Mix and match with HDFaces for your perfect meeting.

Like many of you, if I buy something I want to use it the way I want and not just how I’m told.  This plays a big part in my shopping decisions (especially when it comes to technology purchases), and leads to a lot of time spent researching before I buy.  It’s also my inspiration for this post.

If you already use GoToMeeting you will be familiar with it’s features; like built in phone conferencing, the ability to share control of the keyboard and mouse for collaboration, drawing etc.  With the addition of HDFaces you now also have the ability to share up to 6 web cams at a time during your meeting and actually see who is talking.

What you might not know, is that you don’t have to share your screen via GoToMeeting to use HDFaces and the conferencing!  Just start you meeting, join the conference call and share your webcam.  Add on the ability to control the size, shape and location of the HDFaces window and you’re left with plenty of desktop real estate for another application.

If you find that your meetings have a habit of being side tracked and lose focus, you might want to consider combining HDFaces with something like LessMeeting or Minutes.io

Or perhaps you need to take the collaborative drawing a little further with an online whiteboard solution like Dabbleboard, Twiddla or Conceptboard.

Ultimately you can mix and match your HDFaces video conferencing with anything you like!

New version of GoToMeeting, GoToWebinar, GoToTraining for everyone.

If you’re a GoToMeeting, GoToWebinar or GoToTraining customer you should have received an Email letting you know about a mandatory update that is being deployed to all customers.  The reason for making the update mandatory is to ensure a consistent experience for all users and to allow for some exciting improvements that are in the pipeline.

Once your account is set to receive the update the process itself is painless and automatic,  the new software will download and install when you Host or Attend your next meeting, webinar or training.

What You Should Know about the Upgraded Version

• Mac users will now have dual monitor support.
• If you are using our integrated audio service (phone or VoIP), the call will now end immediately when the organizer ends the meeting, webinar or training. Participants will be disconnected with a message that the organizer has ended the call. This will help those using Integrated Toll-Free audio to have better control over their audio costs.
• The upgrade will not affect any of your scheduled online meetings, webinars or trainings. Your meeting IDs, access codes and URLs will remain the same.
• Attendees on an iPad® will be required to download a new version of the GoToMeeting App for iPad in the App Store, to attend your meetings after May 3, 2011.
• Some users with software firewalls will need to give permission to the GoToMeeting program to operate. For more information, visit: http://www.citrixonline.com/s/firewalls

If you still have questions here are the FAQs

Share your desktop using GoToAssist Express

GoToAssist Express is a service you would typically use to provide technical support for customers or even just your family, in regular use you would connect to the other persons computer, view their screen and share control of their keyboard and mouse.   But there is a feature in GoToAssist Express that also allows you to show your screen to those computers you are connected to, and by using this reverse screen sharing feature you can share your desktop with up to 8 computers at the same time.

1. Launch your GoToAssist Express Expert software and start connecting to PCs using Attended Sessions, Unattended Sessions or a mix of both.

2. Once you are connected click on each session window one after the other and select Share My Screen from the Screen Sharing menu.

3. You will also have the option to give both keyboard and mouse control, which you can decide on a case by case basis.

Once you have finished all of your clients will be able to view your screen and control your keyboard and mouse. Instant collaboration!

This ability is currently limited to Windows users however with Multiple Sessions and  Unattended Support just around the corner for Mac users, pretty soon any GoToAssist Express user will be able to do this. Of course if you really want to collaborate you should be using GoToMeeting