To make video conferencing more user-friendly, Microsoft is incorporating popular filters from Snapchat into Teams. Enough to liven up work meetings with more or less tasteful visual effects…
Obviously, relations between Snapchat and Microsoft are once again in good shape! After refusing to develop an application dedicated to Windows Phone, the social network did not hesitate to remove third-party Snapchat applications offered in Microsoft’s official store and to lock the accounts of those who used them. Suffice to say, it came as a surprise when the social network was finally activated in the Microsoft Store at the end of 2022 as a Progressive Web App (PWA) – this allows it to run like a native app on Windows. The collaboration continues as Teams now hosts more than twenty Snapchat filters, as announced in Microsoft’s blog post. Something to make meetings more fun!
Snapchat Lense for Teams: filters to lighten the mood
Teams users will soon be able to add cat ears, a teddy bear on their shoulders, a cuddling sloth or a chicken on their head! Microsoft is gradually rolling out more than 20 popular Snapchat filters to Teams for Work users in the classic version of its video conferencing platform this week – it will take some time until they are available in Teams 2.0. As a reminder, the filters (Lens) allow users to add augmented reality (AR) effects to video calls, making them more entertaining. It is thus possible to transform into a cartoon character or change the background to a whimsical backdrop.
“If you’re meeting a new team member for the first time, or want to spark creativity on a project, use a lens to put square glasses on your face, add a snowy background, or turn your colleague into a horse. It relaxes the atmosphere, creates bonds and puts everyone at ease”, says Microsoft. There’s no need to download anything or add a new app since the filters are by default in the video conferencing client thanks to the integration of Camera Kit, Snapchat’s software development kit (SDK) .
To activate the filters before entering the meeting, click on “Video effects”, then “More video effects”. Then, you have to scroll down in the right pane and click on “Snapchat”, in the “Filters” category. All that remains is to select the one of your choice and then click on “Join now”. To activate one in the middle of a meeting, click on “More” at the top of the screen, then on “Video effects”. Then, you have to go to “Filters”, then click on “Snapchat”. It remains only to choose the desired filter – it is possible to preview before applying it. Of course, it’s completely optional!