Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - June 2, 2023

1 New update

Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are fully launched or in the process of rolling out (rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete), 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), and available to all Google Workspace customers.

Additional updates for the Google Docs, Sheets and Slides apps on Android devices

In continuing our efforts to improve the Google Workspace experience on large screen Android devices, we’re adding the following updates:

• The ability to access a vertical context menu when you use mouse right-clicking in the Google Docs and Slides apps.

• The option to use a hardware keyboard to insert ranges in a formula via the arrow keys in the Google Sheets app. We’re also adding more formula-related keyboard shortcuts. 

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.

More call performance data in the Google Voice audit logs

You’ll now see specific per-call performance information, including: Round Trip Time, Packet Loss per 1000 and Jitter. | Available only to Google Workspace customers who can use the security investigation tool. | Learn more about call performance data in the Google Voice audit logs.

Expanded actions in the Admin console space management tool 

We’re giving admins the ability to delete individual spaces and remove individual members from a space. | Learn more about expanded actions in the Admin console space management tool.

Existing spaces organized by conversation topic will be upgraded to the new in-line threaded experience by Q4 2023

All existing spaces organized by conversation topic will be upgraded to the in-line threaded experience. We anticipate that this upgrade will take place in early Q4 2023. | Learn more about the new in-line threaded experience. 

See the top search results first in Gmail on mobile

When searching in Gmail, machine learning models will use the search term, most recent emails and other relevant factors to show you the results that best match your search query. | Learn more about the improved search experience in Gmail on mobile. 

Plan, organize, and analyze assignments and grades with grading periods in Google Classroom

We’re introducing grading periods, an option that allows teachers to define and apply grading periods segmented from the entire school year to their Classroom assignments. | Available to Education Plus and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade customers only. | Learn more about grading periods in Google Classroom. 

Declutter your conversations in Google Chat

Chat declutter automatically hides direct messages and spaces that have been inactive for the last 7 days. This feature only activates when a section has more than 10 conversations, and does not affect pinned conversations. | Learn more about accessing your most relevant Chat conversations. 

Better control the flow of meetings with viewer mode in Google Meet

To help provide a better experience and scale attendance for larger meetings, you can now select “Everyone is a viewer” when creating your Calendar invite. | Learn more about new controls for meetings in Google Meet. 

Completed rollouts

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

Rapid Release Domains:

• Simplify workflows in Google Docs with variable chips
• Adding new capabilities to timeline view in Google Sheets
• Spellcheck for client-side encrypted files in Google Slides

Scheduled Release Domains:

• Find files quicker with search chips in Google Drive
• Introducing additional smart chip functionality in Google Sheets
• Collaborate with others on Google Calendar invites in Google Docs
• Use alternative text for visual content on Google Sites

Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains:

• Enhancing spam protection in Google Drive
• Easily expand and collapse content in Google Docs
• Create custom building blocks in Google Docs
• Export client-side encrypted spreadsheets to Excel files
• Improve time management and display time with new chips in Google Docs
• Improving consistency of Gmail data across the Security Investigation Tool and BigQuery
• Pin multiple participants from Google Meet Hardware devices
• Improving the Google Meet experience on foldable devices

For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).