by | Aug 13, 2024 | News
What's changing
We're introducing a new setting that enables education admins to restrict which users can create and manage members in Google Chat conversations.
This can be useful for admins who want to prevent groups of students from initiating or adding users to a conversation.
Who's impacted
Admins and end users
Why it's important
This is a highly-requested feature that restricts the creation of unsupervised activity among K-12 students and helps provide a safer and easier way for teachers to communicate with students.
Getting started
Admins: To restrict users from accessing features in Chat, go to the Admin console > Apps > Google Workspace > Google Chat > click the Chat and Space restrictions setting > Inside the Google Chat box, search for the group of users you'd like to apply Chat restrictions to > check the box for Restrict creating direct messages, group messages, and spaces > hit Save. Note: groups can be restricted at the group level only.We recommend admins enable the "
automatically accept chat invitations" setting for their OU. This will ensure teachers can easily initiate messages to students that instantly deliver without the need to accept an invitation. We also recommend
turning OFF Chat with external users.Visit the Help Centre to learn more about
setting up Chat restrictions for Education accounts.End users: There is no end user setting for this feature.
Rollout pace
Admin setting:
Chat UI:
Availability
Available for Google Workspace:
Education Fundamentals, Standard, Plus, the Teaching & Learning Upgrade
Resources
by | Aug 15, 2024 | News
What's changing
We're introducing a new feature that enables users to more easily view and structure their Google Form data in Sheets.
Starting today, when a user initiates the creation of a new sheet using their Forms data, Sheets will automatically open the data as a table, bringing format and structure to your data. If a user opens a pre-existing sheet connected to a Form, there will be no change and the user will need to convert the data to a table by going to Format > Convert to table.
Getting started
Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. End users: For pre-existing spreadsheets connected to Form data, you can convert the data to a table manually by selecting the data range and going to Format > Convert to table. Visit the Help Centre to learn more about
using tables in Google Sheets.
Rollout pace
Rapid Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on August 15, 2024
Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 5, 2024
Availability
Available to all Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts
Resources
by | Aug 15, 2024 | News
What's changing
As we continue to make improvements for managing Meet Hardware fleets, we're pleased to announce eighteen additional filters in the Admin console, which include:
Alert silence expiration timeBoot modeCameraChrome versionContent camera (i.e., whiteboard cameras)Controller (i.e., MIMO, Logitech Tap, Juno Remote, etc.)Device IDDisplayEnrollment dateHas userCamera home position modeMicrophoneNoise cancellation (denoising state)NotesOperating system versionPrimary framing strategySpeakerSoftware audio processing mode
The new filters can be added as chips to filter the device table:
From Menu > Devices > Google Meet hardware > Devices, select "Add a filter". Any filters you select will be added to the URL so you can save the link or share it with others.
New data columns have been added that enable you to view additional device info at a glance, which include:
Boot modeCameraCamera home positionChrome versionContent cameraControllerDevice IDDisplayEnd of Meet supportEnrollment dateMicrophoneNoise cancellationNotesOperating system versionPrimary framing strategyVolumeSpeaker
From Menu > Devices > Google Meet hardware > Devices, select the gear icon to add columns. Any columns you select will be added to the URL so you can save the link or share it with others.
Increasing the number of searchable fields makes it easier and faster to find specific groups of devices, which is particularly helpful when managing a large fleet of devices. Quickly finding groups of devices allows you to save time and resources managing and troubleshooting your devices.
Getting started
Admins: Visit the Help Centre to learn more about using
filters to show devices that meet specific criteriaEnd users: There is no end user impact or action required.
Rollout pace
Availability
Available to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware devices
Resources
by | Aug 16, 2024 | News
What's changing
In the era of generative AI, building helpful, secure products that give users choice and control over their data remains Google's core principle. When commercial customers adopt Gemini for Google Workspace they get the same robust data protection and security standards that come with all Google Workspace services, with specific protections for businesses, education, and public-sector customers.
We're pleased to announce for Gemini for Workspace licensed users that:
Gemini for Google Workspace-including Gemini in the side panel of Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides-is now
SOC 1,
SOC 2, and
SOC 3 Chatting with Gemini at
gemini.google.com is now
SOC 2 and
SOC 3 compliant. We plan to achieve SOC 1 compliance later this year.
With SOC 1, 2 and 3 compliance awarded by a stringent third party (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)) customers can be confident that Workspace meets the industry standard for handling financial data, data security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy.
Getting started
Rollout pace
Available now.
Availability
Available for Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education and Education Premium add-ons
Resources
by | Aug 29, 2024 | News
What's changing
A few months ago,
we announced the general availability of Gemini in the side panel of Gmail, which not only allows users to summarise and suggest responses to email threads, but also includes using Gemini in Gmail on web to ask questions and find specific information from emails within your inbox or from your Google Drive files. For example, you can ask Gemini to search your inbox for things like "What was the PO number for my agency?", "How much did the company spend on the last marketing event?", or "Catch me up on the emails about quarterly planning."
Today, we're excited to announce that the Gmail Q&A feature is rolling out now on Android devices and coming soon to iOS. Gmail Q&A offers similar functionality as the side panel on the web. You can ask Gemini questions about your inbox or to do things like find specific details in your emails, show you unread messages, view messages from a specific sender, or summarise emails about a topic in your inbox.
Who's impacted
End users
Why it matters
We are excited to help users supercharge their productivity with the help of Gemini in Gmail. Users now have even more capabilities from Gemini to help users get more done during their day at their desks and now, on the go.
Getting started
Admins: To access Gmail Q&A on Android, users need to have smart features and personalisation turned on. Admins can
turn on default personalisation setting for their users in the Admin console. End users: Open Gemini in the Gmail app via the black Gemini star at the top right of your app or from a "summarise this email" chip. To start, Gmail Q&A can find information from your inbox. In the future, it will be able to find information from your Drive as well. Visit the Help Centre to learn more about
Gemini in Gmail.Rollout pace
Availability
Available for Google Workspace customers with these add-ons:
Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, Education Premium Google One AI Premium
Resources
