Model-driven apps can now be customized in Copilot Studio

Microsoft has announced the public preview of Copilot chat extensibility for model-driven apps. This innovative feature enables partners and customers to customize and enhance in-app chat functionality, creating a more context-aware experience tailored to meet the unique needs of their organization.

Here's how you can customize your model-driven apps:

- Leverage additional topics, knowledge sources, connectors, custom prompt guides, and more to tailor the Copilot experience to your organization's unique needs.

- Navigate to https://make.preview.powerapps.com/ in an early release environment.

- Open the model-driven app where you want to enhance Copilot chat.

- Click the ellipsis (...) in the left navigation bar and select Configure in Copilot Studio.

- You’ll be redirected to Copilot Studio with the appropriate agent ready for customization.

Visual Studio 2022 introduces Meter Histogram to analyze applications

Microsoft has introduced the Meter Histogram feature in the Visual Studio Profiler, offering developers a powerful way to analyze application performance. This new addition provides detailed insights into metrics, helping teams identify trends and optimize their code.

Capture & analyze data: Quickly understand application data distribution with histogram insights

Spot patterns & issues: Visualize data to identify and resolve performance anomalies.

Detailed Metrics: Simplify complex data with segmented graphs and metrics for pinpointing bottlenecks.

Empower Developers: Enable your team to optimize performance for efficient, high-quality software.

Code search in Visual Studio 2022 is now available for more efficiency

The new Code Search in Visual Studio 2022 makes navigating codebase faster and more efficient.

Jump to a specific line in any file: Quickly move to a specific line in your current file or another file with ease.

Navigate within the current document: Type : followed by the line number to instantly jump to that line in your active document.

Navigate across files: Specify a file name followed by : and the line number to locate a specific line in another document.

December 2024 update of Power Automate for desktop is now available

Stay up to date with the latest advancements in automation! The December 2024 update for Power Automate for desktop introduces exciting features and enhancements, empowering users to streamline workflows more efficiently than ever. Explore these updates and unlock new ways to boost productivity with automation.

Preview: Repair Flow Automation Errors

- Easily fix flow errors related to missing UI element selectors when running flows in attended or unattended mode from the cloud.
- Choose between Copilot-suggested fixes or manual repairs during the flow run.
- The feature is currently available in US-based environments for work or school accounts.

Preview: Dark Mode

- Power Automate for desktop now supports Dark Mode, giving your workflows a sleek new look.
- Enable it via the Settings menu in the console.

Download Power Automate for Desktop here.

Creating internal GitHub repositories for teams is now available in Visual Studio 2022

Collaboration just got easier for development teams with the ability to create internal GitHub repositories. This new feature allows teams to securely share and collaborate on projects within their organization, streamlining workflows and enhancing productivity. Discover how this capability can transform your team's development processes in Visual Studio.

Here’s what you need to know about this new feature:

- Seamless Integration: Developers can now align with their GitHub organization's guidelines more effectively while staying within the Visual Studio environment.

- New Visibility Option: In the "Create a Git Repository" dialog, a new Internal visibility option appears when using an account that supports internal repositories.

- Enhanced Guidance: Visual Studio now provides detailed explanations for each repository visibility type, helping you select the correct settings and ensure proper configuration from the start.

- Error Prevention: If you attempt to create a repository with incorrect visibility, the system will prevent the action—protecting your source code from unintended sharing.

- Streamlined Workflow: This feature eliminates the need to leave Visual Studio for repository creation, enabling developers to focus more on coding and less on managing repository settings.

Multilingual voice agents are now available in Dynamics 365 Contact Center

Microsoft simplifies customer support for multilingual audiences with the introduction of multilingual voice agents for contact centers. These advanced agents eliminate the need for separate bots for each language, reducing complexity and speeding up deployment. With seamless integration across messaging and voice interactions, businesses can now handle calls in multiple languages using a single, versatile bot, enhancing efficiency and improving customer experiences.

Here's what you can achieve with the new multilingual voice agents:

- Seamless Language Switching: Use a single phone number and effortlessly switch languages mid-call based on customer input.

- Unified Bot Management: Build and manage one bot in Copilot Studio that handles multiple languages, simplifying operations.

- Lower Total Cot of Ownership: Reduce maintenance complexity with centralized updates, eliminating the need for language-specific bots.

- Faster Deployment: Deploy updates and new features across all supported languages simultaneously, accelerating rollout times.

- Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: Provide a personalized experience by enabling customers to switch languages mid-call—no need to dial multiple phone numbers.

Visual Studio releases new non-blocking Code Cleanup feature

Microsoft Visual Studio continues to enhance developer productivity with its latest update, introducing non-blocking code cleanup for seamless workflows. This feature allows developers to maintain focus on coding while automatically applying style and formatting improvements in the background. With these updates, Visual Studio ensures a smoother, more efficient coding experience.

Experience a more streamlined workflow with the new non-blocking Code Cleanup feature in Visual Studio 22. Here’s how it enhances your productivity:

• Work Without Delays: Code Cleanup now runs in the background as you work, so you no longer need to wait for it to finish every time you save your progress.

• Responsive IDE: The cleanup process no longer locks up your IDE, ensuring it remains fully responsive for a smoother and uninterrupted user experience.

• Quick Edits on the Fly: Need to make changes mid-cleanup? Simply stop the process, edit, and save again to restart the cleanup on the updated code.

• Easy Setup: Enable Code Cleanup on save by navigating to Tools > Options > Text Editor > Code Cleanup and turning on Run Code Cleanup profile on Save for your preferred profile.

Microsoft Ignite 2024: Key Highlights You Can't Miss

Missed out on Microsoft Ignite 2024? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered! This year’s conference is focused on groundbreaking innovations in AI and security. Here are the key takeaways: 

Zero Day Quest: A Next-Level Hacking Event  

Microsoft announced Zero Day Quest, a first-of-its-kind hacking event focused on securing cloud and AI technologies. With a record-setting $4 million in rewards, this event will be the industry’s largest public hacking competition, taking place next year.

Copilot Studio: Revolutionizing Productivity 

Copilot Studio empowers businesses to create AI-driven agents that automate processes while giving IT teams the tools to manage, secure, and measure their impact. 

Exciting Updates in Copilot Studio: 

• Copilot Actions: 

Save time on repetitive tasks with AI-powered automation across Microsoft 365. From sending team status updates to compiling reports or scheduling emails, Copilot handles multi-step workflows with ease. 

• New Role-Specific Agents:

1. Facilitator Agent in Microsoft Teams: Helps moderate meetings, track follow-ups, and keep discussions focused. 

2. Project Manager Agent in Planner: Automates project workflows, creating plans and overseeing progress. 

3. Self-Service Agents: Enhance HR and IT teams with agents that provide instant answers to policy-related queries. 

4. SharePoint Agents: Built-in agents for SharePoint sites offer real-time insights from your knowledge base. 

• Build Your Own Agents: Customize agents tailored to your unique business needs using Copilot Studio. 

• Copilot Analytics: Track how Copilot impacts key business metrics like sales, marketing, and finance. Fine-tune agent performance to drive tangible outcomes. 

Advancements in Data Management 

Microsoft Fabric Databases 

Microsoft brings SQL Server natively to Fabric, providing an enterprise-data platform for batch, real-time, and transactional performance—all on a unified platform with open-source formats. 

AI-Powered Tools and Services 

Azure AI Foundry 

Microsoft builds its first-class app server, Azure AI Foundry, a unified platform for developing AI apps with integrated tools, safety features, and monitoring solutions. 

Azure AI Agent Service 

Microsoft releases a developer-focused tool for building data-grounded agents with 1,200+ connectors, enabling powerful action-oriented solutions. 

Enhanced Foundry Management Tools 

• AI Reports: Document and evaluate AI application use cases and performance. 

• Prompt Shields: Secure AI applications by detecting and blocking output manipulation. 

Microsoft Ignite 2024 unveiled an array of innovative tools and solutions designed to transform how businesses approach AI, security, and cloud computing. From powerful productivity features like Copilot Studio to groundbreaking advancements in Azure and AI technologies, these announcements promise to drive efficiency and innovation across industries. 

If you want to catch all the action and insights from the conference, you can watch the full Microsoft Ignite 2024 event here.