Google Meet 2024 Roundup: Smarter, Smoother, and More Connected Than Ever

Virtual meetings have become an essential part of our daily work lives. Whether you’re catching up with a remote team, presenting to clients, or running a hybrid workshop, a smooth, reliable video conferencing experience is key. But we’ve all been there—your internet lags, your camera freezes, or your sound cuts out at the worst possible moment.

That’s why Google Meet has been rolling out major updates throughout 2024, making meetings more intuitive, flexible, and engaging. And if you’re using Google Meet Hardware, there are even more enhancements that make your meeting spaces smarter than ever.

Let’s break down the biggest Google Meet software and hardware updates of the year—and how they can help your team work better together.

Google Meet Software Updates: Better Meetings, Less Hassle

1. Seamless Device Switching

Ever started a call on your phone and needed to switch to your laptop? Now, you can move Google Meet calls between devices without dropping the connection. No more awkward moments of having to leave and rejoin the meeting!

2. Picture-in-Picture for Smarter Multitasking

If you need to check emails or review a doc while on a call, Google Meet now automatically launches in picture-in-picture mode when you switch tabs in Chrome. This keeps your meeting visible in a small window, so you never lose track of the conversation.

3. AI-Powered Note-Taking with Gemini AI

Taking meeting notes manually? That’s old-school. Google Meet now offers AI-generated notes that summarize key discussions, saving them directly to Google Drive and Google Calendar for easy access later.

4. Automatic Camera Framing

No more awkwardly adjusting your webcam! Google Meet now centers your face automatically within the frame, ensuring you look polished and professional throughout your call.

5. Enhanced Livestreaming for Large Audiences

Hosting big events? Google Meet now supports ultra-low latency livestreaming for up to 100,000 viewers. New features like emoji reactions, Q&As, and polls make virtual events more engaging.

6. Improved Screen Sharing

Sharing content is now even easier! If you’re using Google Meet Hardware, you can present via HDMI without needing extra software.

7. Expanded Language Support

Google Meet has added real-time captions in over 40 new languages, making meetings more inclusive and accessible for global teams.

8. Google Chat “Huddles” for Quick Calls

Need to jump on a quick call? Google Chat now lets you start “Huddles”—instant Google Meet calls without scheduling a full meeting.

Google Meet Hardware Updates: Smarter Meeting Spaces

If you’re running meetings from dedicated rooms, Google Meet Hardware has had a big year too. New devices and software updates have made it easier than ever to equip your meeting spaces with high-quality video and audio.

1. Logitech Android Appliance Mode

At the start of the year, Logitech introduced an Android appliance mode for the Rally Bar and Rally Bar Mini, allowing them to run Google Meet natively without extra hardware. In September, this support was extended to the Rally Bar Huddle, providing more flexibility for meeting spaces of all sizes.

2. Logitech Extend for More Flexibility

In October, Logitech launched Logitech Extend, a plug-and-play BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) solution. This lets you use any video conferencing platform from your Logitech appliance meeting room—without installing extra drivers or software.

3. ASUS Google Meet Hardware Kits

ASUS announced its next-generation Google Meet Hardware kits, designed for different room sizes:

• Starter Kit (small rooms)
• Small Room Kit
• Large Room Kit

Each includes the latest ASUS Google Meet Compute System, MIMO touch panel or remote control, and AVer speakermic and camera for crystal-clear video and audio. These kits will be available in early 2025.

4. Logitech Sync Enhancements

Logitech has expanded Logitech Sync, their device management tool, with:

• Remote UI Access – IT teams can manage devices from anywhere.
• Room Booking & Auto Book – Better scheduling and space utilization.

5. Native Zoom & Webex Interoperability

Logitech’s Android-based Rally Bar, Rally Bar Mini, and Rally Bar Huddle will soon allow users to join Zoom and Webex calls natively—no additional setup needed.

6. Feature Preview Mode for Google Meet Hardware

Admins can now enable Feature Preview Mode, letting teams test upcoming Google Meet Hardware features before they officially roll out.

7. Auto-Update Expiration (AUE) Becomes “End of Meet Support”

Google has renamed Auto-Update Expiration (AUE) to End of Meet Support, making it clearer when device updates will end. Plus, support for Intel 10th Gen devices has been extended to June 2029.

Get the Most Out of Google Meet with Cloudfresh

Google Meet’s latest updates make virtual meetings easier, smarter, and more flexible—but to fully unlock these features, you need the right licenses and hardware setup.

That’s where Cloudfresh comes in. As Google Meet Hardware & Google Workspace experts, we help businesses:

1. Choose the best Google Meet Hardware for their meeting spaces
   
2. Optimize Google Workspace licenses to ensure teams get the right features
   
3. Integrate AI-powered tools for smarter, more efficient meetings
   
4. Support cross-platform video conferencing with Logitech’s Zoom & Webex interoperability

Ready to upgrade your meeting experience? Contact Cloudfresh today and let’s build the perfect video conferencing setup for your team!