This official feed from the Google Workspace team provides essential information about new features and improvements for Google Workspace customers.
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Quick launch summary 

You can now use Google Assistant with smart displays and speakers, such as the Nest Hub Max. We previously announced that access to Google Workspace services from Google Assistant is generally available on users’ personal devices. 

You can access Google Workspace services, such as Google Meet or Calendar, using the Google Assistant on more devices, such as the Nest Hub Max.



Admins will need to enable Search and Assistant for these devices in order to ensure users can access Google Workspace data through Assistant. If Admins allow for the home devices, they can also specify if the device will require Voice Match or Face Match to authenticate. 

Getting started 


Rollout pace 


Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers 

Resources 

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What’s changing 

You can now blur or replace your background with an image in Google Meet on iOS. You can choose from Google’s hand-picked images, which include office spaces, landscapes, and abstract backgrounds, or use your own image. 



Who’s impacted 

End users 



Why you’d use it 

Custom backgrounds can help you show more of your personality, as well as help hide your surroundings. Additional details Virtual backgrounds work on most recent mobile devices. Check the device compatibility page for more information. 



Getting started 

  • Admins: This feature is controllable with an admin setting. Check the Help Center or the blog post for more information controlling whether users can change their backgrounds in Meet. 
  • End users: This feature is OFF by default. Visit our Help Center to learn more about how to change your background on Google Meet. 

When using Google Meet on iOS, you can now choose your own custom background to hide your surroundings.



Rollout pace 

  • The feature is available now to all users. 

Availability 

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers, and users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources 


Roadmap 

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Quick launch summary

We’re making Google Tasks available to Google Workspace Essentials and Enterprise Essentials customers, included at no additional cost.

Google Tasks helps you keep track of your daily tasks, organize multiple lists, and set important due dates. It has mobile and web applications, and is integrated with Google Calendar and the quick access side panel. By adding Tasks to Essentials, we hope more users can quickly manage their tasks, wherever they’re working.





Getting started


Rollout pace


Availability

  • Newly available to Google Workspace Essentials and Enterprise Essentials customers
  • Already available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Frontline, and Nonprofits, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers and users with personal Google accounts.

Resources

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Quick launch summary

Google Workspace Business Plus customers can now manage and secure Windows devices through the Admin console, just as you do for Android, iOS, Chrome, and Jamboard devices. Now, Business Plus Admins can:

  • Set Windows policies in the admin console which will ensure that all Windows 10 devices used to access Workspace are updated, secure, and within compliance of organizational policies. 
  • Perform admin actions, such as wiping a device and pushing device configuration updates, to Windows 10 devices from the cloud without connecting to corp network.

See our previous announcement for more details on the Windows 10 management features and benefits and the Help Center to learn more about enhanced desktop security for Windows.

Getting started 


Rollout pace

  • This feature is available now.


Resources


Read More

Quick summary 

We’re introducing a streamlined, persistent navigation experience in the Admin console. The new left-hand navigation column allows you to quickly browse through and navigate to key pages without losing context or your place in the Admin console. You’ll also notice updated icons for each category, bringing the Admin console design inline with other Google products.



You can easily collapse the navigation bar by selecting the menu icon at the top left when you need more space on the page to complete tasks.

We hope the updated navigation experience, along with other recent upgrades, makes it faster for admins to navigate within the Admin console, allowing them to manage their users, domains, and policies with ease.

Getting started

  • Admins: This feature will be available by default. 
  • End users: There is no end user impact.

Rollout pace


Availability

  • Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers

Resources


Read More

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On the “What’s new in Google Workspace?” Help Center page, learn about new products and features launching in Google Workspace, including smaller changes that haven’t been announced on the Google Workspace Updates blog.

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