Webex - Blur my Background Feature

[stevenle]

So Zoom / MS Teams has a blur my background feature during video calls. We're a Webex organization though and I don't currently see this feature for Webex. Looking in the desktop app and over the web, the option to do this doesn't jump out at me. Teams / Zoom have had this feature for a while. Would be poor on Webex's part to not have some type of feature like this. Definitely comes in handy now with everyone for the most part working remotely. We're Cisco Webex Meetings Desktop app version is 39.7.7.27.

Anyone know if this feature is available?

[mohamah2]

I have the latest Webex version 40.7.6.10 and Mac OS High Sierra 10.13.6, but dont see the option to change background or blur. Any suggestion?

[Ashish Patel]

Hi this is an external forum.
It could be due to your machine specification. Please check below you match the required specs. Please post future messages internally.
https://help.webex.com/en-us/80jduab/Use-a-Virtual-Background-in-Webex-Meetings-Events-and-Training#id_123357

Thanks

ashish

[Elder Arias]

WBS40.6 release now has: Blur Video Background on Mac

Cisco Webex Meetings Desktop App Enhancements

Blur Video Background on Mac

You can now blur the background of your webcam video when joining meetings and events from the Webex Meetings desktop app from a Mac. This gives you more privacy and removes distracting elements from your surroundings as you participate in video meetings.

Try this new feature, available only for macOS version 10.14 or later, on devices with processors that have more than two cores (for iMacs, version 12.2 or later)!

This feature along with virtual backgrounds will be available on Microsoft Windows in an upcoming update, so stay tuned!

https://help.webex.com/en-us/xcwws1/What-s-New-for-the-Latest-Versions-of-Webex-Meetings#id_135799

[Kathy N.]

We had one of our Desktop Support tech's upgrade Webex on his MacBook Pro with version 10.15.5 and Quad Core i7 processor and he does not see the blur my background feature in the Preview window or as an option after joining the meeting.  Is there something else that needs to be done to enable this feature or do I need to open a TAC case?

[SiliconRichard]

What version of Webex do they have?

I checked my version and was given this note: Cisco Webex Meetings 40.4.10.8 is currently the latest version available.

[Kathy N.]

They went online and said they found version 40.6.2.13 for Mac's and installed it.  

[Kathy N.]

Another update from the user:  His version of Webex Meetings is 40.6.2.13 but when a meeting launches the meeting window is a separate app that is also called Webex Meetings and is version 40.4.12.8.  How do we upload the meetings app that the meeting is held in?

[SiliconRichard]

On a Mac they click the icon and it should give them the option to check for updates on the toolbar

See below

Also, upgrades happen on a rolling basis. If you join a meeting for a site on 40.4 you run 40.4, whatever site that is will have to be upgraded to 40.6 (per rollout schedule) before the feature is available.

Here is how to check the schedule: https://status.webex.com/maintenance?lang=en_US

Here is how to check the cluster: https://help.webex.com/en-us/ryj3lf/Check-the-Cluster-Your-Cisco-Webex-Site-Is-On-in-Cisco-Webex-Site-Administration

[Fritz_H]

I guess we all agree that Cisco has to deliver this feature quickly - on every supported platform.
(not just on iOS/MacOS-Devices since more than 85% of the world is not using that.)

Problem is: Cisco is not listening to this forum, I guess.
Is there any way to communicate with Cisco other than opening a case?
(is there something like a feature-request-forum?)

Thanks.

Fritz

[Fritz_H]

Update to my own posting:
Obviously Cisco is listening to this forum and to suggestions since.. 
* there is new User-Forum:  https://community.cisco.com/t5/webex-user-community/ct-p/webex-user
* and a place for your ideas and suggestions: https://ciscocollabcustomer.ideas.aha.io/

Fritz

[prestm001]

I'll assume Cisco has a WebEx Product team and the blur function has been requested forever (just like background changes).

Google Duo, MS Teams and Zoom all have blur or even virtual backgrounds.

Hopefully WebEx finally catches up to these other products and we really shouldn't need to fill out some silly user request form. The WebEx Product team should have been tracking this long ago.

[skilambi]

Yep on the roadmap hoping some good he’s by Q2 in Mac and soon on windows both blur and wallpapers. Definitely recognized by Cisco as needed

[david.stearns]

So what is the timeline to get this implemented into the Windows version for both the blur option and background? 

[david.stearns]

Need this sooner than later ....all the other platforms already included the free ones......

[SiliconRichard]

Greetings everyone!

As some have commented, we do have a feature request portal.

For this particular request, you may find it here: https://ciscocollabcustomer.ideas.aha.io/ideas/WXCUST-I-5

If you vote and comment you will be looped into updates that may come in.

Once a new release happens for Webex Meetings, you can find out what's new and the release notes here: https://help.webex.com/ld-nyw95a4-CiscoWebexMeetings/Webex-Meetings#What-s-New-Release-Notes

Cheers,

Richard

[Fritz_H]

@prestm001 

I fully agree that having a feature is better than missing it.

But honestly: have you ever seen anyone in the media (CNN, BBC, Bloomberg, euronews etc.)

using these background-features during interviews?

[DerekD]

---

@Fritz_H wrote:

@prestm001 

I fully agree that having a feature is better than missing it.

But honestly: have you ever seen anyone in the media (CNN, BBC, Bloomberg, euronews etc.)

using these background-features during interviews?

---

Doesn't CNN/CNBC/FOX/MSNBC/others use them all the time?  Isn't just about every panelist/individual interview, think 3 people split screen in remote places, where they have the aerial landscape picture of city they are supposedly in done via a "virtual" background (i.e. green screen)?  Granted, total different technologies but same idea and need.

[Fritz_H]

@DerekD 
I don´t know about US-media but in Europe all those video-interviews with Dr. "X" or Professor "Y" regarding the latest Corona-news are done without any background-fx.

[DerekD]

Sorry.  Here is a screen shot I took of what I am talking about.  In looking for an example, I will note that this practice has appeared to have changed in recent weeks with COVID-19 since participants can't go into a local TV studio for the green screen.

[Fritz_H]

@DerekD 
Thanks for your screenshot.

I am pretty sure that those 4 people are in some kind of studio since they are perfectly lit and there are no blurred edges around their heads.

Allow me to offer some other screenshots with different quality-levels. (see attachment)

kind regards

Fritz