Tag Archives: Google Meet

Live translated captions in Google Meet are now generally available

What’s changing 

In 2021, we announced a beta for live translated captions in Google Meet. We’re now making live translated captions generally available for select Google Workspace editions. 

Meeting participants can translate English meetings to: 
  • French 
  • German 
  • Portuguese 
  • Spanish 

Translated captions are available on Google Meet on web and mobile devices. 


Who’s impacted 

End users 



Why it’s important 

Translated captions help make Google Meet video calls more inclusive and collaborative by removing language proficiency barriers. When meeting participants consume content in their preferred language, this helps equalize information sharing, learning, and collaboration and ensures your meetings are as effective as possible for everyone.

This feature can be particularly helpful for all-hands meetings or training meetings with globally distributed teams. Additionally, translated captions can be impactful in education settings, allowing educators to connect and interact with students, parents, and community stakeholders with diverse backgrounds.


Additional details 


Beta availability 
The live translated captions beta will remain open for the next several months. Therefore, if you are participating in the beta with a Google Workspace edition not listed as “Available to” above, your experience will remain the same. 



Availability for meeting participants 
Meeting participants will be able to use live translated captions if the meeting is organized by a user in beta or an eligible Google Workspace edition. 



Getting started 

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: This feature will be available by default and can be enabled in Google Meet on the web by going to Settings > Captions > Translated captions or on mobile by going to Settings > Captions > Live Captions > Translation Language. Visit the Help Center to learn more about translated captions in Google Meet. 

Rollout pace 


Availability 

  • Available to meetings organized by Google Workspace Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Google Workspace for Education Plus customers. 
  • Not available to meetings organized by Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Enterprise Essentials, Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals, Google Workspace for Education Standard, Frontline, and Nonprofits, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers 
  • Not available to Google Workspace Individual customers or users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources 

Improvements to Google Meet hardware issue troubleshooting

What’s changing 

We’ve made several improvements to the issue detection engine which notifies admins about peripheral and connectivity issues in their Google Meet hardware fleet. These improvements will make alerts more reliable and cut down on noise and false signals.

Furthermore, we’ve made a number of significant visual changes to the Google Meet hardware section of the Admin console in order to display more detailed information regarding device issues.  We expect these new features will allow admins to better troubleshoot issues in their fleets.  They include:

  • Issue history page
  • Device list quick-filters
  • Issue detail sidebar
  • New aggregated issue count columns

See below for more information.


Who’s impacted

Admins



Why it’s important

We hope that by improving the accuracy and information associated with alerts and providing additional troubleshooting tools, Admins can resolve Google Meet hardware issues faster across their fleet.



Additional details


New issue history page
To provide admins with more information and context about a device’s health over time, we’ve added a new Issue History page in the Admin console. Here, admins can see a visual timeline and table of issues for specific devices, which can be filtered further by a specific date or issue type.




Improvements to the Google Meet hardware Devices section of the Admin console
We’ve added new quick-filters at the top of the Device list page to help quickly filter your devices down to the most common views, such as offline devices, those approaching end-of-life, and more.



You can also surface richer information about device issues in the sidebar by clicking an issue from the Device list or Device detail page. This information includes:

  • Description
  • Type
  • Detection time
  • Closed time
  • Duration
  • Related events
  • Troubleshooting recommendations


Additionally, we’ve added two new columns to the Device list page: Device issues in last 28 days and Peripheral issues in last 28 days, which can help you isolate persistently problematic devices in your fleet. To add these columns to your current view, you can select the appropriate quick-filter or manually use the column management widget.


Getting started

  • Admins: These updates will be automatically available. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning on connectivity and peripherals alerts.
    • Note: As these updates roll out, there may be instances in which future resolution alerts for issues open longer than 30 days contain a different Alert ID than the ID originally included in the initial alert. We anticipate these occurrences to be rare, but Admins who have built custom task-tracking integrations based on these alerts should be aware of this in case they contain logic that relies upon the Alert ID. Newly created alerts going forward will not be affected.
  • End users: There is no end user impact or action required.

Rollout pace


Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers with Google Meet hardware devices

Resources


Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap – December 17, 2021

New updates

Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are fully launched or in the process of rolling out (rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete), 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), and available to all Google Workspace and G Suite customers.


The filmstrip in Google Slides is now collapsable

In Google Slides, editors can now collapse or expand the filmstrip as needed. Collapsing the filmstrip expands the current slide view for more focused editing. You can expand the filmstrip when you need to view, navigate to, and edit the other slides in your presentation. 




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.

Prevent unwanted invitations from being added to your calendar
We've improved the "Automatically add invitations" setting to help prevent unwanted invitations from being added to your calendar. You can choose to either: always have invitations automatically added or only have them automatically added if you have RSVP’d in the email event invitation. | Learn more here.





Easily see which account you’re currently using in Google Calendar on mobile
We’ve added account profile pictures in the top corner of Google Calendar on mobile so you can confidently tell which account you’re currently using and easily toggle between accounts. | Learn more.





Automatically move breakout room participants back to the original meeting
Google Meet costs and co-hosts can now automatically move break out room participants back to the main meeting room. Additionally, we’ve added better visual indicators for breakout room participants to indicate this movement. | Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Nonprofits and Education Plus as well as G Suite Business customers. | Learn more.





Use your Google Meet hardware-connected displays as digital signage
Admins have several new options to control how screen savers are displayed on their Google Meet hardware devices. | Learn more.


Expanded occupancy detection capabilities for Google Meet hardware devices
We’ve significantly expanded our occupancy detection capabilities on Google Meet hardware devices beyond Series One devices. Additionally, we have made improvements to the Room insights dashboard in the Admin console. | Learn more.




Configure member restrictions for groups, now generally available
In October 2021, we announced an open beta for group level controls that allow admins and end users who are group owners to restrict group memberships based on internal or external members and member type. This feature is now generally available. | Learn more.



Making dynamic groups more powerful with custom user attributes and OrgUnit queries
We’re further expanding the functionality of dynamic groups: dynamic groups can now be defined by querying custom user attributes and can also be defined based on users’ membership in Organizational Units (OUs). | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, and Education Plus customers. | Learn more.


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

Expanded occupancy detection capabilities for Google Meet hardware devices

What’s changing 

We’re significantly expanding our occupancy detection capabilities on Google Meet hardware devices beyond Series One devices. When enabled:  

  • Occupancy counting will now be supported on all qualified cameras.
    • Note: We’re aware of an ongoing, unrelated issue with the Logitech PTZ Pro 2 camera. Admins may want to avoid enabling occupancy detection on devices with these cameras until this is resolved.
  • Occupancy counting will now also be available on unsupported cameras (though this is not officially supported).

Additionally, we have streamlined the Room insights dashboard in the Admin console. Admins can now access new data visualizations about: 

  • Room usage, based on actual occupancy data and room capacity
  • Device usage, based on whether the Google Meet hardware in the room was in a call

See below for more information.


Who’s impacted

Admins


Why it’s important

Previously, occupancy counting support was only available on the Series One Smart Camera and the Series One Smart Camera XL. This update expands this capability to a greater number of cameras in your fleet, giving you a more complete look at room usage when enabled.


The updated Room insights dashboard makes it easier for admins to access the data and insights needed for space-planning, especially to support social-distancing protocols, and device purchasing decisions. We’ve added separate graphs for booked and unbooked periods of time. These graphs can help admins gauge room and device usage during times when rooms are scheduled for use versus times when they haven’t actually been booked (i.e., impromptu meetings).


These insights can help admins answer questions about how users in their organization are using rooms and devices in their fleet, such as:

  • What percentage of the rooms in my office are consistently over capacity?
  • Which room and buildings are being booked and occupied most often?
  • Are users being detected in rooms when they’re not booked?
  • Do I need to break up some of my underutilized high-capacity rooms into smaller rooms?
  • What percentage of meetings make use of the Google Meet hardware device?  
  • Are rooms with Google Meet hardware devices booked / occupied more often than rooms without?
  • Do I need more Google Meet hardware devices?

Visit the Help Center article to learn more about the updated Room insights dashboard experience.


Additional details

When enabling occupancy counting on unsupported cameras, we encourage admins to consult the manufacturer’s documentation about the performance characteristics of the camera.  In general, we recommend that admins test this feature on unsupported cameras before enabling it widely across their fleet.

Note that occupancy detection still requires cameras to be connected to a supported device. Devices that have reached end-of-life will not support occupancy detection.


Getting started

Admins:
  • Occupancy detection is an opt-in feature at the individual device level.  To turn on occupancy detection, you can do so individually from the Device Detail page, or from the Device List page for up to 50 devices at a time by selecting them and using the bulk action. Visit the Help Center to learn more about enabling occupancy detection.
  • Room insights privileges are required to access the Room insights dashboard in the Admin console at Buildings and resources > Room insights dashboard. Visit the Help Center to learn more about assigning Room insights privileges and tracking room and device usage with Meet hardware.
  • End Users: There is no end user impact.

Rollout pace

Expanded occupancy detection support:

Updated Room insights dashboard

Availability

Occupancy detection
  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers

Room insights dashboard
  • Available to Google Workspace  Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Frontline, and Nonprofits, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers
  • Not available to Google Workspace Essentials customers

Resources


Use your Google Meet hardware-connected displays as digital signage

What’s changing 

We’re giving admins more control over how screen savers are displayed on their Google Meet hardware devices, allowing them to use their displays as digital signage. Specifically, admins can now set:

  • Any publicly accessible URL to display when devices are not in use,
  • Number of  minutes of inactivity before screen saver shows,
  • How soon prior to the next meeting screen saver is dismissed.

Who’s impacted

Admins


Why it’s important

This update allows you to customize the content your Google Meet hardware devices display while not in use. For instance, you can use this feature to display corporate signage or publish slides to the web and make them publicly accessible to share customized content across your hardware fleet. Please note that 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.


Additional details

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. Visit the Help Center article to learn more about displaying custom screen saver images.


Getting started

  • Admins: 
    • This feature will be OFF by default and can be configured at the organizational unit level in the Admin console at Devices > Google Meet hardware > Settings > Device Settings. Visit the Help Center to learn more about displaying custom screen saver images.

    • Please note: If no action is taken, your Google Meet hardware fleet will continue to default to displaying the Google Meet logo screensaver after 120 minutes of inactivity and will be dismissed 10 minutes prior to the next meeting.
  • End users: There is no action required.

    Rollout pace


    Availability

    • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers with Google Meet hardware devices


    Resources


    Automatically move breakout room participants back to the original meeting

    What’s changing

    We’re introducing several improvements for breakout rooms in Google Meet. These improvements include:

    • The ability for meeting hosts and co-hosts to automatically move participants back to the main meeting room once breakout rooms end.
    • Better visual indicators for breakout room participants to indicate this movement.

    See below for more information.


    Who’s impacted

    End users



    Why it’s important

    In 2020, we introduced breakout rooms for Google Meet, which allows meeting hosts and co-hosts to split larger meetings into smaller groups for discussion or group work. We’ve heard from our customers that they need more controls to easily and effectively manage breakout rooms. 




    Breakout room participants will see a banner with a countdown indicating when they’ll be moved back to the main meeting room. 



    We’ve added better indicators confirming participants have been moved back to the main meeting room. Additionally, cameras and microphones will be turned off when participants are automatically moved back into the main meeting — participants can re-enable them once they’re ready.



    Getting started


    Rollout pace


    Availability

    • Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Nonprofits and Education Plus as well as G Suite Business customers
    • Not available to Google Workspace Business Starter and Education Fundamentals, as well as G Suite Basic customers
    Note: We expect this feature to be available for the Teaching and Learning upgrade in April 2022. We will provide an update on the Workspace Updates Blog.

    Resources






    New built-in interoperability between Google Meet and Cisco Webex

    What’s changing 

    We’re introducing video conferencing interoperability for Google Meet with Cisco Webex, which will allow you to:

    • Join Webex meetings from Google Meet hardware devices
    • Join Google Meet calls from supported Cisco Webex devices

    Please note that core video conferencing features are supported.  Some advanced features, such as polls, breakout rooms, and dual-screen support, may not be available when using Meet hardware to join Webex calls and vice versa.

    Once available, Meet Hardware devices will be able to dial into Webex meetings by default—Admins can disable this feature for specific organizational units via the Google Meet Hardware Settings page in the Admin console.


    Who’s impacted

    Admins and end users



    Why it’s important

    We hope this update makes it even easier for our customers and their users to connect and collaborate with people outside of the Google Meet ecosystem. 



    Additional details

    There is no additional cost associated with using this new built-in interoperability feature on supported devices.

    For interoperability needs outside of Cisco Webex, we recommend Pexip. Pexip enables joining Meet calls from the widest range of third-party video conferencing hardware, including older devices that may not support built-in interoperability. Use this Help Center article to learn more about Pexip.


    Supported devices
    Webex interop on Meet hardware
    • Joining Webex calls from Google Meet hardware devices will be supported on all devices that have not yet hit their auto-update expiration date.  At launch, this feature will require either a connected touch controller or built-in touchscreen.  Support for devices using only a remote control will follow in a subsequent update—we’ll share an update on the Workspace Updates Blog once that becomes available.

    Meet interop on Cisco devices
    • Refer to the Webex Help Center for the latest list of supported devices that can join Meet calls.

    Getting started

    • Admins: Webex interop on Google Meet hardware will be available on devices by default and can be disabled at the OU level at Devices > Google Meet hardware > Settings > Device Settings. 

    • End users: When enabled by your admin, you can join a Webex meeting from a Google Meet hardware device by: 
      • Joining an ad-hoc call by tapping "Join or start a meeting" on your touch controller and selecting Webex from the dropdown options. 
      • Joining a scheduled call by adding a room to an event with Webex 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

    Webex interop on Meet hardware
    Meet interop on Cisco devices
    Note: Please refer to official Cisco announcements for more specific details on timing for availability for Meet interop on Cisco devices.


    Availability

    • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers, with Google Meet hardware devices


    Resources:


    Lock audio and video during a Google Meet meeting from iOS devices

    Quick launch summary

    Google Meet hosts and co-hosts can now lock all participants’ audio and video from iOS devices, which locks all participants’ audio so they’re muted or prevents participants’ from using their camera respectively. These settings can help prevent disruptions, keeping your meetings on track and productive.

    Previously  it was only possible to use these locks when using Google Meet on a computer. We anticipate this feature to be available for Android in early 2022 — we will provide an update on the Workspace Updates Blog once available.

    Additional details 

    Please note:

    The Audio Lock & Video Lock setting applies to all devices regardless of whether it’s set on a computer or an iOS device.

    When Audio Lock or Video Lock is enabled, mobile participants may be removed from the meeting if their device doesn’t have:

    • The most updated version of the Meet or Gmail app
    • Android OS version M or newer 
    • iOS version 12 or newer

    Once Audio or Video Lock is disabled, removed participants will be able to rejoin.

    Getting started

    • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
    • End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about locking audio or video during a Google Meet meeting.


    Rollout pace


    Availability

    • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers


    Resources


    Lock audio and video during a Google Meet meeting from iOS devices

    Quick launch summary

    Google Meet hosts and co-hosts can now lock all participants’ audio and video from iOS devices, which locks all participants’ audio so they’re muted or prevents participants’ from using their camera respectively. These settings can help prevent disruptions, keeping your meetings on track and productive.

    Previously  it was only possible to use these locks when using Google Meet on a computer. We anticipate this feature to be available for Android in early 2022 — we will provide an update on the Workspace Updates Blog once available.

    Additional details 

    Please note:

    The Audio Lock & Video Lock setting applies to all devices regardless of whether it’s set on a computer or an iOS device.

    When Audio Lock or Video Lock is enabled, mobile participants may be removed from the meeting if their device doesn’t have:

    • The most updated version of the Meet or Gmail app
    • Android OS version M or newer 
    • iOS version 12 or newer

    Once Audio or Video Lock is disabled, removed participants will be able to rejoin.

    Getting started

    • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
    • End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about locking audio or video during a Google Meet meeting.


    Rollout pace


    Availability

    • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers


    Resources


    Use new immersive backgrounds and styles for Google Meet on the web

    Quick launch summary

    We’re adding five new immersive backgrounds for Google Meet on the web. The backgrounds feature subtle animation that give your background life or change your lighting. Cafe and condo interiors will have various iterations, such as snowy or rainy weather, which will help dispersed teams better represent their current time zone and climate. 

    Various lighting and weather effects will be available



    Additionally, we’re giving you more options to customize your video with various light and color filters and more stylised backgrounds.



    The new backgrounds and styles are available on Google Meet on the web and can be added before joining a call or during a call using the recently launched effects settings panel.  


    Getting started


    Rollout pace

    • Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout to eligible devices (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on November 17, 2021
    • Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout to eligible devices (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 2, 2021

    Availability

    • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers
    • This feature is not available to users with personal Google Accounts