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October 12, 2018
United States Zone – Semi-Monthly RC20181012 Released
General Platform HTML5 Video Conferencing Upcoming Update 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 25+ new features and improvements.
- Improved Analytics Report Exportation Performance for Large Data Sets – When exporting large raw data sets from the Analytics tab, both the performance and overall capability have been improved.
- Improved Performance of Video Conference Invite for Large Groups of Users – In instances where the available number of internal users or the invite list is large, improved the page responsiveness.
- Improved Performance of Courses & Groups Invite dialog for Large Groups of Courses – In instances where there are thousands of active courses, improved the overall performance of the invite list.
- Improved Performance of the Share dialog for Large User Sets – Improved both the initial load performance and the selector to add additional users. Also added additional asynchronous aspects to improve overall load performance.
- Improved the Video Editor’s Zoom-In-Zoom-Out Rendering Speed – When using the zoom capabilities of the video editor, the audio waveform renders faster and more efficiently.
- Improved the HTML5 Video Conference Replay Stability – Handled additional “edge cases” related to the replay of the video conference afterwards.
- Added “Follow Me” Presentation Mode within HTML5 Video Conference – New capabilities enable viewers to automatically see what’s being presented while the Presenter toggles between documents, whiteboards and screenshares.
We also wanted to provide advanced notice of some workflow improvement and new features that will be available in an upcoming release currently slated for late-October / early-November. This update is focused on creating a more intuitive and design-forward experience for users.
If you’d like to learn more about these updates, please contact your Account Manager to schedule a live training session. Improvements include:
- Unification of Media Channels Navigation Buttons – The View Channels is now part of a unified Media Library. This promotes a more cohesive overall experience – especially for new users – when viewing and managing media. Currently, there are separate “View Channels” and “Upload & Manage” navigation buttons which historically causes some users confusion on which to use.
- Unification of Media Channels into the Media Library – Media Channels interface directly within the Manage Media’s All Channels view. This cohesive experience further simplifies how users navigate within the Platform. We offer users the ability to toggle between the Channel-style and Library-style viewing experience depending on their preference.
- Left Bar Sub-Folder Navigation Capabilities – New Left Bar capabilities simplify navigation across folders and sub-folders. This new folder navigation is also integrated with our existing drag-and-drop for convenient content publishing.
- Resizable Navigation Bar with Improved LMS Layouts – Along with a more compact and resizable Left Navigation Bar, we also have created a more dynamic Media Channels layout when viewed inside LMS windows.
- Quick Access to Video Analytics – Content owners will be able to view summary analytics directly within the Media Details popup, as well as, click to see a more detailed Content Analytics view.
- Clearer Create Recording Workflow with Improved Notifications – When launching the Software Capture desktop application using the Create Recording button, the UI is clearer and more informative.
- Design-Forward Cues and Effects – We incorporated a host of design-forward effects including innovative hover effects when navigating a specific video, modern status notifications and page transition effects. All of them are subtle but focused on creating a more appealing environment for today’s video consumer.
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July 13, 2018
United States Zone – Semi-Monthly RC20180713 Released
General Platform HTML5 Video Conferencing HTML5 Video Editor Live Streaming Media Management 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 95+ new features and improvements including:
- Live Chat Capabilities Alongside Live Streaming – This summer, we’re adding a number of new Live Streaming improvements and fixes. One of the areas of focus is improving audience engagement. To this end, we added an integrated live chat capability to accompany active live streams.
- Live Stream Questions Become In-Video Comments – Questions that arise during live streams now automatically become in-video comments that are searchable as part of the recordings. One key use-case this enables is for viewers to visually scan and search for questions asked during the live presentation.
- Ability to Create Pre-Defined Template Responses within In-Video Comments – We improved upon one key use-case for In-Video Commenting which is simulation training (medical, nursing, teaching, public speaking, etc.). Now instructors can create a personalized “bank” of pre-defined comments that can be used to provide feedback and standardized textual markers within the video.
- Improvement to the Moodle Media Chooser – We improved the video playback of media selected via the Moodle Media Chooser. Media now will play inline within its placement inside Moodle (similar to the Media Chooser extensions of all other LMS’s). While this does not require a Moodle plugin update, you may need to enable a specific and obscure Moodle setting. If you need help, let us know and we’ll assist you in getting this configured.
- UI Improvements to “Act as User” – Based on feedback from a number of organizations, we implemented a number of small UI improvements to the user interface of the “Act as User” functionality introduced in the last update
- Ability to Change the Default Save Location for Auto-Scheduled Captures – Administrators establishing auto-scheduled captures can now specify a storage locations other than the Default Collection of a given user. Note: To use this feature, you’ll need the updated Software Capture binaries being released in a few weeks (we’ll send an alert once they’re available).
- Automatic and Pre-Generation of Audio Waveform within the Video Editor – During July and August, we’re rolling out a set of HTML5 Video Editor updates. The newest version now will show an audio wave-form based on the primary audio track of the recording.
- Ability to Customize Buttons within the Video Player’s Play Bar – Administrators can now customize which buttons (and the order of them) within the Play Bar of the Video Player.
- Drag-and-Drop Multi-Document Uploading with HTML5 Video Conferencing – The HTML5-based Video Conferencing now has the ability to accept drag-and-drop uploads of documents during a video conference session.
- Additional Capabilities and Improvements to HTML5 Video Conferencing – In addition to the multi-document drag-and-drop uploading, we also improved live pen drawing on the whiteboard, improved whiteboard synchronization, optimized document resizing, improved zoom-in document orientation settings, created an easier-to-use webcam and mic detection dialog, and more.
In the next release, we’ll be rolling out new capabilities including: 1) Improved Device Preview of both Hardware Capture and Software Capture applications including the ability to continuously monitor connected A/V sources with audio clip preview; 2) Improved capabilities for bulk channel copy and multi-section publishing; 3) Updated Software Capture applications for both PC and Apple, and much more.
- Live Chat Capabilities Alongside Live Streaming – This summer, we’re adding a number of new Live Streaming improvements and fixes. One of the areas of focus is improving audience engagement. To this end, we added an integrated live chat capability to accompany active live streams.
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May 18, 2018
United States Zone – Semi-Monthly RC20180518 Released
General Platform HTML5 Player 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 zones next week. This release is mostly a maintenance update that includes over 40+ new features and improvements including:
- Crisp Sub-Channel Visualization and Improved LMS Integration – For those users using sub-channels within their course Media Channels, we’ve changed to a tab-style interface that is easier to navigate.
- Keyboard-Only Tab Navigation Improvements – We have an ongoing project to review our keyboard-only navigation and ensure that all screens are a smooth navigation experience. We’ve reviewed many of the screens and this effort continues.
- Better Media Channel Layout – To better use the top-region of the Media Channel, we’ve move away from a 3-video layout and introduced a 7-video layout (where space allows). This is a better use of the available screen (see screenshot above).
- New Visualization of Word Clouds, Transcripts, and Tags – Along the same theme of better use of space, rather than a linear down-the-page style, we’ve moved each of the AI-powered video cognition attributes to individual tabs. See screenshot below.
- Bulk Download Now Integrated With Date Search – We’ve integrated the existing date-based media searching with the ability to use the Bulk Download capabilities. This enables users to refine their search to identify which media to bulk download.
- General Platform Improvements – In addition, we also made some general Platform improvements:
- Changed Blackboard Media Chooser Extension to use the actual zone-specific embed code rather than the generic Platform URL. This ensures that use of an embedded video with a Single-Sign-On is directed to the organization’s SSO.
- Identified rare issues within the Media Player that could cause the geographic restrictions to fail for specific network types. Also resolved rare issues related to Blackboard media embedding within self-hosted instances.
- Improvements to the HTML5 Video Editor in handling very large caption files
- Improved overall Platform compatibility with older versions of Internet Explorer (the predecessor to Edge)
- Improved HTML5-based Editor’s multi-stream sync when editing large media files.
- Limited Release of Zoom Connector – We’ve finished deploying all the backend infrastructure for the Zoom Connector and those organizations that had expressed interest in using it should be able to. In a few weeks, we’ll open this up to all organizations to try out.
In the next release, we anticipate rolling out some updates to the HTML5 Video Conferencing, Platform performance improvements, new notifications for any media transcoding errors and more.
- Crisp Sub-Channel Visualization and Improved LMS Integration – For those users using sub-channels within their course Media Channels, we’ve changed to a tab-style interface that is easier to navigate.
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March 3, 2018
United States Zone – Semi-Monthly RC20180302 Released
Analytics General Platform HTML5 Player iOS App Live Streaming 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 zones next week. This release includes 150 new features and improvements including:
- Easier to Use Main View with Action Buttons for Common Workflows – The Platform user interface has been updated to include the most common tasks as Action Buttons in the top-bar. Users can access media channels, create captures, and manage & uploads media all from the main screen.
- Refined Media Player with Better Search Visualization and Small-Screen Capabilities – We’re introducing a new Media Player which offers even easier to navigate search-inside-video capabilities, improved embeddability in smaller windows, and better support for mobile devices and tablet screen sizes. We also added some new capabilities including topic highlighting in the auto-scrolling sidebar, better search-inside-video sidebar, and a simplified Play-Bar.
- Live, Multi-Source Room Preview Snapshots of Active Captures – The latest Software Capture applications for both PC and Apple, as well as the latest Hardware Hub firmware now supports multi-source preview within the Admin Panel’s Devices tab. Administrators can now keep tabs on active room recordings with periodically updating snapshots of actively recording rooms and lecture halls.
- New Quiz Question Types and Refined Quiz-Taking Interface – The Video Quiz suite now has new question types including Multi-Select, Short Answer and True-False options.
- Auto-Captioning Support Now Available in Six New Languages – As part of the more powerful Artificial Intelligence-based auto-captioning engine we integrated in the last release, we are now introducing the ability to auto-caption in additional languages including French, Dutch, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.
- Improved Support for Legacy Browsers – Our focus was improving support for the deprecated since IE Edge – but still used – Internet Explorer browser.
- Improved Media Library Performance – We optimized a number of heavily used search and general sub-routines to make them much faster. Our performance tests in various physical zones showed improvements in overall Media Library load time and snappier navigation.
- Additional Infrastructural Work for HTML5 Video Conferencing – While still in an alpha state, we have continued to bolster the infrastructure, as well as, migrate over functionality from our Flash-based Video Classroom. We expect this suite to enter Beta in the March / early-April timeframe.
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January 27, 2018
United States Zone – Semi-Monthly RC20180126 Released
General Platform HTML5 Player United States Zones Update 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 is largely a maintenance update with about 60 smaller improvements including:
- Additional Administrative Alerts – Admin Panel’s Overview tab now provide alerts on newly-created automated schedules for hardware and software devices listed on the Devices tab.
- HTML5 Video Editor (Beta) Improvements – We’ve added further refinements to the UI, added the ability to zoom-in-and-out of the timeline, edit mobile captures, as well as edit uploaded (single-stream) media. We also added editing compatibility with media that has an Audio Description tag. Related to this, we also provided interim clarification on the purpose of each editor type while we work to consolidate them into the HTML5 Editor.
- Improved Email Filtering and Toggles – We now provide Administrators with toggle on-off capabilities on all emails sent to users. We also added the ability to customize additional email templates including Live Stream invitations.
- Media Chooser Improvements – Resolved some issues with the LMS Media Extensions related to displaying incorrect thumbnails in some rare cases, as well as, showing media on the EnterpriseTube that cannot be embedded.
- Small Updates to the Media Player – We refined the placement of a few less frequently used controls including the Indicate Confusion and Toggle Full-Screen buttons to be within the Options sub-menu.
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January 13, 2018
United States Zones – Semi-Monthly Scheduled Release Successfully Deployed
General Platform HTML5 Player United States Zones Update Video EditorWe have successfully pushed an update to all physical zones residing in the United States. This product release includes:
- New Admin Panel Overview Cards – We continue to add new administrative and system alerts to the Admin Panel’s Overview tab. We also added new Overview Cards on Views, Live Stream and Video Classroom activity.
- New Artificial Intelligence Captioning Engine – This new engine is faster and more accurate. With this new engine, during the course of 2018 we will be adding new functionality capabilities. One of those, we included with this release: the ability to automatically redact profanity in captions and transcripts.
- Improvements to HTML5 Video Editor – As we continue to transition away from our legacy Flash-based Video Editor, we have improved the overall fit of the HTML5 Video Editor including operation within LMS platforms. In our subsequent release, we will be adding improved timeline navigation and zoom capabilities. Our current target is full migration of all capabilities during this quarter and we are currently on-target.
- Improvement to Network Sensing Algorithm in Media Player – Our original network quality sensing algorithm that detected which bitrate to use was overly pessimistic on initial load when streaming on broadband networks. The new algorithm now makes a more intelligent decision resulting in a better quality initial streaming experience.
- Improved Server-Side Logging of RESTFul API Calls – For institutions developing custom applications with our RESTFul API, YuJa’s Professional Services team now has enhanced internal logging capabilities to assist customers with any debugging or assistance that their agreement with us includes.
A total of 41 features, improvements, and fixes were released within this update. If you have questions on anything with this release, please do not hesitate to email support@yuja.com.
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December 23, 2017
Semi-Monthly Scheduled Release Successfully Deployed
Added Analytics General Platform HTML5 Player Improved Live Streaming Media Management Video EditorWe have successfully pushed an update to all zones. This release includes:
- Updated Content Analytics – The new Contents tab replaces the previous Insights tab with a host of new video analytics data including session-level data, user-level data, viewer technology (browser, device), segment viewership, session dates, and raw download capabilities. As new views trigger, you’ll see this new data be collected and aggregated. We also resolved a few bugs with the content analytics at the same time.
- Additional Admin Overview Panel Data – A newly introduced Views Summary Card provides an at-a-glance indicator of the number of video views in the last 30 days in your zone. We also refined the styling of the panel itself to gear up for new data from other sub-systems. Our next release (scheduled for mid-January 2018) will add some additional Summary Cards for active & upcoming Live Streams and Video Classroom usage.
- Refinements to Media Library Action Menu UI – The Action menu now appears as a hover event with the most frequently accessed items displayed as top-level menu items. Previously a Gear icon had to be clicked on to access this Action menu.
- Early Preview of HTML5 Video Editing – We’ve added a very early user preview of our upcoming HTML5 Video Editor. We caution that this should not be used for significant production workflows, however with the foundational (backend) work laid, we wanted users to be able to get a feel for what this new workflow will eventually look like. Keep in mind that the UI is not finalized and the functionality is very limited. Much more will be rolling out in a series of off-cycle and on-cycle Editor-only updates through 2017 and Q1 of 2018.
- New Group Management APIs – We added some new Courses and Group administration APIs to improve course management for those organizations connecting the Platform directly to an Student Information System (SIS) data feed.
- Improvement to Live Streaming – Improved user notification of live stream pause event and end-of-stream event. Also refined player branding, and browser-level compatibility improvements (mostly with legacy Microsoft IE and some versions of Microsoft Edge).
Additionally, we will be releasing an update to the Software Capture for Apple in the next 1-2 week that mirrors the popular look-and-feel of the PC Capture application’s confidence monitor UI, introduces the slider-style source toggling, and eliminates the requirement to create an initial profile to commence a capture. Through Q1 of 2018, the Apple Capture application will continue to introduce a number of features found on the PC Capture in a series of successive updates.
A total of 62 features, improvements, and fixes were released within this update. If you have questions on anything with this release, please do not hesitate to email support@yuja.com.
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August 12, 2017
Bi-Monthly Scheduled Release Successfully Deployed
Media Management Software Station for Apple Software Station for PC SSO Video Classrooms Video EditorWe have successfully pushed an update to all zones. This release includes:
- New branding elements to customize/hide channel names;
- Updates to both PC and Apple desktop captures to resolve some minor Single Sign On (SSO)
- Improved backend to the video editor for improved robustness in processing video edits. We will be further enhancing some of the visual capabilities in our September releases.
- New Blackboard Media Chooser Building Block (please request this from your Account Manager)
- Further improvements to the accessibility capabilities of the HTML5 Media Player
- New Sharing access type called Edit Access which provides essentially Full Access minus deletion rights to the user.
- Removal of the legacy JWPlayer and Flash-based media player which has been deprecated for the last 8 months.
We also released over 50+ smaller improvements and enhancements.
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June 17, 2017
Bi-Monthly Scheduled Release Successfully Deployed
Added Android App Fixed General Platform HTML5 Player Improved Media Management Update Video Editor Video QuizzesWe have successfully pushed an update to all zones. This release includes a refreshed Main Menu, more modern Institution->Devices tab, an updated Android app that resolved a number of device playback issues on recent devices (we will commence work on refreshing our iOS app in July for the same purpose), and updates to our Video Quizzes to use our branded HTML5 Player.
We also added over 50 features and fixes included the ability for authenticated users to download their digital notes and bookmarks as a PDF, improved performance and search within the Courses & Groups tab, the ability to better manage auto-generated PDFs and Audio Description tags.
We have some exciting features rolling out in phases this summer – stay tuned!
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June 3, 2017
Bi-Monthly Scheduled Release Successfully Deployed
Fixed General Platform HTML5 Player Media Management Video EditorWe have successfully pushed an update to all zones. This release includes a new Metadata tab within Institution that enables improved copyright association of media for library services and improved compliance with specific copyright rulesets. We also improved and refined some user experience workflows within Media Management, added multi-source audio (3+) capabilities within the HTML5 Player, improved slide insertion compatibility within the Video Editor, and 95+ other improvements and fixes.
Over the next few releases in June we will be adding new capabilities including a new and improved PC Software Capture desktop application, bookmark exporting capabilities, and exciting new media management features. We will also be consolidating and rationalizing capabilities including removal of the Group Messaging tab, Shared Files tab (since Media Management now allows enables full digital asset management), and Course Syllabus. If you are using these tabs, please contact your Account Manager to discuss alternate workflows.