Summer digest 1

Support for dual screens in Chromebox for meetings devices

Domains using Chromebox for meetings devices will be able to simply plug in a second display to their Chromebox’s display port and that display will behave as a secondary display. During a video call, this will allow participants to see the audience and the projected presentation at the same time.
Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release
For more information:

Using dual displays

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Remotely manage Chromebox video meetings

Admins can now better manage video calls in Chromebox for meetings devices right from the Google Apps Admin console, with options like remotely starting, muting and hanging up a meeting. Meeting participants are still in full control of the device in their conference room, even if the video call is started remotely. For example, meetings are muted by default, but participants can unmute the microphone using the remote control if they need to be heard. They can also end the call or perform any other task available on the device.
Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release
For more information:
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Eject guests from a Hangout

Hangouts participants will now have the ability to remove other participants from a Hangout. This is only available to people from the same domain as the Hangout creator. For example, if a person creates a Hangout from Calendar, people in their same domain will be able to eject others from the call. Any participants from outside the domain will not have this ability. Ejected external participants will not be able to re-join the call unless explicitly re-invited by a person within the domain. Ejected participants from within the domain can re-join with the invite link.
Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release
For more information:

https://support.google.com/a/answer/6065029#eject

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Enhanced reliability and support for Hangouts

Hangouts is now covered under the same Terms of Service that support our other Google Apps for Business products, like Gmail and Google Drive. That means that customers receive 24×7 phone support and 99.9% guaranteed uptime as well as ISO27001, SSAE 16/ISAE 4302 and SOC 2 certification.
Release track:
Rapid release and Scheduled release
For more information:
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Hangouts video calls for all

With today’s launch, people using Google Apps with access to Google Talk or Google Hangouts chat will now have the ability to create and join Hangout video calls for up to 15 participants. Participants will no longer need to ensure Google+ premium services are enabled, nor have a Google+ profile. Features such as sharing one’s screen to a team or automatically adding a Hangout to any Calendar event will also be available. Before a Google+ profile is created, a Hangouts participant will be able to:
  • Start Hangout video calls with up to 15 participants
  • Include any external guests who have a Google account
  • Add, change or join a video call in a Google Calendar entry (coming soon)
  • Join or start a Hangout by URL or at g.co/hangout/ (and g.co/present/ to just present)

Please note that people without a Google+ profile will not be able to use Hangout apps other than screen share and chat, nor invite Google+ circles to a Hangout video call.

This enhancement will be supported in a coming version of the Android and iOS Hangout apps.
Release track:
  • Hangouts features (launching today) – Rapid release and Scheduled release
  • Calendar features (coming soon) – Rapid release, followed by Scheduled release two weeks later