U-M Google Updates

Use Jamboard with the new Google Meet integration!

9/30/2020

Google has introduced a new Google Jamboard integration with Google Meet! You can now create or open an existing jam while on a Meet video call making it easier to collaborate in real-time, virtually. You’ll also be able to save, share, and continue working on the jam at any time in a new Meet session or at jamboard.google.com.

Google Meet session, Jamboard jam is visible in the left-center of the screen, participants are tiled on the right screen.

Note: You can only start or open a jam during a Google Meet session if you joined the call on a computer. Video call participants on a mobile device or tablet will receive a link to the jam file and be directed to the Jamboard mobile app to collaborate.

To learn more about “jamming” in a Google Meet, see Google’s Use a whiteboard in Google Meet documentation.

Visit the U-M Google Jamboard site for additional resources to help you get started using Jamboard.

According to Google, this feature began showing up in U-M Google on September 22, 2020, but could take 15 days or longer to become fully visible.

Google Drive will automatically delete trash after 30 days

9/24/2020

Starting October 13, 2020, Google will automatically delete items in your Google My Drive trash after 30 days. Previously, items in your trash folder were retained indefinitely until you permanently deleted them. This change matches the policies of other G Suite products and services, such as Gmail, and will help make sure that items you trash are actually deleted as expected.

If you have not already, you may begin to see banners or pop-ups across Google Drive and Google Drive File Stream alerting you of the upcoming changes.

"My Drive trash is changing. Starting October 13, items will be automatically deleted forever after they've been in your trash for 30 days. Learn more."

"My Drive trash is changing. Starting October 13, 2020, items will be automatically deleted forever after they've been in your trash for 30 days."

Any items already in trash on October 13, 2020, will remain there for 30 days. After the 30-day period, items that have been in trash for longer than 30 days will begin to be automatically deleted.

Furthermore,

  • These changes affect items that are trashed from any device.
  • Items deleted via Google Drive File Stream will be purged from the system trash after 30 days. There is no impact to Google Backup and Sync behavior.
  • Items in a Google shared drive’s trash are already automatically deleted after 30 days.

For more information, see Google’s Delete and restore files in Google Drive.

Reminder: Google Meet premium features end on September 30

9/23/2020

At the beginning of March 2020, Google extended temporary access to some premium Google Meet features through September 30, 2020. Soon, a number of these features will be going away, and on October 1, 2020, the standard Google Meet features will return. See the table below to view the features that will be leaving and those that will take their place.

Now through September 30 October 1 and onward
250 maximum participants per session. 100 maximum participants per session.
Livestream a session to up to 100,000 viewers. No livestreaming available.
Record and retain sessions indefinitely in Google Drive (premium).* Record and retain sessions for 30 days (temporary).*

Recorded sessions can be downloaded or shared.

Note: Meetings recorded during the premium features access period will remain in your Google Drive.
 Recorded sessions cannot be downloaded or shared outside of the University of Michigan.
*Important: According to Google, they will continue to offer free premium recordings until their new temporary recordings feature is available later this year. Once temporary recordings are available, the premium recordings feature will leave the U-M domain. With temporary recordings, you (as the host) will be able to record a meeting and share the recording within the U-M domain for up to 30 days before the video expires. However, temporary recordings cannot be shared outside the University of Michigan or downloaded.

Visit the U-M Google Meet website to learn more about the service.

Reminder: Only use Google apps with U-M Google

9/22/2020

This communication is a reminder that using third-party apps to connect to a U-M Google account can lead to unexpected results. 

Google-created apps and applications provide the most seamless experience when using Google services, particularly with mobile devices. Google-created apps and applications are also supported by Google, whereas third-party apps are not. We strongly recommend that you only use apps and applications created and supported by Google to connect to U-M Google accounts for these reasons. (A web browser may also be used.)

Third-party apps and applications are created by a group or company other than Google (e.g., Apple Mail). Google does not support the use of third-party apps or incidents that might result from using them. Using apps not provided by Google is at your own risk and could lead to university data loss. We have seen issues related to the use of third-party applications when used with Google services.

Some reported issues include:

  • Email and calendar events are permanently deleted.
  • Inaccurate calendar notifications sent to event invitees.

These issues have occurred using an iPhone or iPad and Apple’s native mail and calendar apps. However, unexpected behavior is not limited to iPhones and iPads. Third-party desktop applications such as Apple Mail and Calendar or Microsoft Outlook may also cause unexpected behavior.

Be aware of the apps you use with your U-M Google account. Google provides and supports apps for Gmail, Calendar, Drive, and more in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Using only the apps provided by Google ensures that we can get support from Google when issues arise.

U-M Google August Monthly Summary

9/9/2020

The monthly U-M Google Summaries inform the university community of Google releases. We communicate important information throughout the month.

Updates:

Google Meet videoconferencing policies applied to a Google Calendar event that are organized by a delegate or when a meeting is transferred will now be based on the person who owns the calendar event, not the delegate or original event owner. For more information, see How Google Meet settings apply to events created on or transferred to other Google Calendars.

Access checker is a feature currently in Gmail and Google Chat that ensures the recipients of a Google Drive file have permission to access it. Google has now made this feature available in Google Slides to make sure that anyone who is viewing or presenting a presentation can play embedded videos and audio files. 

When you insert a video or audio file that is stored in Drive into Slides, Access checker will automatically look to see if the people who have access to the presentation also have access to the audio or video file you just inserted. If they don’t, Access checker will suggest changing the permissions of the file so that all will be able to see and hear its content.

GIF of Google Slides presentation. Cursor adds video, pop-up regarding sharing with people appears.

Google is bringing the frequently requested dark theme to Google Chat on mobile devices (Android and iOS). This will apply automatically to match Android devices’ system settings. See ​Turn dark mode on or off to learn more about dark theme on iOS.

Google has brought two new features, previously only available on the web, to Google Docs on Android and iOS devices.

For Google Slides on Android, Google has added new viewing abilities. Rather than swiping to view slides one by one, you can now: 

  • Scroll through a vertical stream of slides. 

  • Pinch to zoom to get a closer look. 

  • Easily switch to editing, presenting, or casting content.

For more information, see How to use Google Slides on Android.

Previously Communicated: