR MC225240 | October 27 - We have a minor service update planned for your Microsoft Dynamics 365 organization in the EUR region. Maintenance window start: 22 November 2020, 18:00 UTC Maintenance window end: 23 November 2020, 03:00 UTC View more Outlook on the web - Text predictions in English now supported worldwide MC225214 | October 27 - In May (MC212345), we announced that Outlook on the web was adding text predictions during composition by incorporating intelligent technology and noted that the feature was initially available only for Targeted Release customers in North America. We are now extending support in Outlook on the web for text predictions in English for customers worldwide.This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 68833.When this will happen Targeted release rollout: early through mid-November... View more Forms: Specific user sharing for response collection MC223656 | October 27 - Updated October 27, 2020: We have updated this post with a link to Additional Information. With this update, Microsoft Forms owners will be able to easily collect survey responses from specific users or security groups.This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 67157.When this will happen We'll be gradually rolling this out the end of October 2020 The rollout will be completed by the end of November 2020. View more (Updated) My Feed web part MC223652 | October 27 - Updated October 27, 2020: We have updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your patience. SharePoint pages and site can be more relevant to individual users by adding the My feed web part. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 67148. When this will happen Targeted release: begins rolling out mid-November (previously mid-October) Standard release: begins rolling out in late-November (previously late-October) and should be complete in early December (previously... View more (Updated) Three new features coming to Threat Explorer MC222118 | October 27 - Updated October 27, 2020: We have updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your patience. We are making updates to Threat Explorer focused on data enrichment and efficiency.This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 66468.When this will happenWe will begin rolling this out in mid-September and expect to complete the rollout by mid-November (previously end of October). View more (Updated) Introducing floating call controls in Teams meetings MC221371 | October 27 - Updated October 27, 2020: We have updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your patience. We are changing the behavior of the floating call controls in Teams meetings so that they will always be visible for Android and iOS phones and tablets.When this will happeniOS - we have begun rolling this out and expect to be complete at the end of October.Android - we will begin rolling this out in early November and expect to be complete by mid-November View more The Lifecycle Dashboards are now available to help you ensure user access to Office 365 MC175274 | October 27 - Updated October 27, 2020: This post has been updated to extend the visibility of the message. No changes have been made to the body of the message. In February of last year, we announced that starting on October 13, 2020, your organization would need Office 365 ProPlus or Office 2019 apps to connect to Office 365 services. On September 6 of last year, we announced that we would continue supporting Office 2016 connections with Office 365 services through October of 2023. In order for you to... View more SharePoint Site performance page MC225137 | October 27 - The new Site performance page helps site owners and editors discover and use the Page Diagnostics for SharePoint tool to improve page health. The new Site performance page can be accessed on the home page of any modern communication site, modern team site, or hub site in the settings panel and will display the results for the home page of the site.This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 66196.When this will happen:The Site performance page will start rolling out in early... View more FindTime: Require attendee verification and locking poll for attendees MC225118 | October 26 - FindTime is enabling more options to better control how polls are accessed and managed. With these new options, attendees of a poll can be required to authenticate themselves before voting; can be prevented from adding, removing, and editing attendees; and can be prevented from suggesting new time options.This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 68699.When this will happenRollout will begin in late October and be completed by late November 2020. View more Prevent/Fix: Removal of EEEU policy as default MC225111 | October 26 - In August 2019, Microsoft implemented updated OneDrive for Business default sharing policies for all existing accounts. To better align with these updated default policy settings, we are targeting a policy update to OneDrive for Business accounts created before August 2019 with personal lists.This change will remove the Everyone Except External Users (EEEU) policy as default and perform a full permissions reset for personal lists created within these accounts. As a result, any users that these... 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