WorryFree Computers   »   [go: up one dir, main page]

What’s changing 
In June 2022, we began alpha testing the ability to request and capture eSignatures in Google Docs. Based on the feedback we received, we’re ready to move this feature to the next level: 
  • eSignature is now available as an open beta for Google Workspace Individual subscribers — no additional sign-up is required to use the feature. 
  • eSignature will be available in beta for select Google Workspace customers — see the “Additional details” section below for more information.
eSignature in Google Drive

eSignature in Google Docs





Who’s impacted
Admins and end users


Why you’d use it
For solopreneurs and small businesses, keeping track of contracts, customer agreements, and other binding documents can be challenging. To help streamline this workflow, we’re natively integrating eSignature in Google Docs, allowing you to request and add Signatures to official contracts, directly in Google Docs. 

eSignature makes it easier to:
  • Quickly request signatures, see the status of pending signatures, and find completed contracts.
  • Sign an official contract right from Google Drive without having to switch apps or tabs.
  • Create a new copy of the contract for each request so that you can use your document as a template and initiate multiple eSignatures requests. 

Additional details
Later this year, we will introduce support for the following new eSignature capabilities:
  • Audit trail: all completed contracts will automatically contain an audit trail report.
  • Multi-signer: the ability to request a signature from more than one user.
  • Non-Gmail users: the ability to request an eSignature from non-Gmail users
  • Initiating eSignature on PDF: the ability to initiate an eSignature on PDF files stored in Drive

Beta availability for Google Workspace customers
Select Google Workspace editions (see the “Availability” section below) can apply to beta test eSignature using this form. This feature will be available as part of a larger beta, which includes access to new custom email layouts in Gmail. These new email layouts allow users to customize existing templates, reuse a custom layout in multiple email campaigns, or create a brand new layout from scratch. Once you sign up for the beta you will see the eSignature and new Gmail features in the coming weeks.


Getting started

Rollout pace
  • eSignature for Workspace Individual users
    • Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on August 8, 2023
  • eSignature beta for Workspace customers:
    • We will be accepting beta applications and allowlisting customers over the next several weeks.

Availability
  • Available to Google Workspace individual subscribers
  • Eligible for beta: Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus and Education Plus


Resources

Labels: , , ,

What’s changing 
If you’re using the Google Assistant with your Google Workspace device, you can set Google Keep as the default provider for your notes and lists. You can ask Assistant to create a new list, add or delete items for an existing list, or read back all the list items to you. 

To configure Keep as your provider, visit the notes and lists section of Assistant Settings and select Keep



Getting started 
  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. Visit the Help Center to learn more about managing Keep in your organization. 
  • End users: If Keep is enabled in your organization, you can change your note provider to Keep in the “notes and list” section of the Assistant Settings. Visit the Help Center to learn more about creating or editing notes with Assistant. 

Rollout pace 

Availability 
  • Available to all Google Workspace customers 

Resources 
Labels: , , ,

Update

[October 12, 2023] Rollout is complete.

[October 2, 2023] Rollout has resumed.

[September 20, 2023] We have paused rollout for this feature on Android and iOS while we evaluate performance and quality. We will provide an update once rollout resumes.

What’s changing

For years, our users have conveniently translated emails in Gmail on the web to over 100 languages. Starting today, we’re excited to announce a native translation integration within the Gmail mobile app that will enable you to seamlessly communicate in a wide range of languages. 

To translate messages on mobile, simply select “Translate” on the dismissible banner and choose your preferred language. 
Adding Gmail translation to mobile devices
Who’s impacted 
End users 


Why it matters 
This highly requested feature will help users read and understand a conversation in any language. 


Additional details 
A new dismissible banner appears when the content language of a message is different from the “Google.com Mail display language” in your account settings. You can also choose to have Gmail always translate or never translate specific languages. 

Getting started 
  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: 
    • To translate a message, click the “Translate” option at the top of your email. 
    • If you dismiss the translation option, the option will appear again the next time the content language of an email doesn't match the set “Google.com Mail display language”. 
    • You can also turn off this setting, which never shows the banner again for a specific language, by accepting the prompt (“Don’t translate [language] again”) that appears when you dismiss the banner, or by selecting "Don't translate [language] again" from the translation settings menu. 
    • If a user has explicitly opt-ed out of translation (as stated above) or the system did not detect another language, you can manually translate a message through the three dot menu. 
    • Visit the Help Center to learn more about translating Gmail messages. 

Rollout pace 
Android: 
iOS: 

Availability 
  • Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources 
Labels: , , , ,

What’s changing
You can now more easily and quickly create with high-quality, pre-designed branded templates and themes in Google Slides and Forms. 

Once an admin distributes branded materials to users in their domain, they will have access to: 
  • A domain template with a variety of branded slides, layouts, images, colors and fonts that will appear when creating a new presentation in Slides. 
  • A domain theme including fonts, branded colors and a header image that you can use when creating a new form or editing an existing form in Forms. 
Domain template in Slides
Domain template in Slides

Domain theme in Forms
Domain theme in Forms

Who’s impacted 
Admins and end users 


Why you’d use it 
These features enhance brand consistency across an organization. 


Additional details 
Admins have the ability to assign a domain template to all users in the organization, or specify particular templates for certain workgroups. 


Getting started 
Rollout pace 

Availability 
  • Available to Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus 

Resources 
Labels: , , ,

What’s changing
Earlier this year, practice sets became generally available, allowing educators to transform new and existing content into engaging and interactive assignments. With autograding built in, teachers can receive performance insights and snapshots into student progress, and students get real-time feedback as they complete practice sets. 

Currently in practice sets, when a teacher selects a skill for a problem, resources are activated for the student. The students see a lightbulb next to that problem and a resource tray for “extra help” appears. 

To improve upon this experience, we’re excited to announce an update that gives teachers more control over the resources for students in practice sets. Specially, teachers can now: 
  • More easily review the resources before they assign to their students 
  • Add built-in support for their students by removing or adding their own resources 
  • Include text-based hints and YouTube videos that are tailored to their students’ needs 
  • Control the order in which resources are provided to their students (what appears first, second, and third) 
Who’s impacted 
Admins and end users 

Why it matters 
This update gives teachers more control over student resources and enables teachers to tailor the support their students receive within practice sets.

Getting started 
  • Admins: Practice sets are enabled by default, but admins need to add teachers to the verified teacher group in order for them to receive a shared practice set from other teachers in their Google Workspace. 
  • End users: 
    • For teachers to access practice sets, go to Google Classroom > Practice sets > Create (or practicesets.classroom.google.com). 
    • To manage light bulb resources for students in a practice set, navigate to the bottom of the problem > enter a skill or select a suggested skill > select the drop down button for resources on the right > click the "+" symbol and select hint > enter hint > save the hint. 
      • Rearrange the order of the resources by moving the boxes around. 
      • Remove a resource by clicking the “X” in the upper right corner. 
    • To manage extra help resources for students in a practice set, navigate to the top right corner of the page > click on extra help > click to "+" symbol to add resources or rearrange/delete suggested resources that may have been added based on the skills you selected. 
    • For students to access a practice set, they need to be assigned a practice set by a teacher. 
    • Visit the Help Center to learn more about Practice sets. 

Rollout pace 

Availability 
  • Available to Google Workspace for Education Plus and Google Workspace for Education Teaching and Learning Upgrade 
Resources 
Labels: , ,

What’s changing 
We’re introducing updates around exporting user data for Google Workspace customers: 

First, all Google Workspace customers can choose to export the data of a specific user, rather than a customer’s full set of user generated content. 





Second, you’ll notice an improved user interface for the data export tool, which provides more detailed information about exports, records a longer history of exports, and offers more features (filtered takeout). 




Third, Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, Education Plus, and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade customers now have additional options for exporting data. If you’re using one of these editions, you can export content for a set of individual users. For example, you can choose to export all data for several specific users rather than all data for the entire domain. This option expands on the enhanced data export options that were released last year, which are: 
  • Export user generated content by organizational unit. 
  • Export user generated content by group. 

Who’s impacted 
Admins and end users 

Why it’s important 
Historically, data export has been limited to a customer’s full set of user generated content. However, customers experience many scenarios where exporting only a portion of user generated content is relevant. This provides customers with more granular controls, especially as their business and compliance needs continue to evolve. By providing more export options, customers can retrieve the specific data they need, when they need it. 

Getting started 

Rollout pace 

Availability 
  • Available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, Education Plus, and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade and Assured Controls customers 

Resources 
Labels: , , ,

What’s changing
Previously, curriculum leaders and educators had to add permanent co-teachers in order to share or distribute curricula. This could result in access issues, unnecessary notifications and homepage clutter. 

To improve this experience, we’re excited to announce a Google Classroom beta that will simplify lesson planning with others and make classroom materials more accessible. Through the beta, curriculum leads and verified teachers can share links to high-quality classes and class templates so other educators in their organization can preview and import classwork to an existing class or to a new class. This will provide educators with ideas for instructional design and enable them stay up-to-date with the best materials. 

This beta will be globally available for Google Workspace for Education Plus customers in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese. Google Workspace admins can use this sign-up form to apply for the beta from now until September 1, 2023. 
shareable class templates and classwork with new Google Classroom beta

Who’s impacted 
End users 

Why you’d use it 
This feature enables curriculum leads and teachers to easily distribute standardized curricula or classroom content to others in their organization. As a result, fellow educators can easily preview, select, and import high-quality classwork into their classes. 
export coursework and share with others

Additional details 
  • Student information, such as assignment submissions, comments, and grades, will not be visible when previewing a shared class. 
  • Imported class materials will be saved in draft mode for the selected classes. 
Getting started 
  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature, however, Admins should make sure the following is set up for end users: 
    • In order to share classes, educators must have a Google Workspace for Education Plus license assigned to them. 
    • To preview and import classwork from shared classes, educators must be verified teachers. 
    • Use this sign-up form to apply for the beta from now until September 1, 2023. 
  • End users: 
    • To share a class, click the “Share classwork” button on the Classwork page. 
    • After receiving a class link, open it in your browser. When previewing the shared class, select the classwork items you want to export to a class. 
    • Visit the Help Center to learn more about sharing class templates and classwork. 
Availability 
  • Available to Education Plus 
Resources 
Labels: ,

6 New updates 

Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are available to all Google Workspace customers, and are fully launched or in the process of rolling out. Rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete if launching to both Rapid and Scheduled Release at the same time. If not, each stage of rollout should take no more than 15 business days to complete.

Empty the entire trash folder of shared drives in Google Drive
In order to make it easier to manage shared drive files and eliminate the manual effort of removing items in the trash folder, we’ve added the ability to empty the entire trash folder of a shared drive. As a reminder, files and folders in Trash are deleted forever after 30 days. You can also delete files in Trash by selecting “Delete Forever”.

Linkable headings now available in Google Docs
To improve shareability of documents, especially longer ones, we’re adding the ability to copy links to headings in Google Docs. Simply, open a Google Doc on web > add a heading (type some content and set to “Heading 1”) > right-click the heading > click the “Copy heading link” button > paste the contents. 
Linkable headings now available in Google Docs
People chips in Google Sheets now available on mobile devices 
In 2021, we introduced people chips in Google Sheets. These chips allow you to quickly view more information about colleagues or contacts, including their location, job title, and contact information. We’re excited to announce that these smart chips are now available on iOS and Android devices. | Learn more about inserting smart chips in your Google Sheets. 
People chips in Google Sheets now available on mobile devices
Adding drag & drop to Google Drive multi-instance support on large screen Android devices
Earlier this year, we added the option for a single user to have two instances of the Google Drive app open side-by-side on a single device, which shows content from two different Google Accounts. Starting this week, you can now drag and drop between two instances of the Drive app, enabling you to quickly share files and folders between two different accounts. | Learn more about using Google Drive. 
Adding drag & drop to multi-instance support on the Google Drive Android app

Insert emojis into Google Sites 
You can now create more engaging content on Google Sites with the new option to insert emojis directly into text boxes and headings. Simply, create or open a Site > click any textbox and the emoji button will be visible in the toolbar > select the emoji button > choose an emoji. 
Insert emojis into Google Sites

Paste HTML into document on iOS 
Last month, we announced the ability to paste copied HTML elements into a document on Android. We’re excited to announce that this functionality is now available on iOS devices.

Previous announcements

The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.

Bringing Collaborations in Canvas to Google Assignments 
We’re introducing a new feature exclusively for Canvas that allows users to create a Drive item and collaborate on it with other users in the course. | Available to Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade only. | Learn more about the collaborative power of Google Workspace for Education to Canvas. 

Import and convert sensitive Excel files into client-side encrypted Google Sheets 
Launching in open beta, you can now import and convert sensitive Excel files into Google Sheets with client-side encryption. Your encrypted Excel file won’t be changed, even as you change the encrypted Sheets file. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Standard and Education Plus customers only. | Learn more about client-side encrypted Google Sheets. 

Google Classroom now supports grade export to Skyward Qmlativ 
Google Classroom teachers can now export their grades to Skyward Qmlativ, a third-party Student Information System (SIS) that helps education teams simplify student and business data management, and complete administrative tasks faster. | Available to Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade only. | Learn more about grade export to Skyward Qmlativ. 

Q&A moderation now available for Google Meet 
Meeting hosts can now enable Q&A moderation, which will allow hosts to review and approve questions before they’re shared with meeting attendees. Question moderation can be used for meetings and in-domain live streams, on web and mobile devices. | Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Nonprofits customers only. | Learn more about Q&A moderation for Google Meet. 

More granular control for Google Forms 
We’re introducing a new toggle in the Admin console that adds controls for who can access Google Forms features and services. When disabled, end users cannot create, edit or respond to Google Forms. | Learn more about Google Forms controls.


Completed rollouts

The features below completed their rollouts to Rapid Release domains, Scheduled Release domains, or both. Please refer to the original blog posts for additional details.


Rapid Release Domains: 

Scheduled Release Domains: 

Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains: 

Labels: , , , , , , ,

What’s changing 
We’re introducing a new toggle in the Admin console that adds controls for who can access Google Forms features and services. When disabled, end users cannot create, edit or respond to Google Forms. 
More granular control for Google Forms
Getting started 
  • Admins: 
    • Forms will be ON by default and can be disabled at the domain, OU, and group level by navigating to Apps > Google Workspace > Drive and Docs > Google Forms. This setting will not take effect if the entire Drive and Docs Service is turned OFF. 
      • The entire Drive and Docs Service is the setting in the Admin console that turns OFF Drive, Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Forms. 
    • Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning Google Forms on or off for users. 
  • End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. If disabled by your admin, you cannot create, edit, or respond to Google Forms. 
Rollout pace 
Availability 
  • Available to all Google Workspace customers 
Resources 
Labels: , ,

What’s changing 
Meeting hosts can now enable Q&A moderation, which will allow hosts to review and approve questions before they’re shared with meeting attendees. Question moderation can be used for meetings and in-domain live streams, on web and mobile devices. This update will help ensure questions are appropriate and on topic before they’re shared broadly with meeting participants. 

Review and approve questions before they're shared in the meeting.



Getting started 
  • Admins: There is no admin control for this specific feature. Visit our Help Center to learn more about turning Q & A on or off for your organization. 
  • End users: 
    • This feature will be OFF by default and can be turned on in the host controls “Meeting activities” section:



    • Meeting participants will see a banner indicating whether question moderation is turned on or off for their meeting:

Question moderation is turned on


Question moderation is turned off

Rollout pace 

Availability 
  • Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Nonprofits customers 

Resources 
Labels: , ,