Amazon Fire TV Cube finally supports Zoom video calls

Date:
Fri, 30 Jul 2021 09:34:31 +0000

Description:
Amazon has finally added support for Zoom calls to second-generation Fire TV Cube devices.

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Amazon has finally seen fit to add support for Zoom video calls to its second-generation Fire TV Cube devices. While video conferencing has been a mainstay on Fire TV and Alexa devices for a while now, Zoom is the latest addition to make the feature even more robust.

Amazon laid out the minimum requirements for making use of Zoom on its blog post about the update. Firstly, they must own a webcam that can support UVC (USB Video Class) with a resolution of at least 720p and 30fps refresh rate. The webcam must then be connected to your Fire TV Cube with a Micro-USB to
USB adapter.

Of course, youll also need to download the Zoom app onto your Fire TV Cube
and create an account if you havent done so already. If all goes well with
the setup, then, users can then join scheduled meetings with a phrase like Alexa, join my Zoom meeting, to which Alexa will prompt the user for the meetings ID and password which can be entered using the remote or ones own voice. How to use Zoom video conferencing What is Zoom? How it works, tips
and tricks and best alternatives The best Alexa Skills and commands

Zoom is one of the worlds leading pieces of video conferencing software.
Great for work, family and social meetings, Zoom can host up to 1,000 participants on a single call, making it a great choice for medium and large-sized enterprises.

Its worth noting that Zoom has been doing the rounds on Amazon devices for a while now. The Fire TV Cube has only just been updated to support the software, but Zoom has been available to use on Amazon Echo Show devices
since last year. So why did Fire TV Cube users have to wait so long?
Analysis: Too little, too late?

While Zoom is undoubtedly a useful app to have as many of us continue to work from home, we cant help but think the addition of the video conferencing software wouldve been far more beneficial last year, in the initial round of lockdowns around the globe.

As mentioned above, Zoom has been available for use on Echo Show devices for quite a while. This might be because the Echo Show is more portable, thanks
to the screen being on the device itself. Its also cheaper than the Fire TV Cube, which likely doesnt have as wide a user base as the Echo Show 5 , Echo Show 8 , and the like.

Getting Zoom on the Fire TV Cube may not have been priority one for Amazon, then. As the device connects to your TV, its objectively less portable. Not
to mention that Zoom meetings on your TV may have been considered something
of a niche situation.

That said, the benefits that Zoom brings to TVs arent insignificant. The app can host a lot of participants all at once, all of which can be displayed in
a much clearer way if youre using Zoom on a large 4K TV . Comfort and convenience could be a big factor too, with Alexa voice commands making it easy to join meetings without touching a button, and tune into a meeting from the comfort of your couch. 80 Amazon Alexa Easter Eggs : Fun tips and tricks



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/amazon-fire-tv-cube-finally-supports-zoom-video -calls/


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