Tag Archives: Google Meet

Closed caption support in Google Meet expands to an additional thirty-one languages

What’s changing

We’ve expanded support for closed captioning to include the following additional languages:

-Afrikaans

-Albanian 

-Amharic 

-Armenian

-Australian English

-Basque

-Burmese

-Catalan

-English (India)

-English (Philippines)

-Estonian

-Farsi

-Filipino

-Galician 

-Georgian

-Hungarian

-Javanese

-Latvian

-Macedonian

-Mongolian

-Nepali

-Norwegian

-Sinhala

-Slovak

-Slovenian

-Sundanese 

-Tamil (India)

-Telugu (India)

-Urdu

-Uzbek

- Zulu



You’ll notice that the newly supported languages are denoted with a “beta” tag as we continue to optimize performance.

Getting started


Rollout pace

  • This update is available now for all users.

Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources



Join meetings as a guest without a Google account on mobile devices

What’s changing 

You can now quickly join a meeting as a guest without signing into a personal or work Google account or creating a new Google account. This functionality already exists for meetings on the web and, by expanding to mobile, guests now have greater flexibility for joining Meet meetings on the go. 






To join as a guest, you need to be on the Calendar invite for the meeting or have been provided the meeting code or the meeting link beforehand. Before you join the meeting, you’ll be prompted to enter your name and “knock” (aka ask to join the meeting) to be admitted. Once a meeting host or co-host accepts your knock, you’ll jump right into the meeting.

Getting started

Rollout pace

  • iOS: Available now.
  • Android: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on January 17, 2024

Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts.


Resources

Combine multiple video effects, improve lighting and audio in Google Meet

What’s changing 

We’re launching three new features to personalize your appearance in Google Meet. Specifically, we’re adding: 

  • Combine multiple video effects on web and mobile: You can now combine a background effect with a filter effect to create a more dynamic, fun experience. This gives you the flexibility to find the right mix of effects that will represent you best during your meetings. The new layer icon on your self view tile can be used to keep track of which effects you’re using and remove one or all effects at once.

Combining effects using Google Meet on the web


Combining effects using Google Meet on a mobile device





You'll also notice a brand new user interface for effects. The streamlined design makes it easier for you to discover and apply various features. Specifically, you’ll notice effects grouped by category:

    • Backgrounds: Backgrounds are now organized into categories based on the type of scene you are looking for, such as new backgrounds, blurred backgrounds, your uploaded or company uploaded background, and more.
    • Filters: Sort through filters by category, including funny filters, accessories, costumes and characters.
    • Appearance: Adjust your appearance as needed by improving your lighting, framing, and video quality.


  • Studio lighting on web: Available with the Duet AI for Google Workspace Enterprise add-on, the new studio lighting feature can be used to simulate studio-quality lighting. You’ll be able to adjust the lighting position, brightness, and color to look your best. Note that for this initial launch an eligible device is required to use this feature.


For illustrative purposes only — to use Studio Lighting, go to settings > video > studio lighting.




  • Studio sound: This feature will automatically improve poor audio quality from typical bluetooth headsets and dial-in participants by using AI to recreate higher audio frequencies. Currently, this feature is available for meetings on the web and dial-in, with support for the mobile Meet app coming in the coming weeks — we’ll share an update on the Workspace Updates blog at that time. This feature is available with the Duet AI for Google Workspace Enterprise add-on.
Studio sound will use AI to improve audio quality.

 

Getting started


Rollout pace

Combining multiple video effects
Web availability: 


Mobile availability: 
  • Rapid Release domains: Full rollout (1-3 days for feature visibility) starting on January 16, 2024 for iOS and Android devices.

  • Scheduled Release domains: 
    • For Android devices: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on January 17, 2024
    • For iOS devices: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on January 17, 2024
Studio lighting  
Web availability:

Studio sound 

Availability

Combine multiple video effects:
  • Available to all users. The availability of specific video effects is based on your specific Google Workspace edition and admin policy

Studio lighting and sound:


Resources


Launch the Lucidspark whiteboarding app directly from Google Meet Series One Board 65 and Desk 27 devices

What’s changing 

In September 2023, we announced the next phase of digital whiteboarding for Google Workspace. At that time, we announced that new whiteboarding tools would soon be integrated with Series One Board 65 and Desk 27 devices. By the end of the month, Lucidspark by Lucid Software can be launched directly from these devices. With this integration, users will be able to share and participate in a Lucidspark whiteboard session in a Meet call, either initiated from the Series One Board 65 and Desk 27 or a remote participant on the call.



Who’s impacted

Admins and end users


Why you’d use it 

Integrating third-party collaboration tools is a key component of the new digital whiteboarding experience in Google Workspace. Specifically, we’ve heard from our customers that whiteboarding tools like Lucidspark by Lucid Software help their teams work better together with features like infinite canvas, templates, and diagramming. Today, Lucidspark can already be launched inside a Meet call from your laptop. Now, you also have the option to use Lucidspark on the Board 65 and Desk 27 devices within a Meet call.


Later this year we’ll introduce support for launching FigJam and Miro directly from Board 65 and Desk 27 devices. We’ll provide an update here on the Workspace Updates blog with more information at that time. For more information on the future of digital whiteboarding in Workspace, please refer to our initial announcement.


Getting started


Rollout pace


Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet Board 65 and Desk 27 devices


Google Meet hardware devices from Poly now support interoperability with Cisco Webex and Zoom

What’s changing 

We’re expanding the existing interoperability between Google Meet, Cisco Webex, and Zoom to include Android-based Meet hardware devices from Poly. Specifically, these devices include: Poly Studio X30, X50, X52, and X70. 


Note that Webex and Zoom interoperability supports core video conferencing features. Some advanced features, such as polls, wired present, and dual-screen support may not be available when using Poly Meet hardware to join Webex or Zoom meetings.

Getting started


Admins: 
End users: 
  • When enabled by your admin, you can join a Webex or Zoom meeting from a Poly Android-based Google Meet hardware device by: 
    • Joining an ad-hoc call by tapping "Join or start a meeting" on your touch controller and selecting Webex or Zoom from the dropdown options. 
    • Joining 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 subscriptions

Resources


Google Meet is now available on Logitech Android appliances

What’s changing 

Google Meet is now supported on Logitech’s Rally Bar and Rally Bar Mini Android-based appliances for collaboration rooms and spaces of just about any size. After initial setup, admins can easily enroll, manage, and monitor these devices using the Google admin console. Google Meet on Logitech Android-based devices is supported on CollabOS v1.11 as a video conferencing provider. The following Logitech Android devices now support Google Meet: 
  • Logitech Rally Bar 
  • Logitech Rally Bar 
  • Mini Tap IP


Additional details

As part of this launch, we are also providing admins with a new capability to protect their room devices using a passcode. This ensures that only authorized users are able to access and change the room’s device settings. This feature is only available for Logitech Rally Bar and Rally Bar Mini in appliance mode, where Rally Bar’s built-in computer supports Google Meet without the need for an additional computer or a user’s laptop. Visit the Help Center to learn more about setting up Logitech devices as Meet Hardware and enrolling your devices.

Getting started

  • Admins: 
    • Logitech Rally Bar and Rally Bar Mini appliances will need to be updated to CollabOS 1.11 in order to select Google Meet as the conferencing partner application. 
    • Once the device is updated to CollabOS 1.11 and the conferencing partner is set to Google Meet, follow the on-device prompts to enroll the device onto the Google Meet hardware admin console. Visit the Help Center to learn more about setting up Logitech devices as Meet Hardware.
    • Google Meet on Logitech Android appliances require Google Meet hardware licenses, please reach out to a Google Meet hardware reseller. 

  • End users: No action required. Once a Logitech Rally Bar and Rally Bar Mini have been successfully enrolled, you can join Google Meet meetings normally.

Rollout pace

  • This update is available as part of Logitech’s CollabOS 1.11 release. For more information, please reach out to your Logitech account team or reseller.

Availability

  • Available on Logitech Rally Bar and Rally Bar Mini customers. Support for additional Logitech devices will be added over time. 
  • Available to all Google Workspace customers.


Resources



Improvements to Google Meet ultra-low latency live streaming

What’s changing 

Earlier this year, we announced a new ultra-low latency viewing experience for video meetings that are streamed within an organisation. Since launch, we’ve introducing several improvements for the overall experience: 
  • Meeting hosts can now add or start live streaming from any ongoing Meet call, even if it wasn't initially planned to be live streamed. 


    To start a live stream, at the bottom right select Activities > Live Streaming
  • Live stream viewers can now see the size of the audience (call participants and viewers) in the top left live stream indicator. 


  • The join screen now has a quick-access button, which meeting participants can use to join a live stream if they prefer that experience over the regular call.
  • Video feed will start even faster when joining live streams with large audiences.
  • Viewing live streams from the Google Meet mobile app on Android and iOS devices is now supported. 
These improvements will be available for Google Meet on web and meeting room hardware. Support for the Meet mobile app is outlined below in the "Rollout" section.

Getting started


Rollout pace 

  • Join live streams from the Google Meet mobile apps: 

  • iOS 
    • Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) beginning on January 3, 2024, with anticipated completion by January 8, 2024 
    • Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) beginning on January 8, 2024, with anticipated completion by January 18, 2024

  • All other updates mentioned in this post are available now. 

Availability

  • 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. Not available to users with personal Google accounts. 

Huddly cameras bring continuous framing to Google Meet Series One room kits

What’s changing

As part of our initiative to bring adaptive framing to Google Meet meeting rooms, we’re proud to announce that you can now access Huddly’s continuous framing capability available as part of the Series One room kit hardware devices. Huddly’s new framing solution continuously adjusts to include participants coming and leaving the room. The feature can be turned on by meeting participants directly from the touch controller. Using Huddly framing helps keep those in the meeting room in view no matter where they are, so that they’re more visible to other participants in the meeting which creates a more engaging experience.

To support this change, we’ve: 
  • Updated the camera control tab on the touch controller to display all the framing options available in your meeting rooms and allow users to toggle between them. 
  • Moved the camera self-view from the manual control component on the touch controller to the TV/monitor display for optimal placement. With meeting spaces becoming more diverse, the display is the most common, accessible interface to all meeting participants. 
  • Changed “home” button in manual control to “Reset to Default”

Select “Camera control” and then “Framing by Huddly” to use this feature.


Getting started


  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature at this time. We plan to introduce an admin control in the future and will provide more information once it’s available.
  • End users: This feature will be OFF by default. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using device-based framing and using the Meet the touchscreen to control audio and video. Note that Huddly continuous framing must be turned on for each meeting and will not carry over to the subsequent meetings. 

Rollout pace



Availability


  • Available to all Google Workspace customers using Google Meet Series One room kits 

Learn more


Resources



Meet Add-ons SDK available in Developer Preview

What’s changing 

Today, the Google Meet Web Add-ons SDK is available through our Developer Preview Program. Developers can use the SDK to bring their app experience right into Meet. End users can install, open, and collaborate in apps right inside a meeting, either as the meeting focal point, or in the sidebar — all without ever leaving Meet. 


Recently, we announced the availability of the Google Meet API through the Google Workspace Developer Preview Program. The Google Meet Add-ons SDK expands on these platform capabilities and allows developers to integrate apps and workflows directly into the Meet UI. There are two ways in which add-ons show up in Meet: the main stage of a meeting or the meeting side panel. The main stage allows apps to be the focal point of a meeting experience, unlocking the opportunity for add-on users to collaborate while in a meeting. The side panel allows users to to share data, take surveys, or update records while staying focused on the discussion in the meeting.




Partners such as Atlassian, Figma, Lucid, Miro, Read.ai, and Polly.ai have already built and launched Meet Add-ons, and we’re excited to see what other apps and workflows developers will build into Meet’s highly-interactive surfaces.






During Developer Public Preview, add-ons can only be deployed within your domain and are only accessible when using Google Meet on the web. In the coming months, we will also launch Meet Add-ons SDKs for Android and iOS to expand these capabilities to mobile form factors. 


To access the preview SDK, please join the Google Workspace Developer Preview Program.


Who’s impacted

Admins and developers



Why you’d use it 

Using the Google Meet Add-Ons SDK, developers can integrate their apps directly in Google Meet. In turn, meeting participants can leverage these apps to collaborate on a whiteboard, brainstorm with the latest design files, and more all without leaving the Meet user interface.


Getting started

Rollout pace


Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers

Resources


Raise your hand with gesture detection in Google Meet

What’s changing 

Until now, raising your hand to ask a question in Google Meet is done by clicking the hand-raise icon. Starting today, you can also raise your physical hand and Meet will recognize it with gesture detection. To ensure the gesture is detected, make sure your camera is enabled and your hand is visible to the camera, away from your face and body. As an active speaker, the gesture detection will not be triggered; when you’re no longer the active speaker, gesture detection will resume.


Getting started

  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
  • End users: This feature will be OFF by default and can be turned on by selecting More options > Reactions > Hand Raise Gesture. Visit the Help Center to learn more about raising your hand in Google Meet.

Rollout pace


Availability
  • Available for Google Workspace Business Plus, Business Standard, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Starter, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade customers, and Google Workspace Individual subscribers

Resources