Google Workspace Changes

Google Apps Directory Sync (GADS) updated to version v4.1.0 with new license synchronization.

A new version (v4.1.0) of Google Apps Directory Sync (GADS) is now available. This update introduces a new license synchronization feature that allows administrators to assign specific licenses to Google Apps user accounts. Admin action is required to download and install the latest version of GADS to utilize this feature.

Updated version (v1.1.132.0) of the Google Drive plug-in for Microsoft Office

Google has released version v1.1.132.0 of the Google Drive plug-in for Microsoft Office. This update introduces the ability for customers to send feedback from the settings menu and a new per-machine based enterprise installer for internal software distribution. Additionally, it fixes an 'unknown error' that occurred when saving sharing changes and resolves Japanese language UI issues.

Guest access to Hangouts video calls without a Google account

Google is removing the requirement for guests to have a Google account to join Hangouts video calls. Guests who have been provided with a video call link can now enter their name and request to join the call, which can then be approved by any attendee from the organizing domain. Additionally, the video call link is now visible in the event description for guests who do not use Google Calendar.

Google+ introduces a redesigned homestream, domain-restricted Communities, and Collections.

Google+ is rolling out several updates to improve the experience for Apps customers. These include a redesigned homestream for faster and simpler browsing on both desktop and mobile, domain-restricted Communities to allow organizations to share ideas privately among teammates, and Collections to enable organizations to curate and organize related content in one accessible location.

New version (v3.8) of Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook is now available.

Google has released version 3.8 of Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook (GASMO), which introduces support for Office 2016 and Windows 10. Existing users will receive auto-updates in the coming days, while others can manually upgrade by downloading the latest version from the Help Center.

Enhanced commenting, chart creation, and font support in the Google Sheets app for Android.

The Google Sheets app for Android now allows users to add new and reply to existing comments. Chart creation is improved with automatic data selection expansion and three recommended chart types based on selected data. Additionally, users can now view over 400 new fonts that were previously added to Sheets on the web.

Smarter sorting experience for the 'Recent' view in Google Drive on the web.

Google Drive is introducing a smarter sorting experience for the 'Recent' view on the web. The update replaces the previous sorting dropdown options ('Last modified,' 'Last modified by me,' and 'Last opened by me') with a dynamically-generated view based on the user's actions. Items will continue to be segmented into time-based sections, and the UI will now indicate whether an item was opened, modified, or uploaded by the user, prioritizing items the user interacted with over those acted upon by collaborators.

Enhanced commenting and suggestions management in the Google Docs app for Android.

The Google Docs app for Android now allows users to view comments and suggestions in Print Layout view. Users can now resolve, close, accept, or reject these comments and suggestions directly from their mobile device, facilitating a smoother transition between desktop and mobile workflows.

Gmail now provides a footer guiding users to advanced search for general queries.

When a search query is too general to return useful results, Gmail will now display a footer suggesting that the user refine their search using Gmail's advanced search features to find specific emails more effectively.

Gmail search now includes the Spam folder in addition to the Trash folder.

To help users find emails mistakenly marked as spam or put into Trash, Gmail now indexes both folders during searches. When a match is found in these folders, a footer at the bottom of the search results will notify the user and provide a link to view the messages.

Google Calendar adds Trash functionality to restore deleted events on the web.

Google Calendar on the web now includes a Trash feature, allowing users to view, permanently delete, or restore individual and recurring deleted events. This functionality is available for primary calendars and secondary calendars where the user has edit rights. Administrators can monitor these actions using Calendar Audit logs in the Admin console.

Updated version of Google Apps Migration for Microsoft Exchange (GAMME) is now available.

Google has released an updated version of Google Apps Migration for Microsoft Exchange (GAMME). This update introduces Service Accounts and OAuth 2.0 tokens for authorization, replaces the Email Migration API v2 and Email Settings API with the Gmail API, and improves the handling of reserved labels and user authorization errors. It also includes several bug fixes regarding label length, trash marking for subfolders, and logging improvements.

Viewing shared files without a Google Account on Android

Google Drive for Android now allows users to view shared files without requiring a Google Account, bringing the Android app experience in line with the web version.

Custom sharing messages for Google Drive on iOS

To provide a more consistent experience across platforms, users of the Google Drive and Docs editor apps on iOS can now add custom messages to recipients directly from the app when sharing a file.

Mobile sharing notifications for Android and iOS

Users of the Google Drive app on Android and iOS can now receive mobile notifications when a file or folder is shared with them or when someone requests access to their content, allowing them to open files or grant access instantly from their mobile device.