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Quick launch summary We’re launching a Postmaster Tools API, allowing programmatic access to the email data found in the Postmaster Tools user interface. You can use the API to gather metrics on bulk emails sent to Gmail users—such as delivery errors, spam reports, feedback loop performance, and more. You can also import or merge the data into other systems and diagnose issues with email delivery.


Getting started
  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: Registered domain owners can use this API to programmatically extract their domain’s data into their systems. Check out the Developers Guide to learn more about the using the Postmaster Tools API.
Rollout pace
Availability
  • Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers

What’s changing 
In the coming months, we’ll make some changes to the solutions we offer to access Google Drive files and keep them in sync on your desktop. There is no immediate action required, but we suggest familiarizing yourself with the changes and plans described below. 

Currently, we have two sync solutions available—Drive File Stream, which was built for business users, and Backup and Sync, which was built for consumer users. 

Some of our Google Workspace customers have deployed both sync solutions, which can be confusing for end users and challenging for IT departments to manage. To address this, we're planning to unify these sync clients later in 2021, bringing the most used features from both Drive File Stream and Backup and Sync to all of our users. Check out the Additional details section below for more information, and sign up to preview the unified sync client in beta


Who’s impacted 
Admins and end users 


Why it’s important 
We’re planning to unify our sync clients and bring all of our customers the best and most used features from both Drive File Stream and Backup and Sync. This will create a powerful and unified sync client for anyone who uses Drive, whether for business or personal purposes, and will: 
  • Make it easier for admins and IT teams to manage deployments 
  • Reduce user confusion around which app to use 
  • Result in better performance for end users 
The beta for the new unified client will help organizations currently using Backup and Sync understand how the new client will work prior to it becoming generally available later in 2021. 


Additional details 

Drive File Stream is now Google Drive for desktop 
As of version 45, Drive File Stream is known as Google Drive for desktop. This is simply a name change; all functionality will remain the same and most admins and end users won’t need to take any action to continue using the client. See our release notes for more details. 


Backup and Sync functionality and users will be transitioned to a new version of Drive for desktop later this year 
Later this year, Backup and Sync users will need to transition to Drive for desktop, the unified sync client. Until then, we’re working to incorporate features from Backup and Sync into the new solution and to make it as easy as possible for users. 

We’ll announce when Drive for desktop is ready for Backup and Sync users. We will share more details later this year on how Backup and Sync users can get started with Drive for desktop. We will provide 3 months’ notice for Google Workspace admins and end users before the deadline to transition to Drive for desktop. The transition will be self-serve for end users. More details on consumer timelines will be announced closer to availability. Visit our Help Center to learn more about which features will be transitioned to Drive for desktop


Google Workspace customers can now preview the new Drive for desktop client in beta 
Google Workspace customers with end users who are currently using Backup and Sync can apply for a beta of the new unified Drive for desktop experience, which includes Backup and Sync features. Learn more, and sign up for the beta


Getting started 
  • End users: The name change from Drive File Stream to Drive for desktop will take place by default. Functionality won’t change, and there is no user action required. 
    • Note that there’s also no action required for Backup & Sync users with personal Google accounts at this time. 

Rollout pace 
Drive File Stream renaming to Drive for desktop 

Drive for desktop unified client beta 

Availability 
  • Drive for desktop is available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, Nonprofits customers, and users with personal Accounts. 
  • The beta for the new unified client is available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers who currently have users with the Backup and Sync deployed. 

Resources 

What’s changingWe’re making it possible to quickly preview how you’ll appear to others before entering a Google Meet video call. You can use this new functionality to confirm that peripheral devices are properly configured and correctly connected, to check that your network connectivity is good, and to understand the impact of noise cancellation on your audio (if it's available to your account).

When a problem is detected, you’ll see a warning and tips for troubleshooting common issues, like granting your browser permission to use the microphone or camera.

Who’s impacted End users

Why it’s important With this new feature, you can enter meetings confident that your technology is working and that you’ll appear the way you want to to others.

For example, you can catch issues like:
  • An unintentionally muted microphone
  • A secondary display monitor with a missing headphone or speaker connection
  • Other audio issues, such as poor sound quality, audio that’s too loud, or your microphone amplifying background noises

In addition, you can make adjustments to lighting and positioning, helping you avoid dark or grainy video quality.

Getting started
  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
  • End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. On the screen before joining a meeting, click the "Check your audio and video" button. 


This will open the “green room,” where you can preview your audio and video. Visit the Help Center to learn more about previewing how you look and sound before a video call and troubleshooting performance in Google Meet.



Rollout pace
Availability 
  • Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers 
Resources 


New updates
There are no new updates to share this week. Please see below for a recap of published announcements.


Previous announcements
Oops! You may have noticed we missed publishing last week’s recap. To make up for it, below we’re including announcements published on the Workspace Updates blog in the past two weeks. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.


Resize the Chat and Rooms sections in Gmail on the web
You can now resize the Chat and Rooms sections in the left-side navigation of Gmail on the web. | Learn more.


Quickly navigate to active cells and ranges with the new range name box in Google Sheets
We’re adding a range name box, located to the left of the formula bar, to improve navigation in Google Sheets. | Learn more.


Enable offline support for Google Calendar on web from your computer
You can now enable offline support for Google Calendar on Google Chrome from your computer. | Learn more.


Better privacy when screen sharing with muted web notifications
Now when you’re sharing your screen, Chrome will automatically hide the content of web pop-up notifications. This includes notifications from Google Chat, email notifications, and other third party websites. | Learn more.


Out of office information will now display when replying to or mentioning a user in a Google Docs comment
In Google Docs, you’ll now see out of office information when replying to or mentioning other users in a comment. | Learn more.


Control background replacement in Google Meet with a new admin setting
We’re adding the ability for admins to enable or disable the use of custom or preset backgrounds in Google Meet for meetings organized by an organizational unit (OU) level. | Learn more.


Indirect membership visibility and membership hierarchy APIs now generally available
We’re making it easier to identify, audit, and understand indirect group membership via the Cloud Identity Groups API. Specifically, we’re making the membership visibility and membership hierarchy APIs generally available. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Standard and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Enterprise for Education and Cloud Identity Premium customers. | Learn more.

Quick launch summary 
We’re making it easier to identify, audit, and understand indirect group membership via the Cloud Identity Groups API. Specifically, we’re making the membership visibility and membership hierarchy APIs generally available. These were previously available in beta. 

Using “nested” groups to manage access to content and resources can help decrease duplication, simplify administration, and centralize access management. However, nested groups can create a complex hierarchy that can make it hard to understand who ultimately has access and why. These APIs help provide all of the information you need to understand complex group structures and hierarchies, and can help you make decisions about who to add to or remove from your groups. 

See our beta announcement for more information and use cases for the APIs


Getting started 

Rollout pace 

Availability 
  • Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Standard and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Enterprise for Education and Cloud Identity Premium customers. 
  • Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, and Enterprise Essentials, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, and Nonprofits customers 

Resources 

Update:
February 1, 2021: We’ve updated this blog to better explain how this setting impacts meeting organizers and participants.

What’s changingWe’re adding the ability for admins to enable or disable the use of custom or preset backgrounds in Google Meet for meetings organized by an organizational unit (OU) level.

Important Note: the meeting organizer’s setting will determine whether or not meeting participants can change their background or use custom background images.

For example: if this feature is OFF for students, but ON for teachers, students will be able to use custom or preset backgrounds when joining a meeting organized by their teacher.

For Education and Enterprise for Education customers, the “let users select custom images” option will be disabled by default. We recommend admins leave this option disabled, as well as turning off the use of preset backgrounds, to help prevent students from changing their background to distracting or inappropriate images.
Getting started 
  • Admins: This feature will be ON by default and can be disabled at the OU or group level. Note: the “Let users select custom images” option will be disabled by default for Education and Enterprise for Education domains. Visit the Help Center to learn more about controlling whether users can change their backgrounds in Meet
In the Google Meet section of the Admin console, within the Meet video settings, you can control whether users can change their backgrounds in Meet.

Rollout pace 
Availability 
  • Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers 
Resources 

Quick launch summary In Google Docs, you’ll now see out of office information when replying to or mentioning other users in a comment.

When mentioning a single user in a new comment or thread, you’ll see the OOO banner and information on when they plan to return.




For multi-person threads, you’ll see condensed out of office information. You can select the info icon to view more information on each specific person. 


Getting started
Rollout pace
Availability 
  • Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers 
Resources 




Quick launch summary Now when you’re sharing your screen, Chrome will automatically hide the content of web pop-up notifications. This includes notifications from Google Chat, email notifications, and other third party websites.

When you’re done sharing your screen, all muted notifications will be automatically displayed. Note that notifications are already muted when sharing a tab in Google Meet.

You’ll see where the notification is from, but the content of pop-up notifications will be hidden. When you’re done presenting, all muted notifications will be displayed.

There has been a dramatic shift in how many of us work – now more than ever, we’re relying on the use of Google Meet and other screen sharing solutions. We hope this feature will reduce distractions and prevent sensitive or personal information from accidentally being displayed while sharing your screen.

Getting started 
  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.

  • End users: When sharing your screen, notification content will automatically be hidden. You can select “Show All” to display content for the current and future notifications.

Rollout pace 

Availability
  • Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers 
  • Available to users with personal Google Accounts


Quick summary 
You can now enable offline support for Google Calendar on Google Chrome from your computer. When enabled, you can view your calendar and events from four weeks prior or any time in the future by week, day, or month. This is particularly useful when you’re offline or have unreliable internet access. 

Getting started 
  • Admins: This feature will be ON by default and can be disabled on domain or OU level. To disable this feature for your organization, in the Admin console go to Workspace > Calendar > Settings for Calendar > Advanced Settings > Calendar web offline and uncheck “Allow using Calendar on the web when offline”. 


  • End users: When enabled by your admin, this feature will be OFF by default and can be enabled on a per device basis. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Calendar offline on your desktop




Rollout pace 
Admin Control 

End User Setting 
Availability 
  • Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers 

Resources 

Quick launch summary 
We’re adding a range name box, located to the left of the formula bar, to improve navigation in Google Sheets. Previously, active cells were only indicated by a blue outline and could be located by scrolling or using the arrow keys. Now, you can use the range name box to jump directly to coordinates and named ranges in a sheet. 

Additionally, this box provides a dropdown menu to easily access, manage, and create new named ranges in the sheet. 


Getting started 
  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. The new range name box can be found at the left of the formula bar. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using named ranges in Sheets.  

Rollout pace 

Availability 
  • Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers 
  • Available to users with personal Google Accounts 
Resources