Category: Productivity

Today, video conferencing is a fact of life – whether we are using it to work from home, attend school or keep in touch with family and friends. And its popularity will likely continue with the increasing numbers of remote jobs and home workers. So, what are the best video conference apps? The answer depends on what you will be using it for, so we’ve covered as many options as we can in this blog.

Best for freelancers and small businesses

In the last year, Zoom has become almost ubiquitous with the term video conference apps, thanks to its fairly generous free plan (Zoom basic), dependability, and ease of use. The free version allows you to hold unlimited meetings for up to 100 people and offers streaming, screen sharing, session recording, and breakout rooms, among other features.

Its biggest downside (although some would argue this is also a positive) is the 40-minute limit on any meeting with three or more attendees. However, there are paid plans for companies that require longer meetings, live tech support, cloud storage, company branding, or having more than one person schedule meetings.

Microsoft Teams is another good choice for online meetings, and its full integration with Office 365 and dedicated conversation channels makes it very flexible for work teams.

Best for family and friends

When meeting up with family and friends, the emphasis is usually on ease of use rather than business-friendly features. Google Hangouts is great for this, and while the free version only allows online meetings of up to 10 people, it requires just a few clicks to set up a meeting and can be used either in a web browser or via the app.

If you want to spice up your get-togethers with more features, the free Jitsi Meet is a good video conference app choice. It requires no setup or account and boasts extras like in-meeting YouTube video playback and live-streaming. It even allows tech-minded users to download the source code and set up their own server.

Skype Meet Now is a popular choice for those who are already familiar with Skype. Its free tier offers video conferencing for up to 50 people, screen sharing options, and the ability to automatically blur backgrounds as well as adding live subtitles.

Best for larger businesses

Provided as part of Google Workspace (formerly G Suite), Google Hangouts’ premium brother, Google Meet, is geared more towards business. The free offering has a 100 person, 60-minute limit, with paid plans which offer the ability to host meetings for up to 250 people and 100,000 live-stream viewers, a large amount for a video conference app.

For those who need a more serious video conferencing tool, GoToMeeting has paid plans that will support up to 3,000 guests, and include automatic transcription, unlimited cloud recording, whiteboard capabilities, and 24/7 phone support. Hosts can even hand over control to another participant.

Another option is Bluejeans, a high-end video conferencing service that is both easy to use and to adapt to your needs. Hosts can create up to 20 breakout sessions and annotate the screen like a whiteboard. The service also supports directional audio for Dolby Sound-enabled rooms.

Cisco Webex Meetings, on the other hand, has a professional feel and allows free video meetings with up to 100 people, including private chat rooms. Paid plans offer the ability to make and store MP4 recordings of your meetings, customizable layouts, and a number of AI-powered features, such as a voice-activated digital assistant to automate common meeting tasks, real-time transcription, and closed-captioning.

Whether you’re organizing a D&D session for 10, a family birthday party, an online lesson, or a business conference for 1,000 participants – there’s a video conferencing service out there that will suit your needs. Find out how you can also add XSplit VCam to some of these apps easily here to remove, replace or just blur your webcam background! Something that’s vital for privacy but also great to add a bit of fun to a family call!

You’ve heard it before – to stay productive, you need to treat working remotely the same way as you would working from the office. But to really be efficient, the key is to work smarter not harder. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to increasing your productivity because we all have different lives and lifestyles – not to mention different jobs. But one universal is that the right tools can help you to do more when it comes to your productivity. In this blog, we’re going to take a look at some work from home apps that can help you achieve your goals.

Note-taking productivity apps for working from home

For many, being productive while working at home means staying focused and not getting side-tracked by an interesting podcast or Netflix show. For others, productivity is all about being able to find what you need quickly – from emails to meeting notes. For both types of home workers, there are work from home apps to help.

The Evernote note-taking app can help you organize everything from recipes to audio files. It allows you to capture notes through writing, audio, photos, pdfs, digital sketches – almost any way of recording information. Type in a word or key phrase and Evernote will search through all of your documents and images for that search term. You can also use it to share notes with others, and collaborate on creating and editing documents.

Microsoft OneNote is another note-taking app, designed to sync up with other Microsoft products. You can insert text, images, and other types of documents onto a page and then move them around – and it’s particularly useful for linking up with Microsoft OneDrive and Outlook. It also comes with a host of special features, like allowing you to sync up audio recordings of lectures with the notes you take.

If you’re more familiar with the Apple universe, you could use Apple Shortcuts instead. This app allows you to automate a series of actions, such as automatically putting your phone on silent when you reach the office, or when you have a meeting.

Become an organizational wizard

Is your ‘to-do’ list written on scraps of paper scattered all over your desk? If so, you may want to consider Todoist (pronounced to-do-ist, rather than rhyming with ‘moist’) which makes our best work from home apps. This electronic to-do app allows you to create joint lists with other people and can handle up to 80 projects. The paid plan includes reminders, labels, and the ability to add comments to tasks.

Organisation also extends to your computer desktop. While some people keep their desktop tidy, others struggle to maintain a carefully organized or hierarchical folder structure. X1 Search can help, with an app that allows you to quickly find anything on your computer. X1 will search through your desktop, email, calendars – everything – for that elusive file you could have sworn was right there.

Apps for creative collaboration

Workplace tools for collaboration and communication are transforming how teams get work done together. But there is more out there than Microsoft Teams and Slack. While those are great apps, they don’t always suit smaller teams.

If you are looking for a work from home app that can create diagrams and will also support collaboration, you could try Lucidchart. With very reasonably priced accounts for teams of three people, Lucidchart allows you to create and share diagrams, allowing more than one person to work on a diagram at the same time. It also comes with a huge template gallery.

Asana was one of the first workplace tools for collaboration and communication and it is still one of the best. It works a bit like a collaborative to-do list app with a host of features that will help your team stay on track and stay productive. Unlike apps that focus on projects, with defined start and end dates, Asana lets you keep track of ongoing work.

Apps to make your presentations picture perfect

Tired of creating Powerpoint presentations and wishing you could do more? XSplit Presenter might be the work from home app you need to make your slideshows come alive. Our presentation app lets you give a professional presentation that keeps your audience engaged, entertained, and most importantly, informed!

XSplit Presenter lets you add personality and flair by easily adding yourself into the presentation and even includes a virtual green screen that removes your background giving your presentation room to breathe while immersing you as a part of it! It also works as a virtual camera in software like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet so you don’t need to worry about accidentally showing the entire meeting your desktop!

That’s not all though, you can annotate your presentations in real-time with a virtual pointer and drawing tools which can easily let the viewer focus on the right thing at the right time. It also lets you answer questions immediately and elaborate on what is already in your presentation. Which, speaking of your presentation, XSplit Presenter works with your existing presentation so if you’re using Google Slides or Microsoft Powerpoint you can easily add that, along with your presenter notes, into XSplit Presenter!

Speeding up your WFH productivity

Are you finding your typing too slow to keep up with your thoughts? SwiftKey Keyboard could help. This is a custom keyboard that works with both Android and iOs operating systems and lets you type by swiping around the keypad, rather than pressing keys the old-fashioned way. It is particularly useful for emailing and writing documents while on the go.

If you are finding it difficult to adapt healthy WFH habits, RescueTime could help. This app is a time tracking tool that records the other apps you use, websites you visit, and even the time you spend away from the computer. You can also classify different sites based on their role in your productivity, and block sites during work hours that are distracting you from your work. This is a great app for those who find themselves just wanting to read that one more news item before getting back to work.

Today’s WFH world is no longer just about meeting deadlines, but juggling all of the demands in a way that suits your lifestyle. Whether that’s doing fewer rote tasks or spending more time with your family – there’s a productivity app for working from home that can help!

Online presentations have, quite simply, never been more important than they are today. With remote work now the new normal for most of us, making a good impression on screen should be a priority. Whether you’re presenting to colleagues at work, or to a prospective client, it’s important that you have the best and most flexible setup and tools available. Here at XSplit, we can help you out with some useful advice and amazing tool recommendations. Read on to learn more!

Preparation is key

The right preparation can help you to create a better remote presentation. Before you start, make sure that the lighting will leave you looking your best, or at least visible. Ensure that you have a good front light, so it shines brightly on your face. If the room you are using doesn’t have enough natural light, you could consider purchasing supplemental lighting to enhance your image.

Try to use a background that enhances your professional image and is aligned with your message. This will mean avoiding clutter and distracting images. Using a presentation platform that allows you to blur the background or, even better, inserting a virtual background with XSplit VCam, can be a big asset in creating the perfect look and feel for any presentation.

A remote presentation is a type of performance, and the best way to a smooth online performance is to know your technology. It’s a good idea to have a dry run, including a soundcheck, to get comfortable with the platform features, and to have a co-host or moderator to assist you with the technology during the presentation.

If possible, plug your computer directly into your router using an Ethernet cable. This will give you the best shot at a stable internet connection. Remember that a weak or unstable internet signal can ruin even the best presentation.

And … action! What to do in front of the camera

Just as it’s important to make eye contact with an audience when presenting live, you should look directly into the camera when presenting remotely. One trick is to place the camera at eye level – this helps to avoid the dreaded double-chin appearance from a camera that is positioned too low, or constantly looking up at people if it is positioned too high.

Ideally, the camera should frame your face, neck, and shoulders. Practice your positioning to find the sweet spot between being too far away, so you appear far off in the distance, and being too close, so that you are just a giant, disembodied head.

Standing up can add a sense of animation and energy to your presentation. If you are sitting, you can add some energy by leaning forward, as if you were a TV news anchor. Leaning back and slouching gives the impression that you are disconnected from the audience.

Remember that the best way to keep people engaged virtually is to be engaging. Research shows that happy and engaged people retain information better than bored people, so model the energy that you want to create. One trick to doing this is to smile. This can help you sound, as well as look, more engaged.

Adding visual appeal

Researchers have found that people remember much more of what they see than what they hear. This means that creating a visually interesting online presentation could be the key to engaging your audience. Consider incorporating polls, videos, raised hand features, etc. Try not to speak for more than a few minutes without some sort of audience engagement.

The flip side to this is that audience comments and chats can be distracting, particularly if you try to read them while speaking. Instead, have the co-host or assistant monitor this for you. Another option is to engage directly with the chats by acknowledging them, reading them out loud, and then commenting on them, a bit like a radio show.

One benefit of remote presenting is that you can dispense with the slides and use more engaging visuals – incorporating videos and using elements like virtual pointers, and scrolling infographics. Or present information as a design feature, giving your presentation a more cinematic feel. Incorporating a ‘guest’ speaker also adds interest and can generate a sense of excitement.

To accomplish this, and make your presentations really pop, you can use a tool like XSplit Presenter! Find out how in the next section.

An app that can do it all – and more!

The new XSplit Presenter can help you create exciting and engaging presentations with its wide range of features. Add the personal touch by becoming part of the presentation. It uses AI technology to allow you to remove your background without a green screen and integrate yourself into your presentations. Instead of a talking head – your audience will see your online presentation, with you standing at the side, narrating. XSplit Presenter also allows you to annotate your presentation in real-time, and add a virtual pointer to make rapid annotations and draw viewers’ attention to a particular point.

If something comes up during Q&A that needs you to share a window or application on your computer, you can share just that window with a few clicks – and avoid showing the audience everything on your desktop. XSplit Presenter also makes it easy to add remote guests or co-hosts into your presentation with both their webcam and microphone, whether it’s an expert to talk on a specific subject matter or someone different. It will also allow conference call guests to hear and listen to the media you play.

As for visuals, XSplit Presenter allows you to add scene transitions and to add your webcam and other overlay elements. Particularly useful are features that support YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, and other types of streaming, allowing you to get your presentation in front of more eyes.

Although tech like XSplit Presenter can help you create the perfect presentation, only you can bring it to life. Whether you are presenting to clients, co-workers, or investors, letting your personality show through will have the most lasting effect.

Whether you run your own business from home or are one of the many employees whose usual premises are closed at the moment, the chances are you’ll need to give an online presentation at some stage. Perhaps you have been asked to train some colleagues remotely or you may even have to give a fully-fledged business pitch online. Whatever the circumstances, the tips below will help you make the process less stressful and deliver a more professional result.

The Benefits of Remote Presentation

Regardless of whether you’re pitching your idea remotely or face to face, one of the key elements to a successful business pitch is human connection. Even the most amazing idea can suffer if the delivery is cold and disingenuous. It might feel as though the human touch is lost through a remote business setup. There’s no opportunity to offer drinks or make small talk in the lobby and as normal as video chat has become over the past year or so, screens can still be seen as a barrier by some.

A well-planned introduction can make almost as strong an impression virtually as in real life. Rather than diving headlong into your presentation, take time to establish a rapport with your target audience. A brief, but warm informal chat will put everyone involved at ease. Those who are a little more shy can benefit from both planning and the presence of a screen. Even the most seasoned presenter can be intimidated by an important business pitch, so why not take advantage of the slight disconnect from the real world and star in the performance of your lifetime?

Take full advantage of available technology

Particularly when you’re making an important business pitch online, it’s best to ensure you take full advantage of the technology available. Utilizing the newest tech tools will show you in a capable and professional light. Investing in a fast and stable internet connection should be a priority, particularly if this type of presentation is a regular task. Whilst it sometimes can’t be helped, patchy unstable video calls can, unfortunately, put a dampener on business meetings.

Most laptops have a reasonable quality webcam as standard these days, and desktop machines can be fitted with an external webcam very inexpensively. There are some amazing software packages available specifically aimed at making your remote pitch go more smoothly. XSplit Presenter is an excellent tool for presentations that allows you to have full control of your presentation! Its handy annotation function can also be a great way to interact with clients, rather than just talking at them. The ability to import Google Slides is ideal for showing a visual presentation alongside yourself, meaning that you don’t need to click between screens, losing eye contact with your clients, or potentially clicking the wrong link mid-pitch.

The world is your oyster

Gone are the days of international travel to pitch businesses overseas. Forget the fact that it’s not really possible for most of the world to travel at the moment – there’s also really no need to! Long-haul trips to negotiate business deals are not cost-efficient for most small businesses, but it’s so easy to give a remote pitch to anyone in the world. This opens up a plethora of new opportunities to SMEs. Don’t let superficial map-drawn boundaries narrow your opportunities for success! Always do your research first, but consider the possibility that you can pitch your ideas worldwide.

It can certainly take time to adjust to our new virtual approach to historically face-to-face tasks. Armed with the right knowledge, preparation and attitude, however, you can take full advantage of the new world of working from home. Whether you present regularly or have a big one-off business pitch online, use these tips to improve your chances of winning your clients over. You can check out some additional info about XSplit Presenter here.

If you’ve experienced the frustration of your laptop trying to run five different databases at the same time or patchy video calls that leave you frozen on the screen, we hear you! Read on for our recommendations of some top work from home equipment to improve your work from home setup.

Ergonomics vs Economics

A great option for an adjustable standing desk is the Uplift V2, which was voted the best standing desk of 2020 by Tech Radar. Its dual motor means that adjusting to the perfect height for you is easy. Once you find the optimum height, its strong stability feature comes into play. This really sets it apart from many standing desks, which can tend to be wobbly. If you’re reluctant to part with your current desk, then the Ergodesk Kangaroo Pro Junior Desk Converter adjusts to offer a standing option to those of up to six feet one inch tall.

Using the wrong chair for long periods can have a detrimental effect on joints and muscles so it’s important to ensure that yours supports your spine whilst also being comfortable. The Hermann Miller Aeron chair has been deemed the cream of the crop when it comes to ergonomic office chairs, but comes with a high-end price tag. If you’re looking to upgrade without breaking the bank, the Modway EEI-757 Articulate Mesh Office Chair is a great alternative. It features many of the same benefits as the Aeron, such as breathable fabric, tilt and lock, and recline functions.

Kit upgrades: worth their weight in gold

Though upgrading your PC or Laptop can be the priciest improvement to your work from home setup, it can also be the one that makes the biggest overall difference to your performance. If you start out with a strong basic setup, such as the HP Envy Desktop (TE01-014), which offers powerful performance in its basic form but has plenty of space for a better graphics card or additional memory, you can upgrade as and when you can afford to.

Split keyboards, such as the Kinesis Freestyle Edge, are a solid option for those who spend a lot of time at their computer desk as their detachable palm supports and cushioned pads reduce the incidence of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI). The Microsoft Sculpt is a great option for jobs involving a large amount of typing as its negative slope attachment is perfect for obtaining the optimum typing position.

In terms of upgrading your mouse, you can’t go wrong with the Logitech MX Vertical Ergonomic mouse, which is angled at 57% to improve wrist posture. Advanced optical tracking also means that four-times less hand movement is required. Another option is the Amazon Basics Full-Size Ergonomic Wireless Mouse, which has adjustable DPI, metallic scroll wheel and rubberized sides.

Better data connections make for better social connections

Though working from home has definite benefits, it can also be quite isolating. Let’s now have a look at how we can improve those video calls to ensure you stay connected. A top-notch background tool, such as XSplit VCam, works as an embedded camera on Windows 10 – so as well as adding it to Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Skype, you can use it with pretty much any program you like, allowing you total control of your video background.

To ensure optimum stability for your video calls and streaming, the Asus RT-AC66U B1 Dual-Band Gigabit Wi-Fi router won’t break the bank. It has a wide range of features, such as a USB 3.0 port, AIProtection and allows for the creation of mesh networks. It’s powered by a 1GHz dual-core CPU, 128MB of flash memory, and 256MB of RAM and has the ability to reach maximum speeds of up to 450Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and up to 1,300Mbps on the 5GHz band.

It’s worth investing some time and energy into improving your work from home setup in order to enjoy the long-term benefits of a more comfortable and functional environment. Though upgrading your workspace can have many pluses, don’t forget just how beneficial maintaining strong connections with your colleagues whilst working from home can be. Find some top tips on how to bond with your team remotely here.