Tag Archives: Google Calendar

Improving Calendar Interoperability

What’s changing

When working across locations and time zones, calendar functionality is vital for you to connect effectively and meaningfully with others. Calendar Interoperability is the critical component to help ensure events created in one calendar system are accurately propagated for guests using different calendar systems. This allows you to productively schedule time and manage your schedule collaboratively, regardless of your calendaring platform. 

Today, we’re excited to announce recent improvements to Calendar Interoperability: 
  • Microsoft Outlook users who also have a Google Calendar with the same email address can receive Google Calendar invitations and RSVPs in Outlook. 
  • A default meeting reminder will be generated in Microsoft Outlook if the invitation was created in Google Calendar to help make sure guests using Outlook do not miss events. 
  • Non-Google Calendar recurring events will be more systematically and accurately updated in Google Calendar. 

Getting started 

  • Admins and end users: No action required. You’ll automatically see these updates. If you want to view availability of users in Microsoft Outlook and book rooms, visit the Help Center to learn more about Calendar Interop. 

Rollout pace 

  • This feature is available now for all users. 

Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers 
  • Available to users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – May 5, 2023

New updates 

There are no new updates to share this week. Please see below for a recap of published announcements. 



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.


Providing greater visibility with additional Google Calendar statuses in Google Chat
Chat statuses now include even more information, such as: how much longer someone is in a meeting or focus time, if someone has an upcoming commitment within the next 10 minutes, and if someone has an upcoming out of office event within the next business day. Learn more about additional Google Calendar statuses in Google Chat.


Expanding upon Gmail security with BIMI
Users will now see a checkmark icon for senders who adopted Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) in Gmail. This will help users identify messages from legitimate senders versus impersonators. | Learn more about Gmail security with BIMI.


Manage all spaces in your organization through the Admin console
We've introduced a new section in the Admin console dedicated to managing spaces in Google Chat. Here, admins can see a list of all spaces in their domain, the members of those spaces, and take actions, such as adding members or changing a member role. | Learn more about managing all spaces in your organization through the Admin console.


Quote a previous message in Google Chat
We've introduced a new feature that allows you to quote a previous message when sending a reply in a direct message, group message, or space (if configured with in-line threading). | Learn more about quoting a previous message in Google Chat.

Turn access to Bard on or off for your users
Earlier this year, we announced Bard, an early experiment by Google that lets you collaborate with generative AI. In the coming days, Google Workspace admins will be able to turn access to Bard on for their users, in the Admin console under Apps > Additional Google services > Early Access Apps. | Learn more about turning access to Bard on or off for your users.

Completed rollouts

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


Rapid Release Domains:

Scheduled Release Domains:

Providing greater visibility with additional Google Calendar statuses in Google Chat

What’s changing

Last year, we introduced the ability to see additional Google Calendar statuses like “In a meeting” or “In focus time” in Google Chat. Starting today, Chat statuses will include even more information, such as: 
  • How much longer someone is in a meeting or focus time 
  • If someone has an upcoming commitment within the next 10 minutes 
  • If someone has an upcoming out of office event within the next business day 
The Chat status will automatically disappear once you send a message to someone or you can manually dismiss it. However, if their status changes, an updated status will reappear. 


Additionally, you can see the current working location and local time zone set by your colleagues when sending a new message to them in Chat. 
Providing greater visibility with additional Google Calendar statuses in Google Chat

Who’s impacted 

Admins and end users 


Why you’d use it 

This feature gives you a better understanding of others’ availability, helping you plan when to reach out and collaborate. If someone is currently unavailable, you now have a more accurate picture of their response time. 


Additional details 

This feature will be rolling out to mobile devices in the coming months. 


Getting started 


Rollout pace 

Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers 
  • Not available to users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources 

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – April 28, 2023

4 New updates

Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are fully launched or in the process of rolling out (rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete), 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), and available to all Google Workspace and G Suite customers.


Updates to image insertion in Google Sheets on Android 
You can now drag and drop or copy/paste an image into Google Sheets on Android as an over-grid image rather than an in-cell image. You’re also now able to convert over-grid images into in-cell images via the context menu. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for May 8, 2023. | Learn more about adding an image to a spreadsheet.
Updates to image insertion in Google Sheets on Android
Replace images quicker in Google Slides with new drag and drop feature
Previously, to replace an image in Google Slides, you could either use the menu toolbar or right-click on the image you wanted to replace and select “Replace image.” Starting this week, you’ll have the additional option to easily drag and drop images from anywhere to replace images in your Slides presentations. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for May 9, 2023. | Learn more about inserting or deleting images and videos. 
Replace images quicker in Google Slides with new drag and drop feature
Attach a document, spreadsheet, or presentation to a Google Calendar event directly from Meet in Docs, Sheets, and Slides
You can already share a file in a Google Meet chat when using Meet in Docs, Sheets, and Slides. With this launch, you can easily attach that file to the associated Google Calendar event, allowing meeting attendees to access the file more easily. | Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Nonprofits customers only. | Learn more about using Google Meet with Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, & Jamboard. 


Add emoji reactions to existing comments in Google Docs
Last year, we introduced an emoji reaction feature that provides a less formal alternative to comments in Google Docs. We’re building upon this by giving you the ability to add emoji reactions to existing comments in Docs. This new feature increases collaboration by enabling you to quickly and creatively express your opinions about document content. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for May 3, 2023. | Learn more about using comments, action items, & emoji reactions. 
Add emoji reactions to existing comments in Google Docs



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.


Enhancing tool discovery in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
We’ve rolled out an enhanced tool finder at the top of Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides to make it easier for users to discover commonly used tools and features. These refined tool-finding capabilities aim to help you quickly locate relevant features or functionality using your own words. | Learn more about enhanced tool discovery in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. 


Full HD in Google Meet video calls
For select Google Workspace editions, you can set your Google Meet video resolution to 1080p. This resolution is available on the web when using a computer with a 1080p camera and enough computing power in meetings with two participants. | Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Education Plus, Enterprise Essentials and Frontline customers only. Also available to Google One subscribers with 2TB or more storage space with eligible devices. | Learn more about full HD in Google Meet video calls. 


Introducing additional smart chip functionality in Google Sheets
We’re expanding YouTube chips to Sheets to help you more easily manage YouTube content. You can also now insert multiple smart chips and text into a single cell using the @ menu. | Learn more about additional smart chip functionality in Google Sheets.


New Alert Center notifications for Apple push certificates
The Apple Push Notification Service (APNS) certificate is a critical component for advanced mobile management for iOS devices. This certificate expires yearly and requires manual renewal. | Available to Google Workspace Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, Education Plus, The Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Education Fundamentals, Frontline, and Cloud Identity Premium customers only. | Learn more about new Alert Center notifications for Apple push certificates.


Set a custom time period for messages to automatically be deleted in Google Chat
For select Google Workspace editions, admins can now define a duration after which their users' messages in Google Chat will be deleted automatically. | Available to Google Workspace Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, and Education Plus customers only. | Learn more about setting a custom time period for messages to automatically be deleted in Google Chat. 


Set Full HD in Google Meet live streams
For select Google Workspace editions, we’re adding 1080p as a resolution option for live streaming video, an increase from 720p. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Plus, Enterprise Standard, Education Plus, and Teaching and Learning Upgrade customers only. | Learn more about full HD in Google Meet live streams.


Completed rollouts

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


Better location context for events and RSVPs in Gmail

What’s changing

Earlier this year, we made it even easier to use RSVPs in Google Calendar to let others know how you’re planning to join a meeting. Now, you can do the same thing directly from an invite in Gmail. If you've set your physical or virtual working location, there will be a default join method for your RSVP. 
Better location context for events and RSVPs in Gmail

Who’s impacted 

End users 


Why it’s important 

This feature aims to improve the way you and your colleagues utilize your planned working location for meetings and events, especially in a hybrid work environment. 


Getting started 

Rollout pace 


Availability 

  • Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Education Standard, Teaching & Learning Upgrade, and Nonprofits, as well as legacy G Suite Business customers 
  • Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Frontline, and legacy G Suite Basic customers 
  • Not available to users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources 

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – April 14, 2023

1 New update

Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are fully launched or in the process of rolling out (rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete), 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), and available to all Google Workspace and G Suite customers.





Reminder: Google Calendar and Assistant Reminders will migrate to Google Tasks soon
In February 2023, we shared plans for the next phase of migrating Google Calendar and Assistant Reminders to Google Tasks. As a reminder, if you use a Google account for work and school, you’ll start to see a prompt in Assistant and Calendar to move reminders created in these apps to Tasks. For more information on this migration, please refer to our original announcement.

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.


Improve search results with Personalization Boost and Click Boost for Cloud Search 
To help you find relevant documents faster, we’re introducing user personalization boost and click boost for the Cloud Search API. | Available to Google Cloud Search Customers only. | Learn more. 


Enabling organizational communication with announcements in Google Chat 
We're giving Space Managers the ability to configure spaces for sharing organizational announcements. Using the new announcement-only configuration, message posting and other capabilities are limited to designated Space Managers. | Learn more. 


Fine tune access to data with additional options for Access Approvals 
In 2022, we introduced Access Approvals, which enables customers to control when Google support personnel can access specific data during support and general maintenance. Beginning this week, we’re introducing additional options that provide customers even more control over these data interactions. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus customers only. | Learn more. 


Introducing new collaboration and flexibility features for Google Sites 
We've announced even more enhancements that improve upon collaboration within Sites and give you even more control over the layout of your Site’s content. | Learn more. 


Practice sets in Google Classroom are now generally available 
We’re excited to announce that practice sets are now generally available in English in Google Classroom to Google Workspace for Education Plus and Google Workspace for Education Teaching and Learning customers. | Learn more. 


Streamlined file organization with the new Google Drive location picker 
We've added improvements to the web Google Drive location picker that enable you to quickly and efficiently select a location to organize files and folders. The updates include a new visual experience and helpful suggestions when moving files and folders or adding shortcuts to items in Drive. | Learn more. 


New community features for Google Chat and an update on Currents
Last year, we announced plans to wind down Currents, to focus efforts on community experiences that are better integrated with the rest of Google Workspace. To help our customers manage this transition, we published detailed guidance for Workspace administrators and enabled customers to opt-in for automated migration of Currents data to spaces in Google Chat. | Learn more. 


Set default label values for files in Google Drive
This week, we’re expanding the automated classification capabilities of Drive labels to support setting default label values in addition to the current admin ability to apply labels by default. | Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard and Education Plus customers only. | Learn more. 


Completed rollouts

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


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

Launching in beta: manage working locations with the Calendar API

What’s changing

Available now in beta through our Developer Preview Program, you can read working location data using the Calendar API and get notified when those working locations change. Previously, we said this functionality would be available through a separate API. However, in order to provide a more streamlined experience, this functionality will be instead available in the Calendar API. 

Using the API to read a Calendar user’s working location values can help you:

  • Analyze the flow and volume of people through physical campuses, helping you adapt on-site resources to the needs of your employees.
  • Share whereabouts across other internal or third-party surfaces, making it easier to enable tasks such as hot desk booking or schedule in-office or remote working days.

We anticipate write support for the API to become available in Q3 2023 — we’ll share an update here on the Workspace Updates Blog at that time.

Getting started


Admins and Developers: 

Admins: 

Availability

While all developers will be able to use the API, the working location feature is only available for eligible Workspace editions:

  • Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Education Standard, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade and Nonprofits customers, as well as legacy G Suite Business customers 
  • Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Frontline, G Suite Basic customers 

Resources


Save time with suggested work locations in Google Calendar

What’s changing 

Since announcing the ability to share where you’re working from directly on Google Calendar, we’ve introduced features that enable better planning around in-person collaboration and meeting coordination, especially in a hybrid work environment. A few include: 

Today, we’re adding an update that helps you easily define your work location much quicker with suggested working locations based on your recent locations. 

Getting started 


Rollout pace 


Availability 

  • Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Education Standard, Teaching & Learning Upgrade, and Nonprofits, as well as legacy G Suite Business customers 
  • Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Frontline, and legacy G Suite Basic customers 
  • Not available to users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources 

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – February 17, 2023

2 New updates

Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are fully launched or in the process of rolling out (rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete), 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), and available to all Google Workspace and G Suite customers.


360 degree video backgrounds available for Google Meet on mobile
Adding to our existing library of immersive backgrounds, Meet users on mobile can use several new 360 degree video backgrounds. These backgrounds—which include a beach and a temple—use your device's gyroscope to create a dynamic experience that moves with you. Note that Admins can turn backgrounds on or off for their users. | Available on Android and iOS devices for all Google Workspace users and users with personal Google Accounts. 
Editable widgets now available for Chat app cards 
Developers can now include interactive widgets like checkboxes, radio buttons, and dropdowns in Chat app cards that are posted in the Chat message stream. This will allow you to quickly modify information sent from Chat apps, such as: 
  • Changing the assignee on a task card or changing the due date on a task card
  • Selecting or deselecting options on a card
This feature is available now to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Education Standard, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Frontline, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers only.



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.


New setting for content managers to modify shared drives now on by default
Last December, we announced an upcoming shared drive setting for content managers to modify shared drives. Starting today, all content managers will have the ability to share folders by default, in addition to their current capabilities of editing, reorganizing, and deleting shared drive content. | Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Education Standard, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Nonprofits, as well as legacy G Suite Business customers only. | Learn more. 


Client-side encryption for Google Calendar is now generally available
Client-side encryption for Google Calendar is now generally available to eligible Workspace editions. Additionally, based on feedback from beta, we’ve extended client-side encryption to support Key Migration and Google Takeout. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, and Education Standard customers only. | Learn more.


Improving accessibility of the “connect device” feature on Google Meet hardware devices
We’re updating the home screen on Series On Desk 27 and Board 65 devices to feature a “Connect device” button as a quick action. | Learn more. 


Google Calendar and Assistant Reminders will migrate to Google Tasks soon
As previously announced, in the coming months, we’ll migrate Reminders from Google Calendar and Google Assistant to Google Tasks to create a single experience for managing to-dos across Google. | Learn more.


Improving the Google Contact management experience
We’re introducing a new feature available in the Google Contacts sidebar that lets you create new contacts and edit existing contacts. Whether you want to edit contacts faster or create contacts more easily, this update streamlines the contact management experience. | Learn more. 


Control the visibility of warning banners in Gmail with a new admin control
We’re giving admins more control over whether warning banners for incoming email messages are displayed for their end users. Specifically, admins can choose to disable spam filters and hide warning banners for: All users and a specific allowlist of senders. | Learn more. 


Completed rollouts

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


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

Client-side encryption for Google Calendar is now generally available

What’s changing

Last year, we expanded the client-side encryption beta to Google Calendar to help customers strengthen the confidentiality of their data while helping address a broad range of data sovereignty and compliance requirements. Today, we’re happy to announce that client-side encryption for Google Calendar is now generally available to eligible Workspace editions. Additionally, based on feedback from beta, we’ve extended client-side encryption to support Key Migration and Google Takeout. 

When using client-side encryption for Calendar events, your event description, attachments, and Meet data is indecipherable to Google servers. You have control over encryption keys and the identity service to access those keys. 

Who’s impacted 

Admins and end users 


Why it’s important

Google Workspace already uses the latest cryptographic standards to encrypt data at rest and in transit between our facilities. With client-side encryption, we’re taking this a step further by giving customers direct control of encryption keys and the identity provider used to access those keys. This can help you strengthen the confidentiality of your data while helping to address a broad range of data sovereignty and compliance needs. 

Client-side encryption allows you to create a fundamentally stronger privacy posture, whether that’s to help your organization comply with regulations like ITAR and CJIS or simply to better protect the privacy of your confidential data. 


Additional details 

Client-side encryption for Google Calendar on mobile is currently in beta. Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, and Education Standard customers are eligible to apply for the mobile beta here until March 3, 2023. 


Getting started 

  • Admins: This feature will be OFF by default and can be enabled at the domain, OU, and Group levels. Go to the Admin console > Security > Access and data control > Client-side encryption. Visit the Help Center to learn more about client-side encryption. 
  • End users: 
    • You will need to be logged in with your Identity Provider to have access to encrypted content. 
    • To add encryption to any event in Calendar, click on the shield icon at the top of the event creation card. This will add encryption to event description, attachments, and Meet, while other items such as event title, time, and guests remain on standard encryption. 
    • Visit the Help Center to learn more about client-side encryption in Calendar. 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

  • Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, and Education Standard customers 
  • Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Education Fundamentals, Frontline, and Nonprofits, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers 
  • Not available to users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources