Buzz
Google has just issued a notification regarding the discontinuation of older versions of some G Suite applications for computers and mobile devices from August 12, 2020. The search giant is urging users and admins to update their applications to continue using them. Versions of a list of applications released before December 2018 will be affected by this change.
The company stated that this occurred due to changes in 'API and service infrastructure' that Google began implementing in 2018. While the exact nature of these changes remains unclear, they could be attributed to efforts like Project Strobe (according to 9to5Google), aimed at reviewing third-party developer access to user data. This initiative also brought about API changes for certain applications such as Google Drive and Gmail. Project Strobe was announced on the same day reports of an API vulnerability allowing third-party developers to access Google+ user data surfaced.
Below is a list of applications that Google indicates need updating:
- Google Classroom app for iOS
- Google Docs app for iOS and Android
- Google Drive app for iOS and Android
- Drive File Stream application on PC
- Gmail app for iOS
- Google Sheets app for iOS and Android
- Google Slides app for iOS and Android
Google advises both regular users and administrators to update these applications before August 12th as the changes will affect all G Suite users and users with personal Google accounts. The company also requires admins to update to the latest version of Drive File Stream if they are deploying data using this service. If you are using the listed applications and have not updated them for a while, it's best to access the app store and perform the updates.
To avoid missing out on updates for new application versions, Google is planning to 'remind' users more frequently. It's highly likely that Google Play Store will display app update notifications on devices again.
