TrueConf 8.5 for desktops OS: new interface, AI, and advanced messenger

Meet TrueConf 8.5, the latest update of our client apps for Windows, macOS, Debian, Ubuntu, and other Linux distributions.

We also held a webinar where we talked about the TrueConf 8.5 update

New AI: video as a virtual background

A new AI feature was introduced In addition to background blurring, virtual backgrounds and “speaker” over the content. Now you can use MP4 video files as a background. This will enhance audience engagement in any meeting, webinar, or online presentation.

New AI: document or whiteboard recognition

Users can now display the content of a flipchart or documents with a document camera. The built-in AI adjusts the camera feed if the whiteboard or document is skewed at some angle, and removes foreign objects from the frame.

Pointer

Use the Pointer tool to make it easier for other meeting participants to follow your presentation when you are sharing the screen. This tool will track the mouse cursor and help you draw other users’ attention to specific parts of the screen.

New UI

Make your meetings look better

Video conferences now have a more appealing outlook. Participants’ video windows are rounded which makes the UI more modern and visually attractive.

Besides, the lower control panel includes a button for posting a quick reaction (emoji).

Pop-up windows and notifications

We have also improved the appearance of notifications and pop-ups — now they fully match the updated application design.

Conferences section

The Conferences section was also substantially redesigned. The start page is now divided into three distinct sections where a user can:

• Create a quick conference
• Join an ongoing meeting
• Schedule a conference.

You can now start a quick conference just by clicking the “Start now” button. When the meeting begins, you can also quickly invite the participants from the address book.

By clicking the icon, you can change the settings of a quick conference before its start or change the default settings..

Besides, we have added the button which leads straight to the conference scheduler.

Upcoming meetings page

In the Conferences section, users can find the page with the list of meetings scheduled for the selected day. Unlike a usual calendar, we are using cards with the main information about each event.

Improved user profile and updated group chat profile

TrueConf 8.5 brings both visual improvements and more intuitive design for user profiles and group chat profiles. Now the call history, the list of files sent or received in the chat, and the list of group chat participants are organized into tabs for easier access.

Sign-in screen

It is much easier for users to log in to the application:

• We removed automatic connection to TrueConf Online cloud service
• In the application window, users can either sign in or quickly join a conference via a link.

To sign in to your company’s TrueConf Server, just enter your corporate email.

Advanced messenger

Chat pinning, folders, channels, and archive

TrueConf Server 5.5 makes it possible to pin selected chats, group them into folders and archive them. Besides, users can create corporate channels and mark chats as read/unread.

These features are fully available in desktop applications starting from TrueConf 8.5.

Folders

Channels

Chat pinning

Mark as read

Archive

Spell check

The built-in spell check will help users avoid mistakes in their messages: misspelt or unknown words will be highlighted in red.

Spell check is enabled by default and works for English.

Text links

With TrueConf desktops app, you can use text formatting to emphasize specific points or ideas; for example, the selected part of a message can be made bold, italicised, underlined or strikethrough.

TrueConf 8.5 enables users to attach hyperlinks to the text and make their messages more concise.

Improved @mentions

Now, a user mentioned with the help of @username or @trueconf_id will see the @ sign even if notifications had been previously muted for the selected chat.

With the @all command, you can mention all participants of a group chat.

Picture-in-picture for videos

Videos in the built-in player can now be minimized into a neat widget so that you can watch a video and continue using the application.

Grouping images

Compressed images sent in a one message are now grouped and sent in a single bundle with an optional text comment.

Unified emoji standard

On Windows and Linux, emojis are now displayed in the same style using the Noto Sans library. Earlier, the native font library of your OS was used to display emojis.

In addition, when up to three emojis are sent or received in a single chat message without any text, they will be displayed in a large format.

Viewing OpenDocument files

You can now open documents in ODP, ODT, ODG, and ODS formats directly in the chat of the desktop application on Windows and Linux without running third-party software.

Support for AV1 codec in video calls

The new version supports the AV1 codec for one-on-one calls, which helps to achieve high video quality even with a low bitrate and weak Internet connection.

Custom notification sounds

You can now upload your audio files and set them as sounds for incoming calls and other notifications. MP3, WAV, or M4A files with a maximum size of 5 MB are supported.

Other changes and improvements

• The Surveys section has been added to the menu (available when connected to TrueConf Server 5.5+)
• The output bitrate can now be changed directly during a call or conference in the Settings — Limits section
• If the connection is lost, you can now manually reconnect to TrueConf Server — the corresponding button will be displayed in a pop-up notification
• When a call or conference ends, users will see a pop-up window about the calls which were missed during the meeting
• It is now possible to manually select a noise suppression mode in the Settings — Audio section
• Links in the /c/conference_id format are recognized automatically and converted into hyperlinks
• All links that start with http/https are automatically converted to hyperlinks
• After the conference end, participants will receive a notification explaining why this meeting ended (it may be helpful when a conference is terminated abruptly due to some network error)
• Vertical orientation is supported for local conference recordings made with the desktop app
• The application for Windows allows users to capture a window with a full-screen PowerPoint presentation
• Persian localization.

For a complete list of updates, check our changelog.