Friday, December 13, 2024

Google-Steered Jamboard Options & Extras: Enhance Collaboration and Creativity

Google introduced a major update approximately 12 months ago. Google Jamboard provides seamless collaborative drawing experiences for users of Google Workspace through a combination of intuitive Jamboard apps and robust hardware systems. The Jamboard apps allow seamless collaboration without requiring a physical Jamboard device, instead working seamlessly across the web, iOS, iPadOS, and Android devices, as well as within Google Meet.

Consider exploring alternative solutions for those relying on Jamboard technology. Google’s hardware options are simplified with the introduction of two new devices: the Chromebox and the Pixelbook. Priced around $9,000 and $2,000 respectively, both devices were designed in collaboration with Avocor.

The three software program options – FigJam by Figma, Lucidspark by Lucid Software, and Miro – are now integrated to seamlessly work with Sequence One devices, while also providing import choices for Jamboard content.

Alternative Digital Whiteboards: Comparative Analysis

Users of the Jamboard app may consider various software alternatives beyond the confines of the Jamboard system. The following six options facilitate visual collaboration and could serve as suitable substitutes for Jamboard:

FigJam by Figma: A Design Collaboration Tool for Pleasing User Experiences

FigJam logo.
Picture: FigJam

Figma, a leading collaborative interface design software company, introduced FigJam in 2021. FigJam enables the creation of diagrams by providing a range of tools, including drawing instruments, various shapes, customizable stickers, note-taking capabilities, textual content insertion, and connector features, as well as administrative options for organizing and managing parts and workspaces. You can also upload images or embed links to online resources, along with shared Google Drive files. Cursor chat enables a temporary conversation with collaborators, vanishing upon exiting the mode; in contrast, the remark system allows for traditional feedback on content anywhere on the board. FigJam offers more features than Jamboard, backed by an intuitive and visually appealing user interface that users can rely upon. Here’s the improved version: Included with these tools is FigJam AI, a revolutionary collaboration device that empowers teams to brainstorm more effectively by leveraging AI-generated ideas, intuitive text-to-image creation, and seamless automations.

Screenshot showing the interface of a new, blank FigJam board on a Chromebook.
Determining A: Screenshot showing the pristine FigJam interface on a Chromebook’s screen. Picture: Andy Wolber/TechRepublic

Adobe’s proposed acquisition of Figma, announced in September 2022, was ultimately terminated in December 2023, following Figma’s possession remaining a topic of interest. While Figma’s ownership structure may not directly impact its product offerings, the fact that it has previously explored merging with a larger company raises concerns about its long-term potential for acquisition.

Execs Cons
The FigJam app is available online and on Google Play.
Workspace Market) and iPad.
No dedicated FigJam iPhone or Android app exists yet?
Clear design. No offline mode.
Extra options than Google Jamboard.
The free version is accessible to college students and educators.

Pricing

Figma offers a range of FigJam pricing plans, including Starter, Skilled, Group, and Enterprise options.

  • With a free plan, you’re granted the freedom to design up to three Figma files and three FigJam projects, accompanied by unlimited private storage and collaboration possibilities with an infinite number of team members, further bolstered by additional features.
  • The cost to reserve a full seat for 30 days is $5 per month? The all-in-one collaboration hub offers a vast array of features, including starter templates, unlimited access to FigJam information, open periods for brainstorming, robust password protection to safeguard sensitive content, intuitive voting mechanisms to facilitate decision-making, and numerous extras to further enhance the collaborative experience. The open educational resource may be accessed by college students and educators at no cost.
  • For just $5 per full seat per 30 days. Boasting a comprehensive suite of professional features, this solution offers bespoke color schemes and pre-designed templates, while its centralized infrastructure streamlines administrative tasks and allows for seamless content management.
  • $5 per full seat for a 30-day period. The innovative office space offers a comprehensive suite of features, including group settings, dedicated workspaces, visitor management systems, and advanced personnel administration tools, all designed to prioritize occupant safety and security.

Miro: Finest for enterprise integrations

Miro logo.
Picture: Miro

Miro, formerly known as RealtimeBoard, provides a robust suite of features focused on visual collaboration. The intuitive tool set includes a range of standard drawing instruments for attracting attention, as well as options to add shapes, including flowcharts and Unified Modeling Language symbols, accompanied by sticky notes and textual content, along with numerous customizable templates. Miro enables seamless addition of diverse content formats, including images, spreadsheet files, table structures, Kanban boards, code snippets, graphical representations, and a wide range of other media types. Collaboration features like timer, voting, chat, video chat, and notes enable seamless teamwork within board content, while the innovative “Create with AI” functionality sparks creativity by generating ideas based on prompts or objects on a board.

Screenshot showing the interface of a new, blank Miro board on a Chromebook.
Determine B: A screenshot showcasing the pristine interface of a freshly created Miro board, as seen on a Chromebook. Picture: Andy Wolber/TechRepublic

Miro enables you to share your board with various stakeholders through multiple approaches. The TalkTrack function enables seamless video conferencing by superimposing your webcam feed onto a virtual whiteboard, allowing for intuitive navigation and real-time discussion as you engage with the digital canvas. The ensuing video recording is stored and can also be easily shared with others. You may choose to display either the full board, which conceals numerous menus to highlight your content, or present frames, allowing you to outline and navigate specific segments of content accordingly. The Enterprise and Enterprise Editions offer seamless access to collaboration tools, enabling features such as voting and intuitive note-taking capabilities like sticky notes and reactions.

Execs Cons
The Miro app is accessible online.
Google Workspace Market), macOS,
Operating systems for home devices: Windows, iOS (iPhone, iPad), and Android.
No offline mode.
Very full-featured.
A diverse array of content types can be incorporated.
Helpful number of presentation choices.

Pricing

Miro offers four pricing plans designed for advanced users: Free, Starter, Enterprise, and Team.

  • This innovative tool seamlessly consolidates a single workspace with three flexible, editable boards, offering 5 Talktracks, instant access to customizable templates, and comprehensive support for integrations.
  • $8 per member per 30-day period, billed annually. This comprehensive plan offers boundless digital whiteboards, crystal-clear export resolution, seamless collaboration with unlimited guest contributors on publicly accessible boards, endless Talktracks, customizable project folders, personalized sticky notes in Personal Mode, an exhaustive model history, meeting tools (including timers, voting capabilities, and video conferencing), and dedicated personal boards.
  • $16 per member, with a 30-day billing cycle, and payable annually. This comprehensive plan includes all Starter options, along with unlimited boards for each group and shopper, facilitating seamless collaboration through limitless private and group boards, advanced form entry, and enhanced meeting features such as breakouts and voting, among others.
  • Which necessitates direct communication with our Gross Sales team to obtain pricing information. This comprehensive plan incorporates all Enterprise features alongside enhanced safety, compliance, administrative, and reporting functionalities, accompanied by superior support.

College students, educators, and non-profits may enter different Miro pricing plans.

  • Designed for employees and members of college students at educational institutions. For educators, the plan remains legitimate indefinitely. For college students, it’s valid for a maximum of two years. Arriving equipped with boundless enthusiasm are limitless energetic boards, accompanied by intuitive board viewers and astute commenters, further bolstered by comprehensive coaching and stimulating discussion board resources.
  • .

LucidSpark by Lucid Software – The Ideal Canvas for Experimental AI?

Lucidspark logo.
Picture: Lucidspark

LucidSpark provides a dynamic workspace where users can combine drawing, images, shapes, note-taking, text, and line work to create visually engaging and collaborative boards. The feedback and activity system enables board collaborators to not just comment on specific board content, but also delegate tasks to colleagues seamlessly. To facilitate rationalization, consider outlining body areas and assigning paths to demarcate sequential sections on the board. Templates for visible actions facilitate diverse forms of sorting, scoring, and board engagement, complemented by additional timekeeping and voting tools.

Screenshot showing the interface of a new, blank Lucidspark board on a Chromebook.
Determine C: A screenshot showcases the pristine, newly created Lucidspark canvas on a Chromebook, highlighting its intuitive interface and user-friendly design. Picture: Andy Wolber/TechRepublic

Lucidspark also offers customizable menus and an innovative AI feature for enhanced productivity. Enhance the in-app navigation by introducing a ‘Software Pinning’ feature that enables users to personalize their left-hand side menu by showcasing only the frequently used options they select. When rare instances call for disabling Jira integration, you may choose to unpivot this option, effectively removing it from view; however, you can still access it through the Extras menu. The collaborative AI possibility generates novel concepts based on user input in real-time. A compact introduction to the finest features of Lucidspark: Three squares of sticky notes bursting with bite-sized descriptions of standout functionalities like “Built-in Video Chat”, “Seamless Integrations”, and “Presentation Mode”.

Execs Cons
The Lucidspark app is available for download from the internet, as well as the Google Workspace Marketplace, and is compatible with Android devices. Enterprise or Group account versions are necessary to utilize the cellular app on both iOS and iPadOS platforms.
Intuitive shortcut menu for rapid access to frequently used options. No offline mode.
Collaborative AI to generate concepts.
A diverse range of supported application integrations is vital.

Pricing

There are four Lucidspark plans: Free, Individual, Group, and Enterprise.

  • This innovative platform seamlessly integrates three customizable boards, unlimited shape options, intuitive drawing tools, real-time emojis for reaction, engaging commenting features, a presentation mode to showcase results, fundamental tracking of visible actions to collect suggestions and combine outputs, and cutting-edge collaborative AI capabilities.
  • $7.95 per person for a 30-day period, with an annual billing option of $95.40 per person. This plan offers unlimited, editable boards, 1GB of storage, and premium features such as visible actions to collect suggestions, mixed outcome possibilities, and more.
  • Here are three annual licenses at $27 per month, equivalent to a total of $324 per year, or $108 per person over a 12-month period. Our comprehensive plan features advanced control systems for visible interactions, real-time chat, a detailed revision history with version tracking, secure voting mechanisms, customizable timers, intuitive facilitation tools, interactive digital whiteboards, and a robust developer platform, along with many other innovative features.
  • licenses require contacting gross sales. This plan grants access to Lucidchart’s diagramming capabilities, as well as group folders, common canvas, extensive app integrations, and entry-level access to personnel administration and security features.

Educators may access a free version of the Group plan, providing academics and students with entry to the mobile app and numerous group features at no additional cost. For an additional fee, schools can enhance their paid group plan with a suite of administrative tools, including centralized account management, detailed audit trails, and priority technical support.

Microsoft Whiteboard logo.
Picture: Microsoft Whiteboard

Microsoft Whiteboard: Unbeatable value at zero cost

Microsoft Whiteboard, a free tool that necessitates a Microsoft account to access, create, and collaborate on boards, making it particularly appealing to individuals or organizations already utilizing other Microsoft services, such as Microsoft 365.

Screenshot showing the interface of a new, blank Microsoft Whiteboard board on a Chromebook.
Determine D: A screenshot showcasing the pristine, blank interface of a newly opened Microsoft Whiteboard application on a Chromebook, offering a fresh canvas for creative endeavors. Picture: Andy Wolber/TechRepublic

Microsoft Whiteboard offers a standard range of tools, including a pen, highlighter, ruler, notes, emoticon-style reactions, text, and shapes. You can also upload images to a bulletin board for enhanced visual appeal and easier comprehension of complex concepts. Microsoft Whiteboard offers a diverse array of customizable templates catering to various brainstorming, planning, assembly, and study needs. Will likely personalize the board by selecting one of nine available background grid patterns and adjusting the background colour to suit your preferences. And there’s an included timer. Share the link to grant access to all these tools, as well?

Execs Cons
Microsoft Whiteboard is now available online.
What devices do you own?
Microsoft’s Floor Hub and Microsoft Teams Rooms devices.
Not available for installation through the Google Workspace Marketplace.
Free. Consider creating a Microsoft account for seamless integration.
The importance of a substantial number of templates in enterprise applications lies.
Equivalents to brainstorming, such as conceptualizing, envisioning, and imagining; undertaking planning actions, including strategizing, scheming, and outlining; and assembly actions, encompassing organizing, coordinating, and mobilizing.
No offline mode.
Centered set of instruments.

Pricing

Microsoft Whiteboard is free, but users can enhance their experience by signing in with a Microsoft account. You can obtain a Microsoft account at no additional cost.

What’s the best way to engage attendees during your Zoom conferences?

Zoom Whiteboard logo.
Picture: Zoom Whiteboard

The Zoom conferencing platform offers a versatile tool in Zoom Whiteboard, allowing users to collaborate effectively either within an online meeting or as a standalone feature for personal brainstorming and idea development. If you already have a Zoom account, Zoom Whiteboard merits your attention.

Screenshot showing the interface of a new, blank Zoom Whiteboard board on a Chromebook.
Determine E: The screenshot showcases a pristine, newly created Zoom Whiteboard interface on a Chromebook, characterized by a blank slate with minimal distractions. Picture: Andy Wolber/TechRepublic

Zoom Whiteboard offers a variety of customizable templates for brainstorming, diagramming, and more, allowing users to quickly get started with their creative endeavors, whether for work, school, or personal pursuits – or start from scratch with a blank slate. The system features a range of tools equivalent to writing utensils, geometric forms, tracing functionalities, text-based content, adhesive note functionality, and real-time feedback mechanisms. The possibilities for visualizing ideas on your Trello board will likely include uploading photographs, Portable Document Format (PDF) files, as well as integrating thought maps, desks, Kanban boards, and even digital versions of physical items like playing cards. In particular, playing cards enable you to allocate responsibilities and track progress against specific dates and activities seamlessly. Zoom boards enable users to craft multiple page layouts, offering greater creative flexibility and control. As a presentation supporter, there is a high likelihood that you will insert borders around your slide content, subsequently organizing and displaying them in succession. The timer and laser pointer could also be valuable tools for enhancing displays and collaborations alike.

Execs Cons
Available for download from the app stores, including Zoom on the web, Google Workspace Marketplace, and compatible with various platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS devices, such as iPhone and iPad, and Android devices. Zoom Whiteboard enables seamless collaboration during online meetings, offering robust functionality that complements internet conferencing capabilities.
Offering a diverse range of templates catering to various enterprise needs, such as facilitating brainstorming and diagramming endeavors. No offline mode
Please determine the number of pages that exist within a board.
Frames to order presentation sequence.

Pricing

Three Zoom Whiteboard editions are available: Basic, Standard, and Advanced.

  • Offering seamless integration with Zoom Office Primary and Zoom Office Professional, this plan includes three concurrent editable boards, 25 MB of storage, and a comprehensive set of features for drawing, annotation, image editing, and collaborative working.
  • Offering unlimited storage for $24.90 per person per 12 months, it can also be integrated with both the Zoom Office Primary and Zoom Office Professional plans. This comprehensive plan offers unlimited simultaneous board editing capabilities, standardised features, and advanced document management solutions. Included are features from Zoom Office Enterprise, Zoom Office Enterprise Plus, and Zoom Office Enterprise, respectively.
  • Priced at $70 per person for a 12-month term, this add-on can be integrated with either the Zoom Office Primary or Zoom Office Professional plans, delivering enhanced whiteboarding capabilities and customizable organizational templates to streamline operations. Additionally, Zoom Whiteboard Plus comes bundled with Zoom Rooms plans and Zoom Office Enterprise Plus.

Apple FreeForm: A Revolutionary Tool for Apple System Users

Apple Freeform logo.
Picture: Apple Freeform

Apple’s Freeform is a versatile collaboration tool bundled with devices running iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, allowing users to easily share ideas and work together seamlessly. The app is free to download and use, but availability is limited to users of Apple devices exclusively. In certain settings, such as classrooms where trainers and students utilize iPadOS or macOS devices, Freeform can indeed be an excellent choice. However, this collaboration tool might not be suitable for situations involving diverse device operating systems like Windows, ChromeOS, or Android.

Screenshot showing the interface of a new, blank Freeform board on iPad.
Determine F: A screenshot showcases the pristine interface of a newly created Freeform board on an iPad, revealing its blank slate awaiting creative input. Picture: Andy Wolber/TechRepublic

FreeForm offers a range of creative tools, including pens, pencils, highlighters, crayons, ink, and watercolors, catering to various artistic preferences and needs. When working with Apple Pencil on compatible devices, you’ll likely utilize the built-in handwriting recognition technology, Scribble, to effortlessly convert handwritten notes into editable text. FreeForm enables you to add notes, hyperlinks, shapes, and typed textual content. It’s likely that you’ll utilize a digital camera to capture an image, upload a picture, video, audio file, or PDF document to a bulletin board or virtual platform. Freeform allows for seamless offline use, making it ideal for capturing ideas anywhere, anytime. The free-form collaboration feature allows up to 100 users to co-edit a shared board, seamlessly integrating with Messages and FaceTime for streamlined communication and real-time feedback.

Execs Cons
Available on current iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices. Obtainable solely on Apple units.
Can create and work offline.
Designed for seamless collaboration, this device harmonizes effortlessly with Apple Pencil, facilitating fluid communication through Messages and FaceTime.
A wide range of drawing devices includes various types such as watercolour, ink, and others.
With markers and crayon),

Pricing

Freeform is a pre-installed app across all modern Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, and macOS platforms.

What are some alternative ideas for our Jamboard?

Considering diverse perspectives, we could explore:

Innovative ways to gamify learning
Unconventional brainstorming techniques
Creative visualization methods
Incorporating storytelling elements
Fostering collaboration through role-playing exercises
Developing problem-solving strategies through real-world scenarios

Beyond the six companies listed above, numerous alternative collaborative drawing options are available. Google suggests that either or may meet some wants? Companies that may warrant additional consideration include tech giants like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Facebook, as well as innovative startups such as Airbnb, Uber, and LinkedIn.

The Google Jamboard, a collaborative whiteboard app, will discontinue its sales and support from July 2023. It’s advisable to consider alternative solutions, such as Google Workspace apps like Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides, for seamless collaboration and note-taking.

  • By this point in time, it would have been possible to back up any necessary Jamboard system occasion logs through the Admin console before they are irretrievably deleted.
  • To prevent data loss, consider initiating a backup of the crucial Jam information and transferring them to alternative roles. You can also save images as PDFs or PNG files.
    Additionally, you will no longer be able to create or edit existing Jam content on any platform, including the web, iOS, or Android, as the 55-inch Jamboard system will be isolated from Meet conferences and will not save to the cloud.
  • Will the Jamboard software be shut down, rendering users unable to access their Jam data, which will then be irretrievably deleted?

Methodology

Google specifically highlights FigJam by Figma, Miro, and Lucidspark by Lucid Software as recommended alternatives to Google Jamboard due to their primary nature. All three tools will offer an import device allowing you to safeguard existing Jamboard content.

The final three options were selected because of their widespread adoption in educational settings, driven by the prevalent use of Microsoft, Zoom, and Apple tools among institutions, with Jamboard apps being a notable example. If you and your colleagues are using Apple hardware, then Freeform is a logical alternative to Jamboard. If you and your colleagues already possess active Microsoft or Zoom accounts, these companies’ platforms are likely to meet your needs efficiently.

The creator personally signed off on and rigorously reviewed each company’s testing protocols, having been a longtime user of Google Jamboard since its initial launch. All screenshots were captured at various stages during this experiment. We rely on vendor websites to access current pricing information.

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