This new Google Meet update could be a real career-saver
Mute and unmute Google Meet mic with just a button press
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A newGoogle Meetupdate could spell the end to potentially embarrassing occasions when on a video call for good.
Thevideo conferencingservice will now let users to quickly unmute themselves in a meeting by holding down the spacebar button. To mute, users simply need to release the button.
“We hope this makes it even easier for you to participate in your meetings by quickly unmuting to say something,” the company wrote in aGoogle Workspaceupdateblog post, adding that it could also be helpful in situations where users forget to mute themselves again after unmuting in a group call.
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The feature is off by default, but can be enabled in theGoogleMeet settings menu, and will begin rolling out to users on September 9, where it will be available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts on allweb browsers.
A similar function is already available inZoom, which also allows users to mute and unmute with a press of the spacebar. In contrast,Microsoft Teams, the other great rival, requires users to press two buttons (Ctrl+Spacebar) to unmute.
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The update arrives as the company continues itsmerger of Google Duo and Meetto create a single video calling service.
It also comes shortly after the platform finally addedimproved support for USB accessories, meaning users will be able to toggle between mute and unmute using headsets, speaker microphones, and other USB peripherals.
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Fortunately, another recent Google Workspace update will also tweak how itssmart assistant reactswhen users are on a video conferencing call, specifically if anyone says “Hey Google”.
The change means Google Assistant will now only be active when a device is not in a meeting, as well as only being active in the 10 minutes leading to an upcoming meeting.
Mike Moore is Deputy Editor at TechRadar Pro. He has worked as a B2B and B2C tech journalist for nearly a decade, including at one of the UK’s leading national newspapers and fellow Future title ITProPortal, and when he’s not keeping track of all the latest enterprise and workplace trends, can most likely be found watching, following or taking part in some kind of sport.
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