Tag Archives: Google Calendar

G Suite Add-ons now generally available in Calendar, Gmail, and Google Drive

What’s changing 

Last year we announced the beta of G Suite Add-ons, a new cross-suite platform that connects G Suite to your favorite workplace apps. Beginning today, G Suite Add-ons will begin rolling out to all users.

With G Suite Add-ons, workflows that require third-party applications can be executed inside G Suite, allowing users and teams to use the applications they want without leaving G Suite. For example, you can install the Workfront add-on for quick access across Calendar, Gmail, and Google Drive.

Installing the Workfront add-on directly from Calendar


Access G Suite Add-ons from the side panel of Calendar, Google Drive, and Gmail

Take action without leaving G Suite


Who’s impacted

Admins and end users

Why it’s important

G Suite Add-ons connect G Suite with third-party applications so you can work directly from the G Suite app you’re using, rather than toggling from one app to another. They also surface relevant information and suggest actions based on what you’re working on. 

Add-ons from SignEasy, WebEx, Workfront, Lucidchart and more will be available once this feature has fully rolled out and can be installed from the G Suite Marketplace. 

Organizations can also build their own add-ons using Apps Script. Note that the developer feature will be fully available in early February — we’ll provide an update here once it’s fully rolled out.


Additional Details

G Suite Add-ons will work across G Suite products, allowing developers to create a single add-on that works across G Suite, rather than building a separate add-on for each application within G Suite. 

G Suite Add-ons are currently accessible in Calendar, Gmail, and Google Drive, with support for other G Suite products coming later this year.

Getting started

  • Admins: This feature will be available by default. If you allow users to install only whitelisted applications from the G Suite Marketplace, you can specify those apps within the Admin console. Or, you can install chosen G Suite Add-ons for your entire domain via the listing in the G Suite Marketplace.
  • End users: This feature will be available by default. You’ll be able to install G Suite Add-ons using the “+” button in the G Suite quick access side panel. The add-ons you install will appear in the side panel across G Suite apps.

Rollout pace

Resources

Roadmap

Change to locations of booked rooms in Google Calendar events

Quick launch summary

We’ve made a slight change to where you can find rooms and resources in a Google Calendar event. When looking to see what rooms or resources have been booked for an event, you’ll now see this information in the guest list and no longer in the location field.



This information will no longer be duplicated in the location field of the event.

This change allows you to clarify the geographic address of the event in the location field, giving your guests a clearer understanding of where to be.

Availability

Rollout details


G Suite editions
  • Available to all G Suite editions
On/off by default?
  • This change will take place by default to all users.
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Propose a new meeting time or add a note to Calendar invites from Gmail

Quick launch summary
When you open a Google Calendar invite in Gmail, you’ll see a new “More Options” dropdown menu, allowing you to propose a new time for the meeting or add a note to your RSVP. Selecting either option will open the respective event section in calendar.google.com, where you can make those updates directly.




Note that this feature is only available for Gmail on the web at the moment. 

Availability

Rollout details
G Suite editions
  • Available to all G Suite editions

On/off by default?
  • This feature will be ON by default.

Stay up to date with G Suite launches

Propose a new meeting time or add a note to Calendar invites from Gmail

Quick launch summary
When you open a Google Calendar invite in Gmail, you’ll see a new “More Options” dropdown menu, allowing you to propose a new time for the meeting or add a note to your RSVP. Selecting either option will open the respective event section in calendar.google.com, where you can make those updates directly.




Note that this feature is only available for Gmail on the web at the moment. 

Availability

Rollout details
G Suite editions
  • Available to all G Suite editions

On/off by default?
  • This feature will be ON by default.

Stay up to date with G Suite launches

Use the Google Assistant with your G Suite account in beta

This announcement was made at Google Cloud Next ‘19 UK. Check out Next OnAir to tune into the livestream or watch session recordings following the event.

What’s changing

We’re opening a beta program to allow G Suite users to accomplish more on-the-go with the Google Assistant when logged in with a G Suite account. The Google Assistant will respond to voice commands for certain Google Calendar and Gmail functions and:

  • Let you know when your next meeting is
  • Create, cancel or reschedule a Calendar event
  • Send a note to event attendees via email
  • Send an email
  • Dial into a meeting


Who’s impacted

Admins and end users

Why you’d use it

By using the Google Assistant with your G Suite account, you can easily accomplish work-related tasks while on the go.

How to get started


  • Admins: Apply to be part of the beta program using this form.
  • End users: No action required.

Additional details

To use this functionality in the Google Assistant, you must be logged in to your G Suite account. Additionally, if you have both a personal and a G Suite account, please note that the Assistant can only answer questions for one account at a time. You must switch between those accounts if you’d like to ask a question about your other account.

This beta functionality is only available in English.

Availability

G Suite editions
  • All G Suite editions are invited to apply to the beta program.
On/off by default?
  • These features will be OFF by default. Admins can apply to the beta program using this form.
Stay up to date with G Suite launches

Admin setting to control Working Hours

Quick launch summary

We’re adding a setting in the Admin console so you, as an admin, can control whether Working Hours is enabled for users in your domain.

If you’d like to disable Working Hours, navigate to Admin console > Apps > G Suite > Settings for Calendar > Sharing Settings. There, under “Working Hours” you’ll see the new checkbox: “Allow users to set working hours.”

Availability

Rollout details


G Suite editions

  • Available to all G Suite editions

On/off by default?

  • This setting will be ON by default and can be enabled at the organizational unit level.

Stay up to date with G Suite launches

Instantly create new docs, events, spreadsheets and more from your browser

Quick launch summary

You can quickly create new files directly from your browser with “.new” domains for several Google products. For example, you can type “Cal.new” into your browser to create a new Google Calendar event.



The current “.new” domains are:

Availability

Rollout details



G Suite editions

  • Available to all G Suite editions


On/off by default?
  • This feature will be available by default.


Stay up to date with G Suite launches

Updated Working Hours in Calendar helps colleagues know your schedule

What’s changing 

We’re revamping the feature in Google Calendar that helps you let colleagues know when it’s best to work with you. The updates to the Working Hours feature include:


  • Working hours now show in grid view: When you schedule a meeting with other Calendar users, their working hours will be shown in the calendar grid. 
  • New warning note for event creators: If you try to schedule an event outside the working hours of one more or guests, you’ll now see a notification. 
  • Working hours is ON by default: Working hours will now be turned on for all users by default. Users can turn it off at any point in Calendar’s settings (see more below). 





A new notification will show if an event outside the working hours of guests. 

Who’s impacted 

All end users

Why you’d use it 

The new features will make it easier for your colleagues to see when it’s best to work with you. This can help reduce back and forth when finding the right time for a meeting, and help make sure that meetings are scheduled at convenient and productive times for all participants.

How to get started 


  • Admins: No action required. 
  • End users: 
    •  Working Hours will be enabled by default. When it’s first enabled, users will see a dialog (shown below) with an estimate of their working hours, which they can confirm or change. Users can disable the feature by selecting “Settings” in this dialog. 
    • Users can later adjust or disable Working Hours by going to Calendar on the web (calendar.google.com) and clicking Settings > General > Working hours. 


Helpful links 

Help Center: Set your working hours & availability

Availability 

Rollout details 



G Suite editions 
Available to all G Suite editions

On/off by default? 
This feature will be ON by default.

Stay up to date with G Suite launches

See when someone is out of office in Gmail and Hangouts Chat

What’s changing

Now, when you have an Out of office (OOO) entry on your calendar, a notice of that OOO status will appear in Gmail and Hangouts Chat when people try to contact you.

In Gmail, we’ll show a banner about the recipient being out of office and when they’ll be back in the email compose window.




In Hangouts Chat, you’ll also see a small notification in the chat compose window alerting you that the person you’re trying to message is out of office.



Who’s impacted

End users

Why you’d use it

With this launch, before people even hit “send,” your time out of office is visible in more places across G Suite, meaning you get more uninterrupted time away. As a sender, you’ll also have more confidence that you’re messaging people at an appropriate time.

How to get started

  • Admins: No action required. 
  • End users: No action required. These notices will automatically start showing up when anyone whose calendar you have access to has an out of office event scheduled.

Additional details

If you’d like to disable sharing of availability information to other G Suite apps, you can do so in Calendar under Calendar settings > Access permissions. Just deselect “Show calendar info in other Google apps, limited by access permissions.”

Helpful links



Availability

Rollout details
Notification in Gmail and setting in Calendar


Notification in Hangouts Chat


G Suite editions

  • Available to all G Suite editions


On/off by default?

  • This feature will be ON by default and can be disabled in your Calendar settings.


Stay up to date with G Suite launches

Dark mode available for Calendar and Keep on Android

What’s changing 

Google Calendar and Keep will now support Dark mode on Android.

 

Dark mode for Google Calendar. 

 

Dark mode for Google Keep. 

Who’s impacted 

End users.

Why you’d use it 

Dark mode is a popular feature that’s frequently requested by Calendar and Keep users. It creates a better viewing experience in low-light conditions by reducing brightness.

How to get started 


  • Admins: No action required. 
  • End users: 
    • Calendar 
      • Enable Dark mode by going to Settings > General > Theme. 
    •  Keep Enable 
      • Dark mode by going to Settings > Enable Dark Mode.

Additional details 


Both Calendar and Keep apps need to be updated to the latest version of the app to see this feature. 

Calendar 
Dark mode for Calendar will be supported on devices with Android N+ (i.e. Nougat and more recent releases).

Android Q users can set their OS to Dark mode, which means Calendar and all other apps will be in Dark mode by default. If users do not have their OS set to Dark mode, they can enable Dark mode in Calendar’s settings (see above).

For pre-Android-Q devices, users will be able to configure Calendar to go into Dark Mode when the device enters battery saving mode.

Keep 
Dark mode for Keep will be supported on devices with Android L-P. For these devices, Dark mode can be enabled from Keep’s settings (see above).

For Android Q devices, Dark will be on by default if the OS is set to Dark mode. Or, it can be enabled in Keep’s settings (see above).

Availability 

Rollout details 

  • Calendar: 
    • Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on May 16, 2019. 
  •  Keep: 
    • Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on May 20, 2019. G Suite editions Available to all G Suite editions. 
On/off by default? 

  • Calendar: 
    • For Android N - P, Dark mode will be OFF by default and can be enabled in Calendar settings (see above). 
    • For Android Q, this feature will be ON by default when the OS is set to Dark mode or can be enabled in Calendar settings (see above). 
  •  Keep: 
    • For Android L - P, this feature will be OFF by default and can be enabled in Keep settings (see above). 
    • For Android Q, this feature will be ON by default when the OS is set to Dark mode or can be enabled in Keep settings (see above).

Stay up to date with G Suite launches