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I tested this $2,000 AI-powered video bar at work – and it spoiled all my coworkers

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With remote and hybrid work the new normal, video conferencing is a daily part of many jobs. When our engineering firm returned to the office, we started with Owl 360 camera systems, which provided a minimal level of room awareness: the cameras were never very clear, and unflattering wide shots left something to be desired. 

Also: The most versatile camera I’ve tested costs $499 and is not from Sony or Canon

Insta360 is well-known for its fantastic 360-degree cameras: I use the Insta360 RS almost daily to capture action video while riding bikes, running, and fishing. 

For the past few weeks, however, I have been testing the new Insta360 Connect insta360-connect4

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

Settings include camera tracking modes, whiteboard, audio, display, network, and peripherals. The camera tracking modes include group framing, speaker tracking, gallery mode, and manual. The speaker tracking is great as the AI algorithm works to track and follow the speaker around the room while bouncing over to the next speaker when the system picks up their voice. The gallery mode is handy when you want to see everyone in the room in their own block of the call, whether or not they’re speaking.

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Matthew Miller/ZDNET

There are 14 microphones in the speaker bar, and the Insta360 Connect does a great job of picking up audio from near the speaker and across the room, on the order of 33 feet away with noise reduction technology. Audio was also clear on the other end of the calls, and my CEO was pleased with the results. The single 20W speaker was loud and clear in our medium-sized conference room, even at 50% volume level.

Also: How I optimized an old office space for greater productivity and collaboration

We use Microsoft Teams, and the video bar system appeared as the camera, speaker, and microphone with no special setup required. The video bar also works with Zoom, Google Meet, and other platforms. It doesn’t currently integrate with Teams Rooms, but Insta360 stated that may be possible with a future integration.

The device also comes with a high-quality metal remote control; after setting up the system, you can then use the remote control (which is charged via USB-C) to switch modes, manually operate the camera, and adjust the volume. 

show how high-quality hardware and AI can be used to optimize the video conferencing experience. At $2,000, it’s not particularly cheap, but this single device can make your conference room a desired location for meetings and quickly pay for itself with crystal clear audio, speaker identification, and professionalism.

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