Abstract
- Google Meet has been up to date usually with new options, making it simpler to change between enter gadgets utilizing a redesigned UI for assembly controls.
- A brand new floating menu for audio and video controls streamlines the method, providing drop-down menus to conveniently swap between related audio system, cameras, and microphones.
- The Materials Design emphasis with rounded corners within the new UI is a notable change, however sadly, it could be a restricted A/B take a look at for now.
Like most of our favourite video conferencing apps, Google Meet skyrocketed in reputation when the pandemic hit, particularly amongst Workspace prospects. Lately, the corporate has stored up the cadence with a gentle stream of recent options and updates, corresponding to a brand new Results menu and hand-raise detection. Now, the slightly elementary controls for switching between related enter gadgets have gotten simpler to entry with a redesigned UI.

What’s Google Meet?
Google Meet is a simple strategy to keep related with household and buddies wherever you go
For years now, Google Meet has allowed you to accurately configure and take a look at audio and video settings earlier than you hop into a gathering, but when something occurs mid-call, you should dive into the overflow menu to entry these settings once more. This conduct is constant throughout the Android app and the net UI, and that’s as a result of the assembly controls solely permit muting and unmuting your self, or toggling your related digicam on or off.
The previous design for assembly controls options spherical toggles and buttons
Nevertheless, I just lately noticed a brand new design on Meet on the net, that includes a wider, pill-shaped mic and digicam controls. They nonetheless perform as one-click toggle switches, however Google has added a brand new arrow pointing upwards beside both toggle. Tapping the one beside the mic brings up a large and floating pill-shaped menu with drop-down menus to change between related audio system and microphones.
New floating menu for audio controls
The floating menu beside the digicam toggle within the assembly controls summons the same huge, pill-shaped bar with a drop-down to decide on the right webcam. You additionally get a one-click shortcut to the Results panel in Meet, the place you possibly can arrange customized backgrounds and apply dynamic filters to your feed. Each floating menus characteristic a gear icon, which opens up the detailed Settings menu with all of the controls for audio, video, captions, and reactions. I additionally respect Google’s emphasis on Materials Design, evident from the liberal use of rounded corners within the floating menus.
New floating menu for video controls
These new floating menus are a refreshing change as a result of they may prevent treasured seconds spent switching between related gadgets, saving you a go to to the Settings web page within the overflow menu, and the plethora of choices accessible there. Sadly, this appears to be a restricted, server-side A/B take a look at as a result of none of my colleagues at AP are seeing the brand new pill-shaped toggles and their menu bars, and Google hasn’t printed any documentation or announcement detailing this UI change both. We’ll maintain an eye fixed out for a wider rollout, however for now, most customers should follow the traditional spherical toggles for mic and digicam within the assembly controls.