Zoom is one of the most popular video conferencing tools in use today. Its ease of use and light digital footprint make it a great choice for quick meetings.
However, Zoom has its fair share of problems that need to be addressed. The main issue is that the company collects too much data and shares it with third parties.
| Have you tried Meetn, the new online meeting platform? It’s turning out to become a decent alternative to Zoom and to the other major platforms. |
Google Meet
Google Meet is a popular video-conferencing tool that works across desktop, tablet and mobile. The platform is available for free as a stand-alone app or as part of the Google Workspace bundle of business and personal productivity tools.
To join a meeting, you can either click the invite link in an email or on Google Calendar, or you can ask the host to send you the meeting code. Then, you can open the Google Meet website in your browser or the mobile app and paste the meeting code or link into the Enter a code or link field, then click Join.
During the meeting, you can share a full screen, a browser window or a tab in your desktop to everyone in the room. There are also a number of other in-meeting options, including a whiteboard, which lets you draw and collaborate with others. Alternatively, you can record the call and upload it to your Drive account.
Skype Meet Now
Skype has introduced a new feature that lets people join video calls without signing up for an account or downloading the app. It’s a move to compete with Zoom, which saw a massive surge in use following the coronavirus pandemic.
Users can invite anyone, regardless of their Skype status, to join their Meet Now call using a unique link that Skype generates for them. The link does not expire, and participants can share it with each other, much like the way they share links to WhatsApp chats.
During the meeting, all of the usual features are available, including screen sharing, file sharing, polling, and whiteboards. There’s even a background blur option, which helps participants focus on one another instead of the distractions around them.
Microsoft has also added a new Skype Meet Now button to the Windows 10 toolbar, which makes it easy to make or join calls from within the desktop environment. The new tool is also available through the latest Canary version of Edge, the company’s browser.
Cisco Webex
Cisco Webex is an enterprise-grade conferencing app that supports video calls, screen sharing and chat. It is compatible with desktops, room systems and mobile devices.
Users can also share files from their desktop or laptop, and collaborate on virtual whiteboards. Moreover, there’s active speaker technology that automatically switches the main video feed to whichever participant is talking.
In addition, the Webex system scans meeting participants’ faces and assigns them a secure meeting ID. This allows them to participate in any meeting without having to re-enter their information.
Cisco Webex also combines the power of its UCaaS platform with a suite of machine learning and generative AI functions. These features are aimed at making hybrid work more inclusive, supportive and flexible.
Discord
Discord is a voice and text chat platform with a variety of features designed to make it easier for users to interact. It is used mostly for gaming, but it also lets people connect with friends and share ideas.
While Discord was originally created for gamers to chat while playing games like Fortnite together, it has branched out and become a more general social platform. It’s a great way to meet other gamers and communicate with people you may not have met otherwise.
A good place to start is by finding a server that matches your interests. There are a variety of different kinds of servers available, from sports to anime.
It’s also a good place to find game developers and publishers, who often use Discord to share updates with their communities. For example, they might post new screenshots or concept art.
As a security precaution, Discord strongly encourages server-wide two-factor authentication. This extra layer of protection prevents threat actors from taking over accounts with greater permission levels. It also monitors channels for explicit content, and automatically deletes posts that violate community guidelines.