Tag Archives: Google Calendar

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – September 9, 2022

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.

Dual pane view on Keep
In addition to Drag out from Keep and a number of other features supporting the mission to provide a top-class user experience on large screen devices, we’re introducing Dual pane view on Keep. This allows you to browse Keep notes on the left side of your screen, while editing content on the right side of your screen. | Roll out to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains began September 8, 2022 at a Gradual pace (up to 15 days for feature visibility). | Learn more.

Multi-instance support on Docs, Sheets & Slides
Get better insight into your files by having two windows open side-by-side. | Roll out to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains began September 7, 2022 at a Gradual pace (up to 15 days for feature visibility). | Learn more.

View information about recipients on Android
While using the Gmail app on Android devices, you can now view details about a person, such as their phone number or email address, by tapping their name or avatar when composing an email. | This is now available to all users.

Upon tapping Elisa's image or name, more information will appear

Keep contacts up to date with fewer clicks
You can now edit someone’s contact information from their information card in apps like Gmail, Calendar, Voice, and Docs on your Android device. Upon clicking the edit button, you will be prompted to make updates in the Contacts app. | Roll out to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains began September 7, 2022 at an Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility).

Notification permission now required for devices running Android 13
Upon upgrading to the latest platform release, Android 13, you will have to explicitly accept notification permissions to receive Chat notifications. | Roll out to all Android users began September 9, 2022 at a Gradual pace (up to 15 days for feature visibility). | Learn more.

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.

Calendar User Availability API launching to beta soon, sign-up now and preview documentation in advance
There is an upcoming beta available for the Calendar User Availability API that can be used to programmatically access the working location feature in Google Calendar. Access the beta through the Google Workspace Developer Preview Program. | While all developers will be able to use the API, apps created using the API are accessible 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 only. | Learn more.

Scaling our Calendar Interop offering
Admins can now configure multiple role accounts in the Calendar Interop Admin console. This will provide support for a higher number of requests and enable Calendar Interop to work more seamlessly at scale. | Learn more.

Updating framing options for Google Meet hardware in the Admin console
Over the coming weeks, we will replace the current continuous framing setting with the option to set default framing options based on the camera capabilities of the device — such as the option to frame people by default and speaker or group framing, which will be introduced in the future. | Available for all supported Google Meet hardware devices that have not yet reached their auto-update expiration date. | Learn more.

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

Source: Google Workspace Updates

Scaling our Calendar Interop offering

What’s changing

Currently through Calendar Interop, if a Google Calendar user wants to see the availability of a Microsoft Exchange user to schedule a meeting, the request is performed through an Exchange role account. When too many requests occur within a certain timeframe, an Exchange role account can hit its limit, and as a result the Calendar Interop service may not work as intended.

Starting this week, admins can configure multiple role accounts in the Calendar Interop Admin console. This will provide support for a higher number of requests and enable Calendar Interop to work more seamlessly at scale.

Who’s impacted

Admins

Why it’s important

This feature scales our Calendar Interop offering and improves the workability between Microsoft Exchange and Google Calendar.

Getting started

Admins:

Visit the Help Center to learn more about allowing Calendar users to see Exchange availability data.
If you’re using Calendar Interop with Basic authentication on Microsoft Office 365, upgrade to OAuth 2.0 authentication before October 1, 2022 to retain access. Learn more here.

End users: There is no end user setting for this feature.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) started on September 6, 2022

Availability

Available to all Workspace customers using Calendar Interop

Resources

Source: Google Workspace Updates

Calendar User Availability API launching to beta soon, sign-up now and preview documentation in advance

What’s changing

Coming soon to beta, the Calendar User Availability API will be used to programmatically access the working location feature in Google Calendar. You can gain access to the beta through the Google Workspace Developer Preview Program.

You can preview the API documentation now to prepare in advance and share your initial feedback as we move closer to beta.

Who’s impacted

Admins and developers

Why you’d use it

The working location feature is an easy way for users to share where they’ll be working for any given day or period of time. Up until now, only end users could create these calendar entries. Now, this information can be read and written using an API to manage and accommodate the needs of your employees.

Customers rely on other applications to set their location context, such as booking a desk with hot desk booking tools or requesting and setting “work from home” days in HR management tools. This creates duplicative work for end users. With the API, a user’s working location can be programmatically set or accessed directly from the user’s calendar to any other third-party application.

Additionally, by surfacing working location context into other systems and tools like internal team directories, customers can optimize the flow of people in their physical office locations. Or you can use the API to prepare for the demand of dining services, conference rooms, and more, based on this data.

Getting started

Admins and Developers:

To use the Working Location API, developers can apply for access through our Google Workspace Developer Preview Program. Important

Note: While all developers will be able to use the API, apps created using the API are only accessible to those on eligible Workspace editions.

Check out the Calendar User Availability API for reading and writing a user's working locations.

Admins: Visit the Help Center to learn more about configuring working location for your organization.
End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about working location in Google Calendar.

Availability

While all developers will be able to use the API, apps created using the API are only accessible to those on 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

Source: Google Workspace Updates

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – August 26, 2022

New updates

To unmute yourself, press and hold the spacebar. To mute again, release the spacebar.

To quickly unmute yourself during a meeting, you can now hold down the spacebar to be unmuted, then release the spacebar to return to a muted state. We hope this makes it even easier for you to participate in your meetings by quickly unmuting to say something. This feature will also help in situations where you forget to mute again after unmuting yourself. This feature is OFF by default and can be enabled in the Google Meet settings. | Roll out to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains begins September 9, 2022 at a Gradual pace (up to 15 days for feature visibility). | Available to all Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts on all web browsers. | Learn more.

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.

Updated “Hey Google” voice control behavior for Google Meet hardware devices

We’ve changed how the “Hey Google” voice control works for Google Meet hardware devices. With this update, the Google assistant will only be active when a device is not in a meeting and within 10 minutes of an upcoming meeting. | Available for all supported Google Meet hardware devices that have not yet reached their auto-update expiration date. | Learn more.

Upgrade to OAuth 2.0 to continue using Calendar Interop by October 1, 2022

On October 1, 2022, Microsoft will begin to remove the ability to use Basic authentication in Exchange Online for Exchange Web Services. To continue using Calendar Interop, upgrade to OAuth 2.0 authentication before October 1, 2022. | Impacting Workspace customers using Calendar Interop with Basic authentication on Microsoft Office 365. | Learn more.

Adding more flexibility to functions in Sheets

We’ve introduced named functions, a new feature that allows you to create high-performance custom functions that support built-in Sheets formula constructs. | Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, and Education Plus customers only. | Learn more.

More ways to collaborate using visitor sharing in Google Drive

You can now use visitor sharing to allow non-Google users to upload content or create files within shared drives owned by organizations and users on Google Workspace. | Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Standard, Business Plus, Education Plus, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus customers only. | Learn more.

Easily search for Chat spaces in Gmail

We’ve introduced the ability to find and join spaces through Gmail search on web. | Learn more.

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

Source: Google Workspace Updates

Upgrade to OAuth 2.0 to continue using Calendar Interop by October 1, 2022

What’s changing

In 2020, we announced the support of OAuth2.0 to ensure Calendar Interop continues to be available after Microsoft’s disablement of basic authentication in Exchange Online. On October 1, 2022, Microsoft will begin to remove the ability to use Basic authentication in Exchange Online for Exchange Web Services. This will impact Workspace customers using Calendar Interop with Basic authentication on Microsoft Office 365 to allow Microsoft Exchange and Google Calendar to work together.

To continue using Calendar Interop, upgrade to OAuth 2.0 authentication before October 1, 2022.

Who’s impacted

This only impacts Microsoft Exchange Online implementations (Microsoft 365). If you currently use an on-premise Exchange implementation, then no action is needed.

Why you’d use it

Calendar Interop enables Microsoft Exchange and Google Calendar users to view availability statuses and calendar resources (such as meeting rooms) across both systems.

Additional details

Getting started

Admins: Visit the Help Center to learn more about setting up Calendar Interop and the steps (#4) required to switch to OAuth 2.0.
End users: There is no end user setting for this feature.

Availability

Impacting Workspace customers using Calendar Interop with Basic authentication on Microsoft Office 365

Resources

Source: Google Workspace Updates

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – August 19, 2022

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.

Improved quality and performance for Google Meet effects on the web

Background effects are now more accurate for Google Meet users on the web. This allows you to experience more accurate background blur, background replace, and immersive background and styles. | Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus customers, and Workspace Individual users on eligible devices in eligible countries (Northern America, Europe, Northern Africa, Central Asia, Southeastern Asia). Visit the Help Center to learn more about availability. | Learn more.

More control over accessibility preferences in Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drawings

You’re now able to set preferences for Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drawings individually, rather than having the same accessibility settings apply across these products. | Learn more.

Updated user interface for managing email quarantines

In the coming weeks, you will see a new user interface when using the email quarantine tool. This brings the email quarantine experience inline with other tools in the Admin console, making it more intuitive to navigate and use. | Learn more.

See how much noise is being removed during Google Meet video calls

Google Meet can now remove background noises such as typing, construction sounds, or background chatter. | Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, and Workspace Individual customers only. | Learn more.

Conveniently connect site visitors with social channels in new Sites

Site editors can now insert stylized social media links into pages within their site, enabling you to more conveniently connect site visitors with additional information and content on your social channels. | Learn more.

Enhancements to the “Frame people” feature on Google Meet hardware devices

We’ve introduced two enhancements on Google Meet hardware devices for the “Frame people” feature:

The “Frame people” feature is now more easily discoverable and can be accessed in a meeting from the touch panel in fewer steps.
A solution to a recent bug impacting the auto framing capability for some Google Meet hardware devices. The auto framing functionality has been restored to impacted devices with improved reliability and performance.

Available to all supported Google Meet hardware devices that have not yet reached their auto-update expiration date. | Learn more.

New color categorization in Calendar to better understand how you’re spending your time

You can now categorize your time by naming and assigning a corresponding color label to an event within Time Insights in Calendar. | Available to Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus and Nonprofits customers only. | Learn more.

Easily assign Tasks from Google Docs

In Google Docs, you can now assign a checklist item to yourself or a colleague that will then show up in the assignee’s Tasks list. | Learn more.

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

Source: Google Workspace Updates

New color categorization in Calendar to better understand how you’re spending your time

Quick summary

In 2021, we launched Time Insights, a feature that gives you the ability to better understand how you’re spending your time in Google Calendar. Starting today, you can categorize your time by naming and assigning a corresponding color label to an event within Time Insights in Calendar.

We hope this customizable breakdown feature will allow you to more easily track time spent on specific activities or strategic areas, such as project work, staff meetings, or meetings with specific colleagues and stakeholders.

Getting started

Admins: This feature will be ON by default and can be disabled at the domain/OU level. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning Time Insights on or off for your organization.
End users:

To create a color label in the Time insights panel, navigate to Time breakdown > select By color > click on Add a Label.
To add a color label to an event, right-click on the event in your Calendar grid. Alternatively, click Edit > change the event color.
To see your Time Insights, click on Time insights in the left side panel > click on More insights.
Visit the Help Center to learn more about Time Insights in Calendar.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on August 16, 2022
Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on August 30, 2022

Availability

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

Resources

Source: Google Workspace Updates

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – August 12, 2022

New updates

Delegate access to a shared inbox using a group address

You can now give an entire Google Group access to your Gmail account through mail delegation. With this feature, delegated users can read, send, and delete messages on the account owner's behalf. We hope this will enable teams to more effectively process incoming requests and tasks via a single shared email address. | Available to Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Frontline, Nonprofits, and legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers only. | Learn more.

Granular controls for app allowlisting in the Google Workspace Marketplace

Admins can now choose which Google Workspace Marketplace apps are available to be installed by users in a particular department (OU) or group by managing Marketplace apps on their allowlist. Previously, admins could only manage the allowlist for an entire domain. Additionally, the Marketplace apps access settings, Allow all apps, Allow selected apps, and Block all apps, can now be set for your entire organization or for an OU or group. This new functionality provides a solution when only a subset of domain users need permissions to install certain Marketplace apps. Examples include Chat apps required for your Engineering organization and IT security group or Classroom add-ons required for high-school teachers. | Available to Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Frontline, Nonprofits, and legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers only. | Learn more.

Seamlessly delete subsets of Sites

Site editors can now delete a page with subpages and delete pages that were copied into another site during a partial site copy. | Roll out to Rapid Release began August 8, 2022; launch to Scheduled Release planned for August 29, 2022. | Learn more.

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.

Office Building support for Working Locations

We’ve added the ability to select a specific office building as your working location. | Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Nonprofits, and legacy G Suite Business customers only. | Learn more.

Improving data privacy with Client-side encryption for Google Meet

We’ve added Workspace Client-side encryption to Google Meet, giving customers increased control over their data. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, and Education Plus customers hosting client-side encrypted calls only. | Learn more.

Stronger protection for sensitive Google Workspace account actions

There are now stronger safeguards for sensitive actions taken in your Google Workspace account. These apply to actions that, when done by hijackers, can have far reaching consequences for the account owner or the organization it belongs to. | Learn more.

The Google Meet and Google Duo app icons are changing, additional information for Google Workspace users

As part of the announcement that we are upgrading the Duo experience to include all Google Meet features, users will now begin to see their app name and icon update to Google Meet. | Learn more.

Better location context for events and RSVPs in Calendar

We’ve made it even easier to use RSVPs in Google Calendar and let others know how you’re planning to join a meeting. | Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Education Standard, Teaching & Learning Upgrade, Nonprofits, and legacy G Suite Business customers only. | Learn more.

Improved notifications when editing Microsoft Office files in Docs, Sheets, and Slides

We’ve rolled out a series of improvements to the notifications you see when editing a Microsoft Office-formatted file with Office editing mode. | Learn more.

Unified experience for Gmail logs in BigQuery, configure your existing Gmail logs to route to Workspace logs

In the coming months, we will move the location of the existing Gmail logs in BigQuery to Google Workspace logs and reports in BigQuery. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, Education Standard customers only. | Learn more.

Google Meet call control for USB peripheral devices

We've introduced additional call control for Google Meet which will allow you to toggle between mute and unmute using headsets, speaker microphones, and other USB peripheral devices. | Learn more.

Control visibility of admin alerts with admin role privileges

There is a new control that allows super admins to create a custom rule which ensures only admins with the DLP privilege can see DLP alerts. | Learn more.