Google Workspace rolls out new features for Meet users

Google Workspace - a set of communication and productivity apps offered by Google - is rolling out various features for its applications. In the series, it has introduced emoji reactions on its video-communication service 'Google Meet' which will help users to connect and engage with each other. 

Meet is the company’s teleconference app that was developed for businesses with calendar integration and a way to form and conduct meetings. 

In a blog post published on Wednesday, the company said that users can now use emojis to share in-meeting reactions in "Google Meet on Web, Meet Hardware devices and iOS, with Android coming soon”. 

These reactions will appear as a small badge floating up the left side of the screen on the sender's video tile. Moreover, there will be a burst of emojis on the left side of the users' screen, when there are multiple user engagements. 

To share a reaction, users have to select the smile icon in the control bar to get the reaction bar. Users can also hover on this bar to select the skin tone of their choice, which will then be applied to all emojis subject to change colour. 

"In-meeting reactions provide a lightweight, non-disruptive way to engage and participate in meetings without interrupting the speaker," the company said. 

"We hope these features make it easier for you, your colleagues and stakeholders to stay better connected and engaged, whether they're working from home, the office, or anywhere in between," it added. 

Google also said that in the coming weeks, Meet users on mobile can begin using new 360-degree backgrounds that combine videos and their device’s gyroscope that helps determine the device’s orientation, to create a more immersive Meet experience. Backgrounds include beach, oasis, sky city, and mountain temple to name a few.   

Google Meet already offers a number of effects to customise users’ video feed, including standard wallpapers, blur effects, video/moving backgrounds, styles (B&W, sepia, etc.), and face filters, to name a few. Google said that the new feature will be available on Android and iOS for both consumers and paid Workspace users and is “best used when you’re taking a meeting on the go”. 

Meanwhile, Google next week will start encouraging people to stop using the app named “Meet (original)” and upgrade to the Duo-derived “Meet.” Duo is Google’s high-quality video and audio calling app that allows for group calls of up to 32 people. The former has a green logo, while the latter uses the four-coloured icon.  

“Starting on January 17, people using the original version of the Meet app on Android and iOS will begin to see in-product notifications prompting them to switch to the upgraded Meet app,” it said in the blog.