Zoomtopia, the annual event for Zoom video conferencing customers, and partners, recently revealed a host of exciting new features coming to the service. Aside from showcasing updates directly from Zoom, the company also draw attention to some of the partner experiences offered by innovative companies. For instance, Neat, a leader in elegant video experiences especially for Zoom, introduced a host of updates to the meeting solution.
The new features from Neat aim to remove the barriers between remote and in-person meetings. As people settle into the “new normal”, there’s a growing demand for new tools and features to improve video conferencing for everyone. According to Frost and Sullivan analysts, Rob Arnold, Neat is addressing the latest demands in the market with solutions that customers need.
The New Neat Bar Pro
One of the recent additions to the Neat line up is the Near Bar Pro (pictured, above), a solution that builds on the success of the Neat Bar. This hardware supports larger meeting rooms and drives up to 3 screens at once. Customers can access advanced microphone quality, and sophisticated audio processing to reduce “double talk” and background noise.
The Neat Bar Pro also features “Neat Symmetry”, which improves the symmetry between remote workers and people in a meeting room. Neat Symmetry finds people in the meeting room and connects them in gallery view, making it easier for remote participants to read every gesture and facial expression. This solves the issue of remote participants struggling to see people in a meeting room.
Another bonus feature is Neat Sense, which is an advanced selection of features to monitor meeting spaces and ensure healthier environments. The analytics collected by Sense on all Neat tech will be available in the Zoom dashboard for admins to monitor. You can track light, noise, presence, number of people, and even air quality.
Neat further announced that the new Zoom-in-one device, Neat Board, will be shipping this month. This 65-inch multi-touch screen for collaboration offers annotation and whiteboarding. You also get an auto-framing camera, a powerful audio system, And integration with any Zoom for Home or video app.
Updating the Meeting Experience
For those in search of more immersive meeting experiences at home, Neat also revealed the arrival of new personal devices for home users. The Neat One and Neat Frame will arrive in 2021 to overcome many of the challenges that today’s home and remote workers often face.
As more companies shift into the work from home environment, personal video devices will make connections between workers more effective. The Neat Frame solution is an all-in-one service for Zoom at home. This convenient device helps users to meet with colleagues while sound and looking their best. The unique portrait touch screen combined with a fantastic camera ensures people will always remain connected. Acoustic Bubble, the noise cancellation feature from Neat, removes distractions too.
Neat One, from the 2021 portfolio, is the world’s first USB device offering a high-quality microphone array, camera, and speakers in a sleek design. The Neat One experience connects to laptops via USB-C and offers a superior experience to any Zoom client or video app. The solution also comes with the Neat Acoustic bubble, which naturally excludes any unwanted noise. Neat One allows users to run meetings from any laptop using an external screen of their choice. There’s also support to ensure that customers always look their best and sound great.
Customers for Neat are already taking advantage of the new solutions with the latest developments from Zoom. For instance, Core 57, a fitness studio customer of Neat, is using the OnZoom platform with Zoom technology. The connection between Zoom and Neat has helped the company to thrive during the pandemic lockdown stages. The business has been able to continue offering video classes on a digital basis.
According to CEO of Neat, Simen Teigre, the company is passionate about blurring the boundaries between the virtual and physical meetings. Neat wants communicating through video to be a seamless and delightful experience. This will ensure that customers can enjoy more reliable and comfortable video meetings. Based on the feedback from customers, Neat believes it has developed a complete portfolio of devices to suit the full range of needs a customer might have both at home and in the office.
