Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – May 31, 2024

1 New update

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.

Interactive features now available for ultra-low latency live streams on mobile devices 
If you’re joining a live stream from the Google Meet Android or iOS app, you can now use interactive features such as reactions, Q&A, and polls when they’re available. Note that this update is applicable for ultra-low latency live streams only, the standard live streaming experience remains the same. | Live streaming is available for Google Workspace Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Enterprise Essentials Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Education Plus customers. | Live streamed meetings can be viewed by Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Education Plus, Essentials Starter, and Essentials users. | Rollout to Rapid Release domains and Scheduled Release domains is complete.

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.

Introducing audit logs for these API-based actions 
We added audit logs for these API-based actions to the security investigation tool and the audit and investigation tool to expand upon an admin’s ability to identify, triage, and take action on security and privacy issues in their domain. | Learn more about audit logs for these API-based actions. 
Now generally available: Edit client-side encrypted Excel files in Google Sheets 
Last year, we announced a beta for the ability to view and edit client-side encrypted Excel files with Google Sheets. Starting this week, we’re rolling it out in general availability for select customers. | Learn more about CSE Excel files in Sheets. 
Personal information cards and Contacts sidebar will now display the organization name 
Starting this week, the organization name and department will be displayed on personal information cards and in the Contacts sidebar. | Learn more about organization name displays. 
Gemini for Workspace usage reports are now available in Admin console 
We’ve introduced Gemini for Workspace usage reports in the Admin console. This report gives admins an overarching view of how Gemini is being used in their organization, specifically: assigned Gemini licenses, active Gemini users, and the number of users who are using Gemini over time. | Learn more about Gemini usage reports. 
The Calendar API now distinguishes events created from Gmail 
The Calendar API will distinguish events created from Gmail. New and existing events from Gmail that are scheduled for a future date will: 1) appear with a new event Type “fromGmail” instead of “default”, 2) include the email recipient as the organizer instead of “unknownorganizer@calendar.google.com” and 3) new “fromGmail” filters for both Events.list and Events.watch will be available. | Learn more about the Calendar API.

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: 

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

Stay up to date on important changes in your Google Sheets

This announcement was part of Google Cloud Next ‘24. Visit the Workspace Blog to learn more about the next wave of innovations in Workspace, including enhancements to Gemini for Google Workspace.

What’s changing

In order to provide greater visibility into spreadsheet changes most relevant to your workflow and help enable more efficient team communication, we’re introducing conditional notifications. 
These allow you to create rules in spreadsheets that send email notifications when certain criteria are met. When a specific change is made, such as a column value change or a specific range of cell changes, you will receive an email notification with alerts of what occurred in the spreadsheet and who made the update. You also have the option to configure the notifications for others by inputting their email addresses during the notification setup. 

Who’s impacted 

End users 

Why it matters 

Conditional notifications keep you and your stakeholders up to date on recent changes within a spreadsheet. You can set rules to notify you (or others) when: 
Tasks have changed status or owner in a project tracker Certain items reach a certain number of stock in an inventory tracker A number drops below a certain value in a forecast analysis 

Getting started 

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. End users: If you own or have edit-access to a Sheet, you can set notifications when: A range of cells changes value A range of cells matches a particular condition To set conditional notifications, open your spreadsheet, go to Tools > Conditional notifications > Add rule. You can also right-click directly on a spreadsheet and select Conditional notifications. Note: The rules are assigned default names automatically. However, you can update the name of the rule by utilizing the text editor. Visit the Help Center to learn how to use conditional notifications.

Rollout pace 

Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on June 4, 2024 Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on June 18, 2024 

Availability

Available for Google Workspace: 
Business Standard, Plus Enterprise Starter, Standard, Plus Education Plus Enterprise Essentials 

Resources 

Request to join spaces in Google Chat

What’s changing

Currently, to join a private space in Google Chat, a space member must invite or add you to the space. To make it even easier to more broadly share information, build communities and foster discussion across your organization, we’re introducing the ability for users to request to join a space upon receiving a link to that space. 

Getting started 

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. End users: To share a space, copy the space link by going to the space header > dropdown menu > ‘Copy link to this space’.To request to join a space, click on the space link > ‘Request to join’.Note that users outside of your organization will not be able to join a space in your domain, even with the shared link.Space managers receive requests via a private message from the Google Chat App and have the option to approve or deny the request.Visit the Help Center to learn more about joining a space in Google Chat.

Rollout pace 

Web:
Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on June 5, 2024 Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on June 24, 2024 Mobile:
Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on June 5, 2024 

Availability 

Available to all Google Workspace customers and Workspace Individual Subscribers 

Resources 

Rollout Update: framing support for Series One Desk 27 and Board 65 devices and remote controlled devices

What’s changing

We recently announced several updates related to framing options on Google Hardware devices. One of these updates was adding framing support for Series One Desk 27 and Board 65 devices, as well as remote controlled Meet hardware devices. We’d like to provide update rollout information for this feature: 
Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on June 6, 2024

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control or action required.End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about using device-based framing.

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware devices

Resources

Google Meet now supports high definition video for meeting recording and devices

What’s changing 

Full HD video content is now available for recorded meetings 
For recorded meetings in Google Meet, we’re increasing the maximum resolution for the speaker’s video feed from 720p to 1080p. Meet already supports 1080p recordings for presented content — together, these enhancements increase viewing quality of meeting recordings. 
Sending full HD video is now available on all computers with 1080p cameras 
We’re also pleased to announce that 1080p video resolution is now available on all computers with a 1080p capable camera. 1080p resolution is off by default and requires the user to opt-in via the settings menu.

Note that 1080p is only sent when recording is enabled or when one or more users have pinned the 1080p-enabled user on a screen large enough to render the 1080p video feed. In those specific scenarios, additional bandwidth will be required to send 1080p video, and Meet will automatically adjust the resolution if the device is bandwidth constrained.

Getting started

Admins: Video content and screen shared content in meeting recordings will be in 1080p by default. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning Meet recording on or off for your organization.Note that there is no admin control for sending 1080p video. It is off by default and requires the user to opt-in. 
End users:If enabled by your admin, use this Help Center article to learn more about meeting recordings and who can record meetings.To enable sending 1080p video, visit the Help Center to learn more about how to change your camera resolution

Rollout pace

Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on June 14, 2024

Availability

Full HD video for meeting recordings:
Available for Google Workspace:Business Standard and PlusEnterprise Essentials and Essentials PlusEnterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus Education Plus and the Teaching & Learning Upgrade
Sending Full HD video on computers with 1080p cameras:
Available for Google Workspace
Business Standard and PlusEnterprise Starter, Standard, and PlusEducation Plus and the Teaching and Learning UpgradeEnterprise Essentials and Essentials PlusGoogle One subscribers with 2TB or more storage space