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What’s changing 
Earlier this year, we introduced viewer mode for meeting attendees, which allowed a subset of attendees who could observe a meeting but not share their audio or video to the meeting. Beginning today, we’re introducing additional features for viewers and hosts: 
  • First, viewers can now send emoji reactions during a meeting, which is a lightweight, non-disruptive way to engage and participate in meetings without interrupting the speaker. 
Viewers can send reactions
  • Next, meeting hosts and co-hosts will be able to promote a viewer to a meeting contributor while the hosts are using picture-in-picture mode. This gives hosts greater flexibility and saves time when needing to change participant rights without having to leave PiP mode. 

Promoting & demoting viewers while in PiP mode
Promoting & demoting viewers while in PiP mode


Getting started 
  • Admins: Reactions will be ON by default and can be turned off in the Admin console. Visit the Help Center to learn more about managing this feature. 
  • End users: 
    • Hosts: When you’re using picture-in-picture mode, you can transition viewers to contributors from the people panel by selecting the three-dot overflow menu and then selecting “Make a contributor”. 
    • Viewers: If enabled by your admin or meeting host, visit the Help Center to learn more about assigning View only roles in Google Meet. 
Rollout pace 
Availability 
  • Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Teaching & Learning upgrade, and Education Plus customers 
Resources 
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Quick summary
Currently, Google Meet automatically adjusts your lighting for meetings on the web, helping to improve your video quality in underexposed environments. We’re now expanding this functionality to meetings taken on Google Meet Series One Desk 27 and Acer Chromebase for Meetings devices. If these devices detect that your video appears underexposed, it will adjust the brightness to improve how you appear in the meeting. We plan to expand this functionality to larger meeting room devices in the future. 


Getting started 
  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: The feature will trigger automatically when Meet detects that the users’ video is underexposed. Users can disable the feature in the settings menu for the active meeting. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning on automatic video lighting adjustment. 

Rollout pace 

Availability 
  • Available for all Google Workspace customers using Series One Desk 27 devices and Acer Chromebase for Meetings devices 

Resources 
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1 New update

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.


Adding a two-page view for PDFs in the Google Drive app on large screen Android devices 
You can now flip between a single page width view or a newly added two-page width view when scrolling through a PDF using the Google Drive app on your Android tablet or foldable device. This side by side view of the PDF will resemble a book, providing a better viewing experience on large screen Android devices. | Available now to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts.
Adding a two-page view for PDFs in the Google Drive app on large screen Android 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.



Changes to YouTube player embedded within Google Workspace for Education services 
We are removing a previous feature while we evaluate performance and quality. As an immediate next step, if you updated your allowlist or blocklist to include "www.youtube.com", you’ll need to revert your allowlist/blocklist to include "www.youtube.com" as soon as possible to preserve the way your organization uses YouTube videos within Google Workspace for Education services. | This impacts Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade | Learn more about changes to YouTube player embedded within Google Workspace for Education services. 


Introducing an updated and more inclusive emoji picker in Gmail 
You can now access a more complete emoji selection and set emoji skin tone and gender preferences with the modernized emoji picker in the web version of Gmail. | Learn more about emojis in Gmail. 


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: 
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What’s changing
Starting today, you can access a more complete emoji selection and set emoji skin tone and gender preferences with the modernized emoji picker in the web version of Gmail. 
updated and more inclusive emoji picker in Gmail
Who’s impacted
End users 


Why it matters 
This update enables users to express themselves more authentically using emoji variations in Gmail. 


Getting started 
  • Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. 
  • End users: This feature will be ON by default and cannot be disabled by the user. To select your emoji preference, click the emoji icon in the bottom toolbar of your email draft > select the arrow in the bottom right corner of an emoji > choose your skin tone or gender preference for that specific emoji. These individual selections will be saved until updated by you. 
updated emojis
Rollout pace 

Availability 
  • Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts
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What’s changing
In June, we introduced updates to the embeddable YouTube player within Google Workspace for Education services. This included a new URL (www.youtubeeducation.com) for the YouTube player to serve embedded content within Google Workspace for Education services. 


As a result of this change, if your organization allowed or blocked YouTube videos within Google Workspace for Education services, you were asked to add “www.youtubeeducation.com” to these allowlists or blocklists. This preserved the way your organization used YouTube videos within Google Workspace for Education services, such as Google Classroom or Slides.


We are removing this feature while we evaluate performance and quality. As an immediate next step, if you updated your allowlist or blocklist to include "www.youtube.com", you’ll need to revert your allowlist/blocklist to include "www.youtube.com" as soon as possible to preserve the way your organization uses YouTube videos within Google Workspace for Education services. If you do not revert your allowlist/blocklist to include www.youtube.com as soon as possible, this could change your organization’s access to YouTube videos.
Getting started 
Rollout pace 
  • This change is now in effect for Classroom services. 
  • This change will be in effect for Slides, Sites and Forms starting on November 7, 2023.
Availability 
  • This impacts Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade 
Resources 
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4 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.


Multi-task using new split screen feature in the Gmail app on large screen Android devices 
Last year, we announced numerous improvements to the Google Workspace experience on large screen Android devices, which included multi-instance support on Drive, Docs, Sheets & Slides. We’re excited to introduce a similar feature for the Gmail app on Android tablets & foldables. With this update, you can now open links & attachments directly beside your email content when your device is in landscape orientation. 
  • Upon tapping a link (or attachment) in your email, the link (or attachment) will open on the right half of the screen and the email will move to the left half. 
  • You can control the width of each half or make one the full screen by dragging on the divider handle. 
This feature is now available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts. | Learn more about 7 productivity apps for Android tablets and foldable phones. 
Multi-task using new split screen feature in the Gmail app on large screen Android devices

Add Google Groups to spaces in Google Chat 
Last month, we rolled out the admin controls for a new feature that enables space managers and users with the permission to manage members to add Google Groups to a space. Starting this week, end users can utilize this option and add Groups to spaces in Chat. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for November 1, 2023. | Available to all domain-verified Google Workspace customers. | Learn more about adding a Google Group to a space. 


Add emoji reactions to comments in Google Slides 
Last week, we announced the ability to add emoji reactions to comments in Google Sheets. We’re excited to announce this is now available for comments in Google Slides, increasing collaboration by enabling you to quickly and creatively express your opinions about presentation content. | Rolling out to Rapid Release domains now; launch to Scheduled Release domains planned for October 31, 2023. | Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts. | Learn more about using comments, action items, & emoji reactions. 
Add emoji reactions to comments in Google Slides

Respond to access requests for Google Workspace files more efficiently on Android devices 
Earlier this year, we introduced a new file access experience to make it easier for file approvers to respond to pending access requests across Google Workspace. We’re happy to announce that this update is now available on Android devices. Within a file (Docs, Sheets, Slides, PDFs, etc.), click the Share button > select the Review button in the new banner to view the access request(s) > respond to the request(s). | Rolling out now to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains. | Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts. | Learn more about sharing files from Google Drive. 





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.



Upcoming changes to third-party cookie requirements in Google Drive
Google Chrome and other browsers have begun phasing out third-party cookies in order to better protect user privacy. Starting January 2, 2024, Drive will start serving downloads without requiring third-party cookies that are embedded on third-party websites. | Learn more about third-party cookie requirements in Google Drive. 


Understand the impact of Context-Aware Access policies with Monitor Mode 
Admins can now use Monitor Mode to understand the implications of a Context-Aware Access (CAA) policy before deploying it to their end users. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, Education Plus, and Cloud Identity Premium customers only. | Learn more about Context-Aware Access policies with Monitor Mode. 


Use the space management tool to bulk delete Google Chat spaces 
Using the space management tool, admins can now delete multiple spaces within their organization at once. Over time, as more spaces are created, the list of spaces for an organization can become cluttered with abandoned and inactive spaces. | Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Frontline, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Teaching & Learning upgrade, Education Plus customers only. | Learn more about bulk deleting Google Chat spaces. 


Subtly enhance your appearance with portrait touch-up when using Google Meet on mobile devices 
We’re introducing portrait touch-up in Meet, a new feature on mobile that enables you to lightly touch up your appearance from the green room before joining or during the meeting. | Available to Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, Teaching & Learning Upgrade, Google One and Google Workspace Individuals only. | Learn more about portrait touch-up in Meet. 


Map and sync system attributes of users from External Directory into Google Workspace 
Using Directory Sync, admins can map all the system or default user attributes, including custom attributes, from Microsoft Active Directory or Microsoft Azure Active Directory to Google Directory user attributes and synchronize them. | Learn more about Directory Sync. 


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:


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What’s changing 
Using Directory Sync, admins can map all the system or default user attributes, including custom attributes, from Microsoft Active Directory or Microsoft Azure Active Directory to Google Directory user attributes and synchronize them. These attributes include first and last names, job title, company, and department. The detailed list of attributes supported can be found in the Help Center. Based on these attribute values, Directory Sync will automatically map the users with the attributes provided from the Active Directory or Azure Active Directory on the Google Workspace side.




Directory Sync is available as an open beta, meaning no sign-up is required. Use our Help Center to learn more about using Directory Sync and FAQs. 

Getting started
  • Admins: To use the Directory Sync, go to Admin console > Home > Directory > Directory Sync. Visit the Help Center to learn more about setting up a user sync.

Rollout pace
  • This feature is available now for all users.

Availability
  • Available to all Google Workspace customers

Resources

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What’s changing 
Introducing portrait touch-up in Meet, a new feature on mobile that enables you to lightly touch up your appearance from the green room before joining or during the meeting. Whether you’ve just come back from the gym, are recovering from a cold, or are jet lagged, portrait touch-up is available to help you feel your best. You can choose from two portrait touch-up modes:

  • Subtle: very light complexion smoothing, under eye lightening and eye whitening.
  • Smoothing: slightly more complexion smoothing, under eye lightening and eye whitening.
This update has been highly requested by our users and we hope that by providing the ability to lightly enhance their appearance, they will feel more comfortable and confident with how they appear during video calls.


Additional details
In addition to mobile, we plan to introduce this feature to Google Meet on the web by the end of 2023. We’ll provide an update here at that time.


Getting started

Rollout pace
  • Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 18, 2023
  • Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 28, 2023
Turning portrait touch-up on in Google Meet



Availability 
  • Available to Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, Teaching & Learning Upgrade, Google One and Google Workspace Individual 
  • Not available to users with personal Google Accounts

Resources

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What’s changing 
Using the space management tool, admins can now delete multiple spaces within their organization at once. Over time, as more spaces are created, the list of spaces for an organization can become cluttered with abandoned and inactive spaces. Having the ability to delete multiple spaces at once can simplify the effort required by admins to manage spaces for an organization. . For example, admins can sort spaces based on their member count in descending order or based on the last activity in the space. From there, admins can select multiple spaces and delete them with one click.

Selecting multiple spaces

Deleting multiple spaces




Additional details
When viewing spaces in your organization, you’ll notice a new column: Group counts. In this column, admins can see how many groups are members of a specific space.


Getting started

Rollout pace

Availability
  • Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Frontline, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Teaching & Learning upgrade, Education Plus customers

Resources

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What’s changing 
Admins can now use Monitor Mode to understand the implications of a Context-Aware Access (CAA) policy before deploying it to their end users. Monitor Mode will not block end users. Instead, it will show how the policy will block user access overtime, which admins can review in the CAA audit logs. Monitor Mode is available for Google Workspace, other Google Apps & third party SAML apps.

Applying Monitor Mode to context-aware access policies

Monitor Mode reports


Who’s impacted
Admins


Why you’d use it 
Before assigning Context-Aware Access levels, it’s critical for admins to understand the impact this will have on their end users. Using Monitor Mode helps admins fully understand the end user impact before deploying them in active mode, which can help avoid disruptions while helping admins make more informed decisions regarding their security strategies. 


Getting started

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