Google Workspace Updates: August 15

Announcements of the week

Improved quality and performance for Google Meet effects on the web

Background effects are now more accurate for Google Meet users on the web. This allows you to experience more accurate background blur, background replace, and immersive background and styles. Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus customers, and Workspace Individual users on eligible devices in eligible countries (Northern America, Europe, Northern Africa, Central Asia, Southeastern Asia). Visit the Help Center to learn more about availability. Read more.

Meet now offers improved background and foreground separation

More control over accessibility preferences in Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drawings

You’re now able to set preferences for Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drawings individually, rather than having the same accessibility settings apply across these products. Read more.

Accessibility settings can now be personalized for Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drawings

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 brings the email quarantine experience inline with other tools in the Admin console, making it more intuitive to navigate and use. Read more.

Quarantines with custom names are displayed row by row

Original, raw content can be viewed for each quarantine

See how much noise is being removed during Google Meet video calls

Google Meet can now remove background noises such as typing, construction sounds, or background chatter. Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, and Workspace Individual customers only. 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, enabling you to more conveniently connect site visitors with additional information and content on your social channels. Read more.

Enhancements to the “Frame people” feature on Google Meet hardware devices

We’ve introduced two enhancements on Google Meet hardware devices for the “Frame people” feature:

The “Frame people” feature is now more easily discoverable and can be accessed in a meeting from the touch panel in fewer steps.
A solution to a recent bug impacting the auto framing capability for some Google Meet hardware devices. The auto framing functionality has been restored to impacted devices with improved reliability and performance.

Available to all supported Google Meet hardware devices that have not yet reached their auto-update expiration date. Read more.

Camera control button

New color categorization in Calendar to better understand how you’re spending your time

You can now categorize your time by naming and assigning a corresponding color label to an event within Time Insights in Calendar. Available to Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus and Nonprofits customers only. Read more.