The Google Jamboard is a 55-inch 4K display that allows co-workers across the globe collaborate on ideas in real time using Google’s G Suite of work apps.
Google has introduced what it labels ‘Jamboard’- a digital take on the whiteboard that essentially replaces the board with a touch-panel that lets you connect to your colleagues across the world and lets you scribble using digital markers and erasers. Google follows Microsoft, which has a similar Surface Hub for online collaboration between teams.
The Google Jamboard is a 55-inch 4K touchscreen and comes with Google’s G Suite of cloud-based tools which include Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Docs among others. Aimed at online collaboration for work, the Jamboard allows real-time exchange of ideas with a cloud-first approach. The device allows fellow colleagues who might be sitting in other parts of the world to simultaneously contribute on their Jamboards or remotely use the smartphone or tablet companion app to exchange ideas.
In tune with Google’s recent approach at venturing into hardware products, the Google Jamboard is the company’s first hardware product in its suite of cloud-based tools. It essentially ties together Google’s tools, search, and cloud services all together. For example, one could start a Jamboard session and co-workers can join in from anywhere using the Jamboard app on iOS or Android and see real-time feed from the board and can add text, photos, and drawings through the session. They can further pull their work from Google Docs, Sheets and Slides, or add photos stored in Drive. The progress can then be further share with Google Hangout participants. To enhance the brainstorming process, Jamboard comes with in-built features like sticky notes, stencils, and also handwriting and shape recognition for better experience.
Google Jamboard saves all of the scribbles in the Google Drive so that one could always come back to the idea they discussed in a session. The Google Jamboard is not just any dumb touchscreen display but one that comes with an in-built HD camera, speakers, and Wi-Fi making it a one-stop boardroom tool in itself that lets users work and broadcast globally using Hangouts. ALSO READ: Microsoft Surface Hub is an 84-inch 4K display with Windows 10 inside
One of the subtle but smarter features includes the stylus and eraser which are not battery operated and give pretty much the old school feel of chalk or marker and the duster. The screen is pressure sensitive when one is writing or drawing on it so Google has intended to keep the feel intact; adding to it is the ability to use your hand to erase things. Similar to traditional whiteboards, the stylus and microfiber eraser are kept in place on Jamboard’s metal base with magnets. One needn’t necessarily stick to the digital stylus as any rubber-tipped stylus works with the Google Jamboard.
It needs to be noted that it isn’t the first time a digital collaborative display has been introduced. Microsoft, which is still reigning strong in terms of offering the most widely used office suite and collaborative tools, introduced its Surface Hub back in 2015. The device is also a larger take on analog whiteboard with a more intuitive collaboration screen. The Microsoft Surface Hub comes in two sizes of 55-inches and 84-inches. However, the 4K display is available only in the larger model. The device is essentially a Windows 10 computer with an extra-large screen. It comes with physical side buttons for volume, brightness, and input selection. It features Core i5/i7 chipset with a 128GB SSD and 8GB of RAM. The 84-inch model further comes with Nvidia Quadro graphics. Other features include Bluetooth, NFC, and built-in dual webcam with noise-cancelling microphones for teleconferences.
What differentiates the Google Jamboard with the Microsoft Surface Hub is essentially the display size in which Microsoft is offering a larger variant, the type of accessories, and also the huge price difference. The Jamboard comes with styluses and eraser while the Surface Hub comes with a set of pens which double up as erasers when flipped. Unlike the Jamboard, there are no digital stickers or icons, but it does offer an option to choose the ink color. The Surface Hub further comes with 100-point touch support, which means more people can work on the device. It further supports pinch and zoom feature. Priced at $8,999 and $21,999, the Microsoft Surface Hub is powered with Microsoft Office Suite of apps including Skype for Business and Powerpoint. ALSO READ: Ok Google, your Pixel smartphones are impressive
Google has partnered with its G Suite customers like Instrument, Netflix, and Spotify to bring the best of its hardware and software together for the Jamboard. It is further tying up with BenQ to bring the product to the market. The Google Jamboard is unlikely to hit markets before next year. It will be priced under $6,000. However, those interested in the technology could register today and become part of the early-adopter program.