Tag Archives: Google Meet Hardware

Support for continuous framing on select Logitech Series One room kits

What’s changing

If you’re joining a meeting from a Logitech Rally Bar, Rally Bar Mini, and Rally Bar Huddle device, you can now take advantage of the devices built-in continuous framing. When enabled, the camera will continuously adjust to optimally frame those in the meeting room, including participants coming and leaving the room. 


The feature can be selected and used by meeting participants directly from the touch controller.


Getting started



Rollout pace


Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers with Logitech Rally Bar and Logitech Rally Bar Mini camera systems. 

Resources


Improve communication and representation with Dynamic layouts in Google Meet

What’s changing

We’re thrilled to introduce a brand new, redesigned layout experience for Google Meet that will improve communication and collaboration for all users, but especially for those in hybrid meetings. There are many exciting new features bundled in this extensive launch across Meet for web and rooms. Check out the video overview to see the new features in action and keep reading for more details:


Dynamic layouts:
  • “Portrait tiles” prioritize faces by cropping out excess background video
  • Optimized tile placement logic to enable much more efficient layouts that minimize unused space
  • Visual design refresh, including color-sampled tile theming for users with their cameras off
  • Larger room tiles in the grid when ‘Dynamic tiles’ is not active
  • More flexibility around how tiles are cropped, including self-view
  • Increased pin limit from 3 to 6 to provide more flexibility to customize your layout


Portrait tiles and various design improvements in action


Dynamic tiles:
  • An individual video tile is created for up to 3 meeting participants joining from the same conference room with Google Meet hardware
  • AI-enabled active-speaker detection automatically highlights only the tile of the in-room speaker without any special hardware requirements
  • Other meeting participants can pin these tiles in their layout as they would any other tile

Individual tiles for up to three meeting participants in a conference room


Face match:
  • When Dynamic tiles are in use in a room with a Google Meet hardware device, users can associate their name with their face from Companion mode on Web so their tile can be labeled. This creates a consistent experience where everyone can show up in their best light, whether they’re in the room or joining remotely. 

When using Companion mode, you can associate your name with your Dynamic tile




Who’s impacted

Admins and end users


Why it matters

These layout enhancements in Google Meet bring a refreshed, modern feel to the meeting grid while also adding the functional benefits of increasing space efficiency and improved representation for hybrid meetings. It allocates available space based on content being presented, tiles pinned by users, and more to address a core hybrid-work challenge  of remote meeting participants not being able to easily see or identify in-room users. 


Additional details

Please see below for more important information regarding these features:

Dynamic layouts
  • Legacy layouts remain available
    • Users who do not wish to see portrait tiles can still do so by switching from Auto (dynamic) to Tiled (legacy) in the layout options selection menu.
  • More flexible self-view options
    • Users now have much more control over the appearance of their self-view tile. When you set your self-view preference, it will carry over across meetings.
  • Framing and new uncropping functionality
  • Prevent your video from being cropped for others
    • Some users may prefer that their video feed never be cropped by other Meet users.  Users can select “Show my full video to others” from the three-dot overflow menu of their self-view tile. This will cause their video to always render as an uncropped tile for other users. We encourage sign-language interpreters especially to consider using this feature to ensure that arms and hands are not unintentionally cropped out.

Dynamic tiles
  • Dynamic tiles work in meetings with up to 3 in-room participants 
  • Dynamic tiles will automatically fall back to a room view if:
    • More than 3 people are detected
    • Users are sitting too close to give each user their own tile without significant overlap
    • There is too much movement detected in the room and it’s causing distractions

  • Platform support
    • Available for ChromeOS-based room devices at launch
    • AOSP (Android) device support is expected in the future
    • Not available in interop mode


Face match
  • Face match is available for any Companion mode web user checked into a room using dynamic tiles. Face match supports a maximum of 12 faces. 
  • Face match only associates your name with your face for Dynamic tiles when you are in view of the room camera for the duration of the meeting. A user may have to check in again using Companion Mode if they disappear from view for long enough.


Getting started

  • Admins: 
    • We recommend thoroughly reviewing the Help Center articles (especially if your organization uses Google Meet hardware) to ensure both you and your end users are prepared for these changes.

    • Dynamic layouts
      • Will be ON by default for all web and room devices.  There is no admin setting for this feature – only layout options for end users.

    • Dynamic tiles
      • You can control whether Dynamic tiles are ON or OFF by default when devices join a call by using the Default camera framing individual device setting. 

Devices > Google Meet hardware > [Device name] > Device settings > Default camera framing

      • Best practices for rollout:
        • Dynamic tiles work best when used in smaller rooms (capacity of 6 or less) where participants sit less than 10 feet from the camera.
        • Glass walls can sometimes cause people outside the meeting room to be picked up by the camera and given a tile – dynamic tiles should be deployed only after testing in these rooms.

    • Face match 
      • Face match will always be available in companion mode when room check-in and dynamic tiles are active on the associated room device. There is no separate admin or end user setting for this feature.

  • End users:  
    • Dynamic layouts
      • Will be ON by default for all web and room devices.  You can turn Dynamic layouts OFF by switching from Auto (dynamic) to Tiled (legacy) from the layout options selection menu in Meet (or to Sidebar or Spotlight)
    • Dynamic tiles
      • Whether Dynamic tiles are ON or OFF by default depends on the configuration of your admin. It can be turned ON or OFF from the framing section of your Meet hardware device touch controller or TV user interface menu.
    • Face match
      • Available via Companion mode if Dynamic tiles is active on your room device and when you check-in to that room device.

Rollout pace

Due to the quantity of features included in this launch, you should expect to see different combinations of the included features gradually become available over the next few weeks. 

  • Rapid Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on March 31, 2025
  • Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 21 days for feature visibility) starting on April 17, 2025
.

Availability

  • Dynamic layouts are available for all Google Meet meetings on the web and from meeting rooms via hardware devices. They are available for all Google Workspace customers as well as users with personal Google accounts.
  • Dynamic tiles and Face match require a Google Meet hardware device and associated license.

Resources


View invited meeting participants on Google Meet hardware

What’s changing

You can now see participants who were invited to the meeting but have yet to join the call right on Google Meet hardware. These participants can be found under the “Also invited” heading. Additionally, you’ll also be able to see the RSVP status of everyone on the invite, including “optional” attendees. This feature makes it easier for you to start meetings more efficiently by quickly determining who has not joined or who has declined.

Viewing the guest list in the people panel on a Series One Desk 27 device


Viewing the guest list on a Meet hardware touch controller





Additional Details

  • Guest lists are hidden for events with more than 50 guests.
  • Invited groups and their participants are not displayed on guest lists.

Getting Started

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: On Google Meet hardware devices for eligible Google Workspace editions, this feature will be available by default for Meet calls with a Calendar event. Visit the Help Center to learn more about viewing the Calendar guest list in Google Meet.


Rollout pace

  • Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on March 10, 2025
  • Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on March 17, 2025

Availability 

Available on Google Meet hardware devices for Google Workspace:
  • Enterprise Standard and Plus
  • Business Starter, Standard, and Plus
  • Education Fundamentals, Standard, Plus and the Teaching & Learning add-on
  • Nonprofits

Resources


More options now available to customize digital signage on your Google Meet hardware

What’s changing 

In the coming weeks, admins will be able to use their Comeen or StratosMedia digital signage content on their Google Meet hardware devices. We know many of our customers use these tools for general digital signage needs within their organization and this update allows that content to be leveraged as screensavers across your Google Meet hardware fleet.

The Google Meet hardware ‘Screen Saver’  setting is located in the admin console under Devices > Google Meet hardware > Settings > Device settings



Additional details

  • Note that Comeen and StratosMedia are paid services and there may be additional costs associated with registering your devices on their platform. 
  • In some cases, this feature can conflict with the power-saving feature on your Meet hardware devices. To ensure that your custom screen saver is visible, be sure to set displays as active during working hours in the organizational unit you’re targeting. 
  • Screen savers are not interactive—tapping your touch controller or using the remote will cause the screen saver to be dismissed, and the device will return to displaying the agenda on the homepage. 

Getting started

  • Admins: Custom screen savers are opt-in and managed at the OU-level and apply to all devices in that organizational unit (OU). Visit the Help Center to learn more about how to display custom screen saver images.
Rollout pace

Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers

Resources


Logitech Android devices for Google Meet can now join Webex and Zoom calls

What’s changing

We’ve been working to expand our customers’ calling networks through interoperability between Google Meet hardware devices, and other third-party video conferencing apps and devices. Beginning today, we’re expanding this interoperability to include support for Cisco Webex and Zoom on Logitech Android-based hardware devices for Google Meet. These include  Logitech Rally Bar, Rally Bar Mini, and Rally Bar Huddle appliances. These Google Meet hardware devices now have the embedded capability to call directly into Cisco Webex and Zoom calls, which allows  users to collaborate with more customers and partners outside their companies. 

This feature is already supported on ChromeOS-based Google Meet hardware devices from Logitech. 

Getting started

  • End users: 
    • When enabled by your admin, you can join a Webex or Zoom meeting from a Logitech Android-based Google Meet hardware device: 
      • Join an ad-hoc call by tapping "Find a meeting" on your touch controller and selecting Webex or Zoom from the dropdown options. 
      • Join a scheduled call by adding a room to an event with Webex or Zoom meeting details.  
        • Note: Calendar events that originate outside of Google Calendar must be duplicated and populated with room details manually.
    • Visit the Help Center to learn more about Google Meet interoperability.

Rollout pace


Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware devices

Resources



Layout selection now available between Google Meet hardware and Zoom Rooms calls

What’s changing

We’re expanding interoperability support between Google Meet devices and Zoom Rooms to include support for changing the meeting layout. This gives you the flexibility to choose a layout that is best suited to improve focus and engagement during your meetings.

If you’re joining a Google Meet call from Zoom Rooms, you can change your layout by selecting the “View” option. You can select between the tiled view, speaker spotlight view, or sidebar view.

Selecting your meeting layout on a Google Meet call using Zoom Rooms hardware





If you’re joining Zoom Meetings from a Google Meet hardware device, you can change your layout from the device settings by navigating to the “Change layout” option. You can choose between the gallery or speaker view.

Selecting your meeting layout on a Zoom call using a Meet hardware device



Getting started


Rollout pace


Availability

  • Zoom interop on Google Meet hardware is available to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware devices that have not yet reached their auto-update expiration date.

  • Meet interop on Zoom Rooms is available to all Zoom Rooms customers on a supported Zoom Rooms device or appliance. Note that your device may not fully support the feature until its manufacturer has pushed the latest Zoom Rooms software update to its devices.

  • Please refer to the Zoom Support page to see the most up-to-date list on supported devices and platforms.

Resources


Configure Google Meet hardware devices to trust private certificates

What’s changing

Google Meet hardware devices can now trust HTTPS certificates signed by a private certificate authority (CA). This simplifies the process of setting up and managing third-party user control interfaces (UCIs), especially in high impact meeting spaces with systems like Q-SYS.

Previously, you had to get certificates signed by a public CA to enable Google Meet hardware touch controllers to load third-party UCIs. This process was often time-consuming and expensive, and required frequent renewals.

Now, you can use private CAs to securely connect your Google Meet hardware with a third-party room control system's UCI. This gives you more control over your network security and eliminates the costs and complexities associated with public certificates.

Getting started

Admin console >Menu > Devices > Networks > Certificates


  • End users: There is no end user impact or action required.

Rollout pace


Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware devices
  • Please note that Android devices aren’t supported yet.

Resources

Configure Google Meet hardware devices to trust private certificate authorities

What’s changing

Google Meet hardware devices can now trust HTTPS certificates signed by a private certificate authority (CA). This simplifies the process of setting up and managing third-party user control interfaces (UCIs), especially in high impact meeting spaces with systems like Q-SYS.

Previously, you had to get certificates signed by a public CA to enable Google Meet hardware touch controllers to load third-party UCIs. This process was often time-consuming and expensive, and required frequent renewals.

Now, Google Meet hardware devices can trust certificates signed by a private certificate authority, enabling them to securely load a third-party room control system's UCI. This gives you more control over your network security and eliminates the costs and complexities associated with public certificate signing.


Getting started

Admin console >Menu > Devices > Networks > Certificates


  • End users: There is no end user impact or action required.

Rollout pace


Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware devices
  • Please note that Android devices aren’t supported yet.

Resources

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – December 13, 2024

3 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.


Use the GitHub app in Google Chat to get notifications about GitHub events
We’re excited to announce that we’ve made updates to the Google Chat integration with GitHub, a cloud-based platform that enables users to store, share and collaborate with others to write code. With these updates users can expect: 
  • Streamlined notification cards with key details from Github, such as issues, pull requests and comments. 
  • Enhanced repository and pull request subscription options (open/merge/close, comments, CI pipeline and test results). 
  • Clearer overview of GitHub links with richer link previews. 
  • Options to configure multiple repositories within a single space. 
Admins can install the Github app on their users’ behalf. End users need a GitHub account to use this app, and can also search for the app in the + New Chat menu to get updates via a DM with the bot. | Rollout to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains is complete. | Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center to learn how to set up the GitHub app in Chat. 
GitHub app in Google Chat
Mobile scans are now crisper and clearer with auto enhancements in the Google Drive scanner 
Late last year, we made updates to the Google Drive scanner on mobile devices, and recently announced the option to apply black & white filters to Drive scans and save scanned files as PDFs or JPEGs. This week, we’re excited to introduce an additional improvement to the scanner experience on Android devices. Now, with the help of auto enhancement, Drive’s document scanner will digitize paper documents into higher quality images much faster. Depending on the document, auto enhancement will perform actions like white balance correction, shadow removal, contrast enrichment, auto sharpening, light improvement, and more. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now, with expected completion by January 2, 2025; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for January 6, 2025. | Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about scanning files with your mobile device.The image on the right reflects auto enhancements to the Drive scanner
The image on the right reflects auto enhancements to the Drive scanner


HDMI presentation now supported on Google Meet hardware devices from Poly 
You can now present content via a wired HDMI connection when using Poly devices with Google Meet, specifically Poly Poly Studio X30, X50, X52, and X70 devices. This update provides another option for sharing high-quality video and audio content during your meetings. | Available to all Google Workspace customers. | Visit the Help Center to learn more about presenting using an HDMI cable.


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.


Create and manage rubrics using the Google Classroom API
Since 2019, teachers have been able to create or reuse a rubric for an assignment, however this capability did not previously exist in the Classroom API. To improve upon this experience, we’re excited to announce that developers can now manage assignment rubrics via the Classroom API. | Learn more about the Google Classroom API. 


Introducing Gemini Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI™) 
We’re pleased to introduce Gemini LTI™, an AI-powered assistant that can integrate into third party Learning Management Systems (LMS). | Learn more about Gemini Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI™). 


Build high-quality, modern documents faster in Google Docs with 40 new templates
We’ve introduced a collection of 40 new high-quality, visually modern designs in Google Docs. These pre-made pageless templates consist of several new features that make your documents visual and effective. | Learn more about templates in Docs.


Create fully stylized documents using Gemini in Google Docs 
This week, we launched help me create, a new feature that lets you build a full document using content in Drive from a single, custom prompt. | Learn more about help me create in Docs. 


Available in open beta: prevent sensitive changes by locking Groups
Admins can now label a Google Group as “Locked,” which will heavily restrict changes to group attributes (such as group name & email address) and memberships. | Learn more about the locking Groups beta. 


Adding folder support to Gemini in the side panel of Google Drive
You can now focus your Gemini conversations in Drive to a specific Drive folder using the side panel. | Learn more about Gemini folder support for Drive files.


Gemini for Workspace usage reports now include Gemini usage per app interactions 
We’re introducing additional usage metrics on the Gemini for Workspace reports in the Admin console. This report will now provide admins additional information about Gemini usage per app by users. | Learn more about Gemini usage reports. 


Now generally available: the Groups Editor & Groups Reader roles can now be provisioned for specific group types 
At the beginning of the year, we launched the ability to assign the Groups Editor and Groups Reader roles for security groups or non-security groups in open beta. This feature is now generally available and Groups Admins have access to all groups. | Learn more about group types. 


New Google Chat usage reports provide deeper insights into user engagement
We’re pleased to introduce new, information-rich usage reports to help Workspace administrators understand how their teams are using Google Chat. | Learn more about usage reports in Chat. 


Improvements to mentions in Google Chat 
When mentioning a user that is not already in the conversation, you will have the option to add them and send the message, or just send the message without adding them in Google Chat. | Learn more about mentions in Chat.


NotebookLM Plus now available to Google Workspace customers
NotebookLM Plus, our newest and most advanced version of NotebookLM, is now available to Gemini for Google Workspace customers. | Learn more about NotebookLM Plus.


Translate messages in-line from one language to another in Google Chat
As one of the most requested Gemini enhancements in Chat this year, translate for me will automatically detect and translate over 120 languages to a user’s preferred language. | Learn more about translate for me in Chat.


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).

New Asus hardware kits for Google Meet

What’s changing

Asus is launching new hardware room kits certified for Google Meet that now offer daisy chain capabilities. Developed with AVer, this refreshed room kit portfolio will work in video conferencing rooms and spaces of just about any size. After initial setup, admins can easily enroll, manage, and monitor these devices using the Google Workspace admin console. 



The kits are composed of the following components:

  • Compute: We’re refreshing existing ASUS kits with a new ASUS Google Meet compute system. This new Meet compute system is slimmer and easier to deploy than previous versions, offering a longer device lifespan until September 2030. 
  • Controller: Mimo Myst controller
  • Audio: AVer Fone 540 speakermic (with expansion mics available for larger rooms)
  • Camera:
    • AVer Cam340+ for small and medium rooms
    • AVer Cam 520 Pro3 for large rooms
      • This device also features built-in third-party room framing, which helps ensure the room is optimally framed. You can turn on this framing from the device by selecting Control camera > Framing by Aver.

Getting started

  • Admins: Asus room kits for Google Meet require Google Meet hardware licenses. The updated Asus Google Meet hardware kits for Google Meet are available today – contact your reseller to learn more. This device should be rebooted after installation and runs on M126 – visit the Help Center to check the latest status on M126.
  • End users: Once an Asus room kit has been successfully enrolled, you can join Google Meet meetings normally and take advantage of our embedded interoperability to join Zoom and Webex calls.