The summary of essential information about new features and improvements for Google Workspace customers in August 2022.
Unified experience for Gmail logs in BigQuery, configure your existing Gmail logs to route to Workspace logs
In the coming weeks, we will move the location of the existing Gmail logs in BigQuery to Google Workspace logs and reports in BigQuery. To support our customers with a seamless transfer, for a brief period of time, Gmail data will be exported to both the Gmail logs and the Workspace logs — see below for more information. Read more.
Control visibility of admin alerts with admin role privileges
We’re introducing a new control that allows super admins to create a custom rule which ensures only admins with the DLP privilege can see DLP alerts. Previously, DLP alerts were visible to all admins — this change helps ensure the right people have access to list, update, or delete alerts. Further, this cuts down on the visibility of alerts that aren’t relevant to specific admins. Read more.
Updated user interface for managing email quarantines
In the coming weeks, you will see a new user interface when using the email quarantine tool. This update will bring the email quarantine experience inline with other tools in the Admin console, making it more intuitive to navigate and use. Quarantines help minimize data loss, protect confidential information, and manage message attachments. Read more.
Working location enabled by default
In 2021, we launched a feature to share where you’re working from directly in Google Calendar to make in-person collaboration easier and support the ongoing transition to a hybrid workplace. We recently announced an improved user interface for sharing your working location in Google Calendar, and starting today, you will be able to set your working location without having to first enable this feature in your Calendar settings. Read more.
New color categorization option to better understand how you're spending your time
In 2021, we launched Time Insights, a feature that gives you the ability to better understand how you’re spending your time in Google Calendar. Starting today, you can categorize your time by naming and assigning a corresponding color label to an event within Time Insights in Calendar.
We hope this customizable breakdown feature will allow you to more easily track time spent on specific activities, such as project work, staff meetings, or meetings with specific colleagues and stakeholders. Read more.
Better location context for events and RSVPs in Calendar
We’re making it even easier to use RSVPs in Google Calendar and let others know how you’re planning to join a meeting.
You can now select an RSVP join method that’s powered by your working location, whether that’s joining in a particular meeting room or virtually. With the new RSVP option, Calendar will automatically update how you intend to join the meeting if your working location happens to change. In addition, your colleagues will now see your working location or out-of-office status directly in the guest list section of a Calendar event. Read more.
Seamlessly access popular Education Technology tools directly in Google Classroom
With a new seamless integration of single sign-on, assigning, and grading, we’re making it easier for educators to access popular EdTech tools that work best for their class directly in Google Classroom. Read more.
Choose to grade with Canvas SpeedGrader or Google Assignments
Starting today, within Google Assignments for Canvas, there is now an option to grade with either Google Assignments or Canvas SpeedGrader.
This tool allows educators to continue using features they already enjoy with Google Assignments, such as assigning personalized files to students, seeing students’ in-progress work, and using originality reports. If educators choose to grade with Canvas SpeedGrader, they can also utilize annotations and audio and video comments as they grade. Select SpeedGrader to grade an assignment. Read more.
New integrated email marketing tools for Gmail on the web
For select Google Workspace editions, we’re adding two new features in Gmail which you can use to easily create stylized content and custom distribution lists:
Additionally, we are introducing an Admin setting to control whether these features are on or off for your users. The admin setting will launch before the end-user functionality, giving admins time to configure availability for their end users in advance. See below for more information. Read more.
Delegate access to a shared inbox using a group address
You can now give an entire Google Group access to your Gmail account through mail delegation. With this feature, delegated users can read, send, and delete messages on the account owner's behalf. We hope this will enable teams to more effectively process incoming requests and tasks via a single shared email address. Read more.
More at: https://support.google.com/a/answer/7223765
Improved notifications when editing Microsoft Office files in Docs, Sheets, and Slides
Many of our customers utilize Office editing mode to collaborate on Microsoft Office files in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.. Today, we’re announcing improvements to the notifications you see when editing a Microsoft Office-formatted file. Read more.
More control over accessibility preferences in Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drawings
Over the years, we’ve launched features to support our ongoing accessibility efforts to ensure our products work well for everyone. For users of screen readers, braille devices, screen magnifiers, and more, we're improving the ability to adjust your accessibility preferences for Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drawings separately. Read more.
Easily assign Tasks from Google Docs
In Google Docs, you can now assign a checklist item to yourself or a colleague that will then show up in the assignee’s Tasks list. When edits are made to an assigned item in Tasks, such as a change to the title, due date or completion state, those updates will show in the Doc, and vice versa. Read more.
Stay on top of changes to document content with edit notifications
In Google Docs, you can now choose to receive notifications for document changes on a per file basis. The new feature’s setting is available in the existing and new notification settings menus.
Edit notification emails detail what changes were made, when the changes were made, and who made them. The settings are available in the expandable “Notification settings” section of dynamic comment and edit notification emails. The settings are also accessible within Google Docs itself through the bell icon button inside the comment icon button’s dropdown The bell icon button now opens notifications settings, where you can adjust your comment and edit notification settings. Read more.
Google Meet call control for USB peripheral devices
We’re introducing additional call control for Google Meet which will allow you to toggle between mute and unmute using headsets, speaker microphones, and other USB peripheral devices. Read more.
Improved quality and performance for Google Meet effects on the web
With this launch, two Google Meet visual effects—background blur and low-light mode—are processed on the web when available, instead of on your device. This saves battery and processing usage on your device. Meet consistently monitors whether web-based or device-based processing will offer the best experience and auto-adjusts to that option. This helps ensure the smoothest, most efficient meeting experience. Read more.
See how much noise is being removed during Google Meet video calls
Google Meet can remove background noises such as typing, closing a door, or the sounds of a nearby construction site. Noise cancellation helps make video calls more productive by reducing distractions that can divert attention away from the content of the meeting.
The voice indicator now shows how much noise is being removed. If you see the ring expanding while background noises occur, you can be sure others will not hear them, and you can therefore stay unmuted in the call. Read more.
Seamlessly delete subsets of Sites
Site editors can now delete a page with subpages and delete pages that were copied into another site during a partial site copy. Read more.
Conveniently connect site visitors with social channels in new Sites
Site editors can now insert stylized social media links into pages within their site. This update enables you to more conveniently connect site visitors with additional information and content on your social channels. Read more.
Source: https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com