Zoom has become the household name for video conferencing. But Google is closing in, by introducing two features its famous competitor lacks.
In an effort to slice off a larger piece of the video conferencing pie from Zoom, Google that has been dedicating a lot of resources to improve Meet, said that a few new features would be coming.
And two of those additions are showing up ahead of schedule.
First, is the updated layout option to view more participant at once.
With the layout, Google Meet users can see up to 49 people at once with the tiled layout option.
Meet has also added the ability for users to see themselves as one of the tile on the call. Initially, this feature has been made for Meet on the web, and isn't turned on by default.
The feature should be highly appreciated, especially by users who frequently engage in crowded group calls.
Read: To Fight Zoom, Google Meet Arrives To Gmail App On Android And IOS
The second addition, is the background blur.
The feature which doesn't need much explaining, essentially blurs the background, in an artsy and professional way.
In other words, everything besides the user, is bokeh.
According to Google, this can help "limit distractions during meetings." When the feature is turned on, Meet will "separate you from the background, blurring your surroundings while keeping you clear and in focus."
Unfortunately, the feature uses a lot of resources. This is why Google isn't making the feature available to ChromeOS or the Google Meet mobile apps, or at least yet.
At least initially, the feature can be found on Windows or Mac devices, with at least four cores that supports Hyper-Threading.
This kind of feature is nothing new, as Zoom is already having it for quite some time. But the addition of such feature to Google Meet, gives Google yet another advantage in the competition.
Both of these features should make the video conferencing app better, especially when many people are still working from home due to the 'COVID-19' coronavirus pandemic.
Additionally, Google has unveiled Google Meet hardware to facilitate video conferencing for employees working in combined remote and in-person work environments.
Called the 'Series One' meeting room kits, they were created in partnership with Lenovo, and feature an array of tools that make it easier for G Suite users to collaborate with their co-workers.
Powered by AI to deliver better experience, users can also join meetings with the hands-free Google Assistant control by saying “Hey Google, join my meeting".
“The new Series One room kits were designed specifically with customers and administrators in mind,” said TJ Varghese, group product manager of Google Meet hardware.
“The devices easily blend into any room and come in two color models, Charcoal and Chalk. Rounded corners, quality fabric and Google’s signature industrial design make Series One a welcome addition to any architectural style.”
Related: How Google Meet And Google Duo Confront The Almighty Zoom