Google has rolled out several new updates for its Workspace users. It includes apps like Gmail, Google Docs, Drive, Meet, Sheets and Vids. After the new update, Docs and Drive will have the ability to directly open and edit Markdown files. New voice features have been added to Gmail and Docs to search for information and prepare drafts by speaking. Apart from this, the facility of live translation in 63 languages will also be available in Google Meet. According to the company, these changes are gradually being extended to Workspace users.
You can edit Markdown files directly in Docs and Drive
Google Docs and Drive now let you open and edit Markdown (.md) files directly. That means users will not need to convert these files to any other format first. Docs will also have an option to comment such files and view older changes via version history. On opening a Markdown file in Drive, things like tables and links will also appear in their proper format. This feature can be useful for those working on technical documents and AI prompts.
Act by voice in Gmail and Docs
Google has also added voice features called Gmail Live and Docs Live. With the help of Gmail Live, users will be able to search for information in their emails by speaking. For example, you can ask about a meeting date or a project update in an old email. While in Docs Live, users will be able to voice their ideas and convert them into drafts such as a project brief or executive summary. This feature can also collect necessary information from email, chat and drive files.
Live translation in 63 languages in Google Meet
Google Meet now offers real-time speech translation for 63 languages. During meetings, it can translate what people are saying and show captions in each member’s preferred language. Each user can activate it as per his requirement.
The Quick Notes feature has also been modified. It will now provide a one-page summary of the meeting’s key decisions and next steps. Along with this, the notes and transcript of the entire meeting will also be available.
Switching from Microsoft 365 to Workspace will be easy
Google says the new migration tools can make the process of transferring data from Microsoft 365 to Workspace up to five times faster. In this, team messages and attachments can be brought to Google Chat, OneDrive files to Drive and SharePoint Online’s library to Shared Drive. No extra charge will be made for this.
New AI features in sheets and vids too
Fill in Google Sheets with Gemini and AI functions can now cite web sources. Also, there will be facility to work on up to 3,000 cells at a time.
On the other hand, in Google Vids, Gemini Omni 1.1 Flash is offering an option to create AI videos. Users will be able to create longer video clips, choose their duration and choose upscale video quality up to 1080p.
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