Tag Archives: accessibility

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – March 14, 2025

3 New updates

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.



Updates to the attachment menu in the Gmail app
We’ve updated and added new attachment options to the Gmail app on Android and iOS devices.
  • On Android, in addition to the current options for attaching a file or inserting an item from Drive, you’ll now notice a dedicated menu item for Camera.

  • On iOS, we recently replaced the attachment sheet that previously appeared at the bottom of your screen after clicking the attachment icon. Now, iOS users will see a menu experience similar to the one on Android devices that includes: Photos, Camera, Files, and Drive. 

Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete for iOS devices. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains for Android devices. | Available to Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about sending attachments with your Gmail message.



Additional accessibility tags for Tables, Equations, and Checkboxes in PDFs exported from Google Docs
Last year, we added structural and accessibility tagging in PDFs exported from Google Docs to improve the ability for users with screen readers and other assistive technology to read and navigate PDFs. We’re building upon this by introducing support for tables, equations, and checkboxes. As a result, users will be able to export a wider range of content in an accessible format. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. | Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Google Docs with a screen reader.


2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental model upgrades in the Gemini app and Deep Research              We’re pleased to announce that an improved version of Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental will become available to Gemini app users. Built on the foundation of 2.0 Flash, this model delivers improved performance and better advanced reasoning capabilities with efficiency and speed. Gemini Advanced users will also have access to a 1M token context window with this model.

Additionally, we're upgrading Gemini Deep Research to use the 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental model. With advanced reasoning from 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental, Gemini is even better at all stages of research from planning to delivering even more insightful and detailed reports. 

Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | The improved version of 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental and Deep Research with 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental is available for Google Workspace Business Starter, Standard and Plus; Enterprise Starter, Standard and Plus; Frontline Starter and Standard; Essentials, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus; Education Standard and Plus; and Google Workspace for Nonprofits and customers with a Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on, and anyone who previously purchased a Gemini Business or Gemini Enterprise add-on. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about using the Gemini app with a work or school account in general, as well as for in-depth research.





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.


Quickly add events to Google Calendar based on your emails with Gemini in Gmail
In addition to asking Gemini in Gmail to perform calendar related actions or answer questions about your calendar, you can now add an event to your calendar directly from an email. | Learn more about adding events to your calendar from Gmail using Gemini. 

Create files and folders using Gemini in the side panel of Google Drive 
We're excited to expand Gemini in Drive capabilities by introducing the ability to create new Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and folders in your Drive. | Learn more about creating files and folders in Drive using Gemini. 

View invited meeting participants on Google Meet hardware 
You can now see participants who were invited to the meeting but have yet to join the call right on Google Meet hardware. | Learn more about invited Meet participants. 

Use Gemini in the side panel of Workspace apps in four more languages 
Gemini in the side panel of Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Drive, and Gmail can now be used in four additional languages: Greek,  Catalan,  Indonesian, and Malay. | Learn more about new languages for Gemini in the side panel of Workspace apps. 

More AI-powered features in Google Meet and Google Chat are coming to Google Workspace Business and Enterprise editions 
Earlier this year, we announced that we’re including the best of Google AI in Workspace Business and Enterprise plans without the need to purchase a separate Gemini add-on. Beginning this week, even more AI-powered features are available for Business and Enterprise editions. | Learn more about additional AI-powered features. 

Export your client-side encrypted documents to Microsoft Word files 
Launching in beta, you can now export client-side encrypted Google Docs to Word files. This means you'll continue to own the encryption keys that protect your files to prevent unauthorized access from any third party (including Google or foreign governments) but convert your files as needed. | Learn more about exporting your client-side encrypted documents to Microsoft Word files. 

Embed AppSheet apps directly in Google Sites 
You can now embed authenticated AppSheet applications as iframes directly within Google Sites pages. | Learn more about AppSheet apps in Sites. 

More languages are available for recorded captions and transcripts in Google Meet 
Transcripts in Google Meet are now available in seven additional languages: French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. | Learn more about recorded captions and transcripts in Google Meet. 

"Take notes for me" in Google Meet is available in seven additional languages
We’re rolling out support “take notes for me” in the following seven additional languages: French,  German,  Italian,  Japanese,  Korean,  Portuguese, and Spanish. | Learn more about “Take notes for me” in Google Meet.

Deep Research and Gems in the Gemini app are now available for more Google Workspace customers 
We’re expanding the availability of Deep Research and Gems in the Gemini app to Google Workspace:  
  • Business Starter 
  • Enterprise Starter 
  • Education Fundamentals, Standard, and Plus 
  • Frontline Starter and Standard 
  • Essentials, Enterprise Essentials, and Enterprise Essentials Plus 
  • Nonprofits 
Learn more about Deep Research and Gems.

Introducing AppSheet User Pass
You can now license any user of your apps with AppSheet User Pass. | Learn more about the AppSheet User Pass.

Consent re-confirmation for under 18 users accessing Additional Services will soon be required
In September 2024, we communicated that we now require admins who have Additional Services enabled for users under the age of 18 to re-review them on an annual basis. Admins are always in control of which services their users have access to, and this gives admins an opportunity to ensure the right users have access to the right services. | Learn more about consent re-confirmation for under 18 users accessing Additional Services.


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).       

    Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – December 20, 2024

    3 New updates

    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.


    Introducing instant video playback after uploads in Google Drive 
    Following up on the recent announcement of a smoother, more modern video player in Google Drive, we’re excited to share that you can now watch videos the moment you upload them to Drive on web. This highly-requested feature eliminates wait times between upload and playback, while ensuring your videos still get fully processed. | Rollout to Rapid Release domains is complete; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for January 2, 2025. | Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about storing & playing video in Google Drive.

    instant video playback after uploading video to Google Drive

    Updated keyboard shortcuts for Google Groups 
    Google Groups is designed to work with keyboards, screen readers, braille devices, screen magnification, and more. We’re excited to improve the accessibility of Groups by introducing updated keyboard shortcuts. New and existing keyboard shortcuts will continue to work through early 2025, after which only new shortcuts will work. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains, with expected completion by January 13, 2025. | Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about using keyboard shortcuts in Google Groups.


    SOC 1 compliance for Gemini 
    We’re pleased to announce that the Gemini app on web and mobile has achieved SOC 1 compliance. This latest certification is in addition to SOC 2 and SOC 3, which the Gemini app achieved on web and mobile earlier this year. | SOC 1 is available now for Google Workspace customers with a Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, or Education Premium add-on. Also available for Google Workspace customers accessing the Gemini app as a core service with a qualifying edition. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about how Google Workspace satisfies certification and compliance standards and about turning the Gemini app on or off for your users.


    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.


    Available in open beta: migrate messages from Microsoft Teams to Google Chat 
    We're expanding our data migration experience to include the ability for Google Workspace admins to migrate conversations from channels in Microsoft Teams to spaces in Google Chat, making it easier for organizations to onboard and deploy Chat. | Learn more about migrating messages from Microsoft Teams to Google Chat. 


    Available in open beta: Set up Single-Sign On with custom OpenID Connect profiles 
    Via open beta, admins now have the option to set up a custom OpenID Connect (OIDC) profile for single sign-on (SSO) with Google as their Service Provider. | Learn more about Single-Sign On with custom OpenID Connect profiles. 


    Now generally available: Monitor and manage AppSheet usage in your organization with the AppSheet Admin console 
    All Google Workspace Admins with the AppSheet service privilege can access the AppSheet Admin Console. | Learn more about the AppSheet Admin console. 


    Control whether your users can add account recovery information with two new admin settings
    We’re launching two new settings that will allow admins to control whether their users can add recovery email information and phone information to their Google Workspace account. | Learn more about the new admin settings.


    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.


    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).

    Gaze Link Wins Best Android App in Gemini API Developer Competition

    Posted by Thomas Ezan – Sr Developer Relation Engineer (@lethargicpanda)

    We're excited to announce Gaze Link as the winner of the Best Android App for our Gemini API Developer Competition!

    This innovative app demonstrates the potential of the Gemini API in providing a communication system for individuals with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who develop severe motor and verbal disabilities, enabling them to type sentences with only their eyes.

    About Gaze Link

    Gaze Link uses Google’s Gemini 1.5 Flash model to predict the user’s intended sentence based on a few key words and the context of the conversation.

    For example if the context is “Is the room temperature ok?” and the user replies “hot AC two” the app will leverage Gemini to generate the full sentence “I am hot, can you turn the AC down by two degrees?”.

    The Gaze Link team took advantage of Gemini 1.5 Flash multilingual capabilities to let the app generate sentences in English, Spanish and Chinese, the three languages currently supported by the app.

    We were truly impressed by the Gaze Link app. The team used the Gemini API combined with ML Kit Face Detection to empower individuals with ALS providing them with a powerful communication system that is both accessible and affordable.

    With Gemini 1.5 Flash currently supporting 38 languages, it is possible for Gaze Link to add support for more languages in the future. In addition, the model’s multimodal abilities could enable the team to enhance the user experience by integrating image, audio and video to augment the context of the conversation.

    Build with the Gemini API

    The result of the integration of the Gemini API in Gaze Link is inspiring. If you are working on an Android app today, we encourage you to learn about the Gemini API capabilities to see how you can successfully add generative AI to your app and delight your users.

    To get started, go to the Android AI documentation!

    New design and accessibility improvements for embedded Google Calendars

    What’s changing

    Users currently have the ability to add an interactive version of their Google Calendar to their website, and add buttons for their website visitors to save their calendar events.

    Starting today, you’ll notice a refreshed look and feel for embedded calendars that is in line with Google Material Design 3 and now includes: 

    • Enhanced accessibility features, such as the ability to use an embedded calendar with a screen reader and keyboard shortcuts to navigate more easily. 
    • Improved spacing to make text easier to read. 
    • A responsive layout that adapts to different screen sizes seamlessly. 
    Screenshot of update look and feel for embedded Google Calendars on web


    Getting started 

    Screenshot of update look and feel for embedded Google Calendars on mobile

    Rollout pace

    • Rapid Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 17, 2024 
    • Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 7, 2024 

    Availability 

    • Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts 

    Resources