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Daniel Hudson's avatar
Daniel Hudson
Iron Contributor
Dec 08, 2017
Solved

New Microsoft Whiteboard App

For those who may not have seen, there is a new version of Microsoft Whiteboard currently available in preview. It was released a couple of days ago into the Microsoft Store.   It's available for...
  • Daniel Hudson's avatar
    Daniel Hudson
    Oct 18, 2018

    Hi Ron/Everyone

     

    Looks like we've got an update coming out today that enables opt-in for the new Whiteboard app:

     

    Oct 18th, 2018 —update for Team edition based on KB4462939*  (OS Build 15063.1418)

    This update to the Surface Hub includes quality improvements and security fixes .

    Key updates to Surface Hub, not already outlined in Windows 10 Update History , include:

    • Skype for Business fixes:
      • Resolves Skype for Business connection issue when resuming from sleep
      • Resolves Skype for Business network connection issue, when device is connected to Internet
      • Resolves Skype for Business crash when searching for users from directory
    • Resolves issue where the Hub mistakenly reports “No Internet connection” in enterprise proxy environments.
    • Implemented a feature allowing customers to op-in to a new Whiteboard experience.

     

    Looking at the Whiteboard page for Surface Hub, it seems it's been updated, but I'm not sure if this corresponds exactly with the update today:

     

    How can I roll out the new version?

    The new version of Whiteboard can be rolled out to Surface Hubs with an MDM setting that will be available by the end of the year.

    If you wish to opt in sooner, you can enroll the device in the Windows Insider Program. The Release Preview ring provides an option to receive fixes, applications and drivers only. This will get slightly faster updates of Whiteboard and other apps.

    To opt into Whiteboard using Release Preview:

    • On your Surface Hub, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Insider Program, and click Get Started.

    • Follow the steps to opt the device into the Windows Insider Program, making sure to choose Just fixes, apps and drivers. Within 24 hours, you should see the new Whiteboard app as the default.

    • If you have previously installed the new Whiteboard app on the device, you should uninstall it.

     

    So on one hand, we have an update saying they've implemented a feature to allow us to opt-in, on the other the Whiteboard page is saying we need to enroll in the Insider Programme for just fixes, apps and drivers to get the new app, and that the MDM setting will be coming later this year.

     

    Currently nothing on the Surface Hub Admin Guide.

     

    Given this has only just hit the relative sites, ChangeWindows hasn't even picked up on today's CU release yet, and nothing from Jen in the Windows 10 subreddit, I'll give it a few days and see if we get a consistent message in the admin guide confirming how to roll this out properly, either whether the MDM setting is actually there, or if the update today just allows for the Insider Programme to roll it out. Fingers crossed it's the former!

Daniel Hudson's avatar
Daniel Hudson
Iron Contributor
Jul 13, 2018

You can find all the information about it here.

 

Also our resident Surface Hub engineer yoabar has a blog post about it here.

 

Only disappointment so far is the inability to export to OneNote file format (which gives out users Ink to Text conversion on their laptops after the meeting) and inability to email the Whiteboard to users (which is a HUGE oversight and will require us to completely retrain our user's habits as literally everyone in our org emails Whiteboards after meetings).

 

Edit: Also, can we PLEASE get some additional pen colours, or even a custom pen that can select any colour?!

Jeffrey Allen's avatar
Jeffrey Allen
Silver Contributor
Jul 13, 2018

Thanks Daniel Hudson for the information and yoabar's blog post.  There is a Whiteboard Uservoice that I found today and exporting and pen options are listed and so you can https://whiteboard.uservoice.com/forums/909292-public.

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