Google Meet Launches New 360-Degree Backgrounds

Google has finally launched 360-degree video backgrounds on Meet, available to users on mobile for iOS and Android. 

The feature was first announced in early January when the company shared a slate of updates coming to Workplace.  

“Meet users on mobile can use several new 360-degree video backgrounds. These backgrounds – which include a beach and a temple – use your device’s gyroscope to create a dynamic experience that moves with you,” Google said in a Workspace update. Admins can choose to turn the backgrounds on or off for members of their video conference.  

Google is also adding editable widgets to its Chat app cards and developers can now include checkboxes, radio buttons and dropdowns which users can find in the Chat message stream. This enables them to change information sent from Chat apps with ease. 

“This feature is available now to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Education Standard, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Frontline, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers only,” it added.  

360-degree backgrounds and editable widgets are among the latest mobile app developments to come from Google. Last month, the company also released emoji reactions for Meets where users can choose from emojis such as a heart, a surprised face, clapping hands and more.