Google Meet is getting a huge upgrade that Zoom doesn't have

Google Meet is getting a huge upgrade that Zoom doesn't have

Google Meet wants to make video conferencing bigger and better by bringing video conferencing to your TV. The video conferencing app will be rolling out to Chromecast and Chromecast-enabled devices in the next few days.

This is the latest in a series of new features that Google Meet has added in recent months to compete with Zoom and others; Meet has been a very popular video calling service for telecommuters and social distancers during the pandemic.

Google Meet was already available earlier this year on the Nest Hub Max, and the company said in a blog post that "expanding Meet to even more screens in the home felt right. With more and more people spending time at home, Meet provides an opportunity to stay connected with family, friends, colleagues, and others," the company said in a blog post.

Meet on Chromecast works only with the Chrome browser on a desktop or laptop computer. In fact, Meet uses the computer's camera, microphone, and audio to make calls. Essentially, the TV becomes the display for the meeting.

Users need the latest version of Chrome and a compatible Chromecast model (including Chromecast Ultra, current and second-generation Chromecast, and Android TV). According to Google, performance on TVs may vary.

To use the new feature, users will be presented with the option to cast the meeting before joining it. They can also cast the meeting during the call by clicking on the three dots icon and selecting "Cast this meeting."

The ability to cast a meeting to a TV sets it apart from competitors such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams. This is another way Google differentiates Meet. Recent updates have integrated Meet with Gmail and added Zoom-like backgrounds for certain customers.

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