Zoom Workplace

Had an app developer for a different app set up a video call time to ask opinions on a new service coming about one of my medical conditions. I hadn’t even heard of Zoom before, but when FT didn’t work, I quickly downloaded Zoom & it took zero time for us to be able to view each other’s screens, which was more imperative for her, but her being able to share screens with me that were still in development was extremely easy! Once I figured out to unmute her (a default setting, at least in my case), it was so easy to use, I didn’t need a tutorial or anything! It was a last minute, phone hook-up problem that I didn’t take time to read about the app or even see if a tutorial was there (I’m sure there is). So VERY easy to use, point & click & I was able to complete helping them, they being in Singapore & myself in eastern USA! This video chat could possibly be beneficial for millions of people, literally! Thank you, Zoom for making this happen! Would definite recommend this to others!!

I have been using it for a few years and it has always worked well. screen sharing, drawing on shared screen, audio only vs audio and video, etc all work well. The only thing I wish it does better is power consumption of Bluetooth earpieces like AirPods. Usually I can go for 4-5 hours on my AirPods when listening but if I am on zoom (or google hangout) even if I am on mute the whole time I drain the battery after about and a half. You would think the app can be a bit smarter about being on mute and switch to the listening-only mode and turnoff microphone. I understand the microphone can be draining the battery and it may cause temporary interruption or delay when switching mode but I think if you make it an option for the user then many of them such as myself would gladly accept this trade off for not having to replace our Bluetooth earpiece 1.5 hours into our conference call.

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I had to use this app for a job interview last week, and it did not work well. I had set everything up in advance, practicing with my iPad, my MacBook and my iPhone, just to be safe. The 20 minute call was supposed to be at 1:10, so I pressed the connect button at 1:09 and got a screen that said “launching”. Three minutes later it still said launching “. So I disconnected and tried again - and get “launching”. Now I’m five minutes late for the 20 minute interview. So I switch to my iPhone which makes the connection instantly, but I only see video for the first few seconds of the call, and the audio is only at the minimum level with no option to make it louder. The black screen kept switching back and forth to one with a green icon of a telephone, still with very minimal sound. So I spent the last 12 minutes of what was supposed to be a 20 minute interview across the country with no video and the need to keep repeating questions back to the search committee because I couldn’t hear them. I may not have gotten this job anyway, but using the Zoom app certainly eliminated any possibility of me being considered for the job.

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I’m blown away at how many people say they think the audio is good. Technically, the audio is crap. If you look it up it is one-third the quality of a normal mp3. That is literally the same quality as a payphone. On top of that, they add effects to remove the background noise. This actually makes your voice sound worse, not better. By removing any noise, it also removes parts of your voice that make it sound clear. In fact, the only real time you want to remove background noise is when there’s lots of noise happening in the background. Like at a baseball game, or a crowded street. But if you’re having a conference in those environments, you shouldn’t be in a conference. Instead, Zoom places all the attention on that possible situation, killing the clarity for the situations where most people use Zoom: In a quiet office. Zoom. Please, please, please improve the audio quality. You advertise HD Voice, but the quality is abhorrent and unlistenable. You are doing your customers a disservice. Otherwise, it’s a great app.

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In theory this app and service is a great idea but in practice the execution horrible and is completely unreliable. I’m a mobile developer and in many situations My colleagues and I are forced to use Zoom to run our product demos. Since we are demoing our apps we want to screen share the app as we would do with any Air Play technology. That’s where this falls apart. As a straight Air Play replacement, this tech is a huge fail. Connections constantly drop and there is an unbearable amount of latency between the presenting and display devices. You’re way better off using a regular old Apple TV which is steady and reliable. Trying to use the mobile app while joining a meeting is another nightmare. The mobile app cannot maintain connection as people are joining and leaving the call. We’ve tested in different rooms with above average network quality and the ceiling seems to be “average performance at best”. So where does this leave us? With botched demos that frustrate developers and audience members. Nothing is worse than being unable to show off work you’re proud of because your presentation equipment is letting you down. For our org it might be too late as our company has bought in 100% into this tech which is probably way more complicated and complex than a standard Apple TV set up and nowhere near as reliable. If you have a chance to avoid this, please do so.