Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – March 22, 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.

Search for files directly using new search bar in Google Drive
Last year, we introduced a new homepage view in Google Drive that makes it easier and faster for you to find files that matter most. Starting this week, you’ll notice an expanded search bar and enhanced search chip capabilities that enable you to filter files across your entire Drive. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for April 15, 2024. | Available to Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Learn more about how to use Google Drive 

Improving filtering for merged cells in Google Sheets 
We’re excited to announce that users can now filter ranges with merged cells in Google Sheets. 
For ranges with vertical merges, users can create a filter and apply various filter types (condition, values, and color). For ranges with horizontal merges, users can create a filter, apply various filter types (condition, values, and color), and sort by values or color. Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for April 3, 2024. | Available to Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Learn more about sorting & filtering your data.

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.


The current appointment slots feature in Google Calendar will be replaced by appointment schedules in July 2024 
To create a cohesive user experience in Calendar, as of July 18, 2024, the appointment slots feature will be replaced by appointment schedules. | Appointment schedules are available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Nonprofits, Google Workspace Individual customers and Google One Premium users only. | Learn more about appointment scheduling.
Securely migrate existing encrypted messages to Gmail client-side encryption (CSE) 
Beginning this week, admins can migrate encrypted emails from other services like Microsoft 365, Microsoft Exchange, or Virtu, to Gmail client-side encryption in the S/MIME format. This enables Google Workspace customers to simplify the migration process by bulk importing sensitive emails as S/MIME messages without compromising their privacy or compliance posture. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, and Education Plus customers. | Learn more about securely migrating existing encrypted messages to Gmail CSE.

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

 

Securely migrate existing encrypted messages to Gmail client-side encryption (CSE)

What’s changing 

Beginning today, you can migrate encrypted emails from other services like Microsoft 365, Microsoft Exchange, or Virtu, to Gmail client-side encryption in the S/MIME format. Specifically: 
S/MIME messages imported from other mail providers are now supported by Gmail CSE Virtru customers can use our migration utility to encrypt their plain-text archives from Vault or Takeout, and import them as S/MIME messages Customers can bulk-import any plain-text email archives into Gmail as S/MIME messages

Additional details

The Gmail CSE Migration Utility is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux and supports PST & Mbox file formats. 

Getting started 

Admins: Visit the Help Center to learn more about how to migrate messages to Gmail as client-side encrypted emails. Note: For the migration of S/MIME messages from Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Exchange to Gmail, the certificates must be the same as those present in Microsoft. You need to set up the Gmail API and Gmail CSE for your users using the same certificates present in the Microsoft service. After the Gmail accounts are configured with the S/MIME certificates, you can migrate messages from the Microsoft service into Gmail. End users: There is no end user action required. 

Rollout pace 

Web & Android: 
This feature is available now.
iOS: 
Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on March 21, 2024 

Availability 

Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, and Education Plus customers 

Resources 

The current appointment slots feature in Google Calendar will be replaced by appointment schedules in July 2024

What’s changing

Currently, we offer two tools with similar functionality for users in Google Calendar: appointment slots and appointment schedules. In the last several years, appointment schedules have become the more advanced tool, offering a smoother booking experience and more powerful features. 
To create a cohesive user experience in Calendar, as of July 18, 2024, the appointment slots feature will be replaced by appointment schedules. 
Between now and July 18, 2024, we encourage users to explore and familiarize themselves with appointment schedules. All existing appointment slots will remain active until July 18, 2024, however we recommend creating new appointments using appointment schedules moving forward. Starting on July 18, 2024, the appointment slots booking pages will no longer be available, and all new appointments will need to be booked through appointment schedules. Visit this comprehensive Help Center resource for detailed information about appointment schedules. 

Who’s impacted 

Admins and end users 

Why it matters

​​

The current appointment slots feature in Google Calendar will be replaced by appointment schedules, a feature-rich appointment booking system that offers a smoother booking experience and more powerful features. 

Additional details

In conjunction with this transition, Google Workspace Business Starter customers now have access to appointment scheduling, allowing each user to create one booking page. 
The ability to create multiple schedules, and use additional premium features are available to the following editions: Google Workspace Individual, Business Standard and Plus, Enterprise Standard and Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Nonprofits and Google One Premium. 

Getting started 

Admins: We have shared the current usage of appointment slots for each organization with admins. We strongly encourage you to review the usage in your organization and help users transition to appointment schedules. Existing appointment slots will not be automatically migrated, so users need to recreate their setup with appointment schedules. End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about creating an appointment schedule and customizing your appointment availability. Users that are organizers or editors of appointment slots will soon see in-product banners guiding them to transition to use appointment schedules. 

Rollout pace 

Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) beginning July 18, 2024 

Availability 

Appointment schedules are available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Nonprofits, Google Workspace Individual customers and Google One Premium users 

Resources 

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – March 15, 2024

4 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.

Banner alerts for Google Drive item capacity limits in shared drives 
To give users more visibility when shared drives in their domain are approaching the item capacity limit (400,000 items), we’re introducing banner alerts that identify current shared drive capacity. These banners will be visible when less than 20% capacity is left and will appear only for users who have edit access to add content to the specific shared drive. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for April 3, 2024. | Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Essentials Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Nonprofits. | Learn more about item capacity limits in shared drives.

Input numbers into slider controls across Google Docs, Slides and Drawings
We’ve added a number input next to all slider controls used for image and shape adjustments in Google Docs, Slides and Drawings. With this update, we hope it is easier for you to make adjustments more precisely. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for April 2, 2024. | Available to Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Learn more about cropping and adjusting images.

Updated version history limits for Apps Script projects

Earlier this year, we announced that you can create and save up to 200 versions for newly created scripts. We’ve expanded this limit to all scripts. If needed, you can permanently delete multiple script versions at the same time from the project history page using the new “Bulk delete” feature. | This is available now to all Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Learn more using our developer documentation on working with Apps Script versions.

Google Meet-certified Logitech Rally Bar Huddle room kits are now available
Logitech Rally Bar Huddle room kits for Google Meet are now available for purchase. These kits are optimized for small spaces that can accommodate 3 to 5 people. The device can be used as a meeting room appliance, in USB mode connected to a meeting room PC, or connected via laptop. | This is available now to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware devices. | Visit Logitech’s website for more information on purchasing a room kit.

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.


Application load failures are now captured for the Google Meet hardware devices 
Admins can now see when the Google Meet app fails to load for a device. | Learn more about application load failures.
Create fully customized email campaigns using new layout editor tool 
Starting this week, even more users across Google Workspace editions can now create customized email layouts using a new email layout editor that is accessible from the compose screen in Gmail or Google Drive. In the layout editor, you can create a new email layout from scratch or select from a predefined set of email templates, which include images, text elements and buttons. | Available to Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, Education Plus and Workspace Individual subscribers only. | Learn more about customizable email campaigns.
Select App Access Controls can now be applied at the organizational unit 
Google Workspace Admins can now configure a number of App Access Control (AAC) policies at the Organizational Unit (OU) level. | Learn more about App Access Controls.
Import data from other messaging platforms using the Google Chat API is now generally available
Google Workspace developers registered in our Workspace Developer Preview program have been able to import user data from other messaging platforms into Google Chat using the Google Chat APIs. This functionality is now generally available to all Workspace developers and admins. | Learn more about importing data using the Chat API.
Subtly enhance your appearance with portrait touch-up when using Google Meet on the web
In October 2023, we introduced portrait touch-up for Google Meet on mobile devices. We’re extending this functionality to Google Meet on the web. Portrait touch-up can be used to lightly touch up your appearance before or during a meeting, helping you feel more comfortable and confident in your appearance during video calls. | Available to Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, Teaching & Learning Upgrade, Google One and Google Workspace Individual subscribers only. | Learn more about subtly enhancing your appearance with portrait touch-up. 

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: 
Updates for managed iOS devices with the release of Chrome 120 (admin console integration)Join meetings as a guest without a Google account on mobile devices (Android)Google Meet hosts can pin multiple tiles for all meeting participantsAvailable in open beta: the Groups Admin role can now be provisioned for specific group typesNow generally available: Import and convert sensitive Excel files into client-side encrypted Google SheetsSet client-side encryption as the default mode for new emails, events, and files on mobileFurther extending long running queries within Connected SheetsGoogle Meet co-host support added for client-side encrypted meetingsRemove the background from your images in Google SlidesNew Google Calendar lock screen widgets on iOS mobile devicesHovercards for group messages and spaces are now available in Google ChatImport data from other messaging platforms using the Google Chat API is now generally available

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

 

Subtly enhance your appearance with portrait touch-up when using Google Meet on the web

What’s changing 

In October 2023, we introduced portrait touch-up for Google Meet on mobile devices. Beginning today, we’re extending this functionality to Google Meet on the web. Portrait touch-up can be used to lightly touch up your appearance before or during a meeting, helping you feel more comfortable and confident in your appearance during video calls.

You can choose from two portrait touch-up modes:
Subtle: very light complexion smoothing, under eye lightening and eye whitening.Smoothing: slightly more complexion smoothing, under eye lightening and eye whitening.

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin impact or action required.End users: This feature will be off by default and can be enabled by the user. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning portrait touch-up on or off for your account.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on March 15, 2024Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on April 1, 2024

Availability

Available to Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, Teaching & Learning Upgrade, Google One and Google Workspace Individual subscribers

Resources