Microsoft Stream – New Version Preview

What is Microsoft Stream?

Microsoft Stream is an Enterprise Video service that is included with our existing licensing with Microsoft. It allows people in an organization to upload, view, organize and share videos securely.

New Version Preview

A new version of Microsoft Stream is now available for early preview with added functionalities for video. The current version of Stream will now be known as Microsoft Stream or Stream (Classic) and the new version will be known as Microsoft Stream Preview or Stream (on SharePoint).

With the release of Stream Preview, College users can access added functionalities for video accessed from OneDrive and MS Teams. The new Stream Preview app can be found from the list of Microsoft Apps in the MyNC portal or, at the top of the current Stream homepage.  During the early preview, Microsoft Stream will continue to be available from Microsoft’s App Launcher after logging in to Office 365, or from the direct MS Stream link in MyNC. Stream and the new Stream Preview function independently, so any work done in either space will not affect the other. Until the formal migration is completed, videos stored in Stream will not be available through Stream Preview and vice versa.  

To learn more about specific features that are currently available and what updates are expected from Microsoft, please view the comparison chart, adoption considerations, and frequently asked questions below. 

Comparison Chart 

Stream Preview adoption considerations 

Stream Preview provides some new and unique opportunities, particularly around sharing videos with groups of students and advanced search features. However, Stream Preview does not offer all the features of the current Stream service. As Stream Preview receives more updates in the coming months, we look forward to updating the NC community on any added features. If you are considering whether to adopt the new Stream Preview service for Fall 2022, please use the following guide.  

Stream Preview may be a viable option if:,  

• You would like to record or share (as a link) accessible video privately with large classes or groups. The new, versatile sharing options in Stream Preview do not require adding students/colleagues manually. 
• There is a need to section longer videos into chapters or segments. Or, you would like students to have the option of searching what was said in shared videos to easily find pertinent information.  
• You are interested in more detailed video analytics, including users who watched the video, viewer trends over time, and data around which sections of your video were viewed.  

It may be beneficial to wait on adopting Stream Preview if,   

• Embedding videos is an expectation or requirement. The Stream Preview service does not yet have embedded video functionality. This feature is currently under development. 
• You provide videos to students with options to read transcripts in languages other than English. Generating transcripts and captions for videos where the spoken language is not English will be made available at a later date. 
• You would like to trim videos before sharing with viewers. The ability to trim the beginning or end of an uploaded video will be made available in future. 
• You use the Stream service to record videos of your desktop screen, browser windows, or specific applications. Capturing and automatic uploading of screening recordings is currently under development. However, this option is available when recording a Teams meeting. 

Stream Preview will continue to be available until it becomes the default video hosting and sharing service for Office 365. This leaves opportunities for Faculty to try or adopt the service later, when added feature updates make it a more course friendly solution. 

For additional information, please visit the Stream website.  New features for videos in Stream Preview are being released over time and are listed on the Stream roadmap. 

Frequently asked questions 

How can I access the early Stream Preview? 

Stream Preview will be available in two prominent places. First, you can access Stream Preview from the list of Microsoft apps in the MYNC portal. To find this list, 

1. Navigate to the MyNC portal webpage and log-in with your College credentials.  
2. Click More Applications.
3. Next, click the Microsoft O365 drop down link.
4. Select Stream Preview from the list of options. 

Secondly, Stream Preview can be accessed from the current Stream service, using a link at the top of the page.  

How can I upload a video to Stream Preview? 

1. Open the new Stream Preview app, found on the list of Microsoft Apps in the MyNC portal or, at the top of the current Stream homepage. 
2. On the Stream Preview landing page, click the Upload option in the top right of the page. 
3. A pop-up window will appear and allow you to select a video from your local computer.  
4. Once a selection is made, the video will begin uploading automatically.  
5. The video will open and play once it has uploaded. We encourage you to explore the Video options menu in the top right corner of this page. Aspects such as generating a transcript, adding chapters, or allowing comments are important to consider before sharing with students. 
6. Videos uploaded using Stream Preview can be accessed later from the main landing page of the app or in users’ OneDrive accounts.  

How can I share a video uploaded via the Stream Preview app? 

At the moment, videos uploaded through Stream Preview can only be shared as a link (which you can place in Blackboard) or an emailed link. For those who are familiar, the sharing process is similar to documents and files shared from OneDrive. To share a video, 

1. Open the new Stream Preview app, found on the list of Microsoft Apps in the MyNC portal or, at the top of the current Stream homepage. 
2. From the main Stream Preview landing page, locate the video you would like to share.  
3. Hovering your mouse over the selected video will illuminate the Share icon (the icon appears as an arrow). 
4. Click the Share icon to view sharing options. Users can choose between “Email, Copy Link, or Teams”.  
5. Choosing Email or Copy Link will open a pop-up window where users can choose: 
6. Who can access the video. 
7. What level of access they should have. For example, leaving Allow Editing unchecked will only allow viewing access. Those watching the video will only be able to view and share the video with others. Checking the Allow Editing box will enable viewers to also download and delete the video. 
8. Once you have chosen your sharing options, click Copy to copy the video link to your clipboard, or fill in the To: box and Send the video link via email. 

Please click here to learn more about file sharing in O365.  

What accessibility options are available to videos uploaded through Stream Preview?  

Along with the new Stream Preview app, Microsoft has made significant updates to the accessibility of videos stored in Office 365. Videos uploaded using Stream Preview, OneDrive, and MS Teams now include options to generate transcripts and captions, add a title and description to video files, and the ability to download a generated transcript or upload your own. To learn more about adding accessibility features to your videos in Office 365, please see the steps below.  

Transcript and Captioning  

Generating transcripts and captioning for a video follows a similar process, whether the video was uploaded through the new Stream Preview App, OneDrive, or MS Teams. To begin:, 

1. Open the new Stream Preview app, found on the list of Microsoft Apps in the MyNC portal or, at the top of the current Stream homepage. 
2. Find and open a video that you have uploaded or a shared video where you have edit permissions. (Videos uploaded via the Stream Preview App, OneDrive, or MS Teams will appear in the listing) 
3. Play the video to enable the Video options menu in the top right corner of the page 
4. Click Video settings from the list of options. 
5. Next, open the drop down for Transcript and captions. 
6. If you haven’t enabled a transcript for the video, then the option to Generate one will be available or, you can choose to Upload transcripts from a file on your computer (O365 video accepts WebVTT transcript files). 
7. Choose Generate if you would like O365 to create a transcript and captions for the video. Please note, the time it takes to generate a transcript and captions varies based on media length. 

Once the process is complete, your video will now include closed captioning during playback and a running transcript in a separate window. Viewers can toggle closed captions from the CC button in the bottom right of the video. The video’s running transcript can be found under the Video options menu (top right) by clicking the Transcript option. 

How do I add a title and description to my videos?  

Proper labelling is a key consideration when making accessible content. Videos uploaded through Stream Preview include the option for adding a video title and description. Filling in these elements will ensure that screen readers can access this valuable information and make it available to viewers. To begin:, 

1. Open the new Stream Preview app, found on the list of Microsoft Apps in the MyNC portal or, at the top of the current Stream homepage. 
2. Find and open a video that you have uploaded or a shared video where you have edit permissions. 
3. Play the video to open the Video options menu in the top right corner. 
4. Click About Video from the list of options. 
5. Fill in the Video title and Description boxes. 
6. Save before exiting. 

How do I edit generated transcripts and captions? 

Computer generated transcripts and captions continue to be more accurate than ever before. However, 100% accuracy is often unattainable without human intervention. Should you come across incorrect language in your video’s transcript or captions, you can correct mistakes and re-upload the transcript in a few short steps. Completing these steps can improve readability and understanding of your video content. To begin:, 

1. Open the new Stream Preview app, found on the list of Microsoft Apps in the MyNC portal or, at the top of the current Stream homepage. 
2. Find and open a video that you have uploaded or a shared video where you have edit permissions 
3. Play the video to open the Video options menu in the top right corner. 
4. Click Video settings from the list of options. 
5. Next, open the drop down for Transcript and captions. 
6. If you have already generated a transcript and captions for your video, a Download icon will appear within the drop-down options. The icon appears as a downward facing arrow. Click the download icon to download the video’s transcript file. (The default download location for the transcript file will be your downloads folder.) 
7. The .vtt transcript file can be edited using TextEdit on a Mac device or Notepad on PC.   
8. When you have completed edits to your transcript file, first use the delete icon to remove the old transcript file (the delete icon can be found to the right of the download icon and appears as a trash can). Then, use the Upload option to add the edited transcript file to the video. 

Once the process is complete, your video will now include accurate closed captioning during playback and in the transcript window. Viewers can toggle closed captions from the CC button in the bottom right of the video. The video’s running transcript can be found under the Video options menu (top right) by clicking the Transcript option. 

What other features are available? 

With the creation of a new Stream Preview app come added features to videos uploaded using Stream Preview, OneDrive and MS Teams. While some features are not yet available in the early preview, we would like to highlight the following useful additions. 

Features on the video playback screen. These options can be found on the Video options menu (top right) while watching a video. Note, you must be the video owner or be added to a video with edit permissions to change these options.  

Chapters 

Add chapters to make it easier for viewers to jump to the part they’re interested in. 

Comments 

Enable commenting on videos to house a class/group discussion or collect feedback. 

Features added to the video file. Not all newly added features can be found on the Video options menu (during playback). Functionalities like detailed video analytics, managing access, and video activity can be found by opening the location of your video and viewing the Details pane. To begin,  

1. Open the new Stream Preview app, found on the list of Microsoft Apps in the MyNC portal or, at the top of the current Stream homepage. 
2. Find a video that you have uploaded or a shared video where you have edit permissions. 
3. Below the title of the selected video, click the video location to jump to that folder (For example, Your OneDrive Files or a specific MS Team). 
4. Locate the video once more from the folder that appears and use the three vertical dots beside the video’s title to open the file menu.  
5. Choose Details from this menu 
6. From the Details pane, 
7. Click the number of views to view a breakdown of viewership by week. 
8. Click Manage Access to see who has viewed your video and disable any sharing links.  
9. Scroll to the Activity feed to see interactions relating to the video such as comments, edits, or sharing. 

Can I remove sharing access to videos uploaded through OneDrive, MS Teams or the new Stream Preview app? 

Yes! If you’re the video owner, you can remove access at any time. This applies to videos shared via email or a share link. Once access has been removed, even if students have the link, it will not take them to the video. Note: You can’t change individual permissions of a sharing link once it has been created or sent, only remove access to the video from the created link.