Will TeamSpeaks Windows 11 facelift be enough to dethrone Discord?

Date:
Mon, 11 Oct 2021 13:49:41 +0000

Description:
The new version of TeamSpeak has Discord firmly in its sights, boasting a major UI redesign and more.

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TeamSpeak, an old-school voice chat app for gamers which has been around for the best part of two decades, has just pitched up on the Microsoft Store in Windows 11 with an all-new look.

As MS Poweruser points out (via Deskmodder ), the fresh incarnation of the software is a new electron app which replaces the old UWP version (previously available on Windows 10 ). How to run your old PC games on Windows 10 Here
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The new TeamSpeak app (informally known as TeamSpeak 5, with the current version being 3) still works with Windows 10 , mind, and its currently in closed beta, with development being an ongoing process. You can download and install it even if you arent in the beta, but you wont have access to certain functions (like global chat) until youre signed up for the beta.

TeamSpeak differentiates itself from rivals like Discord on several key points, notably audio quality and streamlined resource usage.

With TeamSpeak 5, the developer notes : We have added machine-learning background-noise cancellation, advanced voice detection, multi-track recording, in-line pink noise filters and a whole host of other audio improvements. Thats paired with 384Kbps audio quality, and a fully overhauled interface to boot.

The UI has been completely redesigned to deliver whats described as the most easy-to-use communication experience on the market, and its easy to resize
the various panels, for example, plus there are a bunch of visual (and otherwise) customization options (the latter has always been a strong suit
for TeamSpeak). Analysis: Promising progress but when will the improved TeamSpeak launch?

The new TeamSpeak seems to be doing a lot to tackle its perceived
deficiencies when compared to Discord and its already attractive to a core group of gamers whove stuck with it for a long time, including those who prefer a simpler and more no-nonsense approach to some of Discords frills.

As mentioned above, part of the attraction of TeamSpeak is that its less resource hungry, and that it has great voice quality with a high level of reliability. Plus some see it as a much more secure option compared to
Discord (the new TeamSpeak promises end-to-end encrypted, 100% secure global messaging).

Clearly, the new version is about catching up with Discord in many ways, and getting fresh gamers into the fold. The chat options and improved interface are a big part of that, because the shortcomings on the UI front were a roadblock to more casual users. TeamSpeak currently offers a lot of fine control to users, but its fiddlier and more difficult to work with than something like Discord, which is an issue that could definitely do with being addressed in terms of attracting a wider audience for the app.

The TeamSpeak 5 beta has been running for a couple of years now, and theres
no ETA for a full release yet. Hopefully this appearance on Windows 11 is a positive sign in terms of progress being made, and it certainly looks like TeamSpeak is headed in the right direction even if some beta testers are frustrated about how long it seems to be taking to get things together for
the new version. Still, better to get it right, than rush things out... Best free PC games : play more for less



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/will-teamspeaks-windows-11-facelift-be-enough-t o-dethrone-discord/


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