Connect web app release notes

This topic describes the new features and fixed issues in the current and previous supported releases of the Connect web app:

What's new?

New in v30 web app

Following are the new features and changes in the Connect web app in Pexip Infinity version 30:

Feature Description More information
New features
Presentation audio support

The Connect web apps now support sharing audio when you share your screen in a conference.

When you select Share my screen, there is a new option to Share system audio (if you share your entire screen), or Share tab audio (if you share a browser tab).

Supported on Chrome and Edge browsers only. On Mac and Linux, you can only share audio from a browser tab. On Windows you can share either system audio or browser tab audio.

 Using Connect apps to share content
Updated Connect web app

A new release of the Connect web app, "Pexip Connect for Web", is now available. This release includes:

  • an updated user interface
  • revised join flows — one for regular users, and one for less experienced or "guest" users that guides them through their pre-call setup
  • background replacement
  • native support for over 20 languages; additional languages can be added by an Administrator
  • simplified branding
  • noise suppression
  • improved troubleshooting

  • WCAG 2.0 compliance (for accessibility)

  • integrated support for upcoming new Pexip Infinity features.

Administrators can choose which version of the Connect web app is offered to users by default via the Global Settings page. Note that this has resulted in a change in functionality around the how the default web app is determined, and the preconfigured URLs used to access the web app.

Additionally, users themselves can elect to use a specific web app version by appending /webapp1/, /webapp2/ or /webapp3/ to the IP address or domain name of a Conferencing Node (or reverse proxy), for example:
https://meet.pexample.com/webapp3/

 Using Pexip Connect for Web

Fixed issues

Fixed in v30 web app

There were no significant user-facing fixes in this release.

Known limitations

Ref # Limitation
19889 When using the Connect web app in a browser on a mobile device in landscape mode, in some cases the video and presentation is cropped. To work around this, we recommend using the Connect mobile apps on mobile devices.
18119 Long display names are truncated when there is space available to show the full name.

What's new in previous versions

New in v29 web app

Following are the new features and changes in the Connect web app in Pexip Infinity version 29:

Feature Description More information
Presentation content defaults to full motion HD Incoming presentation content is now viewed in full motion HD video by default. The user can switch to the previous default behavior of a series of still images / JPG format if required. Using the Connect web app

New in v28 web app

Following are the new features and changes in the Connect web app in Pexip Infinity version 28:

Feature Description More information
Change layout during a conference and show/hide participant names

Host participants can use a new Change layout option in the side panel's Control menu. This lets you dynamically change the layout used during a conference to any of the support layout options, and to toggle the display of participant names.

 Using the Connect web app
Chat messages indicator

A visual indicator is displayed when a new chat message is received. It is displayed against the Events tab If the side panel is open and showing the participant list, or above the button used to show the side panel if the side panel is closed.

  or 

Using the Connect web app
Push spacebar to talk If a participant has muted themselves, they can press and hold down their keyboard spacebar to temporarily unmute themselves. This does not apply if the participant has been administratively muted. Using the Connect web app
Customize the participant list sort order The participant list can be customized to be sorted alphabetically via a new sortAttendeesAlphabetically application setting (instead of the order that the participants joined). Advanced Connect app branding and customization

New in v27 web app

Following are the new features and changes in the Connect web app in Pexip Infinity version 27:

Feature Description More information
New features
Background blur Individual participants that are using a Chrome, Edge or Firefox browser on a desktop device with hardware acceleration enabled can now blur their own local background on the image they send to a conference. Using the Connect web app
Allowing Far End Camera Control (FECC) on your own camera Individual participants can enable their own local camera for Far End Camera Control (FECC) i.e. they can allow their own camera to be controlled (pan/tilt/zoom) by a remote participant (typically another Connect app user). Using the Connect web app
Controlling a remote camera via the keyboard When controlling a remote camera, as well as using a mouse on the Camera Control overlay, you can now also use your keyboard arrow and + or - keys, to pan, tilt and zoom the camera at the far end. Using the Connect web app
Receiving a presentation stream as part of the layout mix

When receiving presentation content in an Adaptive Composition layout, the presentation stream is now shown as part of the layout mix (replacing some of the other video participants), providing the client is receiving video at a medium or higher bandwidth setting (otherwise it is displayed as one large separate stream).

You can toggle the presentation content between the "in mix" and "separate" streams via the new maximize and reset buttons in the bottom-right corner of the presentation.

 Using the Connect web app
Support for participant authentication Support has been added for Pexip Infinity's new participant authentication feature, whereby participants attempting to access an individual Virtual Meeting Room (VMR) or Virtual Auditorium can be required to verify their identity using Single Sign On (SSO) before joining the meeting.  
Changes in functionality
Additional browser support on iOS The web app on iOS devices is now supported on Chrome, Firefox and Edge browsers, in addition to Safari.  
Changes to toolbar icons

Some of the icons used in the toolbar have changed:

  • The icons to float and reset the video window have changed from and to and respectively.
  • The icons to view a presentation in a separate window and close the separate window have changed from and to and respectively.
 Using the Connect web app
The wizardOnFirstRun customization option is no longer supported The wizardOnFirstRun customization option in the settings.json branding file is no longer supported.  

Fixed issues in previous versions

Fixed in v29.3 web app

Ref # Resolution
31169 Resolved an issue where Webapp2 users who switched between the web app join screen and another tab experienced frozen audio and video.

Fixed in v29.2 web app

This version was released internally to Pexip only.

Fixed in v29.1 web app

Ref # Resolution
29758 Fixed an issue where users may have encountered an "Invalid Call" error when using the "Invitation Card" feature of the web app.
29269 Fixed an issue where the "Stop Sharing" button in Firefox browsers did not work.

Fixed in v29 web app

There were no significant user-facing fixes in this release.

Fixed in v28 web app

Ref # Resolution
22967 All references to Adobe Flash have now been removed from the Connect app codebase.

Fixed in v27 web app

Ref # Resolution
26382 Browser requests for access to camera and mic will no longer time out, improving usability for first-time users.
25929 When the web app is used on Safari on iOS 15.1 devices, we will force the use of VP8. This is a workaround to an iOS issue which Apple have resolved in iOS 15.2.