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April 16, 2019
United States Zone – Semi-Monthly RC20190419 Released
General Platform HTML5 Player HTML5 Video Conferencing Live Streaming Media Management United States Zones Video QuizzesWe have successfully pushed an update to all physical zones residing in the United States. Please note that this release will be pushed to Canadian and European Union zones next week. This release includes over 120+ new features and improvements.
- Improved In-Depth User-Level Analytics Within an Integrated View
We introduced an improved user-level analytics view that shows Platform accesses, total play length, and usage summary for each video. The content can also be downloaded as a spreadsheet within this view.
- New Video Player Overlay Style Mirroring Popular Entertainment Video Streaming Platforms
In addition to the Fixed Play Bar style, we are introducing a new Overlay Play Bar style that is activated on hover and displays the Play Bar controls against a translucent background. This mirrors popular video entertainment streaming platforms such as YouTube and Netflix that your users are familiar with.
- Improved Fault Tolerance of Live Stream Player in Intermittent Bandwidth Scenarios
The Live Stream Player and related infrastructure will now perform better in low-bandwidth and intermittent-bandwidth scenarios. This includes auto-recovery logic if the connection degrades and then subsequently recovers. - Storage Analytics View Loads Data Points More Quickly
The Storage sub-panel within the Analytics’s Overview now loads 3x faster with an optimized algorithm for dataset retrieval.
- Media Ingested by Watch Point Now Performs HLS Transcoding
The same HLS transcoding capabilities performed for all other media ingestion workflows is now also available for media uploaded via Watch Point. - Multi-Level Captioning Workflows Now Integrated with Media Choosers
In a previous release we introduced the ability to have multiple caption providers with different permission groups. This capability’s breadth has now been extended to the Media Chooser plugins.
- Multi-Select Roster Deletion Clean-up Workflow
We improved a previously cumbersome workflow of bulk deletion of users with a new capability to bulk-select users, as well as bulk transfer those user’s assets to an Administrator’s account.
- Improved Organization of Accessibility Tab’s Status of External Captioning Table
The external captioning table is now better organized chronologically with more clear column headers. - Improved 21st Century Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) Support with Enhanced Customization of Closed Captioning Bar
We now provide Administrators with the ability to customize the visual aesthetics of the Caption Bar including color, font size, font opacity, and background opacity. As well, we provide viewers the ability to adjust this, based on their personal preferences, right inside the Media Player.
- Ability to Add Closed Captioning Files to Videos Via Drag-and-Drop
Within the Media Details panel, we now support the ability to ingest external caption files via drag-and-drop. - New In-Video Commenting Style
To better accommodate smaller screen-sizes – such as when a video is embedded directly into an LMS Assignment – we refined the Create Comment dialog into a more modern and compact widget that sits alongside the appropriate location on the video timeline.
- Beta Support for Video Conferencing on iOS and Android Devices
Our beta Video Conferencing application now supports WebRTC-enabled mobile devices for both iOS and Android devices. - Additional API-Level Support including Rate Limiting, Branding, and Replace Video
Customers using our APIs can request the new capability set which includes additional video management facilities, as well as security improvements such as rate limiting. - Delcom Button Color Customization
Organizations using the Software Capture’s Delcom button integration can now customize which status colors should be used for each event. - Infrastructural Aspects of End-User Audit Tracking
We also wanted to provide a preview of some infrastructural aspect that are going into production throughout the quarter. This will give administrators a Birdseye View of the activities going on within their Platform instance. The core infrastructure for customer-visible audit tracking is now in place and we are now in the process of instrumenting all applications and devices accordingly. Below is an early preview of the functionality for a Software Capture recording.
- Improved In-Depth User-Level Analytics Within an Integrated View
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March 22, 2019
United States Zone – Semi-Monthly RC20190322 Released
United States Zones Video Editor Video QuizzesWe have successfully pushed an update to all physical zones residing in the United States. Please note that this release will be pushed to Canadian and European Union zones next week. This release includes over 120+ new features and improvements.
- Video Editor Supports Telestrations Diagraming Overlays
Inspired by Sunday football, we incorporated freehand telestrations capabilities into the video editor. This features multi-color pen selection with the ability to annotate freehand on top of a video source. As we observe how users take advantage of this capability, we’ll continue to incorporate further capabilities.
- Media Chooser for Moodle Extension Now Supports Video Quiz Insertion and Multi-Column Gradebook Integration
Similar to the Canvas, Blackboard and D2L Brightspace implementations introduced in the last few releases, we have rolled out Moodle support for Video Quiz insertion within the Media Chooser. This includes deeper native LMS-specific integration for Video Quizzes that expand upon the more limited LTI-based Gradebook integration (which we still support). The result is that users can create video quizzes, insert them virtually anywhere in the LMS and better track the results with multi-column gradebook integration.
- Video Quiz Insertion Improvements
To ensure a video quiz can be used for multiple assessments simultaneously or sequentially – and at the same time export as multi-column gradebook for each course – we enhanced our native API integration for each of LMS. We also incorporated about a dozen smaller fixes and improvements including an improved overlay mode layout when viewing four-or-more response options. - Improved 4k and 2k Video Support Processing Support
As more organizations generate ultra resolution quality, we have added improved capabilities to manually adjust between various resolution types. Further, our transcoding and transmuxing sub-system will now more quickly process 2k and 4k content.
- Video Conferencing Improvements in Intermittent Bandwidth Scenarios
We released and improved fault tolerance in intermittent bandwidth scenarios, as well as recovery mechanisms. We’re aiming to release Android (tablet and phone) browser support for video conferencing in the next major update. - Video Quiz Overlay Style Now the Default for Tighter LMS Locations
We now show the overlay style by default within the LMS, as well as incorporated a View External button. This button enables quiz-taker to view the video quiz in an external browser with the video and questions shown in a side-by-side layout. This serves the ability to show video quizzes in more confined spaces, while still providing the end-user with a variety of viewing options.
- Video Editor Supports Telestrations Diagraming Overlays
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March 9, 2019
United States Zone – Semi-Monthly RC20190308 Released
Analytics General Platform HTML5 Video Editor United States Zones Video Editor Video QuizzesWe have successfully pushed an update to all physical zones residing in the United States. Please note that this release will be pushed to Canadian and European Union zones next week. This release includes over 20+ improvements.
- Performance Enhancements and Minor Improvements
We also added about a dozen fixes to various stability improvements and edge cases. Highlights of the fixes are noted below:
#163670023 – Visual Analytics – Set of small consistency fixes across the Content tab focused on correcting data aggregation issues, consistency between tabs, and calculation method for a number of fields. Adjustments made in this ticket will affect calculations going forward.
#163768811 – Visual Analytics – Improved performance of Contents tab where creation visualizations necessitated calculating large volumes of playback position data.
#164117963 – Mobile Apps – Improved channel load performance in situations where channels have a large number of videos published to it.
#164188942 – Admin Panel – Significant performance improvements to Accessibility Dashboard where loading large volumes of internal and external caption requests. Also made the individual caption request lists to be fetched asynchronously.
#164342266 – Infrastructure – Improved, cloud-hosted media recoverability algorithm to cover some recovery scenarios not previously addressed.
#161461360 – Video Editor – Made zoom-level warning message less obtrusive.
#164224624 – Video Editor – Resolved issue where the Play button needed to be pressed twice when commencing a video quiz.
- Performance Enhancements and Minor Improvements
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February 23, 2019
United States Zone – Semi-Monthly RC20190222 Released
HTML5 Video Conferencing HTML5 Video Editor Media Management United States Zones Video Editor Video QuizzesWe have successfully pushed an update to all physical zones residing in the United States. Please note that this release will be pushed to Canadian and European Union zones next week. This release includes over 80+ new features and improvements.
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Media Chooser for D2L Brightspace Extension Now Supports Video Quiz Insertion and Multi-Column Gradebook Integration
Similar to the Canvas and Blackboard implementations introduced in the last few releases, we have rolled out D2L Brightspace support for Video Quiz insertion within the Media Chooser. This includes deeper native LMS-specific integration for Video Quizzes that expand upon the more limited LTI-based Gradebook integration (which we still support). The result is that users can create video quizzes, insert them virtually anywhere in the LMS and better track the results with multi-column gradebook integration. We’ve implemented it for all LMS’s, however we are releasing it in stages. Now that Canvas, Blackboard, and D2L Brightspace are released, Moodle is next. -
Improved Viewability of Embedded Quizzes
Our new LMS-specific quiz integration released this past quarter with multi-column gradebook integration has created new use-cases around embedding quizzes. To improve the viewability in “tight spaces”, we’ve created a special overlay mode in instances where the side-by-side layout isn’t possible. Note: To take advantage of this new style, the quiz will need to be re-embedded within the LMS. -
Improved Performance of Visual Analytics’ Bandwidth Summary and Top Videos
Improved the query performance for loading the Top Video and Bandwidth Summary analytics data. -
New Fast “Initial Thumbnailing” Algorithm Implemented
We’ve improved the algorithm used to generate thumbnails to generate it very quickly after the video file has uploaded to the Platform. This is part of a new smarter heuristic project we are working on during the month of March to improve job queueing behavior and sub-task execution. -
Multi-Caption Account Support for Organizations
To provide support for organizations using multiple caption accounts – across various departments and hierarchies – organizations can setup integrations with multiple, simultaneous caption vendors and/or accounts. -
New In-Progress Recording Indicators within Media Library
As a precursor to end user-facing audit logging project for non-admin users (also a project this quarter), we are introducing a Processing icon indicator that appears for in-progress (and un-uploaded) captures. Once our end user-facing audit trails are finished, a user will be able to accurately and fully trace the current status of any uploaded or recorded media item. These capabilities will be released in phases through the month of March and April. -
Video Editor Now Has Ability to Set the Primary Stream
For multi-stream recordings, Content Owners can now select which source is the primary source (the one that initially appears as the larger source). -
Audio-Only Files Now Generate Audio Waveforms
The Video Editor has extended support for the audio waveforms to include audio-only media.
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February 10, 2019
Update for YuJa Software Station for Apple Available to US, CAN and EU Zones
Canadian Zones European Union Zones Software Station for Apple United States Zones UpdateWe have successfully pushed an updated YuJa Software Station for PC to all physical zones residing in the United States, Canada, and the European Union.
- General Stability Fixes and Minor Improvements
We also added about a dozen fixes to various stability improvements and edge cases. Highlights of the fixes are noted below:
#162584536 – Apple Capture – Resolved edge-case in media recoverability where shutting down ungracefully could leave a permanently processing live stream and a completed one.
#162665441 – Apple Capture – Resolved rare issue where a scheduled live stream could crash the application.
#163203646 – Apple Capture – Resolved issue where a video stream could freeze and become offset of the other when the YuJa app icon is clicked on.
#163099066 – Apple Capture – Resolved rare issue where the software capture application could crash when an error alert dialog was intended to indicate an abnormal issue.
#163525685 – Apple Capture – Improved client-side media recoverability when an abnormal issue causes a media fragment.
#163598316 – Apple Capture – Improved partial screen recording error handling by preventing the capture area from being too small to practically record. Previously this could result in a crash of the screen capture module.
#163638006 – Apple Capture – Improved error logging in situations which result in a crash state.
- General Stability Fixes and Minor Improvements
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February 9, 2019
United States Zone – Semi-Monthly RC20190208 Released
Analytics General Platform HTML5 Video Conferencing Media Management United States Zones Update Video Editor Video QuizzesWe have successfully pushed an update to all physical zones residing in the United States. Please note that this release will be pushed to Canadian and European Union zones next week. This release includes over 60+ new features and improvements.
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Media Chooser for Blackboard Extension Now Supports Video Quiz Insertion and Multi-Column Gradebook Integration
Similar to the Canvas implementation introduced in the last release, we have rolled out Blackboard support for Video Quiz insertion within the Media Chooser. This includes deeper native LMS-specific integration for Video Quizzes that expand upon the more limited LTI-based Gradebook integration (which we still support). The result is that users can create video quizzes, insert them virtually anywhere in the LMS and better track the results with multi-column gradebook integration. We’ve implemented it for all LMS’s, however we are releasing it in stages. Now that Canvas and Blackboard have been released, D2L Brightspace and Moodle are next.
Note: Depending on your Blackboard Building Block plugin version, you may need to request an update from your assigned Customer Success Manager. -
Video Editor Supports Auto-Save to Prevent Accidental Loss Due to Refreshing the Page or Navigating Away
As users are performing video edits, the Platform now tracks draft edits in situations of user or web-browser error such as accidentally navigating away from the editor. This feature stemmed from user feedback interviews which indicated that, though rare, losing an edit is a very frustrating and time-consuming experience. Now – we hope! – it should be a thing of the past. -
Video Editor Now Offers Advanced Capabilities to Increase Audio Levels
Content where, perhaps, the audio track is too soft can now be improved with advanced support for audio amplification and re-encoding. Users can choose to amplify audio by 1.25x, 1.5x, 1.75x, 2x and 4x for any recording or uploaded media. -
Video Editor Supports Additional Video Insertion Options
Content owners now have more flexible options to perform video insertions, video overrides, as well as bumper and trailer video insertions. This extends upon the, more limited, Current Time (Override) mode. -
More Modern Chat Capabilities within Video Conferencing Application
Mirroring the modern look-and-feel of our Live Stream chat capabilities, we’ve introduced a better chat that includes Platform avatars, a more responsive look-and-feel, as well as support for sending URLs. -
Improved Ability to Customize Thumbnail Displayed for Audio Files
Custom thumbnails for audio-only files are now used within the in-player experience while listening to the audio file. Previously, the thumbnail only showed up in the Media Library view. -
Visual Analytics and Courses & Groups Sections Now Show Sub-Channel Relationships and Hierarchies Within Drop-Downs
Drop-downs and filter fields within the Visual Analytics and Courses & Groups now provide a better visual indication of Sub-Channels contained within parent Media Channels.
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December 20, 2018
United States Zone – Semi-Monthly RC20181221 Released
Analytics General Platform HTML5 Video Conferencing HTML5 Video Editor Media Management United States Zones Video EditorWe have successfully pushed an update to all physical zones residing in the United States. Please note that this release will be pushed to Canadian zones next week. This release includes over 50+ new features and improvements.
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Video Editor Caption Edits Can Now Automatically Update Indices and Transcripts – We added selection toggles to the Video Editor’s Save dialog that enable users to select if they would like their caption edits to also update the index and transcript (both PDF and text transcripts). In the next release, we will be adding some further improvements to provide both a Replace Existing option to complement the Save as New Video option.
- Improved Robustness of Video Analytics Percentage Watched Detection – We resolved an internal tracking issue that could prevent the Percentage Watched value from being computed properly.
- Improved Moodle Media Chooser Integration with Some Moodle LMS Versions – Implemented a new YuJa Media Chooser for Moodle plugin which invokes an account creation only in the specific case when the YuJa button is pressed. Please email your Customer Success Manager to receive the latest plugin.
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Left Navigation Bar Expansion Behavior Makes It Easier to Perform Drag-and-Drop Operations – To make it easier to navigate while performing drag-and-drop operations, opening a folder via the tree-like structure does not trigger a navigation action.
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Improved Left Navigation Bar Keyboard Accessibility and Visual Cues – Improved both keyboard-only navigation of the Left Navigation Bar and added a visual key to indicate the highlighted folder. Also added folder expansion with the Spacebar key.
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Improved Capabilities to Establish a System-Wide Publishing Delay within the Admin Panel – Previously establishing a system-wide publishing delay required Professional Services to deploy an on-demand module. Now organizations can use self-service options within the Admin panel to establish a System-Wide Publishing Delay and Content Owners can override this with Publish Now and Skip Publish options.
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Video Editor Timeline Now Shows Blur Regions and Image Insertion Visual Indicators – We improved the timeline to show visual indicators for elements added as video overlays.
- Faster Analytics Visualization for Media Objects with 250,000+ Data Points – We completely re-tooled the visualization generation algorithm used within the Visual Analytics’ Contents tab to more quickly process the analytics visualizations. This will improve the overall speed and ensure that analytics load properly for heavily used media.
- Blackboard Media Chooser Extension Now Compatible with Blackboard Build Contents section – The latest Media Chooser extension can be used to insert media into Blackboard’s Build Contents section. We encourage our Blackboard customers to request the newest Media Chooser for Blackboard from their Customer Success Manager.
- New Blackboard Integration Supports Blackboard Web Link Module Including Ability to Add Homepage Web Link – To provide improved support to our Blackboard customers, we have released a new integration capability that allows organizations to add a My Media link directly onto non-course level pages via the Blackboard Web Link Module.
We also used this release to improve about 35+ other smaller items. In the next release, we are deepening our Device Auto-Scheduling capabilities around delegating schedule opt-out, support for audio-only editing capabilities, improved zoom-in and zoom-out within the video editor, video conferencing improvements, the ability to insert video quizzes using your respective LMS’s Media Chooser extension, and much more.
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December 15, 2018
Update for YuJa Software Station for Apple Available to US Zones
Software Station for Apple United States ZonesWe have successfully pushed an updated YuJa Software Station for Apple to all physical zones residing in the United States. A corresponding release will take place in the Canadian Zone next week.
- New Apple Capture Application with Full Media Recoverability
We released a new version of the Apple Capture application that includes complete Media Recoverability. Like the PC Capture application’s capability, media recoverability enables abruptly or incorrectly terminated recordings to be uploaded and restored without manual intervention.Additionally, we moved the media recovery algorithms to the Cloud. By moving the recovery process to the Cloud, it enables us to continue to fine-tune and strengthen the recovery algorithms without necessitating end-users’ update their software capture applications. Software Capture on PC – which already has local media recoverability – will also benefit from this new architecture in a future release.
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Apple Capture Now Offer Partial Screen Recording
The newest Apple Capture version matches parity with the PC Capture’s partial screen recording. This includes the ability to dynamically select a region of the screen to record for ad-hoc and auto-scheduled scenarios.
- New Apple Capture Application with Full Media Recoverability
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December 8, 2018
United States Zone – Semi-Monthly RC20181207 Released
General Platform HTML5 Video Conferencing HTML5 Video Editor Live Streaming Media Management United States ZonesWe have successfully pushed an update to all physical zones residing in the United States. Please note that this release will be pushed to Canadian zones next week. This release includes over 50+ new features and improvements.
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HTML5 Video Conferencing Now Offers Toll-Free Dial-In Options – We’ve added new phone dial-in options for attendees to join and participate in video conferences. The toll-free access capability is available to users of our video conferencing products. Keep in mind that this is still in beta so we will continue to be enhancing the toll-free dial-in capabilities over the coming month.
- Improvements to Storage Calculations for Transfer of Owner Scenarios – We improved the accuracy of user account quotas in situations where content is transferred via the Change Owner capability. We also enhanced the accuracy across a number of additional edge-cases.
- Improve Blackboard Assignment Integration – We deepened our Blackboard Assignment integration with improved capabilities to view embedded content within Blackboard Assignments and related screens within the Blackboard LMS.
- Faster and More Responsive External Captioning Permissions UI – To better support large organizations (35,000+ users), we optimized the External Captioning Permissions dialog. At the same time, we modernized aspects of the UI to more consistent with the Platform.
- Improved Mobile Live Streaming Support – We resolved a number of issues to improve live streaming on mobile devices, particular more recent iOS devices. Also improved layout of the embedded Live Stream Player. Cloud-Hosted Media Recoverability Infrastructure – Next week, we will be updating the Apple Capture application to include complete Media Recoverability. Media recoverability enables abruptly terminated or incorrectly terminated recordings to be uploaded and restored without manual intervention.
By moving the recovery process to the cloud, it enables us to continue to fine-tune and strengthen the recovery algorithms without necessitating end-users’ update their software capture applications. Software Capture on PC – which already has local media recoverability – will also benefit from this new architecture in a future release that we have planned.
In the next release, we will be: 1) improving our Visual Analytics ability to quickly process big data workloads (millions of data points) when creating visualization; 2) adding a new Blackboard LMS integrations for creating a Homepage Media Plugin; 3) providing new options within the Video Editor to automatically update indexes and transcripts based on caption edits; and more.
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November 22, 2018
United States Zone – Semi-Monthly RC20181123 Released
General Platform Live Streaming Media Management United States Zones Video EditorWe have successfully pushed an update to all physical zones residing in the United States. Please note that this release will be pushed to Canadian zones next week. This release includes over 100+ new features and improvements.
- “Share with Users” Capability Now Supports Ad-Hoc Folder-Level Sharing – The Share button is now also enabled for folders. Previously, a pre-created shared folder was needed to share content at the folder level. Now, simply select Share Folder within the More Actions menu.
- Ability to Grab the Direct Link and Embed Code to a Media Channel – Content aligned to a Media Channel – most often used as playlists linked to an LMS course – can now be embedded or shared via a direct link to the content. This offers Content Owners flexibility in sharing and sending content aligned to an LMS-linked playlist.
- Shared Folders Now Offer Pre-Generated Embed and Direct Links – Folders within an organization’s Shared Folders now can be shared externally with pre-generated direct link and embed codes.
- Video Editor Top-Bar Offers More Relevant Actions – When users are in the video editor, the primary actions shown in the Top Navigation Bar are now change to Save and Close buttons.
- Video Editor’s Cut Operations Now Offers Improved Play-Head Alignment and Fine Tuning Ability – We re-tooled some the trim operations to offer the ability to establish more accurate cut operations. This is achieved with the following sub-capabilities:
- Playhead and accompanying timestamp will move when trimming the start or end.
- During a trim, set the trim to the playhead when performing a trim-head operation.
- Clicking on an cut opens up a dialog to manually set the edit time.
- Improved Live Stream Synchronization on Both Software and Hardware Platforms – After months of research, we are introducing server-side, time-stamp synchronization that should improve multi-source, live stream synchronization when using either our hardware appliance or desktop-based software applications.Our research indicates that there are two key ways to ensure source synchronization. The first is to “fuse” the streams together during the encoding process and transmit them as a unified stream. Alternatively, we believe our server-side, time-stamping algorithm offers the ability to retain the benefits of true multi-source live streaming while improving the synchronization of streams. We encourage you to provide your feedback on how this algorithm dynamically adjusts – typically after a minute of streaming – to improve the live stream source synchronization during an active live stream.
- Additional Obfuscation of Content Embedded with LTI Deep Linking – Content that is embedded using the CIM-enabled Deep Linking protocol now will perform an additional security check based on the user PID. This helps prevent potentially skimming of content from the HTML code.
- Improved the Front-End Caching Layer When Moving Media Between Folders – We optimized the caching layer by performing a selective cache bypass, in some cases, to avoid getting stale data.
- Hardware Hub Improvements Related to Delayed Start Setting on Device Signals – We now offer the ability to have the Delay Start setting as enabled-by-default, as well as improved video playback robustness in situations where a particular video signal is never present for the entire recording session.
- Improved Zoom API Integration – We implemented a targeted set of changes to improve Zoom integration, status notifications, as well as minor updates to the Admin Panel’s Zoom Connector UI.
- “Share with Users” Capability Now Supports Ad-Hoc Folder-Level Sharing – The Share button is now also enabled for folders. Previously, a pre-created shared folder was needed to share content at the folder level. Now, simply select Share Folder within the More Actions menu.