Introducing a new homepage view in Google Drive

What’s changing

Over the years, we’ve added features to Google Drive that help you more efficiently find files and folders. In October, we launched a new view in Google Drive that shows all pending access requests, recent comments, and approvals for files to help you quickly see recent activity and take action, all in one place. 
Today, we’re excited to introduce the latest series of changes that accelerate user productivity across new views in Drive. A new streamlined homepage for Drive called Home makes it easier and faster for you to find files that matter most. Specifically, you’ll notice: 
Personalized file and folder suggestions with machine learning algorithms that can help you get started quickly. These suggestions utilize a variety of signals, such as what files or folders you’ve recently opened, shared or edited, or what documents are attached to upcoming Calendar events. Filter chips to narrow down your search and find relevant files faster across Drive, making it easy to find suggested files by type, people, modified date or the location. A more modern design inline with Google Material Design 3 guidelines that helps you navigate across Drive much more efficiently.

Who’s impacted

End users 

Why you’d use it 

The new Google Drive Home page will make it easier and faster for you to find the files you need and collaborate with others. 

Additional details 

When you go to drive.google.com, instead of landing in ‘My Drive’ you will now be directed to ‘Home.’ If you would like to set your default to ‘My Drive,’ click on the “Change to My Drive” option in the banner on Home: 

Getting started 

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. End users: This feature will be ON by default and can be opted-out by the user. If a user chooses to opt-out, their default page will be My Drive. To opt-out, go to My Drive and click on the “Change to My Drive” option in the banner. 

Rollout pace 

Rapid Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on November 28, 2023 Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on January 11, 2024 

Availability 

Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts Note: The Drive Activity view is available to Google Workspace customers only

More insights to help admins troubleshoot Google Meet hardware issues

What’s changing 

In 2022, we introduced several improvements for managing Google Meet hardware devices. These improvements included surfacing additional information about device issues, such as a description of the issue, when the issue was detected, and more. Today, we’re taking these improvements one step further by providing admins with even more data points. Specifically, admins will now be able to see the following types of usage data:
Issues: device health problems that are detected and persist over time. This is existing functionality and will continue to include the following issue types:
Device offlineMissing microphoneMissing speakerMissing cameraMissing controllerMissing displayMissing default microphoneMissing default speakerMissing default cameraMissing default whiteboard camera

Activities: records of how a hardware device is being used at any given time, including:
Meet call Zoom call Webex callBring-your-own-device mode [or computer connected]Local presentWhiteboard camera present Peripheral firmware update 
Events: any notable point-in-time occurrence that can be useful for admins looking to troubleshoot issues, including:
Operating system update Feedback filedRestart

Who’s impacted

Admins

Why it matters

The health and functionality of your Meet hardware fleet is critical for connection and collaboration. As such, it’s important that admins have the information and context they need to troubleshoot issues across their fleet. With these additional data points, admins will have even greater insight and context into issues, allowing them to troubleshoot and resolve them faster.

Additional details

Google Meet Hardware devices that do not run ChromeOS (such as Poly X30, X50, X70) will only support activity data for Meet calls at this time.

Getting started

Admins: You can navigate to this page from Admin Console > Google Meet hardware > Devices > [Device name] > Device history. Visit the Help Center to learn more about understanding device usage in your organization.End users: There is no end user impact or action required.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 6, 2023

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware devices

Resources

Monitor insider risk of Google Workspace data with Chronicle

What’s changing 

Admins can now more seamlessly integrate their Google Workspace data with Chronicle (Google’s cloud-native Security Operations platform), to quickly detect, investigate and take action on risky activity and threats. Admins can now leverage reduced time spent syncing data from Workspace to Chronicle, as well as Chronicle’s curated preconfigured out-of-the-box detections.

Who’s impacted

Admins

Why it matters 

As an admin, you can already use the Alert Center to view notifications and take action on potentially issues within your domain. Now you can take this a step further by using Chronicle, leveraging its rich risk management capabilities and recommendations:
Chronicle can help detect and investigate potential threats at every level of sophistication by monitoring your data in real time. Data insights are available at your fingertips, with rich context and visualization alongside industry best recommendations, helping you make better decisions faster. Further, you can deploy Chronicle’s out-of-the-box use cases, helping to cut down on time spent building rules and playbooks. You can also build and automate repeatable playbooks with full-fledged security orchestration, automation and response capabilities (SOAR).

Getting started

Admins: Visit the Help Center to learn more about exporting logs to Chronicle to monitor insider risk. Please reach out to your sales representative for more information on pricing.End users: There is no end user impact or action required.

Rollout pace

This feature is available now.

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Standard and Enterprise Plus customers 

Resources

Google Classroom now supports roster import from SIS partners

What’s changing

Educators can now easily import students from their student information system (SIS) to Google Classroom using OneRoster. This integration saves educators time and helps make class setup much quicker. 

Getting started 

Admins: This feature is available for domains connected to an SIS partner–Aspen, Infinite Campus or Skyward (with PowerSchool coming soon). To enable the feature, go to http://classroom.google.com/admin. Visit the Help Center to learn more about connecting your Classroom to your SIS. End users: If OneRoster is connected by your admin, you can import students by going to the People tab > “Invite Students” > “Import from SIS”. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Classroom with your SIS.

Rollout pace 

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on November 28, 2023 (with expected completion in January 2024) 

Availability 

Available to Education Plus and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade 

Resources 

Create shareable video presentations in Google Slides

What’s changing

We’re introducing slides recordings, a new Google Slides feature that lets you easily record yourself presenting, and then share the presentation with others to view when it works for them. From webinars, to employee trainings, to lessons for your classroom, slides recordings help you effortlessly record visual and engaging presentations without ever leaving Slides. 

Who’s impacted 

End users 

Why it’s important 

This feature helps you share more engaging video presentations with others for easy, flexible viewing. Whether sharing video content inside of your company or externally, with slides recordings you don’t need to use a separate video recording tool. 

Additional details 

You can use your computer’s built-in or external camera and microphone hardware to add your voice and webcam feed to your recording. 

Getting started 

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.End users:
Visit the Help Center to learn more about recording a slideshow, finding your recording, sharing your recording, removing a recording and more. Please note that recording-creation is only accessible using Google Chrome on your Desktop.
Recordings cannot be created on mobile devices and are not accessible from the Slides mobile app. However, you can find and view your recording using the Drive mobile app. 

Rollout pace 

Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on November 28, 2023 Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on January 2, 2024 

Availability 

Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus and Education Plus  

Resources