Here's how we've improved the Windows Store Lync App!
by Phillip Garding, Senior Program Manager, Lync Team
One of the things we announced at Lync Conference was our first update for the Lync Windows Store app. We spent the last few months talking to customers and reading your Store reviews. We heard lots of feedback on what you liked and what you didn’t. We think you will find the updated Lync app easier to use and more reliable as well as offering some cool new features. Let’s take a look at what’s new!
Sign-in
There is no question that the number one problem people had was around sign-in. We heard the feedback soon after the app was released, and we approached the problem in three ways. The first and quickest was to help Lync administrators make sure their servers were ready for Lync Windows Store app to connect. We improved our server documentation and released the Lync Connectivity Analyzer tool to help administrators test their server readiness. The second way was to improve error messages and reliability in the app. Finally, we worked with the Windows team to roll out a change in the February update to Windows 8 to fix a certificate issue that blocked a lot of organizations from signing in.
If you had problems signing in before, try it again with the updated Lync app!
Faster Search
Searching for contacts is an integral part of communicating through Lync, so we wanted to make it easier. We added a Search button directly on the Home and Contacts screen so you can get started with one tap. Of course, you can still swipe from the side of the screen to get the Windows search charm.
Easier Navigation, Mute, and End Call
We heard from a lot of users that it was too hard to do some common things like moving between screens and getting to Mute and End Call buttons in a call or meeting. We rethought our navigation controls and put a Back button on every screen. We also simplified the upper app bar and made it easier to tell which of your IM conversations have new messages. In calls and meetings, we added buttons directly on the screen so you can mute yourself and hang up quickly with a single tap.
Ink in IM Conversations
Lync Windows Store app is optimized for touch, so it only makes sense that you can send and receive ink in your IM conversations. With the new ink input panel, you can write freehand or draw a color picture. When you send an ink message, it can be seen by other Lync desktop and Lync Windows Store app users. IM isn’t just for typing anymore!
Copy/paste and keyboard support in dialpad
Because Lync is the only work phone for many users, we wanted to improve the experience for dialing phone numbers and making calls. In addition to touch support for dialing, you can now copy a phone number and paste it into the dialpad. For those using Lync with a keyboard, you can also type a phone number instead of tapping or clicking the digits.
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So much more!
There are too many improvements in the new update to list them all, but here are a few other things worth noting:
- Missed conversation notifications on the Windows start screen
- Improved high-definition picture support
- Accessibility support for full screen video and sharing
- Performance improvements on Surface RT
- Stabilization across the board and bug fixes throughout the app
We know that you will love the updated Lync Windows Store app, but we suspect that it might not be quite perfect yet. We promise to keep working on it if you promise to leave us feedback and give us a new or updated rating in the Windows Store.
Have fun using Lync!
Comments
Anonymous
January 01, 2003
Sharing and snapped contact list: @Darrell - Due to some technical limitations due to sandboxing on Windows 8/RT, we don't support presenting from the Lync Windows Store app. If you are using the Lync Windows Store app on a x86 or x64 device, the Presenting command will launch the Lync desktop app (if installed) or Lync Web App which allow you to present. Unfortunately, the desktop and web app are not available on Windows RT. @Darrell, Jordon - We are working to support the contact list and starting conversations when Lync is snapped to the side of the Window. Stay tuned for future updates to the app!Anonymous
January 01, 2003
I like the changes. Displaying up and coming online meetings is useful. Im using this in side-docked mode so I can see my Win8 desktop too. I notice that in a meeting I have a 'Presenting' button. Can I present content from this app as a presenter? When I leave the meeting and close the rejoin offer, in side-docked Win8 mode, I have to expand the app out again to get back to my contact list. Otherwise, Im stuck in the 'Meeting - IM / Messages' mode. I think with a few changes to optimize all scenarios for side-docked mode in Windows 8, this will be a great app.Anonymous
January 01, 2003
The comment has been removedAnonymous
March 05, 2013
Hello I receive for our Lync 2013 environment: Cannot sign in because the server version is incompatible with Lync. Contact your support team with this information.Anonymous
March 08, 2013
I am facing the same issue: Our Lync Server 2013 is already on Update 1. I have just installed Lync Windows Store app and says the following when I am trying to sign in: "Cannot sign in because the server version is incompatible with Lync. Contact your support team with this information"Anonymous
March 08, 2013
The comment has been removedAnonymous
March 11, 2013
I'd really love to see similar improvements/usability when in it's "docked" view while sharing the screen with another app. While "right-clicking" gives me many/most options, I cannot get back home or my contact list from a chat in progress.Anonymous
June 11, 2013
Setting up new users. In Lync 2010 I was able to go letter by letter through the alphabet searching for contacts in the global list, then selecting them all and right clicking to add to contacts for the computer/account being set up. I would then only have to delete a few non-required contacts. Now that I am installing Lync 2013 I can select multiple contacts but any options to add these to the user's contact list is grayed out, if it shows it at all. There should be a way to easily pre-populate a user's contact list so that they can hit the ground running with everyone in the company already listed. I should not have to manually find and add each contact individually, nor leave that up to the end users to do. I have enough trouble getting them to even use the service much less actually setting it up. Any more barriers to use just shuts down adoption so it becomes a waste of money for the company.Anonymous
September 11, 2014
Hi,
When can we expect Lync2013 for Window7.8?
Thanks,
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