Enhanced Timer Feature Introduced in Google Meet
Google is rolling out an upgraded feature for its Meet video conferencing platform that allows users to initiate timers directly from the sidebar on the web interface. This addition aims to bolster meeting productivity and time management.
Host and Participant Flexibility
When host controls are activated, only the meeting host or co-host has the ability to start and oversee the timer, ensuring it is visible to all participants. This collective visibility aids in keeping meetings focused and ensures that each agenda item receives appropriate attention. Conversely, when host controls are turned off, any participant can take charge of the timer.
Starting a Timer Made Easy
To initiate a timer during a meeting, users simply click on the “Meeting tools”icon located in the bottom right corner and select the “Timer”option. They can then input their preferred duration in minutes and seconds before hitting “Start”to commence the countdown.
Timer Management Options
While the timer is active, users have several management options at their disposal: they can pause the timer, resume it after pausing, or extend the time in one-minute increments. Additionally, an alarm notification feature can be toggled on or off, but this is only an option for meetings without host controls enabled.
Availability of the New Feature
This timer feature is gradually being made available to all users, encompassing Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and personal Google account holders. According to Google, the feature is expected to be visible to all users within three days.
Admin Verification Process
If you are an administrator, you can check which release track your organization is on by signing into the Google Admin console at admin.google.com. From the dashboard, navigate to Account, then Account settings, and select Preferences to find the “Release preferences”section, indicating your current schedule—either Rapid or Scheduled release.
Additional Google Meet Updates
In related news, Google has streamlined the process of joining meetings from various calendar applications. Now, when a Google Calendar user creates an event, the corresponding Google Meet link is automatically included in the location field of the invite. This enhancement simplifies the process of locating the join link, especially for users of alternative calendar platforms like Outlook. Moreover, Google Calendar can now automatically identify Google Meet links in incoming invites from other services.
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