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Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – March 1, 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.


Playback improvements to videos uploaded on Google Drive 
We’re enabling the generation and playback of Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) video transcodes for all new videos uploaded to Google Drive. DASH transcodes provide adaptive bitrate playback, which allows users to receive higher or lower resolution playback based on aspects like their local network quality. As a result of this change, you’ll also notice: 
  • Improvements in join time (the time it takes from clicking play to actually starting playback) 
  • A reduction in re-buffering, both in normal playback as well as during playback at higher speeds 
While this feature applies to all new videos uploaded to Drive, existing videos in Drive will be updated by the end of the year. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains and Scheduled Release domains now. | Available to Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. 


Enhancing search within the Google Drive app 
We’re improving Google Drive’s search experience on iOS devices (with Android coming soon) by: 
  • Simplifying how you access query filters by introducing filter categories that are accessible directly below the search bar and include filters for File Type, Owners and Last modified. 
  • Showing you relevant query filters as you type your query, enabling you to easily select a filter and saving you the time and effort of typing out the full search. 
  • Adding the option to further refine your search after reaching the search results page. 
These updates are available now to Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts using iOS devices. | We will provide an update when this is available on Android devices. | Learn more about finding files in Google Drive. 



Further extending long running queries within Connected Sheets 
Last year, we extended the timeout time from 5 minutes to 10 minutes for BigQuery and Looker. Now, the timeout time has increased to 20-30 minutes, and starting this week Connected Sheet users can view the status of a query and easily cancel it on Google Sheets. In addition to the ability to analyze data from queries that scan even larger data sets in Sheets, we hope these increased user controls give you even more oversight, especially in cases where queries might be taking a while to complete. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains and Scheduled Release domains now. | Available to Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Learn more about Connected Sheets for Looker and Analyze & refresh BigQuery data in Google Sheets using Connected Sheets.


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.



Now generally available: Import and convert sensitive Excel files into client-side encrypted Google Sheets 
You can now import and convert sensitive Excel files into Google Sheets with client-side encryption. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, and Education Standard customers only. | Learn more about working with encrypted files in Sheets. 

Easily identify which unread threads are most relevant to you in Google Chat 
With multiple threads across numerous spaces, we know it can be difficult to identify which unread threads are most relevant to you. In order to provide you with more context upfront, you will now see participant avatars for unread threads in the conversation view. Without having to click to open the thread side panel, it will now be much easier to decide which threads to read and reply to. | Learn more about participant avatars for unread threads in Chat. 

Available in open beta: the Groups Admin role can now be provisioned for specific group types 
The Groups Admin role can now be assigned for security groups or non-security groups. Previously, those with the Groups Admin role had access to all groups within an organization. This change gives administrators more granular delegation of group admin responsibilities, helping limit access to the most sensitive groups to only those who absolutely need it. | Learn more about the beta for the Groups Admin role. 

New ways to annotate Google Docs 
We’re excited to announce a new feature, markups in Google Docs, which gives you more flexibility when providing feedback in a document. The new markups experience lets you add handwritten annotations to documents with a stylus or your finger when using an Android device. | Learn more about markups in Docs. 

Conduct direct 1:1 calls with people outside your video calling network on Google Meet mobile 
Earlier this year, we introduced cloud-encrypted 1:1 video calls between users in the same domain using the Meet mobile app. In the coming weeks, users from outside of your domain will be able to initiate 1:1 video calls with your users and vice versa. Admins will be able to pre-configure this functionality as on or off for their users with a new admin control. | Learn more about 1:1 calling using Google Meet mobile. 

Easily manage and secure your school’s accounts and mobile devices centrally in Google Admin console with the Endpoint Education Upgrade 
This year, we announced Endpoint Education Upgrade, which adds enterprise endpoint management features to your Google Workspace for Education edition. Using endpoint management, admins can better manage and secure the phones and tablets used across their school directly from the Admin console. | Available to Education Standard and Education Plus only. | Learn more about the Endpoint Education Upgrade. 

Set client-side encryption as the default mode for new emails, events, and files on mobile 
Admins can now set client-side encryption (CSE) to be on by default on Android and iOS for: newly drafted Gmail messages and replies, newly created Google Calendar events, and newly uploaded Google Drive files. | Available to Workspace Enterprise Plus customers only. | Learn more about client-side encryption default mode.


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).  

Easily manage and secure your school’s accounts and mobile devices centrally in Google Admin console with the Endpoint Education Upgrade

What’s changing

This year, we announced Endpoint Education Upgrade, which adds enterprise endpoint management features to your Google Workspace for Education edition. Using endpoint management, admins can better manage and secure the phones and tablets used across their school directly from the Admin console.

Note that advanced endpoint management features are already included with Google Workspace for Education Standard and Plus.

Who’s impacted

Admins


Why you’d use it


Using the Endpoint Education Upgrade, admins can configure a wide range of account and device management features, helping to make your organization's data more secure across your users' mobile devices, desktops, laptops, and other endpoints. For example, you can:
  • Control what Android & iOS app can be installed on a device, who can log into it (for domain owned devices), and where it can access your data.
  • Protect devices from loss or theft with admin rules for alerts, location tracking, access restrictions, and remote data wipes.
  • Manage company-owned devices or set up Android work profiles, so users can safely access your school account on the go.
  • Require stronger device passwords and more.
Visit the Help Center for a complete list of endpoint management features.


Getting started


Rollout pace

  • The Endpoint Education Upgrade will be available for purchase through your current Google Workspace for Education reseller and select channel partners on February 29, 2024. If you do not currently have a Google Workspace for Education reseller, you can find one here.


Availability

  • Endpoint Education Upgrade is available by user based license or device based license (coming soon) — it is not a domain wide license. You can purchase Endpoint Education Upgrade licenses through your current Google Workspace for Education reseller and select channel partners. 

  • If you have Education Fundamentals and wish to upgrade instead of purchasing individual Endpoint Education Upgrade licenses, you can easily upgrade to Education Standard or Education Plus.

Resources

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – February 23, 2024

1 New update

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.



New way to use smart canvas in Google Docs 
We’re introducing a new feature in Google Docs that utilizes smart canvas to boost productivity and streamline your workflow. Starting this week, you will see suggestions for email autocomplete, followed by a people chip conversion option using the Tab key. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for March 7, 2024. | Available to all Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Learn more about and inserting smart chips in your Google Doc. 
email autocomplete, followed by a people chip conversion option using the Tab key


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.


Updates to the Google Workspace Marketplace 
End users can now discover and install Google Chat apps from the Google Workspace Marketplace. Additionally, users can now open the Google Workspace Marketplace directly from within Chat. | Learn more about Workspace Marketplace and Chat apps. 

Introducing Gemini for Google Workspace, plus more AI offerings to better meet your business needs 
On February 8, we announced the next chapter of our Gemini era. As part of this change, starting today, the Duet AI for Google Workspace Enterprise add-on is now called Gemini Enterprise.We’re also introducing Gemini Business, which is available to new and existing Google Workspace customers (see the availability section below for more details). Gemini Business is a Workspace add-on subscription which provides a subset of the generative AI features available in Gemini Enterprise, subject to monthly usage limits. | Learn more about Gemini for Google Workspace. 

Updated user interface for signing in to or signing up for your Google Account 
We’re updating the look and feel of our sign-up and sign-in pages with a more modern look, which is in-line with the Material Design across our other products. You'll see the updated interface across web and mobile devices. | Learn more about the updated interface. 

The Google Meet API is now generally available 
In November 2023, we announced the availability of the Google Meet API through our Developer Preview Program. Beginning this week, the Google Meet API is generally available. | Learn more about the Google Meet API. 

Check in to your meeting room directly from the Google Meet green room 
One of the challenges of joining a virtual meeting from a conference room, is that the people in the room are identified by the name of the conference room rather than as individuals. Google Meet’s room check-in feature helps ensure everyone in the meeting can see your name and be aware of your presence. | Learn more about Google Meet’s room check-in.


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

Updated user interface for signing in to or signing up for your Google Account

What’s changing 

We’re updating the look and feel of our sign-up and sign-in pages with a more modern look, which is in-line with the Material Design across our other products. You'll see the updated interface across web and mobile devices. Note that this is strictly a change in visual appearance, there are no functionality impacts or changes.

The new Google sign-in page on web



Getting started 

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
  • End users: There is no end user setting for this feature — users see these improvements automatically. Visit the Help Center to learn more about the new Google sign-in page.

Rollout pace 


Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers
  • Available to users with personal Google Accounts

Introducing Gemini for Google Workspace, plus more AI offerings to better meet your business needs

What’s changing 

On February 8, we announced the next chapter of our Gemini era. As part of this change, starting today, the Duet AI for Google Workspace Enterprise add-on is now called Gemini Enterprise. Gemini Enterprise includes full usage and access to generative AI features in Workspace, such as help me write, organize, and visualize, and more. Gemini Enterprise will continue to be the best way to get our most advanced AI features, like live translated captions in Meet. 


We’re also introducing Gemini Business, which is available to new and existing Google Workspace customers (see the availability section below for more details). Gemini Business is a Workspace add-on subscription which provides a subset of the generative AI features available in Gemini Enterprise, subject to monthly usage limits. With tools to enhance productivity, boost creativity, and save you time, Gemini Business is a good option for businesses looking to get started with generative AI. 


In addition, customers of Gemini Enterprise and Gemini Business can now chat directly with Gemini through a new standalone experience (gemini.google.com).This experience, which starts rolling out today, is built on our 1.0 Ultra model*, and provides enterprise-grade data protections and admin controls. Gemini can be a starting point for work and a better way to research, brainstorm, and analyze information—all with the capability to double check responses with confidence. With a Gemini Business and Gemini Enterprise plan, your conversations are not used for advertising purposes, reviewed by human reviewers, nor used to improve generative machine-learning technologies. For more information, see the latest on the Workspace blog and our previous post on how we’re protecting your Google Workspace data in the era of generative AI. Roll out of Gemini starts today for Gemini Enterprise and Gemini Business customers and will continue over the next several days.


Who’s impacted

Admins


Why it’s important

With these new offerings, businesses will have greater access to our robust suite of AI-powered features, which can be used to:
  • Research, brainstorm and analyze information in Gemini (gemini.google.com), with access to Google’s 1.0 Ultra and enterprise-grade data protections
  • Double-check responses to validate information in Gemini (gemini.google.com)
  • Chat with Gemini (gemini.google.com) to get the words and visuals just right and easily bring the output from Gemini to your new or existing document, presentation, or email
  • Help you write and refine emails in Gmail—even on the go from your mobile device
  • Help you write, refine, and proofread content in Google Docs
  • Generate original images for your presentations directly in Google Slides
  • Create plans for projects in Google Sheets with just a simple prompt
  • Look your best in Google Meet with studio look 
  • Generate background images in Google Meet
  • Use translated captions in Google Meet
Gemini Business is a great option for organizations looking to get started with generative AI. Gemini Enterprise will be the right choice for organizations that want to ensure full access to generative AI features from Google. Customers are able to have both Gemini Business and Gemini Enterprise licenses in the same domain, providing flexibility in how they roll out generative AI in their organization.


Additional details

Gemini Enterprise is now available for Google Workspace Nonprofits
Gemini Business and Gemini Enterprise add-ons can now be purchased by non-profits customers with a Google Workspace for Nonprofits subscription. Use this link to learn more about Gemini for Google Workspace and how you can get started today with a no-cost trial.

Getting started

Availability

  • Gemini Business is available as an add-on for Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Frontline Starter, Frontline Standard, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus, and Google Workspace for Nonprofits.

    We're working to bring Gemini for Workspace to our education customers, and we look forward to sharing more about this in the coming weeks.

  • *Gemini (gemini.google.com) is not currently available to Gemini Enterprise and Gemini Business users working in Hong Kong, France, or French territories. However, all other Gemini for Google Workspace features are supported in these locales. 
  • Gemini for Google Workspace features are only available for users over the age of 18.

Updates to the Google Workspace Marketplace

What’s changing

In 2023, we introduced the ability for admins to install Google Chat apps to direct messages on behalf of users within their domain from the Google Workspace Marketplace. Now, end users can also discover and install Google Chat apps from the Google Workspace Marketplace. 
Jira for Google Chat

Additionally, users can now open the Google Workspace Marketplace directly from within Chat. This will include an enhanced browsing experience with curated app categories such as “Intelligent apps”. Lastly, developers can start publishing Chat apps on the Google Workspace Marketplace, allowing users to more easily discover, install and use the apps.



Who’s impacted 

Admins, end users and developers 


Additional details 

Chat app users can now leave reviews and flag any inappropriate Chat apps directly from the Marketplace app listing. 
Chat apps reviews

Getting started 

Rollout pace 

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – February 16, 2024

2 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.



New formatting sidebar in Google Docs, Slides and Sheets apps on Android Tablets 
This week, we’re further improving the Google Workspace experience on large screen Android devices by adding a new formatting sidebar in Google Docs, Slides and Sheets. In addition to meeting the Google Material Design 3 guidelines, this new sidebar reduces the number of taps needed to navigate to formatting options, enabling you to more easily arrange text, tables, images and more. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for March 6, 2024. | Available to all Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. 
New formatting sidebar in Google Docs, Slides and Sheets apps on Android Tablets
New sidebar experience in Google Docs on an Android tablet 

Easily drag and drop an image to replace the background in Google Slides
Hovering over the border of an empty slide before dropping in an image (from your desktop, Content Library or another webpage) will now set the image as the background in Google Slides. Dropping the image anywhere else will simply insert the image onto the slide. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for February 26, 2024. | Available to all Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Learn more about changing the theme, background, or layout in Google Slides.
Easily drag and drop an image to replace the background in Google Slides

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.


Google Meet “companion mode” is now supported on your mobile device for great hybrid meetings
Beginning this week, you’ll be able to use companion mode with your Android and iOS devices. | Learn more about Google Meet companion mode. 

Creating more immersive presentations in Google Slides
Starting this week, Speaker spotlight in Slides, an experience that lets presenters insert their video feed directly into their Slides content, is generally available for select Google Workspace editions. With Speaker spotlight, you can deliver your message with greater impact by embedding your camera feed directly into your Slides presentations. This feature helps keep your audience focused on you and can help make your content more compelling. | Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, and Education Plus customers only. | Learn more about speaker spotlight.

Assign mobile device management admin privileges based on organizational unit
We’re giving admins more granular control over how mobile device management privileges are delegated. Specifically, admins can be assigned privileges for specific organizational units (OUs). | Learn more about mobile device management. 

Sort, filter and manage comments faster in Google Docs, Sheets and Slides
We’re introducing an improved comments experience in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides to help you find and take action on comments easier than ever before. While you will continue to see and interact with the comments experience you’re familiar with, you’ll also notice updates to our comment cards, icons, and more. | Learn more about comments across Workspace. 


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 – February 9, 2024

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.


Google Meet hosts can pin multiple tiles for all meeting participants 
If you’re a meeting host or co-host, you can now pin up to three specific tiles for all meeting participants. By doing so, you can help ensure the meeting is focused on key presentations and speakers. | Learn more about pinning multiple tiles in Meet.

Share spaces smart chips in Google Chat
You now have the ability to search for and insert a smart chip that links to a space. These new smart chips will make it easier to share and collaborate on content related to specific spaces. | Learn more about space smart chips.


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 – February 2, 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.


New ways to work with filters in Connected Sheets for Looker and Connected Sheets for BigQuery 
  • With Looker: Connected Sheets for Looker users will now be able to see whether Looker-defined filters, always_filters and conditionally_filters, are applied in their Google Sheets. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains and Scheduled Release domains now. | Available to all Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Learn more about always_filter and conditionally_filter in Looker. 
  • With BigQuery: Connected Sheets for BigQuery users can now right-click any value in the Connected Sheets preview and filter rows in the preview on that specific value. As a result, a new query will be sent to BigQuery to re-fetch the preview. This new option provides an additional way to easily explore data in the Connected Sheets preview for BigQuery. | This is now available to all Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Learn more about sorting & filtering BigQuery data in Google Sheets.

Latest improvement for page setup in Google Docs 
We’re introducing a new menu item within the Format option that enables you to easily switch between pageless and pages mode in Google Docs. | Rollout to Rapid Release domains is complete; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for February 5, 2024. | Available to all Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Learn more about changing a document’s page setup. 
Latest improvement for page setup in Google Docs


Developers can now choose which calendar events to be notified about 
Developers using the Calendar API can now subscribe to specific changes in users’ calendars — this includes event types such as working location, out-of-office, or focus time. This update reduces the amount of notifications down to those that are most relevant to the developer. | Use our Developer Documentation for more information about subscribing to alerts for specific calendar event changes. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release domains and Scheduled Release domains. | The Calendar API is available to all Google Workspace customers, however Calendar features may vary across Google Workspace editions.



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.


For Google Meet Hardware, ‘Auto-Update Expiration (AUE)’ will now be referred to as 'end of Meet support' 
We’re making changes to the terminology that refers to when a Meet hardware device is no longer supported. | This update impacts all Google Workspace customers with Meet hardware devices. | Learn more about 'end of Meet support'.

Local data storage exports your organization's Workspace data into the geographic location of your choice, launching in beta 
We’re introducing Google Workspace’s new feature, local data storage. This feature allows admins to export their organization’s Workspace data into the geographic location or locations of their choice. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus customers with Assured Controls add-on only. | Learn more about the local data storage exports beta.

Improving the Google Calendar appointment scheduling experience with new features 
We’re improving upon the current appointment scheduling experience with four new features. | Co-hosts, secondary calendars and delegate access features are available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Nonprofits only. Check Calendars for availability feature is available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Nonprofits, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts only. | Learn more about the appointment scheduling features. 

Shareable class templates and classwork in Google Classroom are now generally available 
Last year, we announced a Google Classroom beta that simplifies lesson planning with shareable class templates and classwork. We’re excited to announce that this is now globally available for Google Workspace for Education Plus customers in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese. | Available to Education Plus only. | Learn more about shareable class materials. 

Pin chat messages in Google Meet 
You can now pin messages to the top of the meeting chat. Pinned messages will appear for all users, even if they join the meeting after the message was initially sent. | Learn more about messaging pinning.


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).  

Local data storage exports your organization’s Workspace data into the geographic location of your choice, launching in beta

What’s changing 

Today, we’re introducing Google Workspace’s new feature, local data storage. This feature allows admins to export their organization’s Workspace data into the geographic location or locations of their choice. These are the available options for this feature: 
  • User data: Specify users, groups, organizational units or your entire organization 
  • Export frequency: Opt for continuous or one-time exports 
  • Storage settings: Specify the geographic location of the Google Cloud storage bucket that the data is exported to, who can access the data, and more settings within the Google Cloud storage bucket.

When creating a new export, you can choose to export your data continuously into your own storage bucket



Who’s impacted

Admins


Why you’d use it

This update allows admins to export their organization's Workspace data into their own Google Cloud Storage (GCS) bucket located in a geographic location of their choice to meet their data sovereignty, compliance, and data archival needs. 

Getting started


Rollout pace


Availability

  • Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus customers with Assured Controls add-on
    • If you don’t currently have the Assured Controls add-on, please contact us or reach out to your sales rep for more information.

Resources