Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – April 19, 2024

1 New update

Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are available to all Google Workspace customers, and are fully launched or in the process of rolling out. Rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete if launching to both Rapid and Scheduled Release at the same time. If not, each stage of rollout should take no more than 15 business days to complete.


Enhancing search within the Google Drive app on Android devices
Last month, we introduced numerous improvements to the Google Drive search experience on iOS devices. Today, we’re excited to announce that these enhancements will be available on Android devices as well. | This feature is available for Rapid Release domains and is rolling out now to Scheduled Release domains. | Available to Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Learn more about finding files in Google Drive. 




Previous announcements

The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.


Build a Dialogflow CX Google Chat app that understands and responds with natural language 
The enhanced Dialogflow CX, now generally available, provides a new way of designing virtual agents by taking a state machine approach to agent design. Now, developers have clear and explicit control over a conversation, enjoy a better end-user experience, and gain access to an improved development workflow. | Learn more about Dialogflow CX Google Chat apps.


Dark mode now available in Google Drive web 
We’ve introduced a highly requested feature: Dark mode in Drive on web. This new setting aims to provide you with a more comfortable, customizable viewing experience for Drive. | Learn more about dark mode.


Launch the FigJam whiteboard app directly from Google Meet Series One Board 65 and Desk 27 devices 
You can now launch FigJam both in and out of an active Meet call from the Series One Board 65 and Desk 27 devices. | Learn more about the FigJam whiteboard app.


Use annotations to enhance your presentations in Google Meet 
We’ve introduced annotation tools in Google Meet. Presenters and their appointed co-annotators can use these tools to highlight content or make other notations over presented content. Annotations will be on by default when you begin presenting — you can open the annotations menu to access various tools such as a pen, disappearing ink, sticker, text box, and more. | Learn more about annotations. 


Promote space members to space managers using the Google Chat API 
You can now use the Chat API to promote space members to space managers. | Learn more about managing members using the Chat API. 


Available in beta: automatically log Google Voice calls made to Salesforce contacts 
We’re introducing a beta integration between Google Voice and Salesforce that makes it easier to track details of calls made in Voice. | Learn more about logging Google Voice calls made to Salesforce contacts. 


Google Chat apps can now subscribe to event notifications 
Google Workspace developers registered in our Developer Preview Program have been able to build Chat apps that can subscribe to Chat events using the Google Workspace Events API. We’re pleased to announce that as of today, this functionality is now available to all Workspace developers. | Learn more about Chat apps subscribing to event notifications. 


Now generally available: Chat interoperability between Google Chat and other messaging platforms 
At Google Cloud Next 2023, we announced interoperability between Google Chat, Microsoft Teams and Slack— powered by Mio and previously available to Workspace customers through a Beta program. We’re pleased to announce that as of today, this solution is generally available for Google Workspace customers. | Learn more about the interoperability of Google Chat.


Completed rollouts

The features below completed their rollouts to Rapid Release domains, Scheduled Release domains, or both. Please refer to the original blog posts for additional details.


Rapid Release Domains: 
Scheduled Release Domains: 
Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains: 

For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).   





Chrome Stable for iOS Update

Hi everyone! We've just released Chrome Stable 124 (124.0.6367.71) for iOS; it'll become available on App Store in the next few hours.

This release includes stability and performance improvements. You can see a full list of the changes in the Git log. If you find a new issue, please let us know by filing a bug.

Erhu Akpobaro
Google Chrome

Chrome Dev for Desktop Update

The Dev channel has been updated to 126.0.6423.2 for Windows, Mac and Linux.

A partial list of changes is available in the Git log. Interested in switching release channels? Find out how. If you find a new issue, please let us know by filing a bug. The community help forum is also a great place to reach out for help or learn about common issues.

Srinivas Sista
Google Chrome

Now generally available: Chat interoperability between Google Chat and other messaging platforms

This announcement was part of Google Cloud Next ‘24. Visit the Workspace Blog to learn more about the next wave of innovations in Workspace, including enhancements to Gemini for Google Workspace.

What’s changing

At Google Cloud Next 2023, we announced interoperability between Google Chat, Microsoft Teams and Slack— powered by Mio and previously available to Workspace customers through a Beta program. We’re pleased to announce that as of today, this solution is generally available for Google Workspace customers. 


Interoperability will enable organizations that use Google Chat and other messaging platforms within their domain to provide a more seamless experience for their users.




Getting started

  • Admins: Learn more about Mio and visit the Mio Help Center for more information.
  • End users: There is no end user action required.

Rollout pace


Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers. Note that separate Mio licensing is required to enable interoperability.


Google Chat apps can now subscribe to event notifications

This announcement was part of Google Cloud Next ‘24. Visit the Workspace Blog to learn more about the next wave of innovations in Workspace, including enhancements to Gemini for Google Workspace.


What’s changing

Google Workspace developers registered in our Developer Preview Program have been able to build Chat apps that can subscribe to Chat events using the Google Workspace Events API. We’re pleased to announce that as of today, this functionality is now available to all Workspace developers.


Chat apps can receive events about the following types of changes in Google Chat:

  • New memberships
  • New or removed reactions to a message
  • New, updated, or removed members in a space
  • Changes to a space, such as the space name or description

Subscribing to these notifications allows Chat apps to respond to important actions in real-time. For details, see subscribe to Google Chat events in the Google Workspace Events API documentation.


Getting started


Rollout pace


Availability


Available in beta: automatically log Google Voice calls made to Salesforce contacts

What’s changing 

Launching in beta, we’re introducing an integration between Google Voice and Salesforce that makes it easier to track details of calls made in Voice. When enabled: 

  • Salesforce contacts will be displayed in Google Voice. 
  • Google Voice calls will now be logged to any matching Salesforce contact.

Salesforce contacts are denoted with the Salesforce logo. 




Who’s impacted


Admins and end users


Why you’d use it


This integration helps improve visibility across the various stakeholders that rely on Salesforce as a key tool in their workflow. When enabled, Google Voice calls will be automatically logged in Salesforce, ensuring that there is a record of that interaction for all to see. Additionally, you can jump from Google Voice to the Salesforce call log to add notes and more context. This helps eliminate the need for users to switch between multiple applications and manual record keeping, and make it easier for other team members to see the latest activity in Salesforce.

Getting started



To turn on the Google Voice and Salesforce integration, navigate to Apps > Google Workspace > Google Voice > Policies > Salesforce integration


You’ll then be directed to the Google Voice and Salesforce connection page to complete the set-up.


  • End users: You’ll see banners in Google Voice on web and mobile when this integration is enabled by your admin. 
Banners inside the Voice app will indicate when Salesforce has been integrated.






After you make a Voice Call to a Salesforce contact from either our web or mobile app, you will be notified that the call is logged to Salesforce in the call log.

You’ll see when a call has been logged to Salesforce — you can click on this notification to open Salesforce.

Logged calls within the Salesforce UI.


To make the most out of the integration, we recommend that you install the Google Voice Chrome Extension.

Rollout pace

  • We will be accepting beta applications for this feature over the next several weeks. You can expect to hear back on the status of your beta application in about 2-3 business days.

Availability

  • Available to Google Workspace customers with Voice Standard or Premier and Salesforce Enterprise, Unlimited, or Lightning versions

Resources






Promote space members to space managers using the Google Chat API

What’s changing 

Last year, we announced the ability to create spaces, memberships, group chats, and more using the Google Chat API. 

Today, we’re excited to introduce enhanced membership management using the Chat API. Specifically, you can now use the Chat API to promote space members to space managers. 
Promote space members to space managers using the Google Chat API


Getting started 


Rollout pace 

  • This feature is available now. 

Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers 

Resources 

Chrome Dev for Android Update

Hi everyone! We've just released Chrome Dev 126 (126.0.6423.0) for Android. It's now available on Google Play.

You can see a partial list of the changes in the Git log. For details on new features, check out the Chromium blog, and for details on web platform updates, check here.

If you find a new issue, please let us know by filing a bug.

Harry Souders
Google Chrome