Google account owners with Google+ enabled have the option to add a photo to their account profile to signify when they are logged in and help make it clear which account they are using. To extend these benefits to those account owners who haven’t added a photo to their account, we’ll be replacing the default Google account avatar with a custom avatar showing the account owner’s given-name initial (two-character given names will be fully displayed). In some cases where initials are not available, a plain colored avatar will be used. In addition, if a monogram can't be generated from a user's given name, their family name may be used as an alternative.* Starting this week, Google Apps users with Google+ enabled who haven’t set an account photo will see this change in the Google Bar. The change will be gradually reflected across all Google products over the coming months. Note: Users with initials using scripts other than Latin, Cyrillic, Greek, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean will see this change later this year. *Details updated on June 8, 2016, to reflect current behavior.
Launch Details Release track: Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release Rollout pace: Gradual rollout (potentially longer than 3 days for feature visibility) Impact: All end users Action: Change management suggested/FYI Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted
Google Apps Script is a scripting language based on JavaScript that lets you do new and cool things with various Google Apps, like Docs, Sheets, and Forms. Today, we’re launching the Apps Script Execution API, which allows developers and Apps admins to expose the full utility of Apps Script to any application, including Android and iOS apps.
For more information on the Apps Script Execution API, please refer to our post on the Google Apps Developer Blog.
Launch Details Release track: Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release
Rollout pace: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility)
As communicated earlier this month, we’ll soon be changing the main Google Calendar URL from www.google.com/calendar to calendar.google.com to further increase security. Note that the rollout of this change to Rapid release domains has been pushed back to mid-October, with the rollout to Scheduled release domains to follow two weeks later. In addition, starting October 1, 2015, the Google Calendar Chrome Web Store app will be automatically updated to use the new URL. Once the new version is activated and the calendar.google.com URL is visible, people using the app with offline sync enabled should go to Settings > Offline to confirm that offline is working and synced. Launch Details Release track:
Google Calendar Chrome Web Store app URL change - Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release starting on October 1, 2015
Main Google Calendar URL change - Launching to Rapid release in mid-October, with Scheduled release coming two weeks later (monitor the launch calendar for specific dates)
Rollout pace:
Google Calendar Chrome Web Store app URL change - Gradual rollout (up to two weeks for feature visibility)
Main Google Calendar URL change - Full rollout (1-3 days for feature visibility)
Impact: All end users Action: Change management suggested for people using the Google Calendar Chrome Web Store app More Information Google Calendar Chrome Web Store app Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted
To avoid disruptive emails and help people using Gmail stay in control of their inboxes, today we’re launching a new Block feature in the Gmail app on Android and the web. Future mail from blocked email addresses will go directly to Spam (and can always be unblocked in Settings).
In addition, the Unsubscribe option is now coming to Android, making it easier to opt out of eligible mailing lists and newsletters directly from the Gmail app.
Check out the Help Center for more information. Launch Details Release track: Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release Rollout pace: Full rollout (1-3 days for feature visibility) for the Block feature on the web. Gradual rollout (potentially longer than 3 days for feature visibility) for the Block and Unsubscribe features on Android. Impact: All end users Action: Change management suggested/FYI More Information Help Center Get the Gmail app on Google Play
Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted
By default, when you copy and paste content in Google Sheets, the formatting of that content is maintained (unless you use the Paste special function). This launch gives you alternative formatting options at your fingertips, allowing you to paste only the values contained with a cell (e.g. the numbers or text, without any formatting) or the formatting of the cell itself (e.g. the fill color or border design). Each option is easily accessible—after you paste, a small widget will appear in the bottom corner of the cells you’re pasting into. Clicking on that widget will show you the option to Paste values only or Paste format only. Interested in saving even more time? In Chrome, use the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + V to automatically paste values without their formatting. Launch Details Release track: Launching to Rapid release, with Scheduled release coming in two weeks
Rollout pace: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility)
A new version (v 5.0) of the Google Apps Migration for IBM Notes (GAMIN) tool is now available for download. GAMIN was formerly known as Google Apps Migration for Lotus Notes (GAMLN). Here’s what’s new:
Service Accounts and OAuth 2.0 tokens are now used for data migration
GAMIN now uses the Gmail API for mail migration and label creation, replacing the Email Migration API v2 and Email Settings API respectively
Flattened and simplified architecture:
Deprecated the multiple site/replicated admin database deployment option
Setup and Site profiles merged into a single System Setup profile
No longer necessary to specify mail/database servers as part of the system setup
Added a 5 step Quick Setup wizard
Option to auto-update Domino directory Server and Configuration document settings required for migration
Launch Details Release track: Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release Rollout pace: Available now for download Impact: Admins only Action: Admin action suggested/FYI More Information Help Center Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted
In July, we introduced a Data Transfer privilege in the Admin console, which we indicated would be required to use the soon-to-launch Data Transfer API. We’re excited to announce that that API is now available! It allows admins to programmatically transfer ownership of Google Drive content and Google+ pages—in bulk—from one employee to another. For more details on the API, please refer to our post on the Google Apps Developer Blog.
Launch Details Release track:
Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release
Rollout pace:
Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility)
Impact:
Admins only
Action:
Admin action suggested/FYI
More Information Google Apps Developer Blog Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted
As previously announced, you can use the Google Slides app on your mobile phone to present to any screen using Chromecast, AirPlay, or Google Hangouts (Android only). This launch makes that task even easier for presenters, allowing them to change and preview slides from their phone’s lock screen and to toggle between a presentation and video in a Hangout.
When presenting, it’s important to keep your audience’s attention. Typing and retyping your mobile phone’s password to unlock your screen and advance your presentation can be time-consuming and distracting. With this launch, when you use the Slides Android app to present to a Chromecast device or Hangout, a notification will remain on your phone’s screen, even when it’s locked. Clicking on that notification will give you options to move forward or backward through your slides or to exit your presentation entirely.
Because sometimes you want to see your audience, this launch also makes it possible to switch to video when presenting to Hangouts via the Slides Android app. It’s easy—simply tap the video camera icon at the top of your screen to view and pin other Hangout participants.
In addition to the above enhancements to the Slides Android app, this latest release also includes improvements to the Google Sheets Android app. Charts in Sheets allow you to display data in ways that are often easier to understand and more compelling. You can already create a multitude of charts in Sheets on the web; with this launch, you can insert charts and change their type using the Sheets Android app as well. For instance, if you insert a bar chart from Explore, you can now quickly and easily change it to a column chart directly within the app. For more information on these new features, check out the Help Center articles below. Launch Details
Release track:
Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release Rollout pace:
Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) Impact:
The Google Apps data migration service lets Apps admins easily migrate user data to Google Apps via the Admin console, with no additional software or hardware installations required. The process is easy—just enter basic information about where the data is coming from, specify the type of data to include in the migration, and select the users to migrate. Admins could already migrate emails, labels, folders and contacts with the data migration service. With today's launch of calendar migration support, admins can now easily migrate calendar data from one or multiple Microsoft accounts (including Office 365, and Exchange versions 2007 and above) to Google Apps accounts. The data migration service can be accessed in the Admin console via the Migrations icon on the home screen. Check out the Help Center for more information. Launch Details Release track: Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release Rollout pace: Full rollout (1-3 days for feature visibility) Impact: Admins only Action: Admin action suggested/FYI More Information Help Center Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted
Last year, as part of an initiative to enhance user security, we encouraged developers to switch to OAuth 2.0 if their applications used plain passwords to authenticate to Google. To further that effort, we are now giving Google Apps admins increased control over user security by allowing them to block access to less secure applications in the Admin console (Security > Basic Settings > Less Secure Apps Access). Admins can change this setting at any time for their entire domains or specific organizational units. For existing customers, this setting in the Admin console will be checked to allow access to less secure apps. If an admin leaves this setting as is, less secure applications will continue to work for any existing end users who already have them configured. New end users (e.g. new hires) who want to access less secure apps will need to enable them using an option on their My Account pages (under Sign-in & security). If an admin decides to block access to less secure apps via the Admin console setting, their end users will not see this option on their My Account pages and will instead receive an error message when they try to access less secure apps.
Please note the following:
If an admin chooses to block access to less secure apps by disabling the Allow access for less secure apps setting in the Admin console, Google Sync/ActiveSync―which allows users to access their Google Apps accounts from devices and apps like the Windows Phone and iOS native mail app―will no longer work.
If an admin chooses to block access to less secure apps by disabling the Allow access for less secure apps setting in the Admin console, ASPs (Application-Specific Passwords) will stop working for 2SV users.
Check out the Help Center articles and FAQ below for more information. This is a gradual rollout; we recommend waiting two weeks for the changes to fully propagate and the controls to work as intended.
Launch Details Release track: Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release
Rollout pace: Gradual rollout (potentially longer than 3 days for feature visibility)
Earlier this year, we introduced Mobile Application Management (MAM) for Android devices. Today, we’re launching that same functionality for iOS devices. iOS Mobile Application Management enables Google Apps admins to recommend specific mobile apps they want their employees to use on their managed iOS devices. Admins can easily whitelist the apps of their choosing from within the Admin console (Device management > Mobile > Manage Applications for iOS devices). By default, the following six apps are pre-whitelisted: Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides. Once an app is whitelisted, an employee can easily discover and download it from the Device Policy app (recently made available in the App Store) on their iPhone or iPad. This ensures that new and existing employees can easily find and download the apps they need most—without having to scour the App Store or recall specific app names from their orientation. If an employee then leaves the organization and the admin wipes their account, they can be sure that all of that employee’s managed work apps are uninstalled as well. Check out the Help Center articles below for more information.
Launch Details Release track: Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release Rollout pace:
In an effort to further increase security, in the coming weeks we’ll be changing the main Google Calendar URL from 'www.google.com/calendar' to 'calendar.google.com.' Following the launch, the old Calendar url will simply redirect to the new one, so the overall impact of this change on Google Apps customers should be minimal. A few things of note:
Some Chrome extensions that depend on the old Calendar url may stop functioning properly if not appropriately updated by their developers. We have reached out to developers to ensure they have enough time to make any required changes to third party extensions before the URL change. However, if you notice any issues, please check the extension for an update or contact the extension’s developer. Any internal browser extensions should be updated as well.
People using Calendar who get gentle notifications will need to grant Calendar permission again for this feature to work. A web browser prompt will automatically ask users to allow calendar.google.com to post notifications. This may look different depending on the specific browser.
Apps customers parsing the old Calendar URL structure for any custom tools, etc are advised to update them to also reference the new URL structure.
Launch Details Release track: Launching to Rapid release in mid-October, with Scheduled release coming two weeks later (monitor the launch calendar for specific dates) Rollout pace: Full rollout (1-3 days for feature visibility) Impact: All end users Action: Change management suggested/FYI Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted
A new version of the Google Drive iOS app is coming to the App Store over the next week. New features include:
Ability to select multiple files to keep offline, star, or organize
Share, rename, or view details for a file more quickly
Performance improvements
Launch Details Release track: Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release Rollout pace: Gradual rollout (potentially longer than 3 days for feature visibility) Impact: All end users Action: Change management suggested/FYI More Information Help Center Download the latest Google Drive app in the App Store Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted
The right tools help organizations succeed. The Google Apps Marketplace makes it easy for admins and employees to find these tools by offering hundreds of third-party applications that integrate directly into Google Apps for Work. Today, we’re revealing a brand new site for the Google Apps Marketplace that makes this process even simpler. A new home page highlights the most popular apps, new arrivals, and more, while search functionality and the navigation bar make it easy for users to find the apps they need. Check out the new site at apps.google.com/marketplace. A few things to keep in mind:
If you’ve disabled the installation of some or all third-party Marketplace apps for your employees (in the Admin console under Apps > Marketplace apps > Settings for Marketplace apps), they will not be able to install those applications from the new Marketplace.
End users can only see end-user apps in the Marketplace; admins can see both admin-specific and end-user apps in the Marketplace. If you want to access admin-specific apps, please be sure that you’re signed in with your Apps admin account .
Launch Details Release track: Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release
Rollout pace: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility)
The Google Admin mobile app allows Apps super admins to easily manage users and groups, contact support, view audit logs and do other common administrative tasks all from their Android and iOS devices. With today’s launch, we’re streamlining some of the most popular admin experiences, integrating admin actions with mobile communications and introducing a new look and feel. The new features, launching today for both Android and iOS, include:
Richer user profiles with support for groups and several new attributes
Ability to perform bulk actions on users and groups
Ability to send text (SMS, WhatsApp, etc.) messages to users when adding them or resetting their password
The user experience has been redesigned using material design principles―aligning with the new look and feel announced for the Admin console on desktop earlier this year―providing a seamless experience across platforms and devices.
Check out the Help Center for more information on the new Google Admin app for Android and iOS. Launch Details Release track: Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release Rollout pace: Full rollout (1-3 days for feature visibility) Impact: Admins only Action: Admin action suggested/FYI More Information Help Center: Android Help Center: iOS Get the app on Google Play and the App Store Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted
Following the launch of the new standalone Google Hangouts homepage, Hangouts-related services and web traffic will be served from ‘hangouts.google.com’ in addition to existing host names. This change is happening gradually over the coming weeks. There is no required action for Apps customers. Launch Details Release track: Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release for Hangouts-related services (G+, Gmail, etc) over the coming weeks Rollout pace: Gradual rollout (potentially longer than 3 days for feature visibility) Impact: All end users Action: FYI Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted
Today, we’re launching a new Chrome extension for Classroom called Share to Classroom. This extension makes it easy for teachers to send all of their students to the same website during class. Once the extension is installed, a teacher can simply open a website and “push” it to his or her students, triggering that website to open on the students’ devices as well. (It also works the other way—students can “push” websites to their teachers.) Google Apps admins can install the extension for their entire domains, making it simple for teachers and students to get started. Both teachers and students need to have the extension installed in order to push web pages to one another. Note that the Share to Classroom extension works on any laptop, including Chromebooks, Macs, and PCs.
The Share to Classroom extension is only available to Google Apps for Education and Google Apps for Nonprofits customers using Google Classroom.
Launch Details
Release track:
Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release
To help you and your employees be as efficient as possible, collaborate more effectively, and create beautiful, compelling content, we’re launching several new features in Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms. Read on for more information about each!
Be more efficient New functionality in Docs saves you time by enabling you to work on the go, in the way that’s fastest and easiest for you.
Research in Docs on Android
Research in the Docs Android app makes working whenever, wherever, easier. Use the feature to search Google without leaving the app, then add those facts, images, and quotes you find directly to your document with only a few taps on the screen. Spend less time toggling between apps and copying and pasting and more time on the work that’s important to you!
Voice typing in Docs Voice typing allows you to dictate your ideas directly to Docs, both in Chrome on the web and via the Android and iOS mobile apps. When using Docs on the web, simply select Voice typing in the Tools menu, click the microphone button to activate the feature, and start speaking —no keyboard necessary. When using your phone, just tap the microphone button on your keyboard to begin. Voice typing is available in more than 40 languages.
Work better together Collaborate more effectively with your colleagues and partners using the following new features in Google Docs, Slides, and Forms.
See new changes in Docs Easily check out the changes made to a Docs file since you last viewed it—and who made them—by clicking See new changes at the top of your document or from the File menu in Docs on the web. Quickly glance at the latest edits and pick up right where your teammates left off. Revamped Google Forms Ask and get answers in style with the brand new Forms look, feel, and functionality. In addition to an improved mobile-friendly interface, the revamped Forms features a selection of new themes and color palettes, the ability to customize your form with your own photo or logo, and buttons to quickly insert images, GIFs, and videos. Responses are easier to analyze as well, as they now appear in the same window as the form editor (you can also view them in Sheets).
Try out the new Forms by visiting this site (don’t worry—you can revert back to the old UI at any time). Responders will only see the new UI for those forms created or edited in it. Remember—this is an early, opt-in-only release of the new Forms, and we’ll continue to add features and functionality in the future.
Google Fonts preserved in Microsoft® Word and PowerPoint on PCs You no longer need to worry about sending documents and presentations created in Docs and Slides to customers and partners using Word and PowerPoint on PCs—even when those documents and presentations contain Google Fonts. Google Fonts will now be preserved when you download Docs and Slides files in Word and PowerPoint.
Create compelling content Create your best and most beautiful work with a bit of help from Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides—in particular, using the features described below.
Explore in Sheets Spend less time trying to make sense of your data and more time acting on it with Explore in Sheets. This new feature on the web and in the Android app analyzes the data (including some types of text) in your spreadsheets and automatically creates charts and surfaces insights based on that information. Highlight different sets of data and watch as the charts change dynamically, then drag and drop those charts directly into your spreadsheet. You can do the same with instant calculations (for example, the sums and counts of certain ranges). Like a built-in analyst at your beck and call, Explore allows you to easily visualize trends and better understand your data.
Partial cell formatting in Sheets When it comes to spreadsheets—and the cells that comprise them—we know that one size doesn’t always fit all. That’s why it’s now possible to select only a portion of the characters within a cell in Sheets and to apply text formatting to only those characters (as opposed to the entire cell). This functionality is available on the web and in the Sheets Android app. Templates in Docs, Sheets, and Slides Focus on your content, not your formatting, with the new templates in Docs, Sheets, and Slides on the web. Choose from a wide variety of documents, spreadsheets, and presentations pre-designed for a multitude of use cases, including newsletters, invoices, pitch decks, case studies, and more. Simply visit the Docs, Sheets, and Slides home screens to access these new templates and get started. While these templates are only available in English at the moment, we’ll be rolling them out in additional languages soon. If you and/or your employees previously created your own templates, you can still access them (and create new custom templates) at drive.google.com/templates. We understand that some businesses and brands have additional needs when working with templates, and we’re looking to address these in future updates.
Themes in Slides In addition to using the new templates described above, you can also use a set of 22 new themes in Slides to quickly create compelling presentations. Some of these new themes are simply updated versions of old themes (e.g. Simple Light, Simple Dark, and Swiss), while others are completely new (e.g. Beach Day, Modern Writer, and Spearmint). These themes can be accessed from a new Themes side panel in Slides, so you can easily experiment with and toggle between them when crafting presentations. Though the old themes are no longer accessible from this panel, they will continue to work in any presentations already using them. Check out the Help Center articles below for more information on each of these new and improved features!
Launch Details Release track: Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release:
Research in Docs on Android
Voice typing in Docs on Android and iOS
Google Fonts preserved in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint on PCs
Explore in Sheets on Android
Partial cell formatting in Sheets on Android
Launching to Rapid release, with Scheduled release coming the week of September 21st:
Voice typing in Docs on the web
See new changes in Docs
Revamped Google Forms (opt-in only)
Explore in Sheets on the web
Partial cell formatting in Sheets on the web
Templates in Docs, Sheets, and Slides
Themes in Slides
Rollout pace: Gradual rollout (potentially longer than 3 days for feature visibility)
Audit logs allow Google Apps admins to monitor user activity across different applications like Calendar and Drive, giving them increased visibility for tracking and troubleshooting. Today we’re adding audit log support for Google Groups for Business. Google Groups audit logs will provide admins with access to their users’ Google Groups activity via the Admin console and the Reports API. Admins can see an audit trail of Groups-related information, including changes to group settings and permissions, moderation actions, and membership-related actions (e.g. additions, removals, bans, unbans, invites, and joins) performed by their users in the Groups interface. In addition, admins can set up custom alerts for Groups audit events to effectively track important Groups-related activity. Check out the Help Center and developer documentation for more information. Launch Details Release track: Launching to both Rapid release and Scheduled release Rollout pace: Full rollout (1-3 days for feature visibility) Impact: Admins only Action: Admin action suggested/FYI More Information Help Center Developer Documentation Note: all launches are applicable to all Google Apps editions unless otherwise noted
In the Google Cloud Community, discuss the latest features with Googlers and other Google Workspace admins like you. Learn tips and tricks that will make your work and life easier. Be the first to know what's happening with Google Workspace.
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.
Discover how a diverse range of organizations, from small businesses and nimble startups to globally recognized Fortune 500 corporations, leverage the collaborative power of Google Workspace. Explore examples of how teams of are streamlining workflows and driving productivity by utilizing Google-Workspace.
