Technology
Google integrates blur, captioning and low-light mode to Take Video Calls
Google Meet is working on a number of new features that match its competitors, including allowing users to add images or a blur effect to video call backgrounds, Google reported 9to5. As they can use Zoom and Microsoft Teams on rival videoconferencing platforms, users will be able to either select their own image or pick from multiple default options.
Google confirmed to The Verge that the consumer version of Meet will be rolled out in addition to background blur and background replacement images, real-time captioning, low-light mode, hand-raising and a tile view of up to 49 meeting participants.
The firm did not offer information as to when the updates would be available, but Google announced that Meet was already previewing some of the new features for its customers in education and industry.
Google introduced Meet in Gmail last month, adding a sidebar connection and allowing meetings with up to 100 people open to anybody with a Google account with no time limits. Functions to keep up with videoconferencing juggernaut Zoom, the pioneering videoconferencing software for people who work and study remotely after the coronavirus pandemic.
Google and Microsoft are starting to catch up with Zoom; Microsoft has expanded the Teams software to 75 million active regular users, the company said in April. And Meet recently reached 100 million members in Meet meetings every day, Google reports.
