U-M Google Updates

U-M Google December Monthly Summary

1/17/2022

The monthly U-M Google summaries inform the university community of new Google releases and previously communicated updates.

Updates:

Google has added five new immersive backgrounds for Google Meet on the web, which feature subtle animation or change your lighting. Additionally, there are now more options to customize your video with various light and color filters and more stylized backgrounds. The new backgrounds and styles are available on Google Meet on the web and can be added before joining a call or during a call. Learn more about using video effects and background change in Google Meet.

You can now start or join meetings and audio calls from 1:1 chats in Google Chat in Gmail on Android and iOS. At the moment, this feature is available for 1:1 chats only. Learn more about starting and scheduling a Google Meet video meeting.

Google Meet hosts and co-hosts can now lock all participants’ audio and video from iOS devices, which mutes and prevents them from using their cameras. The Audio Lock & Video Lock setting applies to all devices regardless of whether it’s set on a computer or an iOS device. According to Google, this feature will be available for Android in early 2022. Learn more about the Audio Lock & Video Lock setting.

You can now more easily take action in other Google Workspace products from Google Chat. Hover over the plus “+” icon to the left of the chat field to access the menu options. These options vary by context and can include Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Photos, and Calendar. According to Google, this feature will initially be available on the Web and Android, with iOS available in early 2022.

Google Chat on the web, the new quick access menu is open

Google has announced that they have improved the "Automatically add invitations" setting in Google Calendar to help prevent unwanted invitations from being added to your calendar. You can now choose to either: 

  • Always have invitations automatically added 
  • Only have them automatically added if you have RSVP’d in the email event invitation.

This feature will be off by default and can be turned on by going to your Google Calendar > Settings menu (gear icon) > Event settings > "Add invitations to my calendar." Learn more about responding to Google Calendar event invitations.

New event settings in Google Calendar

Google has added account profile pictures in the top corner of the Google Calendar mobile apps so you can tell which account you’re currently using and toggle between accounts. Learn more about switching between Google Accounts in the Google Calendar app. 

  • The filmstrip in Google Slides is now collapsable

In Google Slides, editors can now collapse or expand the filmstrip as needed. Collapsing the filmstrip expands the current slide view for more focused editing. You can expand the filmstrip when you need to view, navigate to, and edit the other slides in your presentation.

Animated GIF, Google Sheets presentation, cursor collapses the filmstrip

Previously Communicated:

Reminder: The ability to record Google Meet sessions ends Jan. 10

1/4/2022

As a final reminder, according to Google, all U-M Google users will lose access to the premium recording feature in Google Meet on January 10, 2022. In spring 2020, Google announced that they would offer their Google Meet premium recording feature for free to assist educational institutions in their transition to remote learning. This promotional period is now ending. 

Any previously recorded meetings will remain in Google Drive unless the file owner deletes them, and you will still be able to view recordings.

If you are interested in recording meetings after January 10, check out U-M Zoom, which allows you to record meetings and download recordings. Refer to Record Meetings in Zoom and Save to Cloud or Local Computer for more information.

U-M Google November Monthly Summary

12/16/2021

The monthly U-M Google summaries inform the university community of new Google releases and previously communicated updates.

Updates:

Google has updated the menus in Google Sheets to make it easier to locate the most commonly-used features. This update includes a shorter menu bar and right-click menu, reorganized features in more intuitive locations (e.g., freeze feature is now available in the right-click menu), shorter descriptions, and new icons.

Meeting hosts in Google Meet can now use Audio and Video Lock to turn off the microphones and/or cameras of other participants in the meeting and prevent them from turning them back on until you unlock them. Learn more about locking audio and video in Google Meet.

Google has added a universal insertion menu to easily add things like tables and images, in addition to smart chips, directly in Google Docs. You can now type the “@” symbol, and you’ll see a list of recommended files, people, meetings, and different content elements and formats to insert into your work.

Animated GIF, user typing @ in a Google Doc and a drop-down menu appears.

  • Updating Gmail "Compose" button for Chat in Gmail users on the web 

Earlier this year, Google updated the "Compose" button to a smaller, icon-only button for all users of Chat in Gmail on the web. After hearing feedback from users, they have reverted to the original, larger version of the button.

Comparison of the old and new Gmail compose buttons.

You can now mark a paragraph to always begin on a new page with the new “Add page break before” option in Google Docs. You can add this formatting style by going to Format > Line & paragraph spacing > “Add page break before.” Learn more about paragraph styles in Google Docs.

You can now prevent notifications from a blocked user when they @-mention you in comments or action items on Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides. This block will apply to both email and in-app notifications. Learn more about blocking users in Google Drive.

In new Google Sites, editors can now copy a single page or subset of pages into a new site. Previously, it was only possible to make a copy of an entire site. From the three-dot menu, select Make a copy > Pages > Selected Pages > select the pages you want to copy > OK. You’ll receive an email notification with the link to your new site. Learn more about copying new Google Sites.

You can now add people chips in Google Sheets. These chips allow you to view more information about contacts, including their job title and contact information. This feature is already available for Google Docs. To insert a people chip, type  “@” in any cell to search your directory or select Insert > People chip. Learn more about using people chips in Google Sheets.

When adding citations in Google Docs, you can now search for books and online sources, then automatically populate some attributes for those sources. You can find the feature using Tools > Citations. Learn more about adding citations in Google Docs.

You can now indicate whether you’ll join the meeting virtually or in-person while responding to Google Calendar invitations in Gmail.

Google Calendar invitation via email in Gmail showing the new RSVP options.

  • New navigation menus in Google Sites

Site editors can now organize pages and external links under new navigation menus. Select "New Menu" and add or move pages to allow more flexibility in structuring navigation within your sites.

Previously Communicated:

The ability to record Google Meet sessions ends Jan. 10

12/14/2021

In spring 2020, Google announced that they would offer their Google Meet premium recording feature for free to assist educational institutions in their transition to remote learning. According to Google, all U-M Google users will lose access to the premium recording feature in Google Meet on January 10, 2022.

Any previously recorded meetings will remain in Google Drive unless the file owner deletes them, and you will still be able to view recordings.

If you are interested in recording meetings after January 10, check out U-M Zoom, which allows you to record meetings and download recordings. Refer to Record Meetings in Zoom and Save to Cloud or Local Computer for more information.

Update: Extended classic Google Sites retirement timeline

11/19/2021

On November 16, 2021, Google announced an updated timeline for their retirement of classic Google Sites that extends the previous dates to summer 2022. Your ability to edit classic Google Sites now ends on June 1, 2022 (previously December 1, 2021), and Google will begin deactivating those sites on July 1, 2022 (previously January 1, 2022).

Nevertheless, you should still convert your classic Google Sites to new Google Sites as soon as possible. The longer you wait to make the transition, the greater the possibility for data loss when Google begins the deactivations. If you currently own a classic Google Site, refer to Convert Your Classic Google Sites to New Sites for more information on how to convert your classic Sites to new Sites.

Caution: Key classic Google Sites features and functionality are still missing in new Google Sites. As a result, the conversion process is not one-to-one, and it will likely break parts of your site. Until Google brings these key features over to new Sites, you will need to adjust your sites accordingly post-conversion. Visit the Google Sites Help Center to learn more about what to expect when you convert a classic Site to a new Site.

Additional Resources