WEEKLY WHEATIES #2429
Virtual Meetings, Software and Hardware Updates, Microphone
In this newsletter:
Post: The Unwritten Rules of Virtual Meetings
In Case You Missed It: Software Updates
In Case You Missed It: Hardware Updates
Pick of the Week: SpaceX
Featured Product: Wireless Microphone
The Unwritten Rules of Virtual Meetings
This may be a little late to the game, but I think a How-To for Webinars and Zoom calls is still useful even years past the Covid pandemic. As I continue to join virtual calls for work or personal use, I still see what I believe should be some general basics overlooked. I hope these tips can be utilized for virtual attendees or those putting them on. Some of these may be personal preferences, too, so I apologize in advance if I strike a nerve.
First off, audio is KING. Nothing else matters if you can’t hear or other people can’t hear you. Having a higher-quality microphone will absolutely help with this, but that may not always be the case. I’d even suggest a USB if need be. The brand Blue has two popular ones called the Yeti and Snowball, which are great! Logitech, Audio-Technica, and Rode are also popular microphones.
However, you may already have a basic version at your disposal – your phone’s headset. This is also important because using headphones is arguably another way to help with audio. When you use your computer’s speakers, they may cause interference and feedback with your microphone. At the very least, just using this headset with a separate microphone and earphones will help those on a call with you. You may not benefit, but I promise others will. Even if you purchase a better-quality microphone as mentioned above, you still need headphones to use instead of speakers.
But how do you know if attendees can hear you? Or how do you know if you’re hearing what you should be hearing? A good tip for presenters is to open every meeting with some audio playing in the background. I suggest instrumental at a lower volume. On a slide or in the chat, you could simply state, “If you cannot hear the music, please check your audio. Send [person] a message if you need help.” If you are an attendee or the presenter, you can simply turn your microphone on and state, “Could someone post in the chat if you are able to hear me?” Preferably early on before too many others join. If there are multiple speakers, have them join early, and test their audio before allowing others to join. During a presentation or webinar, you don’t want multiple people talking at the same time if you can help it.
Video is secondary. Nobody cares what you look like, especially if they can't hear you. However, having your video on is very helpful. It makes you and the whole video call more human. It typically only works if everyone does it, though. Let me remind you, nobody cares what you look like. Having the normal built-in camera is sufficient. However, if you are presenting, especially multiple times or in a very important meeting, a nicer camera may be worth it.
If you don’t like having your camera on because others will see you, I understand. However, remember that if you’re on a video call with someone, one of three things is likely:
They already know what you look like.
You are meeting them for the first time, but they will eventually know what you look like.
You will never talk to them again, why do you care if they see what you look like.
If your call includes, say, less than 10 people, and it’s a meeting, you should absolutely have your camera on. If you’re on one with so many people that they fill the screen, it’s a presentation or webinar, I’ll let you leave it off.
If I can plead with you, please forget the fancy backgrounds, though. It's like WordArt with Comic Sans in PowerPoint. It was really cool at first, but its time is over, and it's more annoying than not. This also includes blurred backgrounds, too. They can give others a headache trying to figure out what to focus on, especially as you move. The focus changes, and the blurry edges aren’t always accurate. Now, if you have an office or home space that you feel may be cluttered and you can’t move, I get it. Except, as mentioned, every time you move, we can still see what’s in the background…
Lastly, please be careful with streaming videos. They generally don't work well. Zoom at least has an option to “optimize for video,” but the audio is never synced correctly, and it becomes distracting to try to watch. If possible, try to break the video down to pictures and narrate it yourself live. Then you can link the video in the chat for viewers to watch later.
A few final tips that may be of use:
Turn off Wi-Fi and hard wire as best you can. This will minimize internet disconnections.
Make sure power is plugged in if on a laptop. Even if you have a full battery, your computer may lower processing power and cause other issues.
Minimize as many background noises as you can (including fans, closing windows, shutting doors, etc).
Know how to mute and unmute yourself as needed.
Utilize the raise hand feature, the chat, and other tools in the call when able.
Any other webinar or virtual meeting tips you can think of?
ICYMI: Software Updates
A week after reporting on Apple joining the OpenAI board as an observer, they have since opted to not take the role, while Microsoft has withdrawn their position. Ars Technica reports this may be due to regulations now set in the EU and the US.
As they work on becoming their own Super App (or at least taking more Social Media market share), Spotify has received a new update. Along with their Discovery Feed and Artist’s Stories, listeners can now engage with others through comments.
ICYMI: Hardware Updates
During the annual Samsung Unpacked event last week, a few new devices were announced. Of course there were the updates to the software, the Galaxy Fold and Flip, the Galaxy Watch, and the Galaxy Buds, a new wearable is now available - the Galaxy Ring.
Over the years, automakers have offered many forms of Hybrid vehicles and recently released full Electric Vehicle versions. In some cases, like Volkswagen and Rivian, joint ventures have been created to provide win-win scenarios between software and physical vehicles. Another larger automaker, Toyota, prepares to release their own version of a “full” self-driving EV.
POTW: A Guide To Attending a SpaceX Launch
As SpaceX launches have been gearing up more and more over the last decade, perhaps you’ve been interested in watching one. I don’t know about you, but I only remember hearing about launches in California and Florida, and more recently, Texas. However, SpaceX has launch sites in Virginia and many others across the globe. Check out their full launch schedule here, and make sure to catch the full guide below.
Featured Product
If you use your mobile phone or table to record video and would like to be a bit more mobile, consider the MAYBESTA Wireless Lavalier Microphone. It works with iPhones, iPads, and Android devices that utilize USB-C. It provides more quality than your headset or Bluetooth earphones of any kind.
