Google adds four new features to Meet, which, according to Google, are the most requested by users. The new features include a tile format, a high-quality video sharing option, a low-light mode and noise reduction.
With the new tiled layout, users of the web version can see sixteen callers at once, instead of the previous maximum of four. Google says it plans to add updates for larger meetings, better presentation layouts and support for more devices.
Meet-users can now choose to cast a Chrome tab instead of just presenting their window or the entire screen. According to Google, this is the best option for presenting high-quality video with audio.
With the low-light mode, Meet automatically adjusts the video feed to make the user more visible in low light. This feature is currently only available for mobile users, but there are plans to make it available for web version users.
The new noise cancellation function filters out loud background noises such as barking dogs, passing cars and keystrokes. This feature is currently only available for the web version but will be available for mobile users in the future.
Working from home will be the new standard
The improvements come at a time when the use of Measure has increased significantly. The number of daily users in March is 25 times higher than in January. Employees are forced to work from home due to the ongoing measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus. The increased need for videoconferencing tools for companies has prompted Google to improve the capabilities of Meet, provide more technical support and step up the promotion of Meet. Last week, Google released new security features for Meet’s education customers. As of last week, Meet has also been made directly accessible via Gmail.
Competitors
Google is not the only company which has seen the use of videoconferencing tools skyrocket. The number of video calls with Microsoft Teams had increased by a 1,000 percent in March. Team users spent 2.7 billion minutes in meetings on the 31st of March. Zoom also reported 300 million daily users. But the popularity of the video service is overshadowed by a list of privacy violations, security risks and other woes. Worldwide, the use of Zoom is already banned by large companies such as Google, NASA and the U.S. Senate.
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