Stuff - UK (2021-03)

ZOOM

QKit up and sit up

Zoom works with built-in mics

and speakers, but that doesn’t

always give you good results.

If you use a PC and sit far

from it, invest in a headset.

Even with a mobile device,

a headset can be a good way

to screen out ambient noise.

Also, position your device on

a stand to avoid cramp and the

camera pointing up your nose.

QBe silent, not deadly

On all platforms, Zoom offers

settings to define key defaults

when you enter a meeting. Our

advice: set it so you always

begin meetings with video

and audio disabled. That

way you’re in control of your

entrance, rather than rocking

up at the precise moment your

kid yells something rude or you

sneeze over the camera.

THE BASICS

SPECIAL EFFECTS

QTransport yourself

Not had time to tidy? Fire

up a virtual background and

pretend you’re somewhere

far nicer. Or add your own

custom snap of you looking

at the screen, to make out

you’re paying attention in

your meetings when you’re

not even in the room.

QFlatter yourself

Feeling old and wrinkly? The

‘Touch up my appearance’

setting removes rough edges,

to the degree it’ll look like

you’ve been ironed. Still, on

the desktop client you can

tame this filter, and also adjust

your video for low light.

With people cooped up for months on end, Zoom has become

a video chat sensation... Craig Grannell shows how to get the

most from conversing with friends and colleagues on a screen

QLonely? Plan it...

People thrive on routine. For

colleagues working remotely,

having a set time on a weekly

basis to just see other people

and chat can boost morale.

But even with friends, setting

up a regular meeting means

people are likely to attend.

It’s far better than the usual

“We should totally set up a

chat at some point” – which

inevitably never happens.

QGo on the record

The idea of recording your

meetings might whiff of

Orwellian surveillance, but

recordings can be handy for

your own reference and to

share what was said with

someone who couldn’t attend.

Note that if you’re not the

host they’ll need to give you

permission to record, and all

participants are notified when

a recording begins.

QPay for today

Zoom’s free tier is generous,

enabling you to have chaotic

video chats with up to 100

people. However, meetings

are short (40 minutes

maximum) and recordings

are local, not cloud-based.

Pay £12 per month and

meetings can last as long

as you like. Too much? You

can always time a month

of premium to coincide with

important events.

BETA YOURSELF

I get tweak
Zoom has a lot of
settings, not least when
you head to the website.
They’re worth exploring
in detail, to properly
fine-tune your
personal setup.