How Screenbeam 1100 Plus and Jabra Panacast 50 Can Improve Your Video Conferencing Experience

Now that we’ve all been through the most challenging times of the Covid pandemic, one of the many things that have been left in its wake is the memory of the way in which we all had to adapt to working from home. Not only is that challenging all by itself, with all the logistical details that needed figuring out, but to make things even more challenging, we had to pivot to this new working environment, with everything that came with it, virtually overnight.

Fast forward

Fast forward to today, and we’re seeing a return to the office, but not entirely. Some companies are keeping their workforce working remotely, some are requiring a return to the office, not to the delight of many, while other companies are adopting a more hybrid approach. Whichever your company has chosen, one thing has remained the same, which is the use of collaboration tools like video conferencing hasn't slowed down in its use..

Comptatibility challenges

One of the common problems when joining a distributed workforce into video meetings is cross compatibility. This is magnified when you factor in meetings with customers or vendors. You may find that the video conferencing platform you use, isn’t the one that your customers or vendors use. That can be a challenge to overcome when you’re needing to collaborate.

In house wrinkles

Even within your own organization you can encounter connectivity challenges. Some of your staff might be using Windows based devices, while others could be using MAC. You could also find that some of the computers being used have USB-A ports, with others being USB-C. Maybe the hardware is older and not compatible with some of the newer tech devices you've deployed. And let's not forget that ever growing, tangled mess of cords you might just end up tripping over.

The bottom line is when you’re needing to initiate a meeting with your team, your customers, or your suppliers, you might have obstacles to overcome when it comes to getting your technology devices connected, and talking to each other, not to mention challenges associated with content, and screen sharing. And if you’re someone who’s organized video meetings in the past, you probably know what I’m talking about, and know how much of a hassle this really can be.

But there is a simple solution!

Screenbeam 1100 Plus meets Jabra Panacast 50

 

 

In this blog, I'll provide you with an overview of  both of these products, what they do, and how these two devices work harmoniously to give you a better videoconferencing experience. But before I jump into the details, you might like to watch a Youtube video we recorded on the Panacast 50, and Screenbeam. If so, here you go.

The Jabra Panacast 50 video conferencing system, paired together with Screenbeam 1100 Plus takes video conferencing to a whole new, and simpler level. And honestly, who doesn’t like video conferencing that's better, and simple? 

So what makes these paired devices a must-have for your video conferencing meetings? Here are some points to consider that might just make you a big fan of both.

Starting with the Jabra Panacast 50.

The Jabra Panacast 50 is a powerful, immersive, high definition, great sounding and even affordable, video conferencing system that’s packed with impressive features.

 

For example:

Microphones. Jabra took out all the stops on this because they incorporated eight professional grade beamforming microphones with algorithms specifically designed to reduce disruptive noise. This means you can expect to be heard loud and clear, and not have your conference attendees being distracted by the sound going on in your background. Part of that exceptional sound is brought to you by the precision voice detection, echo cancellation, and full duplex audio. That means you're free to speak...clearly

Speakers. Having a great microphone is only part of a total sound solution. Yes, being heard by those on your call is enormously important, but so is the sound you hear. After all, it doesn’t make sense to have a great, HD display and excellent microphones, only to have sound that leaves you wanting something better.

So what did Jabra do with the Panacast 50 to give you professional sound and a great listening experience? They incorporated an array of four powerful, high quality loudspeakers in a zero-vibration stereo setup . The speakers in the Panacast 50 are 2 - 2 inch 50mm woofers, and 2 - 3/4 inch 20mm tweeters.

Considering the impressive audio technology that Jabra has engineered into the Panacast 50, you'll find the sound you get to be next level. So even if you're not seated close to the Panacast 50, you'll still be able to hear everthing.

Cameras - 3 are better than 1. Many video systems use a single camera. That can be hit or miss when it comes to having everyone visible on the call especially if the group is widely dispersed, or someone is standing, and pacing..

• Do you get a smooth visual transition from speaker one, to speaker two?
• Is your group in frame, and in focus?
• How well does the single camera track the person who's standing, pacing and presenting? Centered? In focus? Smooth pan?

It’s not ideal to have someone on a video call that's speaking, but not in the picture. Jabra solved this problem with the Panacast 50 video conferencing system because it comes with three,13 megapixel cameras.

Other systems give you 60 degrees of viewing area, whereas the Panacast 50, thanks to these three, onboard cameras, gives you a full 180 degrees.

Having 180 degree coverage means the Jabra Panacast 50 picks up where many others  leave off. Three tiimes the viewing area gives you the assurance that everyone will be seen, whether it's an active speaker, or your group. And with the outstanding audio, they'll be heard loud and clear as well.

The Panacast 50 utilizes the latest Ai technology to intelligently follow the meeting conversation. It frames up the active speaker, while zooming in for a perfect framed image. Once zoomed in, it keeps everything in focus automatically. 

Stitch that video - needle and thread not required. You might be thinking that when three cameras are in use, there’s bound to be latency, or quality issues when the image moves from one camera to the next. That wasn't our experience, because when we tested it the handoff was smooth and seamless.

Jabra utilizes patented real time video stitching that joins the video stream from all three cameras to give you a smooth, distortion free streaming image all in brilliant 4K definition.

Intelligent zoom  Keeps participants in frame, while the Virtual Director zooms in on active speakers, and smoothly transitions the video image from person to person, so you won’t be seeing clunky handoffs of video images.  Instead, you’ll see seamless video that will appear as though it’s coming from one single camera.

Whiteboarding times two. With the Jabra Panacast 50, you also get a very nice whiteboard feature, but as you’ll see a little later, the Screenbeam tackles this too. So between the Panacast 50, and the Screenbeam, you're free to whiteboard til the cows come home, which could be awhile. Preloaded. And no, I’m not talking about the feeling you get when out with your friends and the night is young. I’m referring to software that’s preloaded in the Panacast 50. 

 

Microsoft Teams, and Zoom are arguably the two most popular UC platforms used today. So when you buy a Jabra Panacast 50, you have your choice of it coming with either of these applications preloaded which makes accessing their features quick and convenient.

This isn’t to say that you can’t use the Panacast 50 if you use a different UC application for your video meetings, because you can. The Panacast 50 is UC versatile so you’re UC satisfied.

Tech Talk. And if you happen to be someone who likes technical details, here’s something you might find interesting. According to Jabra, the Panacast 50 is:

“Engineered and optimized for business productivity and collaboration, it provides powerful and secure computing for the meeting room, running on the trusted Windows 10 IoT Enterprise SAC OS with performance driven by 11th Gen Intel® Core™ vPro® processors and Intel® Iris® Xe graphics.”

Control at your fingertips. Just like a big time movie director, the Jabra Panacast 50 puts you in control which means you call the shots, literally. That’s because you can control everything from a wireless touchpad because the Panacast 50 offers the option of a 10.1 inch, anti-glare, anti-smudge Lenovo ThinkSmart controller. So getting your meetings kicked off, and accessing the wide array of Panacast 50 features is a breeze, not to mention convenient.

But, if you don't want to spring for the tablet controller, Jabra gives you a second wireless controller option with the Jabra Panacast 50 remote. Scaled down in size, and price, but still offers you wireless controls for ease of operation and convenience, both of which people value and appreciate.

You even have your choice of colors; black or gray, and the remote is priced at only $58.00. And by the way, the Panacast 50 itself is available in these same color choices. It's always nice to have choices, even if it's only in the color.

The action starts with you. Whether you have a small team of just a few people, or a group up to as many as 12, you’ll find the Jabra Panacast 50 to be right at home. Jabra states that it can accommodate small, and medium room sizes with up to 12 participants. And given that the Panacast 50 has image tracking for active speakers, and auto framing, your far end should have no trouble seeing everyone in your meetings in crystal clear HD 4K.

What I’ve covered so far on the Jabra Panacast 50 is only part of its overall capabilities. But, being this blog is about the Panacast 50, and the Screenbeam 1100 Plus, I think it’s time to bring the Screenbeam product into this conversation.

Screenbeam 1100 Plus for the masses

Screenbeam, what the heck's that? Some might think it has a funny name, but don't be misled, because though it's totally comfortable at play, it's true purpose is all business which is where it shines the most. And when going through the paces of back-to-back video calls, the Screenbeam doesn't even break a sweat. Not that an appliance can perspire, but I thought that sounded cool.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that it’s likely you’ve never heard of the Screenbeam.1100 Plus. I know prior to writing this blog, I never had. So let’s unpack this a  bit to find out what it is, and how it works so well with the Jabra Panacast 50 and what makes it a great technology pairing.

 What is it?

The Screenbeam 1100 Plus is a 4K wireless display and collaboration receiver that allows users to wirelessly share and annotate content on the in-room display directly from:

It supports native screen mirroring functionality in Windows, Android, and Apple devices, eliminating the need to download an app, which a lot of companies today don’t allow. Also, you won’t be searching for compatible AV cables, HDMI or Display or Port adapters either. 

 

The Screenbeam 1100 Plus also offers company and guest devices multiple ways to connect, including Miracast, local Wi-Fi mode, and network infrastructure connectivity. This provides more flexibility, reduces complexity, and lowers cost for a variety of network policies and deployment needs. 

An HDMI input is also available for wired connectivity to older devices without wireless capability.

 Integrated HTML-based digital signage enables you to stream customized content in your meeting room or lobby when the displays are not in use. And, the Screenbeam 1100 Plus can be part of educational systems emergency response alert notificatioins with campus wide notifications.

The Screenbeam 1100 Plus is a powerful and versatile wireless display and collaboration solution that is ideal for businesses of any size, even for individuals who spend most of their waking hours on video calls. And if you're one of them, you know what I'm talking about.

 

The Screenbeam 1100 Plus is easy to use, it’s secure, and best of all, it’s affordable, making it a great choice for any organization that wants to improve the way they collaborate and share content.

And if you're wondering what ports are found on the back of the Screenbeam 1100 Plus, here's an image of the back of it which clearly shows the many different ports that it has.

Here are some of the key features of the Screenbeam 1100 Plus:

• Supports 4K resolution
• Supports native screen mirroring in Windows, Android, and Apple devices
• Offers multiple ways to connect, including Miracast, local Wi-Fi mode, and network infrastructure connectivity
• Includes HDMI input for wired connectivity to older devices
• Integrated HTML-based digital signage
• One single device for both wired, and wireless connectiions.
• No download required, which should make your IT Direction happy.
• Screen sharing including video, and whiteboarding.
• Up to four participants can share their content simultaneously

So if you’re looking for a simple, and easy way to connect to an existing room system that’s flexible and totally wireless. So whether you’re at the video conference host meeting site, or offsite as a company team member, customer or vendor, the Screenbeam 1100 Plus is a product you should take a good close look. This is particularly true if having seamless meeting integration, with flawless content sharing is something that interests you

 

Here are some of the benefits of using a Screenbeam 1100 Plus and a Jabra Panacast 50 together:

Improved communication and collaboration: The panoramic view of the Jabra Panacast 50 ensures that everyone in the room can be seen and heard, even if they are not sitting directly in front of the camera. This can help to improve communication and collaboration during meetings

Increased productivity: Improved communication and collaboration can lead to better decision-making and productivity. This is because everyone in the meeting is able to contribute their ideas and feedback, which can lead to better solutions.

 

Reduced costs: The Screenbeam and the Jabra Panacast 50 are both very affordable, and they can save businesses money on travel and other expenses associated with traditional face-to-face meetings. You'll also be able to get up and running with your meetings, rather than fumbling around looking for the right cable or USB device to get connected.

Security. These days protecting yourself from digital theft is a growing concern among businesses. Here are some ways in which the use of the Screenbeam 1100 Plus when used with the Jabra Panacast 50 helps to keep things private

Encryption: The Screenbeam and the Jabra Panacast 50 both support encryption, which helps to protect sensitive data from being intercepted by unauthorized parties. When data is encrypted, it is scrambled so that it can only be read by someone who has the encryption key. The Screenbeam and the Jabra Panacast 50 use industry-standard encryption algorithms to protect data.

Authentication: The Screenbeam and the Jabra Panacast 50 both support authentication, which helps to ensure that only authorized users can access the devices. When a user attempts to connect to the Screenbeam or the Jabra Panacast 50, they will be prompted to enter a username and password. If the username and password are correct, the user will be granted access to the device. Additionally, meeting access can be password protected by requiring anyone wanting to join the meeting to enter in a meeting ID number.

Physical security: The Screenbeam and the Jabra Panacast 50 can be physically secured to prevent unauthorized access. The Screenbeam has a Kensington lock slot, which can be used to secure the device to a desk or other object. The Jabra Panacast 50 has a built-in security cable, which can be used to secure the device to a desk or other object, and it also has a camera privacy shutter which helps to keep the camera images private when not in use.

By using a combination of encryption, authentication, and physical security, businesses can help to protect their sensitive data and ensure the security of their video conferencing environment.

Content sharing. Whether you want to share the monthly sales stats, a new marketing strategy, or anything else, including video content, the Screenbeam in tandem with the Jabra Panacast 50 is a great combination for video collaboration.

You have the ability to share content from a laptop, tablet and other devices because the system is extremely flexible, even if you don't have wireless capability. Content can be shared from a single user, or up to four sharing at the same time, and this includes video content which taps into the Jabra Panacast 50 audio to give you that great sound.

Final thoughts

If you’re looking for a powerful and versatile video conferencing solution for your business, then the combination of a Screenbeam 1100 Plus and a Jabra Panacast 50 is the perfect choice. You get incredible images and sound, a long list of great features, seamless integration, simple, wireless integration for you and your guests, and high level security all rolled into one nice affordable package. And speaking of being affordable, here are some details on pricing.

Pricing

Here’s a quick look at pricing on both systems.

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Screenbeam 1100 Plus:      $1199.99

Jabra Panacast 50:      $1477.00

Bundle - includes Screenbeam 1100 Plus  And  the Jabra Panacast 50:      $2676.99

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Down to save some money?

Silly question, right? Of course you are, because we all like saving money when we can. So if you’re like most of us, then here are four ways you can save some money, and get a better price on a Screenbeam 1100 Plus, a Jabra Panacast 50 or both.

1. Use Coupon Code BLOG. When shopping on our website, make sure to use coupon code BLOG when checking out. Because if you do, you’ll get a nice discount on your order, and what's not to like about that?
2. Trade-in your old gear. If you’re like a lot of businesses, you probably have a box of old technology gear in your storeroom. Normally that box will contain some old headsets, but it might even include some old video equipment, or some conference phones. If this sounds familiar, then dust off that box, and take a quick inventory of what’s hiding in there. Once you know what you have, contact us and let one of our Advisors assist you with a trade-in quote. You can also go here to fill out our online trade in form. And by the way, you CAN use the coupon code and trade-in credit together to help you save even more.
3. Quantity discounts. If you’re looking for a quantity of units, make sure to reach out for a bulk discount quote. Buying more means you save more. So find out what your discounted price is today, because saving money never gets old.
4. Monthly Lease. We all know that budgets can be tight, and you may not always have the available funds to get the technology equipment you need. No worries because Headset Advisor has a very affordable lease program that makes getting what you need simple. Contact us today to find out more about how you can get new equipment for a low monthly rate.

Have questions or need some help? 

If you need some help finding an affordable, compatible technology solution, don’t feel like you have to go it alone. Headset Advisor has been providing businesses with tailored solutions since 1994. I guess that means we’ve been at this awhile. So if you have questions, or need some help, contact us today to speak with one of our friendly, knowledgeable Advisors who can point you in the right direction.