Google Workspace Changes

Google launched a new standalone Progressive Web Application (PWA) for Google Meet on desktop devices.

Google has introduced a standalone Progressive Web Application (PWA) for Google Meet, which offers the same features as the web version but operates as a standalone app to streamline workflow and eliminate the need to switch between browser tabs. The PWA is compatible with Windows, MacOS, Chrome OS, and Linux devices running Google Chrome version 73 or higher.

Hangouts to Google Chat upgrade beginning August 16th, with option to opt-out.

Beginning August 16, 2021, users who have the “Chat and classic Hangouts” setting selected will be upgraded to “Chat preferred,” unless you explicitly opt out. Classic Hangouts will no longer be supported beginning late 2021, and all remaining users will be migrated to Google Chat.

Additional language support for live captions in Google Meet

Expanding live captions in Google Meet to French, German, Portuguese and Spanish (Spain and Latin America) speakers. They were previously only available in English. Live captions allow deaf and hard of hearing users, users with different primary languages, and users in noisy environments to participate more fully in meetings.

Breakout rooms are now available to more Google Workspace customers and new features are added

Breakout rooms in Google Meet are now available to Google Workspace, Essentials, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus customers, as well as G Suite Business and Enterprise for Education customers. New features include Ask for help, Timer/countdown, and additional supported participants.

Voice controls beta for shared meeting spaces

Voice controls are now available in beta for shared meeting spaces to facilitate touch-free meetings. Customers can sign up for the beta, with general availability expected in the coming months.

Updated ASUS Google Meet compute system

Google is refreshing existing ASUS kits with a new Google Meet compute system (formerly Chromebox). This updated system is slimmer, easier to deploy, and features an Intel i7 processor with a 128GB SSD, screwless and magnetic mounting, and single-sided ports for better cable management.

New ASUS starter kit for Google Meet Hardware

Google is introducing a new ASUS starter kit for Google Meet Hardware, designed for those who take frequent video conferences from home or from smaller-sized rooms. The kit includes a Huddly camera, speakermic, compute system, and a remote control, offering a more affordable and space-efficient solution for face-to-face connectivity.

Google Meet introduces low-light mode for mobile devices to automatically enhance video quality in suboptimal lighting.

Google Meet now automatically enhances video to adapt to low light conditions on Android and iOS devices. The enhancement begins five seconds after entering a low-light area and intelligently adjusts as lighting conditions change. This feature is enabled by default but can be turned off in the in-call settings menu.

Google Meet now supports seeing up to 16 participants at once in tiled layout.

Google Meet has updated its tiled layout option, allowing users to see up to 16 participants simultaneously. This improvement is designed to enhance the dynamics of larger group meetings and classes by making it easier to track multiple speakers and see reactions, making remote meetings feel more like in-person interactions. This feature is currently available for Meet on the web.

Removal of 'Hangouts' from the Google Meet product name.

Google is dropping 'Hangouts' from the Google Meet name. This rebranding will be reflected within the product and across Google resources over the following few weeks.

Extension of advanced Google Meet features to all G Suite customers through September 30, 2020.

Google is extending the free availability of advanced Google Meet video-conferencing capabilities, including live streaming and recording, to all G Suite Basic, Business, Education, and Nonprofit customers until September 30, 2020, to support organizations and educators during the crisis.

Participants cannot re-join nicknamed meetings after the final participant has left.

To enhance teacher control, participants will no longer be able to re-join a meeting once the final participant has left if the meeting was created using a short link (e.g., g.co/meet/nickname), via the 'Join or start a meeting' field at meet.google.com, or via the Meet app using a nickname. This prevents students from joining a meeting without a teacher present.

Only meeting creators and calendar owners can mute or remove other participants in Education meetings.

For G Suite for Education and G Suite Enterprise for Education customers, Google Meet is updating permissions so that only the meeting creator, Calendar event owner, or the person who creates a meeting on an in-room hardware device can mute or remove other participants. This ensures that teachers cannot be removed or muted by students during a session.

Hangouts Meet improvements for remote learning

Making several improvements to improve the remote learning experience for teachers and students using Hangouts Meet. Only meeting creators and calendar owners can mute or remove other participants in a meeting. Meeting participants will not be able to re-join nicknamed meetings once the final participant has left

Advanced Google Meet features made available to all G Suite customers at no cost.

Google is providing free access to premium Hangouts Meet features for all G Suite Basic, Business, Education, and Nonprofit customers. These advanced capabilities include support for up to 250 participants per call, live streaming for up to 100,000 viewers within the domain, and the ability to record meetings to Google Drive. These features, typically reserved for Enterprise editions, are available at no additional cost through September 30, 2020.