In a slew of ways, Google Workspace is getting quality of life updates that should improve presenters and participants'' lives in a hybrid setting.
As announced at Google Cloud Next''22, significant changes are on the horizon for the suite of online collaboration tools, including presenter video feeds being embedded within Google Slides content, and allowing Google Meet companion mode to be used across any device a presenter chooses.
Huddly and Logitech will now record and track presenters in physical meeting areas, assisting distant attendees in keeping up with the conversation.
New Google Workspace features
As part of the changes, Google Meet will now transcribe meetings automatically, and presenters will be able to control their slides and run Jamboard sessions directly within Meet, as well as place conference rooms into breakouts.
It''s not just Google Meet, which is expected to be improved, but Google Chat users will be amazed to know that the app is also getting several features that, until now, have possibly made Slack and Microsoft Teams more robust communication platforms.
Considered threaded conversations, custom emojis, and one-way spaces for important announcements to be seen across the organization.
New APIs for both apps will enable users to start conversations and send messages across a number of third-party apps, with Google being the first to provide support. Asana and LumApps are also available.
A new software development kit (SDK) for Meet apps will allow developers to embed applications directly into Google Meet itself. Figma has first supported add-ons, which allow users to collaborate on designs and FigJam digital whiteboards, from within Google Meet.
Google might have escaped Workspace''s unintuitive behavior. But only time will tell if it encourages businesses to depart from other collaboration methods.