Google Workspace Changes

New size and position controls for objects in Google Slides.

Google Slides is introducing new controls to allow users to precisely adjust the size and position of shapes, images, and text boxes. These updates enable users to set exact sizes using numeric values or percentage scales, adjust the specific position of objects on a slide, and rotate objects by flipping them horizontally or vertically or by setting a precise rotation angle.

Google Calendar now indicates when all guests have declined a meeting.

Google Calendar now provides a visual indication when all guests have declined a meeting, allowing users to identify events with no attendance without checking event details or RSVP emails. From this indication, users can choose to cancel the meeting, reschedule it, or dismiss the notification.

New integration allows direct import of SAP ERP content into Google Sheets.

In an upcoming SAP release, employees will be able to import ERP content directly into Google Sheets, removing the need to manually export data to CSV files and upload them to Drive, allowing for faster analysis using tools like intelligent pivot tables and macros.

Hangouts Meet becomes compatible with traditional video conferencing systems and Skype for Business.

Google is making Hangouts Meet compatible with traditional video conferencing hardware from providers like Polycom and Cisco through a partnership with Pexip. Additionally, users of Microsoft Skype for Business will be able to join Hangouts Meet meetings directly from their Skype application.

Hangouts Chat introduces support for external collaboration with users outside the organization.

Google is updating Hangouts Chat to allow users to include people from outside their organization in conversations, facilitating easier alignment and communication with clients, vendors, and partners.

Ability to book Microsoft Exchange resources directly in Google Calendar.

G Suite users will soon be able to view and book resources, such as meeting rooms and equipment, that are stored in Microsoft Exchange and Office 365 directly within Google Calendar.

Google Calendar introduces native support for third-party conferencing add-ons.

Google Calendar is adding support for third-party conferencing add-ons, allowing providers such as Cisco Webex, GoToMeeting, and RingCentral to enable users to create, view, and join video conferences directly from a Calendar event on web or mobile without requiring downloads or plug-ins.

Configure Google Groups privacy and security settings to prevent accidental data sharing.

Google provides detailed guidance on configuring Google Groups settings to balance collaboration and security. By default, groups are private, restricting viewing, posting, and joining to domain members. G Suite admins can customize these defaults at the domain level or for specific groups, including managing who can create groups and whether external users can post or join, ensuring alignment with organizational security policies.

New insights and collaboration features added to the Activity dashboard in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

Google has introduced enhancements to the Activity dashboard across Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides to provide more actionable data. Users can now send follow-up emails to collaborators directly from the dashboard, with the ability to filter recipients based on whether they have viewed the file. Additionally, a new chart has been added to visualize viewing patterns over time, allowing users to adjust date ranges and hover over data points for more detailed insights.

Automatically generated meeting join instructions for third-party calendar clients.

Google Calendar now automatically adds text to event descriptions for users utilizing G Suite Sync for Microsoft Outlook, Google Sync, or third-party Android clients that rely on Calendar Provider. This text provides clear instructions on how to join meetings via Meet or Hangouts, allowing users of clients that do not natively display meeting instructions (such as Samsung S Planner) to join meetings without needing to access Google Calendar on the web.

Admin-controlled default settings for new Team Drives.

G Suite admins can now prescribe default settings for newly created Team Drives in their domains or organizational units. These defaults include options to prevent full-access members from modifying settings, restrict the creation of new Team Drives, and limit access for people outside the domain or non-members.

New user settings to safeguard Team Drive files.

Users with full access to a Team Drive can now modify settings to restrict whether files can be shared with users outside their domain or non-members of the Team Drive, and prevent commenters and viewers from downloading, copying, or printing files.

Include a message when changing or deleting meeting details in Google Calendar.

Google Calendar now allows users to enter a custom message in a dialog box when editing or deleting an existing meeting. This message is then included in the email notification sent to other guests, facilitating better communication regarding meeting changes.

Ability to copy and duplicate sites in the new Google Sites.

Google has introduced a feature allowing users to copy sites created in the new Google Sites. This functionality enables users to save time by creating backups of their work, establishing base templates for new sites, or iterating on previous versions without having to start from scratch. The feature is accessed via the More menu > Duplicate site.

Hangouts Meet is now compatible with Firefox version 60 and above.

To ensure a seamless transition to Meet, Google has added compatibility with Firefox starting on version 60. Meet utilizes native WebRTC protocols, which removes the requirement for any downloads or plugins when using the service in the Firefox browser.