Microsoft Phases Out Teams' Together Feature for Improved Video Quality
Microsoft ditches Teams feature that put attendees into the same virtual room

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Microsoft has decided to remove the 'Together' feature from its Teams platform, which was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to simulate in-person collaboration. The company aims to enhance video quality and reduce complexity by shifting users to the 'Gallery' mode, addressing performance issues that have led to user dissatisfaction.
- 01The 'Together' feature was launched in 2020 to foster a sense of shared space among remote workers.
- 02Microsoft's Insider Blog cited increased cognitive load and implementation complexity as reasons for the feature's removal.
- 03'Gallery' mode is expected to provide smoother video experiences on devices with limited processing power.
- 04Users have frequently criticized Teams for performance issues and complexity, which the removal of 'Together' aims to address.
- 05Microsoft plans to focus resources on foundational video improvements like super-resolution and denoising.
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Microsoft has announced the discontinuation of the 'Together' feature in its Teams platform, a tool introduced in 2020 to create a sense of shared workspace among remote employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. As workplaces return to normal, Microsoft is pivoting users to the 'Gallery' mode, which is designed to enhance video quality while simplifying the user experience. According to the company's Insider Blog, the decision to eliminate 'Together' stems from its tendency to increase cognitive load and add complexity across various platforms. Additionally, the feature has been criticized for causing choppy video experiences on devices with lower processing power. In contrast, 'Gallery' mode aims to deliver smoother video by utilizing adaptive video tile counts, reducing the likelihood of device overload. This change is part of Microsoft's broader strategy to address user complaints about Teams, which has been perceived as overly complex and prone to performance issues. By focusing on foundational video improvements, such as super-resolution and improved color accuracy, Microsoft hopes to enhance the overall functionality of Teams and better meet user needs.
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