Zoom has a reputation for being a reliable and easy-to-use tool that handles meetings of up to 100 people. And this is just for the free version. If you need to host large online meetings, there are paid packages that increase the limit and add several new features.
Just add a webcam to your PC or turn on the laptop webcam, and you will be able to stay in touch with work colleagues, friends, and family from your home or anywhere else.
Mostly, the free, basic version of the Zoom meeting provides all the necessary things, and we are going to take a look at them. We will tell you all the things that you need to do to get the most out of this tool.
- Using webcam:
Almost all laptops have a built-in webcam; however, it isn’t the case with a desktop computer. Some monitors contain integrated cameras; however, you might need to add a webcam to your setup. This won’t cost that much; however, like other hardware devices, there isn’t any upper limit. Moreover, you don’t need anything special, just a camera with a reasonable resolution.
- Sign up to Zoom:
Just visit the Zoom website and click the “Sign-up” button on the upper right corner of the page. Just like other sign-ups, you will receive a confirmation email. After that, you can secure your account with a password. You can also invite the people you know to sign up for Zoom.
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- Download the software:
Click the link to go to your new account. The software you have to download is listed at the top of the page. There are also browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox; however, currently, we are only interested in the Zoom Client for Meetings desktop app. Moreover, there are mobile apps that you can download on your Android or Apple devices.
- Host a Meeting:
Just go through the installation of Zoom Client for Meetings. Once this process is complete, just enter your email and password and click the sign-in button. To start a new video conference, just click on the “New meeting” button, and you would see the footage from your webcam. You can also invite people to join the meeting by clicking the invite button and sending emails.
- Become part of a Meeting:
There are many ways to join a meeting. If you receive an invite to a meeting, all you need to do is to click the link and start taking part in it. Moreover, you can choose whether to connect through video, audio, or both, just like everyone else in the meeting.
- File-sharing:
Other than sharing video and audio, you can also share files through Zoom’s chat feature. When you move your mouse over the video window, you will see several buttons at the bottom of the screen. Just click chat, and you can send a text message to other participants, like phone numbers, codes, and files.
- Screen sharing and recording:
If you are the host, you can simply click the Record button at the bottom of the screen to record the meeting. Other people can also record the meeting; however, they require the permission of the host. Zoom provides several options through the Share Screen button. You can also open a whiteboard where everyone can write or draw.
If you are interested in more products for video conferencing, you can check out Logitech’s products or Google hangouts.
