2023-06-30|News
Like most people, I rely on a webcam and a speakerphone for Zoom or Teams meetings. That’s because I work on my own. But now that more of us are returning to the office, there’s a growing need for easy video-conferencing setups in huddle rooms. Ideally, what the modern work environment needs is a video-conferencing setup that can handle up to eight participants and make sure everyone can see and be seen, as well as hear and be heard.
The KanDao Meeting Ultra video-conferencing solution brings all these features together in one handy and relatively affordable device that’s ideal for smaller meeting rooms. In essence, this is an Android device with two 15.6-inch screens, two webcams with 360˚ panorama function, eight beamforming microphones and the ability to run any meeting software currently available on the Android platform.
The KanDao Meeting Ultra is the first device of its type that I’ve seen with dual FHD touchscreens. It’s an ideal for hybrid meetings and is also available in a version without the screens, called the KanDao Meeting Standard. This is a good solution for meeting rooms that already have screens installed.
Because the KanDao Meeting Ultra uses the Android platform, many of the most popular video meeting apps are supported and are easy to launch using the touch screens. – KANDAO
The advantage of the KanDao Meeting Ultra is that all participants in a smaller meeting room can have eye contact and the two screens are large enough to show visual cues from the remote guests. And thanks to full duplex sound and the eight beamforming mics, the conversation flows more naturally and everyone can hear everyone else very clearly.
The build quality of the KanDao Meeting Ultra is exemplary and well up to withstanding the rigors of daily corporate use. There’s a Kensington lock port for ensuring the device stays where it’s meant to stay. In addition, the Meeting Ultra has a plethora of ports for attaching extra screens either by HDMI or by using wireless screen mirroring. There are USB-A ports for adding a mice and keyboard if required, plus there is a microSD card slot so that all calls can be recorded.
At the heart of the KanDao Meeting Ultra is a 4K webcam that’s capable of HDR and 360-degree coverage at 30fps. Straight out of the box, the image looks a little desaturated but there are settings for adjusting the output. The camera can be set in a variety of views including 360˚ or gallery modes, plus there is a function to zoom in on a participant as soon as they begin speaking.
With its twin touchscreens, 4K panoramic webcam and eight beamforming mics, the KanDao Meeting Ultra is incredibly versatile and capable. – KANDAO
The AI function works well and cuts to speakers by using smart face detection and tracking. Even if a speaker moves in their seat, the camera will keep track and focus on their face for as long as they are speaking. The unit has an upgraded AI Algorithm 4.0 that can accurately localize and auto-frame people attending the meeting, ensuring everyone can be seen and heard clearly.
The full-duplex audio system consists of eight-omnidirectional microphones and there’s a 10W speaker that can be heard clearly within a five-meter-radius. The sound quality is excellent and certainly loud enough for everyone in a small to medium meeting room.
As mentioned previously, the KanDao Meeting Ultra is built around the Android operating system and can run any Android-compatible software using the two FHD displays which have 10-point capacitive touch function. The screens can tilt upwards but there is no height adjustment on the device so it’s best to position it on a table set at the correct height or else place it on a tripod or mount using the built-in screw thread. The screens can’t swivel horizontally but their viewing angle is sufficient for three people either side to have a good view.
As well as isolating individuals in a meeting, the KanDao Meeting Ultra can also provide a 360 degree panorama of the meeting room. – KANDAO
There are three discussion modes built into the KanDao Meeting Ultra that offer multi-attendee framing, main speaker focusing, as well as being able to display all attendees. The system can automatically adjust the view according to the number of faces it detects. An optional panorama view can be shown at the top of the screen. You can also highlight a specific speaker by manually dragging to the main split-screen and zooming in after view-locking.
If the two built-in screens are not sufficient for the number of attendees in the room, extra screens can be added using an HDMI cable or by sharing through Miracast or AirPlay screen sharing, enabling the system to be used with iOS, macOS, Android or Windows devices. Users can extend views using the two built-in HDMI OUT ports to connect two external screens so an audience can see what’s going on if the meeting is held in an auditorium.
The reason the KanDao Meeting Ultra works so well in practice is down to computing hardware onboard. The device has an 8-core CPU, 4-core GPU, plus 6-Tops NPU hardware. All this power translates into stable transmission, accurate human face and voice detection, plus low latency tracking that reacts very quickly with speaker changes.
Connecting to the Internet is either via Wi-Fi or Ethernet. I used both methods in my tests and the quality was excellent. In large corporate settings where Wi-Fi coverage might be patchy or heavily used, I would recommend opting for Ethernet to ensure a consistent connection, a vital component in any important video conference.
Verdict: The KanDao Meeting Ultra is the first affordable all-in-one video conferencing solution I’ve tested which works well. It’s intuitive to use and offers good image and sound quality. The system can be setup and placed in a meeting room and there’s no need for someone to remember to bring a laptop.
The choice of apps is wide and the system even has its own shop window offering all the apps you might want to download with a touch of the screen. The way the camera picks up a wraparound view of the meeting room and both zooms and tracks the changing speakers in a meeting, is flawless.
The sound from the built-in speakers is sufficient for everyone to hear and there’s plenty of scope for extending the screens. The push buttons on the top of the unit are handy for adjusting volume, switching view and muting the mics. In addition, there’s a remote control supplied with the unit. There’s little to criticize about the KanDao Meeting Ultra for the money.
If you are planning on a more regular return to office, this video conferencing solution could be a big help and will help remote workers feel more included. The device is also ideal for standalone use in locations where screens are not available, such as meeting pods.
Pricing & Availability: The KanDao Meeting Ultra and Meeting Ultra Standard are available for purchase in the U.S. from Amazon. The KanDao Meeting Ultra is priced at $2,899, while the Meeting Ultra Standard costs $1,399.
More info: kandaovr.com
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View original content: https://www.forbes.com/sites/marksparrow/2023/06/30/the-new-kandao-meeting-ultra-is-an-ideal-solution-for-hybrid-meetings/?sh=2f162a607711
