Poor video quality has been an issue for some, and it can interfere with virtual presentations that need clear displays to convey information. Google is finally upgrading its video quality for calls, which can now display up to 1080p.
Google Meet's 1080p Display for a Price
While 1080p video quality sounds like good news for Google Meet users, it's only for paying subscribers for Workspace and Google One. The feature can be turned on given that the device used has a 1080p camera and possesses the computing power for it.
A stable and strong internet connection is also required to hold the resolution. Should there be drops in bandwidth or internet connection interruptions, the 1080p video display will automatically be set to a lower resolution.
If you don't have certain requirements for HD video quality, you may experience video or audio delays as well. This, aside from poor network connection and low spec quality, can be caused by low battery, limited data availability, and other quality issues, according to Google.
To try the feature out, users will have to turn it on since the 1080p display is turned off by default. You can do so by clicking Settings on Video, then changing the Camera, Send Resolution, and Recieve Resolution settings until you achieve your desired display.
The feature is only available for the following subscriptions:
Google Workspace Business Standard
Google Workspace Business Plus
Google Workspace Enterprise Starter
Google Workspace Enterprise Standard
Google Workspace Enterprise Plus
Google Workspace the teaching and Learning Upgrade
Google Workspace Education Plus
Google Workspace Enterprise Essentials
Google Workspace Frontline
Google One with 2TB Storage Space
Personal Google accounts are not eligible for the latest feature, as well as Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Nonprofits, and G Suite Basic and Business subscribers.
The limitation might not be enticing to users of Google products, especially since there are other video conference apps that already offer the 1080p display setting such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, as mentioned in The Verge.
Google Workspace Updates
Google is also improving its products by adding an AI feature to Google Workspace apps. These features will soon appear in Google Docs, Gmail, Slides, and Sheets. Its purpose is for users to have an easier and more convenient experience.
For instance, users can start prioritizing emails with AI sorting them out based on the content and category. Sheets will also provide auto-completed insights and analysis using data, as well as generate formulas for calculations.
It will also be easier to create presentations using slides. Instead of individually browsing for audio and visuals, users can use the built-in AI to generate images, audio, and videos that go with the contents of their presentation.
In Google Docs, users can type a command in the "Help me write" prompt such as recruitment emails or job posts. The AI will do most of the job by writing an entire format ready for editing. All the user has to do is change the key details and contexts.
