Tag Archives: Jamboard

The next phase of digital whiteboarding for Google Workspace

What’s changing 

In late 2024, we will wind down the Jamboard whiteboarding app as well as continue with the previously planned end of support for Google Jamboard devices. For those who are impacted by this change, we are committed to help you transition: 
  • We are integrating whiteboard tools such as FigJam, Lucidspark, and Miro across Google Workspace so you can include them when collaborating in Meet, sharing content in Drive, or scheduling in Calendar. 
  • Further, we’re bringing these whiteboard solutions to the Series One Board 65 and Desk 27 devices by Avocor, so you can visually collaborate using a physical device and stylus. 
  • We will provide a retention and migration path for Jamboard data so you don’t lose any of the collaborative work that’s been created within your organization. 

Admins of impacted Google Workspace customers will receive more detailed information and instructions via email. We’ll continue to provide reminders here on the Updates Blog throughout this process as well.


Who’s impacted

Admins and end users


Why it’s important

We’re committed to partnering with industry-leading companies to bring the most innovative collaboration experiences to Google Workspace. We’ve heard from our customers that whiteboarding tools like FigJam by Figma, Lucidspark by Lucid Software, and the visual workspace Miro help their teams work better together — specifically, the advanced features they offer such as infinite canvas, use case templates, voting, and more. Based on this feedback, we’ve decided to leverage our partner ecosystem for whiteboarding in Workspace and focus our efforts on core content collaboration across Docs, Sheets, and Slides. 


Whiteboarding capabilities in the conference room or classroom
Earlier this year, our partner, Avocor, delivered two next-generation video conferencing and whiteboarding devices, the Series One Board 65 and Desk 27, to succeed the original Jamboard device. With built-in Google AI features, studio-grade audio, and seamless video conferencing through Google Meet, these devices are designed for immersive team collaboration.
 
Today, we’re announcing that FigJam, Lucidspark, and Miro will create integrations for these devices, with expected delivery at the end of 2023 and early 2024 — we’ll keep you posted on the availability here on the Workspace Updates blog. Soon you’ll not only have a choice of three robust third-party whiteboarding experiences inside a Meet call, you’ll also have new options to use them outside a call as standalone whiteboarding tools on the Board 65 and Desk 27.


Transition timeline

Jamboard device: 
  • All Jamboard device license subscriptions (including education licenses) will end on September 30, 2024. If you have an upcoming 12-month subscription renewal, you will have the ability to renew your license subscription for a term that will end on September 30, 2024, at a prorated cost.  

  • If you need to back up any Jamboard device event logs from the Admin console, please do so before September 30, 2024. After this date, you will no longer be able to manage Jamboards from the Admin console and we will begin to delete device event log data.

  • October 1, 2024, the 55-inch Jamboard device will reach its Auto Update Expiration (AUE) and will no longer receive security and feature updates or customer support from Google Workspace. At this time, we will also remove Jamboard device management from the Admin console, leaving the device with limited functionality. Our FAQ page contains details on how you can continue to use your 55-inch Jamboard device beyond its AUE date.

  • Those looking for an alternative to the 55-inch Jamboard device can upgrade to the Google Meet Series One Board 65 and Desk 27 devices by Avocor. Both devices will have integrations with our partners’ whiteboarding software to replace the Jamboard app. We will follow up as we approach the AUE date with reminders and updates.

Jamboard app

  • Starting October 1, 2024, you’ll no longer be able to create new or edit existing Jams on any platform, including the web, iOS, and Android. 
  • Between October 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, the app will be placed in “view-only” mode, during which time you will still be able to backup your Jam files. Learn more.
  • On December 31, 2024, we will wind down the Jamboard application, meaning your users will no longer be able to access their Jam files and Jam files will be permanently deleted. In the coming months, we’ll provide Jamboard app users and admins clear paths to retain their Jamboard data or migrate it to FigJam, Lucidspark, and Miro within just a few clicks, well before the Jamboard app winds down in late 2024. Review how you can generate a list of your Jamboard active users. Also, have your users download their Jam files

Additional details

    We also understand the unique needs of educational institutions, so we’ve worked with Figjam by Figma, Lucidspark by Lucid software, and the visual workspace Miro to provide whiteboarding capabilities that cater to students and educators, whether they’re in primary school, secondary school, or higher education. To learn more about each offering, see which is best for your educational institution, and get guidance and resources for using these tools, please visit the Help Center. We will also work directly with educational institutions to compensate them for their Jamboard devices.

    Getting started


    Availability

    • This update impacts all Google Workspace customers who use the Jamboard app or 55-inch Jamboard device.

    Resources


    Introducing Trusted Types in Google Workspace

    What’s changing

    We’re improving the client-side security of Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Sites, Jamboard, Drawings, and Drive with Trusted Types. This will provide an extra layer of protection around Document Object Model (DOM) APIs that are used by the apps listed above or third-party extensions. 

    This new enforcement mode will require third-party extensions to use typed objects instead of strings when assigning values to DOM APIs, and will begin rolling out on March 23, 2023. Once Trusted Types are fully enforced, the Trusted Types directive will be present in the Content Security Policy (CSP) header: 

    Who’s impacted

    Developers (relying on any Chrome extensions that modify DOM APIs.) 


    Why it’s important

    Trusted Types is a feature that further enhances our advanced data protection controls to keep users and data safe across more of the apps they use everyday. 


    Additional details 

    Screen readers, braille devices, and screen magnification will not change with Trusted Types. However, we recommend admins and developers check third party extensions for Trusted Types violations. Visit the Help Center to learn more about Accessibility for Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, & Drawings. 


    Getting started 

    • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
    • Developers: 
      • To make code Trusted Types compliant, signal to the browser that data being used within the context of these DOM APIs is trustworthy by creating a Trusted Type special object. 
      • There are several ways to be Trusted Types compliant, such as removing the offending code, using a library, or creating a Trusted Types policy. To ensure a seamless experience for users, these techniques can be employed before Trusted Types enforcement is rolled out. 
      • Visit the Chrome DevTools engineering blog to learn more about implementing CSP and Trusted Types debugging in Chrome DevTools. 
    • End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. 

    Rollout pace 

    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 – October 14, 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.



    In-room meeting participants can now join break out rooms 
    When using Google Meet Hardware devices, meeting hosts can now assign conference rooms to breakout rooms. | Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Frontline, and Nonprofits customers only. | Learn more. 


    Transcribe speech during Google Meet calls into a Google Doc 
    You can now transcribe a Google Meet video meeting into a Google Doc. The transcribed file is saved in the hosts “Meet Recordings” folder in Google Drive, similar to meeting recordings. | Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade customers only. | Learn more. 


    Use SIP Link to link phone numbers from local carriers to Google Voice 
    For Google Voice Standard and Premier customers, admins can now connect a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunk with Voice. This allows phone numbers (PSTN services) from local carriers to be used for Google Voice through a secure set of certified Session Border Controllers (SBCs), such as Audiocodes, Cisco, Oracle, and Ribbon. | Available with Voice Standard and Voice Premier licenses only. | Learn more. 


    Preview and interact with files using smart chips in Google Sheets 
    As an extension of smart canvas, you can now add Google Drive files directly into a Google Sheet as a smart chip. | Learn more. 


    Expanding smart chips to include events in Google Sheets 
    In addition to the recent announcement of adding files to Google Sheets using smart chips, we're also making it easier for you to quickly insert Calendar events into Sheets. | Learn more. 


    Join or start a meeting directly from Jamboard on the web to kickstart collaboration 
    We’re expanding interoperability with Google Meet and Jamboard with the option to join or start a meeting directly from Jamboard on the web. This makes it easier for you to seamlessly present your jam and start collaborating. | Learn more. 


    Data loss prevention for Google Chat now generally available 
    Over the next several weeks, data loss prevention (DLP) rules for Google Chat will become generally available for select Google Workspace editions. Data protection rules for Chat help admins and security experts build a stronger framework around sensitive data to prevent personal or proprietary information from ending up in the wrong hands. | Learn more. 

    Improve your visibility in Google Meet video calls
    Google Meet can now automatically frame your video before joining a meeting to help ensure equal visibility for all participants. The automatic framing happens only once, so there are no motion distractions that can divert attention from the content of the meeting. | Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, Education Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Workspace Individual customers with eligible devices. Also available to Google One subscribers with 2TB or more storage space with eligible devices. | Learn more. 

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

    Join or start a meeting directly from Jamboard on the web to kickstart collaboration

    What’s changing 

    We’re expanding interoperability with Google Meet and Jamboard with the option to join or start a meeting directly from Jamboard on the web. This makes it easier for you to seamlessly present your jam and start collaborating. This feature is available on the web. 



    Who’s impacted 

    End users 

    Why you’d use it 

    Effective team meetings are a critical component to unlocking innovation facilitated by human connection and collaboration. A key component of this is the ability to communicate seamlessly whether you’re joining in a meeting room or remotely. Bringing Google Meet into Jamboard allows everyone in the meeting to collaborate while having a conversation. 


    This is particularly helpful for presenters, who can share their Jam to illustrate a new idea or concept, and receive their audience's reaction in one place. Collaboration is even easier, allowing everyone in the meeting to co-create on a whiteboard without switching between tabs or apps. 


    As with other capabilities, such as Meet in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, we hope this update empowers teams working together in-real time, regardless of location. 

    Getting started 


    Rollout pace 


    Availability 

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

    Resources 

    Version history now available for Jamboard on web

    Quick launch summary 

    When using Jamboard on the web, you can now: 
    • See the version history of a Jam file 
    • Create named versions of a Jam file 
    • Restore a previous version of a Jam file 

    This is the same behavior you’re familiar with from other Google Workspace products, like Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Version history makes it easy to see changes to a Jam and who made them. This is particularly useful in education settings, allowing teachers to view and track student changes to Jam files. Additionally, you can name different versions of your Jam files, so you can quickly revert to them when needed. 

    Getting started 


    Rollout pace 

    Availability 

    • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers 

    Resources 

    Adding Google Chat, Google Calendar, and Jamboard to Google Workspace Essentials

    Quick launch summary

    We’re giving teams and organizations more ways to connect and collaborate by adding Google Chat, Google Calendar, and Jamboard to Google Workspace Essentials, all included at no additional cost.

    We know that different types of workers have different needs for communication and collaboration. We hope that, with the addition of these apps, Google Workspace Essentials customers will take advantage of new ways to communicate and collaborate by:

    • Using Chat to stay connected with your team and other stakeholders in your organization
    • Using Jamboard and Google Meet to conduct more immersive and engaging meetings
    • Using Calendar to schedule calls and team meetings

    We’re also adding the ability for multiple teams within one domain to sign up for Google Workspace Essentials, even if other teams in their domain have previously signed up in the past.

    Visit http://workspace.google.com/essentials to learn more about Google Workspace Essentials.

    Getting started

    Rollout pace

    These features are available now.

    Availability

    • These changes apply to Google Workspace Essentials customers only.
    • These changes are not relevant to Google Workspace Enterprise Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, or Enterprise Plus, or G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, or Nonprofits customers.

    Resources

    Changes to Google Workspace storage policies starting June 1, 2021

    What’s changing

    In 2021, we’ll make some changes to the way we store Google Photos, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drawings, Forms, and Jamboard content that may impact your domain. Please see below for more details.

    Google Photos
    Starting June 1, 2021, any new photos or videos uploaded to Google Photos or Google Drive in High quality will count toward the storage limits for users in your domain. Currently, only photos and videos uploaded in Original quality count toward storage quotas. Please note that any photos or videos uploaded in High quality prior to June 1, 2021, will not be impacted by this change and will not count toward storage limits.

    Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drawings, Forms, and Jamboard
    Starting June 1, 2021, any newly created Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drawings, Forms, and Jamboard files will also count toward the storage limits for users in your domain. Existing files within these products will not count toward storage, unless they’re modified on or after June 1, 2021.

    Who’s impacted

    Admins and end users. Storage limits differ across Google Workspace and G Suite editions, but we estimate that the majority of users will not be affected by these changes. See “Getting Started” below for more information on determining how much storage each user in your organization is allotted.

    Why it’s important

    Over the past decade, Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos have helped billions of people securely store and manage their emails, documents, photos, videos and more. Today, people are uploading more content than ever before—in fact, more than 4.3 million GB are added across Gmail, Drive, and Photos every day. These changes to our storage policy are necessary to provide our users with a great experience and to keep pace with the growing demand.

    Getting started


    Rollout pace


    Availability 

    • These changes will apply to all customers with Google Workspace and G Suite licenses. 

    Resources

     

    Host collaborative brainstorms with new digital whiteboarding integration in Google Meet

    Quick launch summary

    With the new Google Jamboard and Google Meet integration, you can now create or open an existing jam while on a Meet video call. This digital whiteboarding integration means you can use the Jamboard virtually to host collaborative brainstorming sessions with your coworkers or students in real-time, even when you can’t be in the same room.





    You’ll also be able to save, share and continue the whiteboard at any time with Jamboard.

    Note, you can only start or open a Jamboard during a Meet call if you joined the call on a computer. Video call participants on a mobile device or tablet will get a link to a Jamboard file and be directed to the Jamboard app.

    Getting started

    Admins: This feature will be ON by default for all domains with Jamboard enabled. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning Jamboard on or off for your organization.

    End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. Visit the Help Center to learn more about whiteboarding in Meet.

    Rollout pace


    Availability

    • Available to all G Suite customers and users with personal Google accounts.

    Resources

    Roadmap

     

    New improvements for Jamboard mobile and tablet apps

    What’s changing

    We’ve redesigned the Jamboard apps for iOS and Android to improve usability, performance, and reliability for Jamboard users. Together with our recent usability redesign of Jamboard hardware on web, these updates create a rich collaborative experience for Jamming across all user touch points.

    These changes create a more seamless and consistent experience, bringing familiar functionalities from other Google Editors to Jamboard. Additionally, we’re removing several functions to further streamline the user experience. For more details, see below.


    Who’s impacted

    End users

    Why you’d use it

    We’ve redesigned the current Jamboard apps to optimize the user experience, improve performance and reliability, make them work more effectively:

    Jamboard is now more consistent with other G Suite editors
    We’re bringing familiar functions from Google Editors to the Jamboard apps, which will make them easier to use. Specifically, you’ll be able to take actions such as starring, make a copy of a Jam or copy a link to a Jam. We’re also adding the standard G Suite link sharing abilities found in our editors to our apps to make sharing easier.





    You’ll also notice a grid view and a list view for your Jams on the homescreen. You can view recent, shared with me, starred and trashed Jams as browsable directories. These features are a part of the larger effort to bring the power and familiarity of G Suite to Jamboard. 

    An improved editing experience for mobile and tablet users
    We’ve added full portrait and landscape support for apps, which makes jamming on mobile and tablet devices easier.



    You’ll see a redesigned toolbar and framebar bringing a familiar interface from Jamboard hardware and the web to users. We’ve also added missing tools, such as the select tool to mobile and made the tools for inserting images and drive files more performant and reliable.



    Easily join or open a Jam on Jamboard and share a Jam with people 
    We’ve made several improvements to the way you join and open Jams on Jamboard, and share Jams with people from mobile and tablet devices. You can now share Jams using the standard G Suite sharing methods. You can open a Jam on Jamboard using Bluetooth. Also, you can join a Jam on Jamboard using Bluetooth or a jam-code that is created on Jamboard hardware.

    You can read more about the improvements of our usability redesign here. See our Help Center to  learn more about the updates to the sharing, opening and joining model.

    How to get started

    • Admins: No action required. 
    • End users: You’ll see the new changes coming to your Android and iOS devices in the coming days. For more information on the updates to claiming and sharing Jams, see our “Helpful links” section.

    Additional details

    We’ve temporarily removed the ability to create a jam offline while we continue working toward achieving parity with the offline capabilities of other G Suite Editors. You’ll still be able to edit a Jam offline while you have a Jam open and edit any Jams offline you have previously opened.

    We’ll also be deprecating a few features:
    • You’ll no longer be able to use NFC to open or join a Jam on Jamboard. Instead, you can use Bluetooth to open or join Jams on Jamboard.
    • We’ve removed the Hangouts integration on mobile and tablet. To co-edit a Jam, share the Jam file link in Hangouts Chat or attach it to a calendar entry, which gives all meeting participants access to the Jam. To present a Jam to a meeting, use the new mobile Meet screen-sharing feature which is available on iOS and coming soon to Android.
    • We’re removing the web search and crop feature. Instead, you can use the native browser to find a web page, the native screen-capture and crop functionality, and our apps gallery insert flow to insert cropped images of web pages. For our EDU customers, this change allows us to lower the age restriction of our apps to 13+.
    • The ability to create Jam file codes on mobile and tablet will also be removed. Instead, you can use the familiar G Suite share features to share with people or use Bluetooth to open Jams on Jamboard.

    Helpful links

    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

    Edit and open jams on Jamboard more easily

    What’s changing 

    We’re making some updates to Jamboard to make it easier to jam on all your devices. Specifically you may notice:

    • An improved editing experience on Jamboard devices, including a redesigned toolbar and framebar, a new quick-access menu, and new gestures to select objects. 
    • Simpler ways to open jams from your computer or on Jamboard devices. 

    See below for more details, or see our Help Center for the full list of changes. You can also use this guide to learn how to use Jamboard, including the new features outlined in this post.

    Who’s impacted 

    End users

    Why you’d use it 

    These updates will make it easier for all users to visualize their ideas and collaborate through jams. This should help unlock your team’s creative potential by bringing more ideas together on a range of platforms, and making it easier to continue jamming in later meetings, brainstorms, and working sessions.

    How to get started 




    Additional details 

    Use this guide to get more details and learn how to use the toolbar, framebar, and other new features outlined in this post.

    An improved editing experience on Jamboard devices 

    • An updated toolbar on Jamboard devices features new and rearranged options, which make it easier to find and use popular editing controls including undo/redo, text colors, and more. 
    • The framebar has been redesigned. Tap the frame icon at the top of the Jamboard, and an expanded view of the frames in your jam will make it easy to move between frames. 
    • You can quick-select an object by tapping it with two fingers, rather than long-pressing as you would have before. This was changed in response to strong user feedback that it was too easy to accidentally lift objects while writing on them. 
    • A new overflow menu will make it easier to find more editing functions when you have an object selected. 


    Updated toolbar and framebar on Jamboard devices 


    Simpler ways to open jams from your computer or on Jamboard devices 

    • You can now use your computer to easily open a jam on a Jamboard using the Jamboard name. Simply open the jam on your computer, click “Open on a Jamboard,” then search by Jamboard name. To make this easier, we added the name of the Jamboard to the screensaver on Jamboard devices so it’s quick to open jams when you’re in sight of a Jamboard. See below for more details on how this works. 
    • You can no longer share a Jam by creating a share-code from your computer. Instead, you can share a jam using the standard G Suite Share button, and you can open Jams on Jamboard using the search by Jamboard name feature described above. 
    • We’ve updated the ‘open a jam’ instructions in the main menu on Jamboard devices. The new instructions make it easier to use the search, nearby, and code options to open a jam. See our Help Center for more information on how to open an existing jam on Jamboard.


    Helpful links 




    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