Microsoft Teams' whiteboarding feature has been significantly revamped. This major upgrade is aimed at making remote collaboration easier, ideal for teams working in different locations.

If you haven't used it before, Microsoft Whiteboard is an online collaboration tool that allows you to bounce ideas around with your team in a shared visual space. The tool can be used stand-alone or in conjunction with Microsoft Team's primary video conferencing capabilities.

As the full launch of Windows 11 approaches, Microsoft is revamping several apps and programs, and this upgrade to Microsoft Whiteboard is the latest. It adds an entirely new user interface, making the tool instantly accessible to newcomers. (Desktop and laptop users will notice that the app's marking tools and content creation menus have been separated for streamlining and overall ease of use. On mobile, by default, the creation panel and board controls are hidden to optimize display space, but are easily accessible at the touch of a button. In addition, larger, more colorful icons have been added to facilitate general navigation.

The update also adds 40 fully customizable templates designed to be used in common group project scenarios. A new sticky note feature has been added. These come in 12 shades of color and can be assigned to specific users, so you can see at a glance who came up with the idea.

Further improvements include the ability to add images and shapes to Microsoft Whiteboard projects. Further improvements have also been made to the digital marking system, including new highlighter color options and marker thickness. A new ink-based shape recognition feature has also been added, so that even if you draw a slightly snaky line, Whiteboard will convert it into a perfectly straight line.

This is quite a substantial upgrade, and these improvements are sure to be warmly welcomed by teams that use Microsoft Whiteboard regularly. will be refreshed.