Google Workspace Changes

Updated 'What's new in G Suite?' Help Center article with filterable and searchable lists.

Google has updated the 'What's new in G Suite?' Help Center article to include a comprehensive list of all G Suite launches from the past six months. The updated article allows users to filter by product or search by keyword to easily find and learn about specific updates.

Google Voice is now generally available in Ireland.

Google Voice is now available to G Suite customers in Ireland, allowing them to sign up for the service and assign phone numbers with Ireland country codes (+353). The ability to port existing +353 numbers to Google Voice is expected to be available soon.

Beta program for Google Assistant on Asus Hangouts Meet Hardware Kit

Google is launching a beta program that allows users to control the Asus Hangouts Meet Hardware Kit using Google Assistant. This integration enables voice commands to join or exit meetings, call phone numbers, and turn on spoken feedback, aiming to create a more seamless meeting experience and increase accessibility.

Dynamic email is now available for Gmail on Android and iOS.

Dynamic email brings the richness and interactivity of AMP to Gmail on Android and iOS devices, allowing users to take actions directly within a message, such as responding to comments, RSVPing to events, or managing subscription preferences. This functionality ensures that email content remains up-to-date, enabling users to view real-time information like e-commerce order statuses or the latest job postings.

Smart Compose for Google Docs launching in beta

Google is introducing a beta version of Smart Compose for Google Docs on the web. This AI-powered feature helps users draft high-quality content faster by suggesting relevant contextual phrases and reducing the likelihood of spelling and grammatical errors. The beta is available in English for all G Suite editions, and admins must sign up for the beta to have their domain whitelisted for access.

Google Assistant beta for G Suite accounts enables voice commands for Gmail and Google Calendar.

Google is opening a beta program that allows G Suite users to use Google Assistant with their work accounts to accomplish tasks on-the-go. The Assistant can respond to voice commands to identify the next meeting, create, cancel, or reschedule Calendar events, send emails, and dial into meetings. This beta functionality is currently available in English for all G Suite editions, and admins must apply to participate.

General availability of the Advanced Protection Program for enterprise.

The Advanced Protection Program for enterprise is now generally available, allowing organizations to enforce enhanced security policies for high-risk users. This includes automatic blocking of applications requiring restricted Gmail and Drive access unless trusted by admins, mandatory security keys, enhanced email scanning, and Chrome download protections.

Advanced Protection Program for the enterprise is now generally available to protect high-risk users.

The Advanced Protection Program for the enterprise is now generally available, offering a bundle of high-security policies for employees most at risk of targeted attacks, such as IT admins and executives. The program enforces the use of security keys, blocks most untrusted third-party apps from accessing Drive and Gmail data, and provides enhanced email scanning. Additionally, a new default option 'allow security codes without remote access' has been introduced, restricting security code usage to the same device or local network.

Allow site viewers to provide feedback on Google Sites

Site viewers of G Suite domain-owned Google Sites can now provide feedback or ask questions directly from the published site. Feedback is sent to the site owner via email, allowing the owner to reply and start a conversation. This feature is enabled by default for newly created sites and disabled by default for existing sites.

Data Connector for Zendesk is now available as an add-on for Google Sheets.

Google has introduced a new data connector add-on for Google Sheets that enables users to import and analyze data from Zendesk. This tool allows organizations to configure query configurations, search for Zendesk tickets, list metrics, and refresh query results directly within a spreadsheet using the Zendesk API.

Combining the Admin console settings for Hangouts Chat and classic Hangouts.

Combining the Admin console settings for Hangouts Chat and classic Hangouts to make it easier to manage policies and make sure they’re configured appropriately. The new settings will be located at Admin console > Apps > G Suite > Hangouts Chat.

Customizable page numbers for different sections in Google Docs.

Google Docs now allows users to customize which sections of a document include page numbers and specify the starting number for those sections. This enables users to exclude cover pages or tables of contents from the page count and start numbering from the main body of the document. This feature can be accessed via Insert > Page Numbers > More options.

Combining Admin console settings for Hangouts Chat and classic Hangouts.

Google is consolidating the Admin console settings for Hangouts Chat and classic Hangouts into a single location under Admin console > Apps > G Suite > Hangouts Chat. This change simplifies policy management for chat history, external user chats, and third-party integrations (bots) without altering the existing effective settings of the organization.

Revamped My Devices page for better device management.

Google has updated the My Devices page, now accessible at mydevices.google.com. The revamped page allows users to see and manage all devices used to log in to G Suite, including both mobile and desktop devices, with options to view detailed information, log out, or wipe the device.

New Admin console setting to control whether Working Hours is enabled for users.

Google is adding a setting in the Admin console that allows administrators to control whether the Working Hours feature is enabled for users in their domain. This setting can be managed by navigating to Admin console > Apps > G Suite > Settings for Calendar > Sharing Settings, where a new checkbox 'Allow users to set working hours' has been added. The setting is enabled by default and can be configured at the organizational unit level.