Microsoft Teams for ESU

Microsoft Teams is now being rolled out to students of Emporia State to utilize! Teams is a speedy and productive communication tool for students, faculty, and staff to use! We have been going through all of the options that could be a valuable tool to incorporate within the class and office. We will be going through all of the basics of what you need to know, walkthroughs to follow along with, and screen recordings to make things a little easier. 

Downloading and Logging in

The first thing you would need to do is download Teams for your device, whether it be an application on your phone or your personal computer. To download Teams, you would paste “esutechsite.com/teams” in your URL bar at the top of your browser. Click “Get Teams”, you’ll then be taken to a Microsoft page that will detect the appropriate version for your device, then click “Download Now”. Run the installer or follow the prompts for your device.

Now that you have Teams, it’s time to log in. When prompted, enter yourusername@emporia.edu, even if you don’t have an @emporia.edu email account. Yes, use @emporia.edu, even if you don’t have an @emporia.edu email address. In Microsoft Land, it’s just part of your account. And remember you can’t use your @g.emporia.edu address--that's Google services only. And that’s it, you are not all set to begin using Microsoft Teams at ESU.

Creating a Group

Microsoft Teams is a tool for securely chatting, video calling, and collaborating with your group, team, or other students. You can chat with one, two, or as many ESU users as you’d like. But for ESU groups and student organizations, we can set up a special team that has your members preloaded for you. 

This is called a SharePoint Group for students. In addition to maintaining a list of group members, your SharePoint Group will also provide online file storage for hosting any files you share within Teams. To request a SharePoint Group, go to esutechsite.com/teams, and select "Teams for Students". Scroll down to Groups. Click “Request a SharePoint Group for Students”. Only advisors or organizational leadership should make requests.

Once your request is approved by the Center for Student Involvement, you’ll be able to access your new Group by clicking the “Teams” Icon from the left-hand menu bar within the Teams application. Once we’ve set up your Group, you can add or remove membership through the web portal or via the IT Help Desk!

Video Calling

You can do a video call with one, two, or as many ESU students as you’d like. Simply click the “New Chat” icon. Enter the name or username of the user or users you’d like to call.

You can video call an individual or add as many users to your group call as you’d like. With one click, you can start a video call with your entire group! And if you or your users don’t have a webcam, they can still join via audio. With Microsoft Teams, you have on click communication with individuals--however, you prefer to collaborate. 

Sharing Files

Sharing files is easy within Teams, start a new chat or go to an existing one. Or if you are an ESU group or organization, click "Teams" and then go to your group. Now, click the paper clip icon and select the file you’d like to share. Type a message if you’d like, then click the “send” icon. 

That’s it! Now that you have shared the file within anyone in that chat or Group.

To see your previously shared files, click "Files" at the top of the chat window. 

Chat + History

You can chat with any ESU user that you would like, simply click on the “New Chat” icon. Enter the name or username of the user or users you’d like to chat with.

You can chat individually, or add as many ESU users to your chat as you’d like. Now that you have added your users, it’s time to talk! Start typing, send them an emoji, send them a file--whatever you’d like.

And the best part, your chat history is retained from day one. You’ll never have to wonder if you shared that file or remembered to share a message--it’s all there to search or scroll through. We like to say it goes back to the beginning of time--at least the time you started using teams!

The Web Version

Teams is available for Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android but it’s also available from your web browser, and here’s how you can get to it. Go to esutechsite.com/teams and click "Login". Enter your username in the form of username@emporia.edu. 

Yes, use @emporia.edu, even if you don’t have an @emporia.edu email address. In Microsoft Land, it’s just part of your account. And remember you can’t use your @g.emporia.edu address--that Google only. Once you’ve entered your username, enter your ESU password. 

And that’s it, the web-based version of Teams will load and you’re all set to begin chatting, calling, and collaborating!

As always if you have any questions regarding anything tech related

IT After Hours: Mario Kart Goes Mobile

Welcome to the very first post of the IT After Hours series! This blog series will cover technology-related topics that we enjoy once our office closes and our academics are taken care of. From games and apps to entertainment technology advancements, this is your number one spot for all things innovative and fun!

The beloved game that brought us the joy of red turtle shells and the despair of Rainbow Road is now in your pocket. Mario Kart has been available for iOS pre-order for some time now, but the day of download has finally come. On Wednesday, September 25th at 2:00 a.m. Mario Kart Tour became available to mobile devices across the globe.

Getting Started

The app is free to play, but requires you to register a Nintendo account; either linking a current account or creating a new one. You are then introduced to your first character, kart, and glider by "shooting them from the pipe." This is a new mechanic similar to mystery boxes seen in other games, where players can pay with in game currency (available to earn or purchase) to receive a random item.

Controls

The steering mechanics are also different from other racing games; there is no joystick, or any buttons for that matter. The kart accelerates automatically, leaving the power-ups and steering to you. The steering is powered by moving your finger back and forth on the screen, and led by a shadowed arrow in front of the kart. The power-ups are then triggered by a simple tap of the screen. However, to aim your power up, let's say a banana peel (which typically is only left behind the kart,) simply swipe forward and the banana peel will be thrown in front of the kart.

Around The World

The game features a "tour" aspect that allows the player to compete in different tracks inspired by real cities. The cities will cycle every two weeks, allowing the players to race around the world. The first stop on the tour is New York, as shown below in the trailer.

The app has already taken off around campus, with many students already racing their way to the trophy. "It really brings me back to my childhood, me and my dad used to play all the time." Grant Buchanan, a sophomore at Emporia State remarked. A multiplayer option is coming soon, which will allow you to play and compete with friends and opponents of your choosing; but until then random racers and automated bots
are your only option.

Tyler Parker
Social Media & Marketing Student Assistant
Web & Digital Strategies

Eerie or Revolutionary? You Decide.

Google announced Google Duplex during the Google I/O 2018. This is a new revolutionary technology that allows your AI personal assistant to conduct natural conversations and carry out “real world” tasks over the phone.

Imagine telling your Google Assistant to complete tasks such as scheduling hair salon appointments, or even booking a table at a restaurant. The system is very well developed and conversations between a fully automatic computer system and real businesses sound natural and human like. This is a huge leap in Artificial Intelligence technology as the assistant can understand complex sentences, fast speech, and long remarks, so it can respond naturally in a phone conversation

It will positively impact businesses who regularly schedule clients like doctors and lawyers and could have the A.I. do that on their behalf. Small businesses can also benefit, as research shows that 60 percent of small businesses who rely on customer bookings don’t have an online booking system, according to Google’s blog.

Final release dates are yet to be announced, and is most likely to arrive first in the Google Pixel phones.

For more information see what Google has to say; eerie or revolutionary? You Decide.

Saandhyarag Sasidhar
Student Operations Manager
Web and Digital Strategies

Youtube Signature Devices 2019

YouTube recently released a list of nineteen Signature Devices for 2019, that are able to deliver the
best-in-class YouTube viewing experience. Some of the factors that they took into consideration were:

1. High dynamic range support
2. Reliable DRM performance
3. 4K decoding
4. 360° video
5. High frame rate
6. Next generation VP9 codecs

+ Samsung Galaxy Note 9

+ Xperia XZ2 Premium
+ U12+
+ OnePlus 6
+ G7 ThinQ
+ Xiaomi Mi 8
+ Xperia XZ2 Compact
+ Xperia XZ2
+ Nokia 8 Sirocco
+ Mi Mix 2S
+ Samsung Galaxy S9
+ Samsung Galaxy S9+
+ Google Pixel 2
+ Google Pixel 2 XL
+ Huawei Mate 10 Pro
+ Samsung Galaxy Note 8
+ LG V30
+ Samsung Galaxy S8
+ Samsung Galaxy S8+

The following devices demonstrate the latest in video technology, and can enjoy vivid 4K HDR videos, immersive 360° video, and fast video load times - all while using less bandwidth.

However, you would have noticed by now that no iPhones have been mentioned in this honorary report. Now, it would be wise to take this report with a grain of salt, as Google owns the Android platform, the YouTube platform, and has designed the highly optimized VP9 codecs that give you the above mentioned abilities.
Apple doesn’t support the VP9 codec, and this is why Safari users don’t have the option to watch 4K footage on YouTube.

Although, this wouldn't make a huge difference while purchasing new hardware, it would definitely be making the rounds in the new device marketing.

Saandhyarag Sasidhar
Student Operations Manager
Web and Digital Strategies

Google Begins Rolling out Android P for Beta Users

It's here! Google's next iteration of their mobile operating system has started rolling out through their Beta Program. What does this mean exactly? Well, typically it means the update itself is just around the corner. For us, the devoted Android users, they're bringing in major features such as notch support for the beautiful bezelless phones that companies have been producing this past year.  There are other major UI features such as  narrow top menus, design overhauls and in general a cleaner looking environment. Other big additions were the inclusion of neural network API's (which Google is big on), and other major security updates.

But wait. This Android update brings some bad news with it too. As of this revision, Google has announced that the Nexus series of devices will no longer be getting updates, marking the end of that series. This means it's time for Android users to seriously consider upgrading now.  If you're an Apple user, well, you just need to sit back, relax, and hope Apple doesn't slow your phone down.

-Warrick Rodgers, Student Web Developer (and Android user)