Google Workspace Features Update: October 2023

Google Workspace Features Update Summary - October 2023

The summary of essential information about new features and improvements for Google Workspace customers in October 2023

Product: Chat

Improved search results in Google Chat

Edition:  Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts

Who’s impacted: All end users

Last year, we announced improvements to the Google Chat search experience onthe web and mobile that help you find more accurate and customized search suggestions and results. 

Now, when searching in Chat, machine learning models will use the search term(s), most recent Chat conversations in direct messages and spaces, and other factors to help you find more accurate and relevant Chat message results. Read more.

Product: Chat

Expanding Smart replies everywhere you receive messages in Google Chat

Edition:  Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts

Who’s impacted: All End users

Building upon recently introduced features in Google Chat, such as smart compose and autocorrect, we’re excited to announce smart replies in direct messages, group messages and spaces on Chat web.

You can now utilize smart compose and smart replies for when you’re on the go, in a hurry, or just want to take the tediousness away from typing messages. Read more.

Product: Calendar

 New Google Calendar appointment scheduling features

Edition:  Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Nonprofits customers 

Who’s impacted: All end users

Appointment scheduling allows you to manage your availability and let customers and partners book time with you directly within Google Calendar via a personal booking page. To improve upon the current experience, we’re adding:

Five to ten-minute appointment slots. Previously, the minimum duration was fifteen minutes. 

A new “Check calendars for availability” feature, which enables users to decide whether or not they want to show bookable times on their Calendar if a conflict is present. Previously, if there was a conflict on your Calendar during the offered times, the respective slot was automatically removed due to conflict. Read more.

Product: Calendar

 A more consistent experience for the guest list in Google Calendar

Edition:   Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts

Who’s impacted: All end users

We’re updating the way meeting attendees names are displayed in Calendar invites and invite updates sent via email. Currently, you may notice only email addresses or in some cases, a mix of email addresses and names within a calendar invite. Going forward, you’ll see more names included in the calendar invite, including the names of those in your organization, and those guests who permit their names being shared across applications. Read more.

Product: Drives

New view in Google Drive shows recent activity in one place

Edition:  Available to all Google Workspace customers

Who’s impacted:  All end Users

We’re rolling out a new view in Google Drive that shows all pending access requests, recent comments, and approvals for files to help you quickly see recent activity and take action, all in one place. 

This new view will become a standalone page that’s accessible from the left hand navigation panel within Drive. Read more.

Product: Docs

Build content quickly in Google Docs with instant access to building blocks and more

Edition:  Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts 

Who’s impacted:  All end Users

We’re introducing new buttons at the top of your Google Doc that enable you to quickly insert building blocks for different types of content, such as meeting notes, email drafts and more, directly into your document. 

Simply click your preferred button or choose '@ More’ to see options like drafts for a Calendar event or a code block. Read more.

Product: Gmail

Introducing an updated and more inclusive emoji picker in Gmail

Edition:  Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts 

Who’s impacted:  All end Users

You can now access a more complete emoji selection and set emoji skin tone and gender preferences with the modernized emoji picker in Gmail. Read more.

Product: Sheets

Add emoji reactions to comments in Google Sheets

Edition: Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts

Who’s impacted: All end users

Earlier this year, we introduced the ability to add emoji reactions to existing comments in Google Docs. We’re excited to announce this is now available on comments in Google Sheets, increasing collaboration by enabling you to quickly and creatively express your opinions about spreadsheet content. | Learn more about using comments, action items, & emoji reactions. Read more.

Product: Sheets

Filter by filter only fields and parameters with Connected Sheets for Looker

Edition: Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts 

Who’s impacted: All end users

We’re adding support for two additional field types for filtering in Connected Sheets for Looker: filter-only fields and parameters. In addition to now being able to recreate Looker explorers or dashboards using Connected Sheets for Looker, these new options will give you even more ways to explore the semantic layer of your data. Read more.

Product: Meets

Presented content will be captured in higher definition in Google Meet recordings

Edition: Available to Google Workspace Business Plus, Business Standard, Education Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Starter, and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade customers

Who’s impacted: All End users

For recorded meetings, we’re increasing the maximum resolution for screen-shared content from 720p to 1080p. This will help ensure crisper text for presented content, creating a better viewing experience. Note that the rest of the meeting capture will remain at a maximum of 720p. Read more.

Product: Meets

Full HD available for group meetings in Google Meet

Edition: Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Workspace Individual subscribers. Also available to Google One Subscribers with 2TB or more in storage space. Not available to users with personal Google Accounts.

Who’s impacted: All end users

Earlier this year, we announced 1080p video resolution for 1:1 Google Meet calls. Today, we’re expanding 1080p to meetings with three or more participants. This higher resolution is available on the web when using eligible computers with a 1080p camera. 1080p is off by default — eligible users will be prompted before entering the meeting about the new 1080p option, or it can be turned on or off via the settings menu. Read more.

Product: Meets

Subtly enhance your appearance with portrait touch-up when using Google Meet on mobile devices

Edition: Available to Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, Teaching & Learning Upgrade, Google One and Google Workspace Individual

Who’s impacted: All end users

Introducing portrait touch-up in Meet, a new feature on mobile that enables you to lightly touch up your appearance from the green room before joining or during the meeting.  Whether you’ve just returned from the gym, are recovering from a cold, or are jet lagged, portrait touch-up is available to help you feel your best. l You can choose from two portrait touch-up modes:

Subtle: very light complexion smoothing, under eye lightening, and eye whitening 

Smoothing: slightly more complexion smoothing, under-eye lightening, and eye whitening. Read more.

Source: https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com