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Google Apps update alerts

This official feed from the Google Apps team provides essential information about new features and improvements.

New Hangouts experience

Apps customers now have the option to replace chat in Gmail and Talk on Android with a new version of Hangouts that combines text, photos and live video calls across computers and Android and iOS devices. The new Hangouts is designed to help bring all of your real-life conversations online, across any device or platform. Just as before, Apps customers can invite up to 15 colleagues to a video call.

Note: Hangouts does not support domain chat restrictions.

Editions included:
Google Apps for Business, Education, and Government

For more information:
http://support.google.com/a/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=3094760
http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/try-out-new-hangouts-experience-in-gmail.html

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Quick actions button in Gmail

Getting things done in Gmail is getting easier. You'll now see new quick action buttons that let you take action on a message right from the inbox. For example, you can RSVP to a meeting, open a document, and more without even opening an email.

Editions included:
Google Apps for Business, Education, and Government

Release track:
Rapid release

For more information:
http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/take-action-right-from-inbox.html

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Send money to colleagues and friends with Gmail and Google Wallet

Google Wallet is now integrated with Gmail. In the coming months you will be able to quickly and securely send money to friends and colleagues directly within Gmail. It's free to send money if a bank account is linked to Google Wallet or using your Google Wallet Balance, and low fees apply to send money using a linked credit or debit card.

Note: This feature can be disabled by disabling Google Wallet in the Admin console.

Editions included:
Google Apps for Business, Education, and Government

Release track:
Rapid Release

For more information:
http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/send-money-to-friends-with-gmail-and.html
http://youtu.be/JA8m0JOoNYQ

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30 GB now shared between Drive, Gmail, and Google+ Photos

Over the coming weeks, all Google Apps users get 30 GB of unified storage to use as you like between Drive and Gmail. This replaces the current replacing the current storage of 5 GB in Drive and 25 GB in Gmail. Just as before, files created in Docs, Sheets and Slides don't count against your storage quota. Storage will also be shared with photos you upload to Google+ larger than 2048px. As a result of this change, Gmail inboxes are no longer limited to 25 GB - any additional storage can be shared and used by Gmail.

Editions included:
Google Apps for Business, Education, and Government

For more information:
http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2013/05/bringing-it-all-together-for-google.html

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New way to access the Admin console

Google Apps administrators can now access the Admin console by visiting admin.google.com and logging in. If you are already logged in, this new URL will automatically take you to the Admin console. The old URL (www.google.com/a/) will continue to work for now.

Editions included:
Google Apps for Business, Education, and Government

For more information:
http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2013/05/new-google-admin-console.html

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Scheduled release: New chat experience in Google Drive

Chat in Docs and Slides has a new look similar to what you’re used to in Gmail. You can now start a group chat with just one click. Simply select the new chat button at the top right and a chat box will appear, making it easy for you to quickly message everyone who is in the file. Additionally, if collaborators or viewers have an active Google+ profile, you will see their profile picture on top instead of just their name. This feature will be available in Sheets soon.

Note: Disabling chat in the Admin panel will disable it in Docs.

Release track:
Scheduled release

Editions included:
Google Apps for Business, Education, and Government

For more information:
http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/bringing-people-together-in-drive.html

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Transition to the new Google Groups user interface

We launched a new look for Google Groups in May last year. This design offers a new and improved user interface in addition to some popular features like:

- Collaborative inbox
- Rich text formatting of messages in the Groups interface
- Ability to move posts to a different discussion, mark it as a duplicate or assign it to someone
- Customizable roles and permissions for people

We will retire the old interface soon after June 10th. After this day, people will automatically be transitioned over to the new UI and will not have the option to go back to the old one.

Editions included:
Google Apps for Business, Education, and Government

For more information:
http://support.google.com/a/bin/answer.py?answer=126169

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Email and contacts import tool shutdown

Starting today, Gmail’s migration tool for messages and contacts is being removed. This tool was primarily used by new Gmail account holders who wished to import mail and contacts from another email provider into their Gmail accounts. We are exploring new long-term solutions, but in the meantime users can still import mail and contacts to their Gmail accounts. Messages can be imported using Mail Fetcher and Contacts can be imported from CSV files.

Editions included:
Google Apps for Business, Education, and Government

For more information:
http://googleappsupdates.blogspot.com/2012/10/import-emails-and-contacts-from-other.html
https://support.google.com/mail/answer/164640
http://support.google.com/a/bin/answer.py?answer=1041297

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Add events to Google Calendar from Gmail

Dates and times within emails are now lightly underlined. You can click them to schedule events at those dates and times without ever leaving Gmail. When you click on one of these underlined dates, you will be able to preview your schedule for the day and change the title, date or time of the event. You can then add the event to your calendar by clicking on “Add to calendar”. In addition, the calendar event will include a link back to the original email so you always have context.

Note: This is only available to people who have their preferred language set to English.

Release track:
Rapid release

Editions included:
Google Apps for Business, Education, and Government

For more information:
http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2013/05/add-events-to-google-calendar-from-gmail.html

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Scheduled release: New chat experience in Google Drive

Chat in Docs and Slides has a new look similar to what you’re used to in Gmail. You can now start a group chat with just one click. Simply select the new chat button at the top right and a chat box will appear, making it easy for you to quickly message everyone who is in the file. Additionally, if collaborators or viewers have an active Google+ profile, you will see their profile picture on top instead of just their name. This feature will be available in Sheets soon.

Note: Disabling chat in the Admin panel will disable it in Docs.

Release track:
Scheduled release

Release date:
May 7, 2013

Editions included:
Google Apps for Business, Education, and Government

For more information:
http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/bringing-people-together-in-drive.html

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Cloud Connect shut down

Back in March we announced that Google Cloud Connect will be shut down on April 30th. After today, users will no longer be able to use this product and should install Google Drive on their computer. Google Drive for Windows/Mac achieves the same desktop editing and works across Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

Editions included:
Google Apps, Google Apps for Business, Government and Education

For More Information:
http://support.google.com/a/bin/answer.py?answer=3017040
http://deployment.googleapps.com/Home/user-resources/documentation-templates/launch-drive

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New chat experience in Google Drive

Chat in Docs and Slides has a new look similar to what you’re used to in Gmail. You can now start a group chat with just one click. Simply select the new chat button at the top right and a chat box will appear, making it easy for you to quickly message everyone who is in the file. Additionally, if collaborators or viewers have an active Google+ profile, you will see their profile picture on top instead of just their name. This feature will be available in Sheets soon.

Note: Disabling chat in the Admin panel will disable it in Docs.

Release track:
Rapid release

Editions included:
Google Apps for Business, Education, and Government

For more information:
http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/bringing-people-together-in-drive.html

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Deploy Chrome while supporting older web apps through Legacy Browser Support

When companies use browsers that are two or more versions old, employees and developers are unable to benefit from the incredible web innovations of the past four, or even ten years. With Legacy Browser Support, users on Chrome are automatically switched to a legacy browser when they begin using an older app. Admins can simply define which sites should launch from Chrome into an alternate browser, and then set this Chrome policy for all employees.

Editions included:
Google Apps for Business, Education and Government

For more information:
http://www.google.com/chrome/lbs
http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2013/04/new-chrome-features-bring-modern-web-to.html

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Manage Chrome policies from the Google Admin panel

Admins now have the ability to customize 100+ Chrome policies for users right from the Google Admin panel. That means employees will be able to access pre-loaded applications, custom themes, or a private app web store from any computer -- whether it’s the company desktop or personal laptop -- when they sign-in to Chrome with their Google Apps account.

Editions included:
Google Apps for Business and Education

For more information:
http://www.google.com/chrome/work
http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2013/04/new-chrome-features-bring-modern-web-to.html
http://support.google.com/chrome/a/bin/answer.py?answer=188446

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Scheduled release: New default compose experience in Gmail

We are introducing a redesigned compose experience in Gmail that saves you time, uses less screen space, and is simple to use. The new compose experience opens a window at the bottom of your inbox. You can compose multiple messages at once, search through your inbox and even reply to other messages all while keeping your new draft open.

NOTE: All users will be able to temporarily opt-out of this new experience.

Release track:
Scheduled release

Release Date:
April 16th, 2013

Editions included:
Google Apps, Google Apps for Business, Government and Education

For more information:
http://learn.googleapps.com/new-gmail-compose
http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?answer=2645922
http://gmailblog.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/gmails-new-compose-now-default.html

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New default compose experience in Gmail

We are introducing a redesigned compose experience in Gmail that saves you time, uses less screen space, and is simple to use. The new compose experience opens a window at the bottom of your inbox. You can compose multiple messages at once, search through your inbox and even reply to other messages all while keeping your new draft open.

NOTE: Users will be able to opt-out of this new experience for two weeks.

Release track:
Rapid release

Editions included:
Google Apps, Google Apps for Business, Government and Education

For more information:
http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?answer=2645922
http://gmailblog.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/gmails-new-compose-now-default.html

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Cloud Connect deprecation

Two years ago, we introduced Google Cloud Connect as a free plug-in to help people work in the cloud by automatically saving Microsoft Office files from Windows PCs to Google Drive. But installing Google Drive on your desktop achieves the same thing more effectively—and Drive works not only on Windows, but also on Mac, Android and iOS devices. Existing users will no longer be able to use Cloud Connect as of April 30.

Editions included:
Google Apps, Google Apps for Business, Government and Education

For More Information:
http://support.google.com/a/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=3017040
http://deployment.googleapps.com/Home/user-resources/documentation-templates/launch-drive

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Google Keep

Introducing Google Keep, a new Android app to save ideas and organize to-dos the moment they happen. With Google Keep you can create notes, lists, photos and voice recordings right from your phone. You can also access, edit, and create new notes on the web at http://drive.google.com/keep. In the coming weeks, you'll also be able to do the same directly from your Google Drive. Download Google Keep from Google Play on devices running Android 4.0+ (Ice Cream Sandwich or higher).

Editions included:
Google Apps, Google Apps for Business and Education

Note:
This is not available for Google Apps for Government users. They can download the app but will not be able to sync their data to the cloud.

For More Information:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.keep
http://googledrive.blogspot.com/2013/03/google-keepsave-whats-on-your-mind.html

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New Notifications Inbox in the admin control panel

The Alerts & Notifications box in the admin control panel has now been replaced with a new Notifications Inbox. This new feature can be accessed by clicking on the bell icon on the top right. Admins now have the ability to see the number of available notifications. They can also dismiss notifications that aren’t important.

Editions included:
Google Apps, Google Apps for Business, Government and Education

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Preview files in Google Drive

Users can now preview more than 30 file types in Google Drive. They can flip through files to find the one they want as well as share, download, print or edit them with one click.

Editions included
Google Apps, Google Apps for Business, Government and Education

For more information
http://googledrive.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/preview-files-in-google-drive.html

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HTML5 support for Google Drive videos

Videos stored in Google Drive are now available in HTML5. Videos will be served in HTML5 if Flash support is not available in the browser. This change allows users to play videos on their mobile phones without Flash support.

Editions included
Google Apps, Google Apps for Business, Government and Education

For more information:
http://support.google.com/drive/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=2423694

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Scheduled Release track features update 2/21/13

Drive: The “Create” menu in Google Drive has a new look. This change allows for easier access to Drive apps and third party apps. To create a new file from a template, open the appropriate editor (Docs, Sheets or Slides) and click on File > New > From template. This functionality has been removed from the new “Create” menu.

The following features are intended for release to these domains on February 26th:
No new features are launching next week.

Release track:
Scheduled

Editions included:
Google Apps, Google Apps for Business, Government and Education

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New look for the “Create” menu in Drive

The “Create” menu in Google Drive has a new look. This change allows for easier access to Drive apps and third party apps.

Note: To create a new file from a template, open the appropriate editor (Docs, Sheets or Slides) and click on File > New > From template. This functionality has been removed from the new “Create” menu.

Editions included
Google Apps, Google Apps for Business, Government and Education

Release track
Rapid release

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Scheduled Release track features update 2/6/13

Slides: Users now have the ability to create, view and edit presentations without an internet connection with Google Slides offline. This is automatically enabled for users who have already enabled offline editing of Docs and Sheets. Offline access to presentations is only available in Chrome and on Chrome OS devices.

The following features are intended for release to these domains on February 13th:
No new features are launching next week.

Release track:
Scheduled

Editions included:
Google Apps, Google Apps for Business, Government and Education

For more information:
http://support.google.com/drive/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1628467

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Google Forms, Refreshed

Users now have access to a new version of Google Forms. Just as with Docs, Sheets and Slides, you can now collaborate with others in real-time. Multiple users can work on the same form simultaneously.

Note: Unlike the previous version, forms are no longer tied to a specific spreadsheet. Responses are collected and stored only in the form. If owners prefer to see the data in a spreadsheet, they can specify a destination spreadsheet for the data at any time.

Editions included
Google Apps for Business, Government and Education

Release track
Rapid release

For more information
http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2013/01/google-forms-refreshed.html
http://support.google.com/drive/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=2917686

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