This official feed from the Google Workspace team provides essential information about new features and improvements for Google Workspace customers.
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We’ve made it easier to add images to Gmail signatures on the web by enabling the option to choose and display images from Google Drive.

Images can be added in Gmail Settings > General. In the ‘Signature’ section, click the ‘Insert image’ icon above the signature text box and add your image from Drive.

Note: In order for this feature to be visible in Gmail, admins will need to enable external sharing of Drive files in Admin console: Drive > Sharing settings > Sharing options.

Release track:
Rapid release, with Scheduled release coming in early Jan 2015

For more information:
Help Center

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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Over the past few years, we’ve been updating our APIs with new versions across Drive and Calendar, as well as those used for managing Google Apps for Work domains. These new APIs offered developers several improvements over older versions of the API. With each of these introductions, we also announced the deprecation of a set of corresponding APIs.

As communicated* back in September, the deprecation period for these APIs is coming to an end. As of April 20, 2015, we will discontinue these deprecated APIs. Calls to these APIs and any features in your application that depend on them will not work after April 20th.


When updating, we also recommend that you use the opportunity to switch to OAuth2 for authorization. Older protocols, such as ClientLogin, AuthSub, and OpenID 2.0, have also been deprecated and are scheduled to shut down.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be contacting domain administrators whose applications are still using these deprecated APIs with an email reminder and guidance on specific migration paths. 

* The Documents List API was not included in our communication in September, but its deprecation was announced in September of 2012.


Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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People using Google Hangouts on the web can now add custom status messages and see the status messages of others in the Contacts view. Status messages can be added via the settings menu: 
status_work2.png
By default, custom status messages will be displayed outside of the domain, though admins have the option to restrict them to be displayed within the domain only via Admin console at Apps > Google Apps > Talk/Hangouts > Sharing Settings.  

Note: Hangouts status messages are only visible to others using Hangouts. They are not shared to people using Google Talk. Similarly, status messages set in Google Talk will not be shared to Hangouts.

This feature is coming soon for the Hangouts Android and iOS apps.

Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release

For more information:
Help Center
Google for Work G+ post

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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Today we announced that we’ve added Google Docs to the App Launcher for consumers, making it easier for people to get straight to Google Docs when signed into other Google products.

For Google Apps customers, we’ll be adding all three of the Docs editors―Docs, Sheets, and Slides―to the App Launcher in early January. The editors icons will be on the first screen along with your other Google Apps products:
Screen Shot 2014-12-12 at 5.00.43 PM.png
We’ll announce in early January when the Docs editors have been added. Groups and Contacts will be moved to the ‘More’ screen to make room. 

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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We’ve added some helpful new features to the Google Drive apps for Android and iOS.

On Android, you can now search for files in Drive from the Google app. For example, you could say “OK, Google — search for team meeting notes on Drive” and find files in the Drive app without having to open the app and type in your search query. 

On iPhone and iPad, you can now get more of your content in Drive by uploading it from other iOS apps. 

The Android update will roll out over the next week or so and the iOS update is already available on the App Store.

Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release

For more information:
Get the Drive app for Android and iOS

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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With this launch, we now support importing all three major ODF (Open) file formats: .odt files for documents, .ods for spreadsheets, and .odp for presentations.

We’ve also added a few more Office-friendly improvements: 

  • Support for more complex SmartArt from older Powerpoint presentations in Slides
  • Import/export support for merged cells in Word Documents and slide numbers in Powerpoint

Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release

For more information:
Help Center

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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New versions of the Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps for Android are now available on Google Play. 

The Docs app now has line spacing controls that let you choose single, double or fractional line spacing, the Sheets app has new scrollbars for faster navigation, and the Slides app now supports inserting, moving, resizing, and rotating text boxes, shapes, and lines.

All three apps are now even friendlier with Office files with easier file creation and other updates, and we’ve added better accessibility options. 

Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release

For more information:
Get the Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps on Google Play


Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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Currently, when composing an email in Gmail, people have the option to share Google documents and other files stored in Drive via links by clicking on the ‘Insert files using Drive’ button. 

With this launch, we’ll enable the option to share files in Drive as attachments, allowing the file owner to remove the source file from Drive if so desired, without needing to worry about also removing access to the file from recipients.

When clicking on ‘Insert files using Drive,’ you’ll now see the buttons below in the lower right corner of the insert window. Clicking the Attachment button will add your selected file as an attachment. Inserting files as Drive links will be the default option:

Screen Shot 2014-12-12 at 2.23.47 PM.png

Notes: 

  • This feature only applies to files that weren't created in Drive (so Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc will not work)
  • Gmail attachments have a 25MB limit

Release track:
Rapid release, with Scheduled release coming in early January 2015

For more information:
Help Center


Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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A few weeks ago, we launched the capability for Google Apps admins to give individual users a Google+ profile, in order to connect with other employees and encourage collaboration and sharing in the organization. We’re now extending this capability so that admins can perform automatic profile upgrades for an entire organizational unit (OU). 

From Apps > Additional Google Services > Google+ > Sharing settings, admins can simply select an OU that has been enabled for Google+ and check the box in Profile Creation settings to automatically create Google+ profiles for all members of the OU. 

After confirming that all people in the OU are older than 18 (and that no users under 18 will be added to the selected OU), Google+ profiles are then automatically created for all existing (and future) members of the OU. These members are then sent a Google+ welcome email explaining the action taken by the administrator.

Notes
  • Today’s launch applies to Premier, Gov and higher-education EDU domains only (K-12 EDU domains are excluded).
  • People using Picasa or with a public chat photo are not eligible to be upgraded by an admin, and must create their own profile.

Release schedule:
Rapid release and Scheduled release

For more information:
Help Center (admin)
Help Center (user)
Google for Work G+ post


Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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Earlier this year, we launched a new iOS Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution known as iOS Sync for Google Apps, which integrates Google mobile apps with native iOS device management. 

We’re now launching several new features and improvements for iOS Sync, including:

Security policies

  • Backup policies
    • Require encrypted backups
    • Allow user to back up to iCloud
    • Allow user to back up docs and key-values to iCloud
    • Allow user to back up keychain to iCloud
  • Lockscreen policies
    • Allow user to show control center on lock screen
    • Allow user to show notifications on lock screen
    • Allow user to show “today” view on lock screen

Reporting

  • Updated reports in the Admin console UI:
    • Managed Devices (7 day, 30 day active)
    • Managed Users (7 day, 30 day active)
    • Managed Android devices (7 day, 30 day active)
    • Managed iOS devices (7 day, 30 day active)
iosv1-1_01.png
  • New reports features:
    • New line charts to help admins see trends in OS version and Sync-type reports
    • Added new sync type: iOS Sync
    • Added support newer versions in reports (e.g., iOS 8)
  • Device info refresh to include IMEI, OS Version, device model and serial number
    • See Device management > Mobile > Managed devices in the Admin console to view refreshed information for individual devices

From the Admin console, the updated 7/30 day active reports can be accessed from Reports > Aggregate reports > My Reports drop-down. By default, three of the new reports are selectable from the drop-down, and more may be added to the selection list by visiting Select reports > Mobile.

Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release

For more information:
Help Center
Google for Work G+ post

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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Today we’re introducing two new features to help make working together even easier in Drive and the Docs editors. 

After you add an email address to the sharing dialogue, you’ll see profile pictures for everyone you’ve added. This can come in handy when you need to confirm that you’re inviting the right contacts, especially if you work with people that have similar names.

We’re also making it easier to add people who you typically share with. Once you add two collaborators, you’ll see suggestions for related people who you frequently email or share files with: 

Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release

For more information:
Help Center

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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Sometimes Calendar events change―like an event being deleted or updated, the removal of a booked room, or a change to a list of invitees―and it’s not clear how those changes came about. Starting today, admins can use the new Calendar audit feature in Admin Reports to see details of specific user actions within Google Calendar. 

You can see changes to primary calendars―like deleting or creating a new calendar―along with changes to events like description, time, name or guest list, and even changes to notifications and reminders. 

To access the Calendar audit reports in Admin console, click on Reports > Audit > Calendar:

Calendar audit data is also available via the Reports API for Calendar activity.

Note: this feature is not available for Google Apps for Government customers

Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release

For more information:
Help Center

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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People using Gmail now have the option to view the Gmail UI in Irish (Gaeilge), the 72nd different language offered. Language settings can be changed from the “display language” drop-down in Settings.

Note that one’s display language doesn't affect the language in which messages are sent and received.

Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release

For more information:
Gmail Blog post
Help Center

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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The Google account settings pages now have a refreshed look and feel, aligned with Google’s material design principles, and a new url: myaccount.google.com. Tabs have been removed in favor of a simple, single landing page that links directly to existing account resources. All other functionality is unchanged. 

Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release

For more information:
http://myaccount.google.com/ 

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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To make it easier to find and manage your apps, we’ve introduced a new Apps icon in the Admin console. The Apps icon is the one place to manage Google Apps, Additional Google services, and Google Marketplace apps. To check it out, simply login to admin.google.com, and click on the Apps icon:

Clicking on the Apps icon above takes you to the screen below:

Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release

For more information:
Help Center

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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The SPARKLINE function in Google Sheets creates a miniature chart contained within a single cell, providing a quick visual depiction of data trends. With this launch, we’re adding two new types of sparklines - column and winloss - joining the existing line graph and bar chart options:
Screen Shot 2014-12-08 at 10.35.23 PM.png

See the Help Center for details on using the SPARKLINE function.

Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release

For more information:
Drive G+ post
Help Center


Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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New versions of the Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps for iOS are now available in the App Store. New features include:

  • Support for viewing and editing text in tables in the Docs app
  • Ability to insert, move, resize and rotate text boxes, shapes and lines in the Slides app
  • Enhanced support for iPhone 6/6+ (all apps)
  • General fixes and performance improvements (all apps)

Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release

For more information:
G+ post
Get the Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps in the App Store

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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The Apps Search lab feature, launched in 2010, extends Gmail search to include relevant results from one’s Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides content and displays them in a separate section below email search results when typing a query and hitting ‘Enter/Return.’ Currently, Google Apps admins have the option in the Admin console to enable this lab feature for everyone in their domain, or allow users to add it individually if they so desire.

Since 2010, Gmail search for consumers has been improved to automatically display results from Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides―plus Calendar and G+ content―in the instant results dropdown, which appears when entering a query in the search box:
We’ll be implementing the instant results feature for Google Apps customers in late-2015 or early 2016*. With this improved experience on the horizon, we’ll be ending the Apps Search lab experiment, which is unstable and provides lower quality results. It will be removed from Gmail Labs and the Advanced Labs Management section in Admin console in early 2015. We will provide additional guidance on the specific date of the lab experiment removal, and the launch of the instant results feature, on the Google Apps Release calendar.

*This post was updated on September 14, 2015 to reflect a change in the rollout schedule for the instant results feature

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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Posted by Lucia Fedorova, Tech Lead, Google Calendar API

(Cross-posted on the Google Developers Blog)

At Google we like to make 10x rather than 10% improvements. In this spirit, we are increasing the default quota for the Calendar API v3 by a factor of ten, to 1 million requests per day. That means your application can support ten times as many users without any need to apply for more quota.

And if you need even more free quota, you can apply for it in the developer console under APIs -> Calendar API -> Quota -> “Apply for higher quota.” We have also streamlined the process of quota handling to make sure you receive your quota as quickly as possible.


A few tips to work efficiently with your quota:

  • Use push notifications instead of polling.
  • If you cannot avoid polling, make sure you only poll when necessary (for example poll very seldomly at night).
  • Use incremental synchronization with sync tokens for all collections instead of repeatedly retrieving all the entries.
  • Increase page size to retrieve more data at once by using the maxResults parameter.
  • Update events when they change, avoid re-creating all the events on every sync.
  • Use exponential backoff for error retries.



Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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We know some of you work with Office files regularly, so we’re adding conversion support in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides for 15 new Office file formats.

New formats supported include:

  • dot, dotx, dotm*, docm* conversions to Google Docs
  • xlt, xltx, xltm*, xlsm* conversions to Google Sheets
  • pot, potx, potm*, pptm*, pps, ppsx, ppsm* conversions to Google Slides

We’ve been listening to your feedback and along with the ability to bring in these new formats, we’ve also added better conversion support for charts, SmartArt, and merged table cells in your Office documents.

After the conversion, you can edit, collaborate on, and share your file online. When you convert a file, the original file will remain intact and accessible from Google Drive. 

*Note: Macros will be removed from macro file formats upon conversion

Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release

For more information:
Help Center
Drive G+ Post

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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In Gmail, with a single click on the pencil icon in the attachment card, you can now convert any Office files sent as attachments to Docs, Sheets, or Slides. You can then start editing and enjoying the full benefits of a single document to keep track of, access from anywhere, and full revision history.
Screen Shot 2014-12-01 at 11.22.14 AM.pngRelease track:
Rapid release, with Scheduled release coming in two weeks

For more information:
Help Center
Drive G+ post

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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People using Google Slides can now add slide numbers to their presentations, providing a reference guide for both presenters and audiences. To add slide numbers, go to Insert > Slide numbers from the toolbar. You can then choose to apply slide numbers to all slides or selected slides. You can also choose to skip title slides:

Screen Shot 2014-11-25 at 11.34.23 AM.png

Release track:
Rapid release, with Scheduled release coming in two weeks

For more information:
Help Center
Drive G+ Post


Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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As recently launched for Google Slides, people working with images in Google Docs on the web will now have the ability to adjust their color, transparency, brightness, and contrast.

To use this feature, select an image in Google Docs and click the Image options button in the toolbar (you can also right click on the image, or use the Format menu, and select Image options). Under "Recolor," you can change the color of your image to match your document. Under "Adjustments," you can change the transparency, brightness, and contrast of the image:


Screen Shot 2014-12-01 at 9.15.53 AM.png

Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release

For more information:
Help Center
Drive G+ Post

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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This launch adds the ability to merge the cells of a table in Google Docs. Merged table cells can span more than one row and/or column. 

To merge table cells, highlight the cells to be merged in your table and select Merge cells from the Table menu (or right click and select Merge cells).

Merged table cells in Word documents can now be imported as well.

Release track:
Rapid release, with Scheduled release coming in two weeks

For more information:
Drive G+ post
Help Center

Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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Check out this month's "What's New in Google Apps" newsletter [pdf] for a roundup of all Apps launches from November 2014.

Newsletter Archive & Translated Versions (coming soon for November issue)


Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted

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