Google announced that it will delete accounts and content for Google users that have been inactive for two years for security reasons. This includes Gmail, Google Drive data and other settings and deletion of data will not occur before December 2023.
Google user data and content can be backed up and exported using Google Takeout.
Google released ChromeOS Flex, a free cloud-based secure operating system for older PCs and Macs in July 2022. Potential users should check if their device is on Google’s list of computers models that are certified to work with ChromeOS Flex. Documentation is available at chromeenterprise.google/os/chromeosflex and at the Chrome OS Flex Help site.
Google’s Self-Repair Program for Google Chromebooks has instructions and manuals for schools to help them make repairs locally. Additional help can be found at the Chromebook Help Center and Chrome Education and Enterprise Help Center.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced the standup of the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC). This will be a cyber defense collaboration with major technology companies such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Verizon, etc. More information is available at www.cisa.gov/jcdc.
Google Workspace (formerly known as G Suite) has now been made available to all Google users, including free Google user accounts. More information is available at workspace.google.com/faq.
Update: G Suite Legacy Free Edition will no longer be available as of July 1, 2022. This will not affect users with a free Google account using Gmail, Docs, Sheets and other apps.
Google account users that back up new photos and videos in High quality will have these files counted towards their free 15 GB storage limit starting June 1, 2021. Google will provide a free tool in June 2021 that will let users find and review low-quality photos to stay within the free 15 GB storage limit. Additional file storage can be purchased from Google One, if needed
Another recent Google Photos change is the ability to save photo attachments in a Gmail message directly to Google Photos with a new “Save to Photos” button (JPEG images only).
Major technology companies will hold their annual developer conferences in the summer of 2021:
Google has added new features to celebrate 10 years of Chromebooks as part of Chrome OS 89. These include:
Chrome OS is currently the second most popular operating system, according to Google.
A full list of Chromebook keyboard shortcuts may be found here.