Google Workspace Changes

New Hangouts metrics added to the Reports API, and changes to Google+ activity metrics.

New Hangouts metrics are added to the Reports API to track video calls by platform (Android, CFM, iOS, Web). Google+ active user numbers are also changing because some components and integrations have been unbundled from the core Google+ product. The new metrics reflect users of Google+ only.

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.

Hangouts services and web traffic will be served from ‘hangouts.google.com’.

Following the launch of the new standalone Google Hangouts homepage, Hangouts-related services and web traffic will be served from ‘hangouts.google.com’ in addition to existing host names. This change is rolling out gradually over the coming weeks for both Rapid and Scheduled release tracks, with no required action for Apps customers.

Ability to accept or reject external guest requests on Hangouts Android app

External participants to a Hangouts video call can now be accepted or rejected directly within the Hangouts Android app, matching the functionality already available on iOS and web platforms.

Custom status messages added to Hangouts Android app

Users of the Hangouts Android app can now add custom status messages and view the status messages of others in the Contacts view, bringing feature parity with the web and iOS versions of the app.

Accept or reject external guest requests to join Hangouts video calls in the Hangouts iOS app.

Google has enabled the functionality to accept or reject external guest requests to join Hangouts video calls within the latest version of the Hangouts iOS app. Previously, this action was only possible via the web interface for users in the Apps domain.

Full-view screen sharing for Google Hangouts

Google Hangouts is launching full-view screen sharing, which allows shared content to occupy as much of the visible screen area as possible. In 'Present to everyone' mode or when a participant is pinned, attendee thumbnails will overlay the content at the bottom by default, and a new button in the control bar allows participants to hide these thumbnails.

New admin policy options to force chat history and restrict chat usage in Google Hangouts.

Google Hangouts is introducing two new policy options for admins to provide greater control over domain chat usage. Admins can now force Hangouts chat history to be permanently on or off, preventing participants from changing the setting on a per-conversation basis. Additionally, admins can require that only Hangouts chat be used, though this disables chat within Google Docs, Hangouts video calls, and third-party chat clients.

10GB of Google Video storage is now included on an ongoing basis for each school with Education Edition.

10GB of Google Video storage is now included on an ongoing basis for each school with Education Edition.

10GB of Google Video storage is now included on an ongoing basis for each school with Education Edition.

10GB of Google Video storage is now included on an ongoing basis for each school with Education Edition.

10GB of Google Video storage is now included on an ongoing basis for each school with Education Edition.

10GB of Google Video storage is now included on an ongoing basis for each school with Education Edition.

Increased video upload size limit to 1 GB.

The maximum file size for video uploads in Google Video has been increased from 300 MB to 1 GB for users of the Premier and Education Editions.

Added ability to add captions to videos.

Users in Premier and Education Editions can now add captions to their videos in Google Video by uploading a timed text file through the video's play page.

Premier Edition administrators can now specify up to 100 authorized Google Video uploaders.

Administrators of the Premier Edition can now restrict Google Video uploading capabilities to a specific list of up to 100 authorized users, rather than allowing every employee to have uploading capabilities. This can be configured from the administrative control panel by selecting 'Video' from the 'Service settings' menu and entering the authorized users in the 'Video Uploaders' box.

Schools using Education Edition can now share videos privately and securely among faculty and staff with Google Video.

Schools using Education Edition can now share videos privately and securely among faculty and staff with Google Video. Videos can be uploaded, shared with specific permissions, and watched by authorized viewers with no special hardware or software.