Forget Zoom: Google Meet is getting some of its best features

Forget Zoom: Google Run into is getting some of its best features

(Image credit: Google)

Google Meet is adding a Zoom-like gallery layout and improved integration with Gmail as the number of video conferences and video calls surges during the coronavirus quarantine.

Google vice president Javier Soltero told Reuters that the company is rolling out several new features for Google Meet ahead of schedule to address the surging need for video conference software. The get-go of these features will permit users to start calls and join meetings correct from Gmail. And later this month, Google Meet will add a gallery layout that displays up to xvi meeting participants in one screen.

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The Gmail integration will add together Meet options in the sidebar, much like conversation. In improver to that and the new grid layout, Google is improving Meet video quality in dim lighting and filtering of background noise like keyboard clicks.

Gallery view is i of the distinctive features of Zoom, the video conferencing software and app that many people have been using while they're staying at home. The grid has been likened to the opening credits of The Brady Bunch. Zoom's gallery view can display up to 49 participants in one screen. That fundamental characteristic has made Zoom ubiquitous on social media, with people posting images of their Zoom happy hours and celebrities performing group numbers for charity.

But Zoom privacy and security issues have brought the visitor under burn down lately, which has opened the door for other companies to step up as Zoom alternatives for video conferencing.

Google Meet is available to businesses, governments and schools and is unlike from the consumer-focused video phone call tool Google Hangouts.

With millions of people working from home, video conferencing has seen an explosion in usage. Google announced last week that Meet has 25 times as many users that it had for January, and is adding two million new users per day and has more than than 100 1000000 educational activity users across 150 countries.

"With more and more people working and learning from home, we desire to make it easier for you to connect and continue things moving forward," Google said in a statement.

"With Meet in Gmail, yous can easily start or join a meeting in seconds. Our goal is to help you follow the flow of the 24-hour interval, seamlessly switching betwixt email and video meetings — whichever class of advice you need."

The new Gmail integration will begin rolling out for G Suite customers today on the spider web and to mobile at a later date. The other new features, like the gallery view, is expected later this calendar month.

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Kelly is a senior writer covering streaming media for Tom'south Guide, so basically, she watches TV for a living. Previously, she was a freelance entertainment writer for Yahoo, Vulture, Television set Guide and other outlets. When she'south not watching TV and movies for work, she's watching them for fun, seeing live music, writing songs, knitting and gardening.