Adobe Connect Glow Up (12.7)

The Adobe Connect 12.7 release brings a host of new features and improvements. These include a new events analytics dashboard, custom virtual video backgrounds, updates to simplify in-room controls, a revamped room customization UI for admins, enhanced accessibility features, and fixes for various issues.

With the new update, Adobe Connect gets a new dashboard where the host can see participant's activities, interactions, and engagement during events.

• The dashboard can be accessed from the Reports tab of any event.
• The dashboard lets hosts download various reports without entering the room after the session.
• The dashboard will only be available for events on Adobe Connect version 12.7 and above.
• The dashboard will only be available in hosted deployments for Adobe Connect and Interactive webinar customers.

Account Admins can now add up to 9 custom virtual backgrounds, available for selection inside the room.

Admins also have control over the availability of the default Adobe Connect virtual background images. This option is available under Customization settings within the Admin tab in Connect Central.

• UI in Connect Central's Admin tab has a fresh redesign
• Supports SVG vector images for logos and background images
• and Includes a new alternate text field for the logo inside the room

Duplicate settings have been removed and renamed with industry-standard terms. The settings have been reorganized and the UI has been updated to improve navigation across the room.

Room name

The room name has been removed from the desktop client menu bar and replaced with a hamburger menu icon. You can now view the room name in the browser tab title and the desktop application title bar.

Room Menu

1. The Host and Presenter area has been renamed to Backstage.
2. The Layouts Panel toggle option has been moved to a new checkbox setting under General Preferences.
3. The 'Switch to prepare mode' option has been removed. Prepare mode can still be accessed from the Prepare mode icon in the Layouts Panel.
4. The Speaker & Microphone setup option has been removed. Speakers and microphones can now be set up and tested from their respective options menu in the menu bar.
5.'Manage meeting information' has been renamed to 'View room information.'
6. Manage access & entry changes:
-The 'Invite participants' option has been removed and replaced with the 'Copy room URL' option.
-The 'Block guest access' option has been removed. Guest access can be disabled by unchecking 'Accepted guests may enter the room' on the Edit Information page for the room in Connect Central.
-'Block incoming attendees' has been renamed to 'Block incoming participants.'
-Tooltips have been added for the three remaining options.
7. A new 'Copy room URL' option has been added under the room menu to share the room URL with participants easily.
8. A new icon has been added to the 'View room information' option, indicating that it will open a link in a new browser window.

PODs menu

1. The PODs Menu has been updated with icons for different pods and grouped into cohorts for easier identification. Tooltips have also been added for various pods.
2. The Move and Resize pods option has been removed but can still be accessed through the Lock layouts option in the Layouts Panel menu.
3. The Custom pods option under the Help menu has been moved to the PODs menu as Explore custom pods.

Speaker Options Menu

1. The Adjust volume option has been removed. Control speaker volume through Windows/Mac OS volume controls.
2. The Hear attendee audio option will only be visible in rooms using telephony for audio.

Microphone Options Menu

1. The Adjust volume option has been removed. Control microphone volume through Windows/Mac OS microphone device settings.
2. A tooltip has been added for Single-speaker mode.
3. The state of the Allow participants to use microphone option will now persist across sessions in the room.

Camera Options Menu

1. Enable webcam for participants has been renamed to Allow participants to use a camera.

Pod Three-Dot Menus

1. Pod menus have been reorganized, with options grouped under headings.
2. Maximize option has been renamed to Maximize for all, with a tooltip added.

Share Pod

1. The Sync navigation icon has been removed from the Share pod title bar but is still accessible from the Share pod options menu.
2. The Limit video scaling option for sharing MP4 videos has been removed. MP4 videos will now always be scaled to fit the Share pod.

Notes Pod

1. The icons for Bold, Italics, and Underline have been replaced with the industry standard icons.

Attendees Pod

1. The Edit information option in the Attendee menu has been renamed to Edit display name.

The settings within the Preferences modal have been reorganized.

1. General Preferences
I. A new setting Show Layouts Panel to hosts (relocated from the room menu) to control
the availability of the Layouts Panel has been added.

2. Menu bar Preferences
I. Show activity ticker setting has been renamed to Show activity monitor.
II. The notification settings for the Raise Hands feature (shown when screen sharing) have
been reorganized

1. The Audio Conference tab in Preferences will now only be shown for accounts with at least one active audio profile available in Connect Central. This ensures accounts using only VoIP for audio will not see telephony audio-related settings inside the room.
2. The Allow participants to use microphone setting has been removed. The state of this option in the microphone menu will now persist across sessions in the room.

Attendees Pod Preferences

1. The attendee pod sorting options have been moved to the Display Name tab.
2. The Mask telephone numbers option has been moved to the Audio Conference tab, as it is only relevant when using telephony audio.
3. The Attendees Pod Preferences tab has been removed as it no longer contains any settings.

Video Preferences

1. The default aspect ratio for camera videos has been changed from Standard (4:3) to Widescreen (16:9).
2. The Disable webcam preview option has been removed. The webcam preview will always show the first time the camera is turned on during a session. After that, the camera will turn on with a single click without a preview. The preview can still be accessed from the camera options menu.
3. The Highlight active speaker option has been removed. The active speaker will always be highlighted in the video pod if more than one active video is being shared.

Share Pod Preferences

1. The low and medium screen share quality options have been removed.
2. The standard quality setting will now be the default share quality.
3. The high screen share quality setting, which increases the frame rate and is useful for sharing videos or fast-moving content, has been moved from Share pod preferences to the screen share modal of the Share pod.
4. The Show application cursor option has been removed from the UI and is now enabled by default.
5. The Start buffering videos automatically for participants option has been removed from the UI and is now enabled by default.

Improved Discovery of Share System Audio Feature

The option to include system audio has been moved to the Start sharing popup when selecting the Screen sharing option in the Share pod. Previously, it was available in the drop-down menu next to the Screen button.

Request to Unmute

To improve attendee privacy, the Unmute option in the Attendees pod has been replaced with Request to unmute. When a host selects this option, the participant will receive a notification. The microphone will be unmuted only if the participant accepts. The host will be informed if the participant declines the request.

Note:

1. This option is only shown for participants who have joined audio using VoIP.
2. Participants on mobile apps need to update to version 3.7 to view the notification.

NOTE:  Connect Innovation is focused on supporting companies and organizations from various market segments and driving the most ideal outcomes by increasing the communication and collaboration with their employees and clients with Adobe Connect.

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