Microsoft released more than 50 new features and updates during Build 2022. The conference is focused on developer services and products, but we got a lot of updates related to Teams and Power Platform. This post is focused on those updates, so let’s go!
Live Share experiences for Teams apps
Right now, we can share a screen or an app and show it to other meeting participants. The presenter is the only one who can modify the presented content. We can give access to someone, but the mouse cursor is only one (only one person can operate the screen).
Live Share is something that moves collaboration far beyond existing options. It allows multiple people to work on one shared application. For example, you’re sharing a 3d schema of a building floor during a Teams meeting. You’re going through key sections and adding notes and annotations. At the same time, other participants are also adding notes to the schema, but they’re not limited to presented content. They can go to a different section of that schema and co-edit it. One meeting, one shared app!
You can compare the feature to working on the Whiteboard during the meeting. Everyone can edit it at the same time during one meeting. Live Share enables that kind of collaboration with other applications.
Live Share is not a feature that you can enable in your Teams. You must enhance your application using Teams Client SDK and Live Share SDK. Then it will use supported functions during meetings. Right now, the Live Share SDK is available in public preview.
Live Share uses Fluid Framework and Azure Fluid Relay as back-end services. Both are generally available now.
Resources:
- Introducing Live Share – https://devblogs.microsoft.com/microsoft365dev/introducing-live-share-interactive-app-experiences-in-microsoft-teams-meetings/
- Live Share SDK documentation – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/platform/apps-in-teams-meetings/teams-live-share-overview
- Live Share SDK Samples – https://github.com/microsoft/live-share-sdk/tree/main/samples
Loop components in Adaptive Cards
Loop components were introduced in Teams some time ago. They enable collaboration in real-time – loop components sync between different places. For example, I can use a table from Loop components and use it in Teams chat and on a page. Chat participants can modify it on a chat window, and I can use it on my page (all changes are synced in real-time).
Now we will be able to transform an Adaptive Card into a Loop component. This opens an easy way to develop your own Loop components.
Adaptive Cards can be used in multiple services such as Teams, emails, Power Virtual Agents, and Flows. Looks like it will enable Loop components at least in some of these services.
The feature will be available in public preview in June 2022.
Build once and deploy anywhere across Teams and Microsoft 365
Teams has its dedicated store with apps (Microsoft apps, 3rd party, and created by you). During Build 2022 Microsoft announced the general availability of the new Teams SDK that enables creating and deploying the Teams app in other Microsoft 365 services.
Now you can create a Teams app for service desk task management and use it in Teams channels, in Outlook, and in Office. One app is available in multiple services!
In-app purchasing for Teams apps
A new way to sell your services/applications in the Teams store. You can create your own application and put it in Microsoft Teams Store. Your customers can buy directly from a dedicated screen in the app.
It opens a new way to monetize your Teams apps (an easier one).
Enhance Link unfurling
New features allow developers to create a rich card preview and display it with link unfurling. Instead of getting basic information, you can display users a rich card with information, images, and even actions. You can unfurl the link even if the target app is not installed!
New Approvals APIs
Approvals are in Teams since 2021. It was updated multiple times and with upcoming new features and APIs, it will become even more powerful yet user-friendly.
Microsoft will enable working with Approvals directly from other Microsoft 365 services (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, SharePoint, and Outlook). It will enable new scenarios and allows users to quickly approve/rejects a task directly from a file where is the context of that approval (no need to exit the app).
Microsoft Graph API will get support for Approvals as well. You will be able to connect your application with Approval via Graph and use Approvals features (delegations, reminders, notifications, etc.). This will also support creating components for Approvals in Power Apps and using it directly in your app!
Collaboration control in Microsoft Power Apps
New controls in Power Apps will allow you to add Teams functionalities inside your application. Drag and drop the Chat component, Meetings, Tasks, Files, and Approvals to your app and use built-in features without any coding.
The feature will be available in public preview this summer.
Turn images and designs into apps
This new feature changes the way we turn prototypes into Power Apps. You can create a design in a PDF file, sketch app, Figma software, or even create it on paper. Then upload it to the Power Apps designer and AI will take care of it and turn the design into Power Apps!
This approach greatly accelerates the development process – basic layout with fields is done by Power Apps and you can work on advanced features (data connections, data validation, functions, etc.).
This feature is available in public preview, and you can start testing it right now. I’m curious about the feature and I will play with it in the upcoming weeks.
Resources
A full list of new features and updates is available in the Build 2022 Book of News – https://news.microsoft.com/build-2022-book-of-news/
